--- Best Choice ---
WEN 56380i - Best-Rated
Comparsion Table
| Model | Start/Run Wattage | Noise Level | Inverter | Start Type | Editor’s Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
WEN 56380i Check Price |
3800/3400 | 57 dBA | Electric Start, Recoil Start | 9.0 | |
|
WEN 56235i Check Price |
2350/1900 | 51 dBA | Recoil Start | 8.7 | |
|
WEN GN400i Check Price |
4000/3500 | 0 dBA | Recoil Start | 8.5 | |
|
WEN GN625i Check Price |
6250/5000 | 0 dBA | Recoil Start | 8.3 | |
|
WEN 56200i Check Price |
2000/1600 | 51 dBA | Recoil Start | 8.2 | |
|
WEN 56475 Check Price |
4750/3750 | 67 dBA | Electric Start, Recoil Start | 8.2 |
#1. WEN 56380i Gasoline Inverter Generator with Electric Start
The WEN 56380i is made with an extremely reliable four-stroke 212cc engine. This engine is an OHV with a single cylinder that is air-cooled. You can expect 3,800 watts of surge power and 3,400 watts of continuous rated power. This kind of power allows you to run your power tools, microwave oven, air conditioner, heater, and full-size refrigerator (not at the same time). This is perfect for RV enthusiasts and sailors of the deep blue.
This generator is great for RV, construction sites, power outages, home backup, camping, food truck, boat, fishing, and hunting. I used the WEN 56380i to power the air conditioner 15,000 BTU (2000 watts), lighting (150 watts), refrigerator (600 watts), TV (150 watts), and phone charger, all at the same time.
It weighs 99-pounds wet making it on the heavy side. It has two handles on either side for two people to carry it. And it also comes with a nice handle so you could wheel it around with a couple of small plastic wheels, better than some that I've seen on the market.
What is in the Package?
Included: small tool kit (screwdriver, spark plug wrench, and 2 combination wrenches) funnel cup, funnel tube, manual, warranty card. The generator is shipped without oil and gasoline.
The easy-to-understand control panel has a low-oil lamp and an overload alarm. This is an electric start model, so you don't have to worry about cranking it.
The 56380i, like most inverter generators, comes with the standard 12V DC output with an independent circuit protector. It also provides two 20-amp 120V AC outlets and a 3-prong RV Ready TT-30R outlet. There is a circuit breaker that will shut the power off in the event of an overload. This is good for saving your appliances and electronics.
The ECO-MODE technology helps it conserve energy while keeping the noise level to about 57 dBA. That is pretty good for such a powerful machine. It is EPA and CARB compliant as well.
My Noise Test
- Idle speed, 23 ft., eco mode off: 71 dBA
- Idle speed, 23 ft., eco mode on: 59 dBA
One cool feature of this generator is that you can connect two of them together to double your wattage. This is a 3,800-watt generator. So, by connecting two of them, you should be able to get 7,600 Watts.
Other features:
- Its 2.2-gallon gas tank is capable of running the generator for about 8.5 hours at half load.
- The generator is equipped with two USB ports (1-amp and 2.1-amp).
Specifications
- Starting Wattage: 3800
- Running Wattage: 3400
- RV Ready Outlet: Yes
- Noise Level from 23 ft.: 57 dBA
- Inverter: yes
- Start Type: Electric Start, Recoil Start
- Fuel Type: Gasoline
- CARB Compliant: yes
Our grades
Pros
- Electric start
- RV ready
- Feature two USB outlets
- Digital Display (comsumption, output, voltage, frequency, runtime)
- Very quiet
- Fuel-efficient engine
- Easy to maintain
- Wheel kit
- Good design
- Parallel Compatibility
- ECO mode - maximizes fuel ecomomy
Cons
- Relatively heavy
- Small plastic wheels
- Customer service complaints
- Flimsy build spark plug to
#2. WEN 56235i 1900 Rated Watts Lightweight & Portable Generator
So, this is the WEN 56235i. The “i” stands for the inverter. It produces 2,350 starting watts and 1,900 running watts. This gasoline generator is easy to carry and very compact. If weight or space is an issue, then a generator like this one is for you.
