Westinghouse 5000 Peak Watt Super Quiet Dual Fuel Portable Inverter Generator, Remote Electric Start, Gas & Propane Powered, RV Ready, CO Sensor, Parallel Capable

SUMMARY 12/08/2024A capable well designed and implemented generator at a very good price point with a responsive American service/support organization.It is best used for intermittent or emergency service rather than for full time oroff-grid routine use.Storage and operation in rain, snow or dust environments should be avoided.The pure sine inverter, power level, dual fuel operation, battery electric start,eco mode, cost and American service/support were key purchase factors.Biggest Pros Price/Performance and SupportBiggest Cons Transport, some large hands issues, display readabilityBuy Again YesStars 5ACQUISITIONPurchased at Amazon and received promptly with the cartonslightly damaged and some internal Styrofoam packing broken.All visible generator components were undamaged.Installation is at 7200 feet so high-altitude kits had to be orderedfrom Westinghouse which took some time and inconvenience.Amazon does not sell the high-altitude kits at this time.SETUPHigh AltitudeObservation The OEM sea-level to 2000 feet propane gas jet hasthread locker and is difficult to remove without heating.Observation An adjustable wrench was a poor choice.Observation A 17mm socket wrench worked well and a viseholding the brass jet could have worked.Observation Good light is needed to see the size markings oneach jet in the loose pack kit.The intent here is to primarily use propane.OilObservation The provided break-in oil took some time to fill due to therequired trial and error to avoid over filling.This unit required about 90% of the supplied quart.Observation The provided flexible funnel screws in and is a Gem.Keep it clean and don't lose it.Be certain NOT to screw in the oil cap when checking the level.A Negative The oil access port is too small for large hands.This can make checking before each use a chore.BatteryObservation The starting battery arrived loose and out of place.A Negative The battery access port is too small for large hands.A Negative The battery tie-down strap is much too difficult to fastenand had to be left loose.A Negative The battery connections, although standard automotive types,are too difficult to connect in the available space.A Negative Both the battery and the generator leads should beat least 3 inches longer.The battery was charged overnight with the provided chargerThe battery also charges during operation.A Negative It is unfortunate that the charger is not float charging capableand cannot be left connected to the generator.Observation The front panel charging port is connected directly to the battery.RemoteObservation The Remote Start/Stop Key Fob Pairing instructions were followed,and it worked the first timeObservation The instructions indicate that the generator should not be startedin ECO mode. This reduces the value of the remote.Tool KitObservation The kit includes a spark plug wrench a 17-mm & 19-mm doubleopen-end wrench and plastic pouch.The included screwdriver is of indeterminate value.TRANSPORTObservation The generator rolls easily on smooth surfaces via the extension\handle.Observation The small wheels will make rolling the generator more difficultas the ground surface gets rougher.A Negative The extension handle requires a large button press under thegenerator which has been a minor problem for large hands.Observation The top lifting handles are strong and effective.There is no bottom lift capability.A Negative In cold weather large, gloved hands have not been able to gripthese handles.DOCUMENTATIONObservation The user manual is excellent in English and in illustration.No comment on Spanish or French sections.Observation In two places manual procedures call for shutting off a gasfuel valve which does not apply to this generator.Observation The Key Fob pairing procedure incorrectly describes theassociated indicator light on the front panelObservation There is no storage bin for the remote as the manual suggests.Fastening it to the starter rope works well enough.A Negative There is no description of how to use the supplied charger properly.Observation The safety warnings are numerous and to the point.Observation The Quick Start Guide Shut Down procedure doesn’t make sensefor this model.Observation A parts list with illustrated parts breakdown is includedseparately from the user manualObservation The parts list does not include the high-altitude kits oraccessories.PERFORMANCECaveat During this initial period no proper test equipment was used toevaluate the unit. The panel display values were not validated.StartingWith the generator off and propane supply on, the rope waspulled three times to distribute the new oil and displace air.Observation The propane startup was then no more than 4 secondson the first try at an outdoor temperature of 40 degrees F.RestartingObservation During 2 hours of break-in operation the unit was stopped andrestarted multiple times without issues from both thefront panel and the remote.Maximum powerGiven the altitude and propane operation there was no reason toexpect more than 79% of the 3500 rated operating Watts.(Net 2765 Watts)Observation The generator had no difficulty providing up to 2450 Watts whilekeeping the power below the recommended 50% of max duringthe first 5 hours.Test Loads 700-Watt resistive space heaterHair dryer with 1200- or 400-Watt operation1250 Watt running load household vacuum cleaner1800-Watt induction cooktopObservation During the two-hour test, primarily with some load to anaverage load of about 1000 Watts there were no issues.ECO ModeObservation All loads behaved properly in ECO mode and full speed mode .Observation ECO mode itself behaved quickly in response to all loadsincluding the induction cooktop which cycles frequently.The instructions indicate that the generator should not bestarted in ECO mode.Observation The generator started and stopped in ECO modewithout apparent issue.Observation ECO mode reached high speed operation levels at some pointbelow 2000 Watts.High SpeedObservation In ECO and non-ECO modes the removal of a large load resultedin a brief engine race condition thought to be harmless.Noise The break-in test was done on a concrete porch about 3 feetfrom a log wall and three feet above ground level.Observation Conversation was possible next to the generatorbut not comfortable.Observation Conversation was comfortable about 30 feet away and3 feet below. This is clearly a location specific subjective result.VoltageObservation The no load and light load panel voltage was 124 volts.Observation The 2400-Watt load voltage was as low as 117 voltsand typically, 118 to 119 voltsUSER INTERFACEHour MeterObservation The meter reads in increments of 1 hour.There is no documentation to know if it would addfor example, three 20-minute sessions correctly.Power Level GaugeObservation The gauge has 5 LEDs reading in increments 0f 25% from 0 to 100%Observation This gauge is judged to be cosmetic and useless.Observation The gas level gauge is similar in operation.and although not tested is probably quite useful.Power Level DisplayObservation This is a four-digit display reading in kilowatts.Observation It has a long integration time, so it updates somewhat slowlypreventing a lot of jitters in the readings.Observation The display is difficult to read in direct sunlight and must be shaded.A Negative The display is difficult to use because it is so low to the ground.Observation It would be much easier to use if it was angled upward so asto be observed from a standing position.END

