Westinghouse 12500 Peak Watt Tri-Fuel Home Backup Portable Generator, Remote Electric Start, Transfer Switch Ready, Gas, Propane, and Natural Gas Powered

I purchased the Westinghouse 12500 Peak Watt Tri-Fuel Generator for home backup, and overall I’m extremely impressed. The build quality feels solid and well-designed right out of the box, and setup was straightforward with clear instructions. One of the biggest selling points for me was the tri-fuel capability—it gives great flexibility to run on gasoline, propane, or natural gas depending on the situation, which is a huge advantage during emergencies. The unit also seems thoughtfully engineered for home use, with plenty of power capacity to run major appliances without concern. I haven’t had a chance to test the remote electric start yet, but it’s a great feature to have and adds a level of convenience that not all generators offer. So far, everything about this generator gives me confidence that it will perform when I need it most. If you’re looking for a reliable, high-capacity backup generator with versatile fuel options, this is a fantastic choice.

HISTORY, ITEMS PURCHASED AND THEIR INTENDED USE: We’ve owned and operated portable generators for years in connection with Texas farm and ranch operations. We’ve also owned several RV’s. We ordered 2 of these Westinghouse 9500Tfc (12500 peak) watt tri-fuel generators through Amazon to power essentials on the ranch (home, well, poly tanks, and guesthouse) during emergency outages. DELIVERY: Both items were delivered at the same time in separate boxes. The simultaneous delivery was appreciated, but the delivery was 8 days late. Not an extreme delay, but Amazon purchasers should plan accordingly. The final delivery process went well. We received a text the day before that provided a delivery window (2-5pm); then we received another confirming text the morning of delivery, and finally a phone call upon arrival - so be sure to carry your phone. The delivery truck was not oversized. No pallet was needed or utilized. The delivery people were polite and arrived early. They took directions courteously, dollied and placed each boxed generator into our garage work space for subsequent un-boxing, inspection and assembly. CONDITION, WEIGHT, AND START-UP: Packaging was good. Using a box cutter, we cut all the way around the bottom and lifted the box off. Each unit was clean and undamaged. Assembly was easy. The wheels are sturdy and roll well. However, the units are not lightweight, even heavier with a full tank of gasoline. I feel sorry for those who plan to regularly roll them around. Do yourself and your back a favor: Place the unit close to where you plan to ultimately use it. The generator engine batteries were fully charged. The battery wiring harness attaches easily, and each generator started on the first try. Be sure to fill the oil, and use EF fuel, if running on gasoline. The location of the “choke” setting (and lack of definitive markings on when it is open or closed) is an oversight on the unit. HOWEVER, the choke appears to be automatic (that is, we are finding that it automatically begins in the full "choke" position; then automatically moves from choke to run after the engine fires up; then returns back to choke again after shutdown). Nevertheless, be sure to confirm that the “choke” is open for cold starts, then confirm that the choke moves to run after the engine fires up. It would help if generator manual chokes (such as this one) had bold and conspicuous indicators of which position is the “choke” position and which is not, as well as panel-level visuals (or reminders) of choke status that cannot be ignored. The engine will run rough and stumble if it remains on choke continuously. Operators may not notice a forgotten choke left “on”, especially when electrical loads are being systematically applied and released (which can stumble the engine momentarily themselves). Nor is one constantly monitoring a generator during the entire operation in the same manner as one would be if he were operating a lawn mower (which, if it begins stumbling, alerts the operator that the choke may still be on). BTW - A great unpacking and assembly video is at: https://westinghouseoutdoorpower.com/blogs/westinghouse-blog/westinghouse-wgen9500-and-st-switch-review-by-randy-richard-in-the-shop ALTERNATIVE FUEL SOURCES AND CONNECTION LINES: A 6 ft, 3/8” propane hose and regulator is provided for attachment to a small portable propane tank, and a longer (25 ft, 1/2") natural gas/propane line is also included for those intending to run on NG (or on propane attached to larger home tank storage). Our initial start up testing was conducted using EF gasoline, but we may ultimately draw from our large home propane tank which has hose connection points close to where each generator will be located. NOISE LEVEL: The noise level is acceptable. We would estimate the sound as probably quieter than many other generators in the same class. But don’t fool yourself: generators of this size and wattage are not quiet. In my opinion, the noise level of this unit is equivalent to a quality, new and smooth, well-running, push lawnmower. The sound is not bad, and its operation outdoors is actually hard to hear indoors unless you plan to operate the unit right up against your building exterior. It’s louder than your outdoor central AC condenser unit, but nowhere near as loud as an average running air compressor unit (the kind used to fill tires, etc). Although some users build styrofoam box covers to dampen the sound, I believe the effectiveness of doing so is questionable, and material cost high. A slight or barely noticeable “drone” from the outdoors during emergency use is of little consequence to most of us. CO SENSOR: At the time we ordered, we were concerned that the units' CO sensors could be too sensitive, and we did not want to have to deal with random shut downs. However, none of these concerns were realized, the units operated perfectly outdoors side-by-side, not more than a few feet from one another, and no problems were encountered with the CO sensors. KEY FOB: Unfortunately, on one of the 2 units, the key fob appeared to be used, and the fob battery (one of those small 3V, 2032 numbered, round shiny flat batteries) was dead. However, not a big deal. We installed a new fob battery, and it worked fine. So far, we are pleased with both units, and look forward to fully testing them over the next 12 months, including on propane. We may further update this review as circumstances warrant. We hope this helps everyone.