What is in the Package?
Included: spark plug wrench, screwdriver, combination wrench (8mm & 10mm), oil funnel, manual, warranty card. The generator is shipped without oil and gasoline.
The best features of this generator are its 39-pound weight and operating noise. The noise level is rated at 51 dB at 23 feet away. My noise test: idle speed, 23 ft., eco mode on - 52.5 dBA.
This inverter generator can run up to 10.5 hours at 1/4 load (500 watts) and up to 5.7 hours at 1/2 load (1000 watts). And speaking of throttle, you've got some throttle control with ECO switch. When you put the eco switch on, what that does is the generator drops down to only create as much energy as you need.
The WEN 56235i has two 120V/20-amp (NEMA 5-20R) outlets that are capable of powering single-phase 60 Hz loads. It also includes one 12V/8.3-amp DC outlet for charging batteries. Its USB ports allow you to charge many of the popular devices, such as smartphones and tablets.
Great for camping, tailgate, hunting, power outage, construction site, boat, party, fishing, and recreation. I used the WEN 56235i to power lights (100 watts), furnace fan (75 watts), water pump (80 watts), electric blanket (200 watts), microwave (900 watts), TV (150 watts), game console (200 watts), and a mini-fridge (100 watts), all at the same time.
The only thing I can't run with this generator is my air conditioner, which starts at about 3,000 Watts and runs at about 2000 Watts. For most of the time, this generator is going to cover my camping needs.
Now let's say I went camping someplace hotter. We have deserts in the Southern part of our state, and I very much might want to run my air conditioner in those where it can get up to 115 degrees. If you get a generator like this, it's relatively inexpensive to scale up. So what you do is you pick up the second one of these, and at the cost of being $400 per generator for this jet, it's very affordable. You get a second one, now you're up to $800 and what they call a parallel connection kit.
Expert Advice
As far as the advice I can give anybody with a generator, definitely follow the manual. Don't just buy and say, "Yeah, this will be ready whenever wintertime comes or when the storm comes, I'll know it's going to work". It may not. So make sure you run your generator the way it's supposed to, according to the manual. On this one, I must run this thing once a month for 30 minutes.
Also, when you first buy it, you will run it for 16-20 hours to make sure it will be reliable and there for you.
Specifications
- Starting Wattage: 2350
- Running Wattage: 1900
- RV Ready Outlet: Yes
- Noise Level from 23 ft.: 51 dBA
- Inverter: yes
- Start Type: Recoil Start
- Fuel Type: Gasoline
- CARB Compliant: yes
Our grades
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Parallel Compatibility
- Very lightweight and compact
- Relatively quiet operation
- Fuel efficient
- Economy Mode
- Great for powering tools and necessities
- Feature two USB outlets
- Able to charge batteries
Cons
- No electric start
- Poor customer service
- No ground wire included
- Eco mode does not work well at high loads
#3. WEN GN400i - Cheapest 4000 Watt Inverter Generator
One of the first things to look for with any portable generator is reliability. WEN is rightly regarded as one of the best manufacturers going, and their latest GN400i has plenty of points to recommend.
What is in the Package?
Included: spark plug wrench, combination wrench (8mm/10mm), oil funnel, high altitude kits, manual, warranty card. The generator is shipped without oil and gasoline.
Its 212cc recoil start engine provides 3,500 watts of continuous power and 4,000 surge power. This makes it big enough to power some larger appliances such as the fridge since it does have a good amount of surge power.
At 66 pounds, considering what you get from it, the WEN GN400i inverter generator is still good for portability. For those who want to power their RV or have a mega camping adventure planned, you can be sure it will do the job and more.
My Noise Test
- Idle speed, 23 ft., eco mode off: 68 dBA
- Idle speed, 23 ft., eco mode on: 66 dBA
- 3/4 load (2750 watts), 23 ft., eco mode on: 73 dBA
The Key Features of the GN400i model include:
- It is equipped with LED indicator lights along with the control panel which helps to show the system status.
- The inverter generator has electronic circuit breakers to protect against any overloads.