[Discussion:]So far (about 2 hours in) I’m very pleased with the iGen4500DFc. Carton showed some signs of shipping abuse, but generator was well packed and had no damage.I purchased this generator for emergency household power and occasional light recreational use. Seems sturdy/durable enough to do occasional short bursts of field work.Output density (my definition: running output amps per cubic foot of required storage space), running noise level, ease of operation, low total harmonic distortion (THD), fuel efficiency/available run-time, and availability of repair parts topped my list of concerns. The iGen4500DFc nails it. Dual-fuel capability out of the box sweetens the deal.The iGen4500DFc is quiet (as compared to open frame generator models). In the first hour of break-in running, at just under half load, on gasoline, I measured 73dB SPL A-weighted @ 1m. Generally speaking, this noise level falls between the interior of a car driving on the highway and a vacuum cleaner. The well insulated case does a good job of rolling off the high frequencies. The result is a steady thrum with a broad, smooth peak at about 750Hz.[Overall:]If you’re looking for a light-duty/recreational inverter generator that’s quiet, compact, powerful, and solidly built, look no further. The iGen4500DFc is an excellent choice.[Pros:]+Well-built+Quiet+Compact+Good value for money+Starts immediately+Electric push-button and remote start! Great for my shoulder and for my partner when I’m not around. Just in case, the unit still has well-located (if a bit less so for lefties) recoil start+Eco mode (throttles to demand for loads with a low startup draw) for enhanced efficiency+Great included accessories. Comes with a bottle of engine oil for the first fill, a screw-in long-neck funnel, and a small utility tool kit including a screwdriver, 17/19mm open end wrench, and a two-piece stamped spark plug wrench. The spark plug wrench is tricky to use inside the cramped case (I ended up using a 13/16 spark plug socket, wobble adapter, extension, and ratchet)+Dual fuel. Comes with propane regulator and hose!+Efficient and long-running w/large 3.4gal fuel tank. At just under half load (w/ 94°F ambient air temp., 53%RH, and 93 octane (non-REC) gasoline) I saw around a 0.3gal/hr. burn rate+Owner’s manual is excellent and comprehensive (though there are some crossover data/specs inserted from the iGen5000 model to watch out for)+Moving. Easy to move on smooth/level/dry surfaces. Has an excellent hideaway “suitcase” handle. Unit has excellent bar-handles and is compact/light-weight enough for me to lift into truck bed/onto work bench alone when no one else is around to help+Safety. Great safety features (incl. CO auto-shutoff, overload shutoff, low-oil shutoff, resettable fuses)+Display. Nice multi-function information display panel, if a bit confusing at first run (display data cycles through multiple parameters with the press of a small thumb button). Easy to read digital bar-style gauges for at-a-glance gasoline and load percentage readings+Battery charger. Box includes generator battery charger, though it’s not a “battery tender.” More a plug in and top off once a stored month deal. Nice to have it included+Repair/PM parts readily available on Amazon and through Westinghouse[Cons (and I’m nitpicking):]-Case plastics. The plastic is soft. Very soft. Scratches/gouges on contact with everything harder than a fingernail (Mohs hardness 2.0). My thumbnail leaves discolored scratches that don’t “wipe” away, but does not leave a discernible grove in the plastic surface. Great that the plastics likely won’t shatter/crack with anything less than a major impact. Bit of a bummer that even the over-tightened screws from the factory discolor the plastics. If you’re fussy about the appearance of your equipment, the plastics might drive you a bit nuts-Wheels. The wheels are made from a relatively slippery blow molded plastic. They do the job, but feel cheap to me-Moving. Challenging to move on rough surfaces due to low ground clearance under center of chassis-Oil changes. Changing the oil on this unit is not easy/quick. The oil access panel is tiny and seems designed for dipstick access only. For oil changes, the factory drain assembly mostly lines up with a hole in the chassis pan. Fair enough. Getting two wrenches (10mm and 13mm) through the access panel, into place, and spinning is a trick. Prepare to remove the side panel for oil changes or do what I did: order and install an oil drain extension hose (can be fed carefully through the body-pan hole when it’s time to drain). Alternatively, you can cut the top off of a water bottle to use as a drain funnel. Speaking of oil, consider adding a magnetic dipstick to your order to catch/collect the inevitable small-engine ferrous flecks-Electrical outlets. Wish there was a second set of 5-20R 120V outlets. That said, the control panel is very full. No room to add an aftermarket toggle switch (say, neutral bond/float)-Switching to bonded neutral isn't as straight-forward as it could be. Floating neutral is likely the best choice for the majority of users. However, I do not plan to connect to a breaker panel (household or RV). Running stand-alone with extension cords, I want the added safety of a GFCI device. The common advice is to use a bonded neutral plug. Which would be okay, if it didn't require half of the available 5-20R outlets-Propane hose. Awesome that a propane hook-up hose is included. The hose I received is 33 inches (or ~84cm) long, including the fittings, which, when connected, places the propane cylinder too close to running generator for my preference-No 12VDC “accessory” plug onboard-No phone app or WiFi/bluetooth connectivity-Panel LED indicators bright enough to read on the surface of the sun. No option to dim