- It can reproduce an excellent AC sine wave which enables the electronic device to connect directly to the generator to last longer.
- It is also equipped with ECO-MODE which runs as much as 11 hours without refueling. It also automatically adjusts the engine speed depending on the load. In this case, the load dictates how the engine runs.
- 7 hours of run time on 1.85 gallons worth of fuel at 1/2-load capacity makes it very fuel-efficient.
- Lots of outlets: The model comes with two 120V 20A (NEMA 5-20R) household outlets, two 5V USB ports, and 120V 30A (NEMA TT-30R) RV-ready outlet. This gives users plenty of options.
- Most importantly, it has parallel operation ability. Inverter generators can synchronize their output waveform, so you can combine two similar generators and provide double the wattage.
Other features:
- 1.85-gallon fuel tank
- 120-volt operation
- Carry handles built right in
- EPA+CARB / 50 State Compliant
- 2-year limited warranty
Specifications
- Starting Wattage: 4000
- Running Wattage: 3500
- RV Ready Outlet: Yes
- Inverter: yes
- Start Type: Recoil Start
- Fuel Type: Gasoline
- CARB Compliant: yes
Our grades
Pros
- Very Cheap
- Small Oversize
- Fuel efficient
- RV ready
- Feature two USB outlets
- Parallel Compatibility
- Eco mode
- The most complete package
- Automatic shutdown technology
Cons
- Open frame
- Relatively heavy, no wheels
- Noise level is a bit more than its competitor models
- Bad customer service
- Recommended oil change every 25 hrs
#4. WEN GN625i Inverter Generator with Open Frame - 5,000 Rated Watts
The WEN GN625i is touted to be one of the most powerful inverter generators on the market. This gasoline generator pushes out an amazing 6,250-watts surge power and an average of 5,000-watts of continuous running power. With 6,000-watts of the surge, you can bet your bottom dollar that you can power nearly any large appliance or power tool you want. With all that power, it can run for 8.1 hours at half capacity on 4.2 gallons of gas (that being a full tank).
What is in the Package?
Included: oil funnel, spark plug wrench, screwdriver, combination wrenches (8/10mm, 15/13mm, 19/17mm), wheel kit, manual, and warranty card. The generator is shipped without oil and gasoline.
A straightforward output panel features six outlets (4 households NEMA 5-20R, 1 3-prong RV Ready TT-30R outlet, and 30-amp NEMA L14-30R outlet) as well as a handy USB socket for charging portable electronics such as cell phones and laptops. These can all be used in tandem to power a variety of devices including lights, air-conditioning units, cooking devices, TV's and games consoles. The generator operates at 120/240 volts.
What Appliances Can Be Connected?
This generator can power the following common applications (not all applications can be powered simultaneously):
- Well Pump (2,000 watts)
- Water Pump (1,800 watts)
- Washing Machine (1,000 watts)
- Air Conditioner (3,000 watts)
- Refrigerator (800 watts)
- Electric Stove (3,000 watts)
- Microwave Oven (1,000 watts)
- Electric kettle (1,500 watts)
- Dishwasher (1,500 watts)
- Sensitive Electronics (TV, game console, desktop computer, laptop, printer, projector, phone charger, etc.)
- Home Sound System (200-1,000 watts)
- Space Heater (2,000 watts)
- and more…
It weighs 120-pounds wet making it on the heavy side. It has two handles on either side for two people to carry it. Plastic wheels come standard.
As for performance, some users report that this generator runs louder than at the advertised volume, being noticeably noisier than those manufactured by the likes of Honda. This is the most commonly reported issue with the product, however, given the output performance and much cheaper price than equivalent products it's only really a slight problem.
Specifications
- Starting Wattage: 6250
- Running Wattage: 5000
- RV Ready Outlet: Yes
- Inverter: yes
- Start Type: Recoil Start
- Fuel Type: Gasoline
- CARB Compliant: yes
Our grades
Pros
- Low-cost
- Wheel kit
- 4 types of outlets: 5-20R, TT-30R, L14-30R, 5V USB
- RV ready
- The most complete package
- Comparatively light for its powering
- Easy to adjust and repair
- High power, up to 10 hours of power
Cons
- Open frame
- No electric start
- Bad customer service
- No parallel ports
- Compared to a closed frame it’s noisy
#5. WEN 56200i - Portable Inverter Generator with CARB
Are you looking for silent generator for your camping and hunting? Look no more WEN 56200i Portable Inverter Generator is available for your needs; this unit is equipped with a 4-stroke 79.7 cc engine that is extremely quiet when in operation. It has 2000 Watt peak power and continues 1600 Watt Rated Power. The good thing with this generator is that it produces clean power which we can use while powering our sensitive electronics.
Why WEN 56200i Portable Inverter Generator
Less fuel more power: at only 1 gallon this inverter generator ensures 4 hours power supply at full capacity while 6 hours at 50% load.
Easy portability: due to its lightweight design it makes the best power solution for camping, outdoor and tailgating.
Parallel compatibility: to allow maximum power production WEN 56200i is designed to allow a parallel connection of two generators.
Environmental friendly: it is designed with reduced emissions engine, approved by EPA and CARB, therefore, can be used legally in many parts of the world.
Durable: it designed to automatically shut down when the level of oil is too low this prevents the engine from damage.
Conclusion
If your budget is very tight WEN 56200i is the best option to opt to furthermore it produces clean power for your sensitive gadget with minimal noise production.
Warranty
Wen 56200i Portable Inverter Generator has a 2-year limited warranty.
Specifications
- Starting Wattage: 2000
- Running Wattage: 1600
- Noise Level from 23 ft.: 51 dBA
- Inverter: yes
- Start Type: Recoil Start
- Fuel Type: Gasoline
- CARB Compliant: CARB Compliant
Our grades
Pros
- They are small enough to fit in any vehicle and light enough for the average person to carry easily
- It is very reliable
- It is super quiet when in operation, produces less than 55 decibels of sound
- Features an AC outlet, a DC outlet, and a USB output
- It produces clean and safe power this ensures all equipment are safe
- CARB compliant
Cons
- Many users have criticized this unit in that it produces low power hence not useful in heavy duty operation
- Difficult to access engine oil tank
#6. WEN 56475 Gasoline Powered Generator with Electric Start
Are you looking for a cheap and portable generator? WEN 56475 is readily available in the market to ensure all your power problems are sorted out. You may be asking yourself why WEN 56475, its best preferred due to the fact that at half load this generator will give you power for at least 11 hours. When running continues it has an ability to produce 3750 watts while the starting wattage is at 4750 watts, this is enough power to run almost every electronic at home or office.
Why WEN 56475 4750 Watt
Durable: this unit is long lasting its designed with a feature which allow low oil shutdown.
Easy portability: it comes with mounted wheels and fold-down handle this enable easy mobility of the unit.
Electric Start: a keyless electric start lets you turn on your generator at the press of a button.
Very safe: this unit has spark arrestor, a very vital part for those intending to use it in the forest.
Conclusion
Get yourself WEN 56475; get the value of your hard earned money.
Warranty
WEN 56475 4750-Watt Gasoline Powered Portable Generator has a 2-year limited warranty.
Specifications
- Starting Wattage: 4750
- Running Wattage: 3750
- RV Ready Outlet: Yes
- Noise Level from 23 ft.: 67 dBA
- Inverter: no
- Start Type: Electric Start, Recoil Start
- Fuel Type: Gasoline
- CARB Compliant: CARB Compliant
Our grades
Pros
- This unit has digital readout to help monitor maintenance intervals and oil changes
- The unit steel frame enclosure and an internal air-cooling system keep the engine cool, maximizing durability and engine longevity
- Good Price to Power Ratio
- RV ready
- Convenient electric start
Cons
- Many users of this unit have confessed to having a challenge with its starter, it's easily spoils while others claim that from the word go it does not function even when the unit is new. Also, the whole unit last for a short time before it stops producing power
- At 67 dBA this unit may not appropriate to the user in all occasion many customers have lamented that its vacuum cleaner noise like is very uncomfortable when used nearby
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