I live in Southern California and as of late, with the wind and fires our power gets shut down periodically for days at a time. Finally fed up with losing food, no lights or showers for extended periods of time, I decided to do some research on generators that could run my 4,000 sf home during outages. This Westinghouse kept popping up in my search. Took the leap and purchased it (had it shipped to my Daughter in Oregon because for some unknown reason, it isn’t approved in California) even though it will run on propane and natural gas. She was coming down for Christmas so she loaded it up and brought it to us. Took me all of about 45 minutes to wire it up to back feed my panel through a 220 volt 50 amp auxiliary circuit I have in the garage for charging my wife’s car, and since my electric service is right next to my natural gas meter, I plumbed it in to hook up to the gas line. Well, it didn’t take long before the recent fires had our power shut down for several days. I fired it up and it ran flawlessly for 3 straight days and ran everything in the house including the home heating units. I did disconnect my pool sub panel and did not attempt to run pool pumps, not necessary for a couple days anyway. I tried it with propane as well and it ran just fine. No need for gasoline unless I have my natural gas cut off as well, but I have a backup 5 gallon gas can for emergency. Very impressed with the quality and ease of use and starting options. Super easy, super handy and great piece of mind. The generator comes with both natural gas and propane hoses for simple easy connections. I was out of town when the most recent power outage occurred and my wife was able to easily roll it out of the garage, make the connections and get I going. Time will tell, but I’m loving the piece of mind and uninterrupted power when we need it. Great piece of equipment. I’m a general contractor so I know how to make the electrical connections, I understand most folks should and will need to contact an electrician to set it up, but it’s simple if you watch some YouTube videos and are not afraid to do a little work.. easy DIY. job if inclined.

Purchased this generator to run our whole home during inclimate weather outages. We considered permanent installation of a Generac. But, for the few times a year we need it, we decided to go with the cheaper option. I’m glad we did because this generator is absolutely fantastic. The generator is well built, easy to set up and fires itself up easily with the push button start or remote. The fact that it will run on propane makes it so easy. I hate having gas cans around, filling them and putting fuel in machines in the middle of winter. It’s sloppy, smelly and always seems to spill. With propane, it’s just two easy connections and away you go. Love it. As for the power of this beast, we have a larger home and a lot of circuits. After the electrician installed the power box, we fired it up to test it out. It ran everything and wasn’t affected by the load. The generator just powered the home without effort or strain. This is a great machine and well worth the price—-which was on sale for me. I would have been just as thrilled if I had paid more. The great reviews led me to buy this generator and I’m glad I did. It is an incredible piece of equipment. Buy it. You will thank yourself when the power goes out.

Came well packaged from the factory, even the Amazon delivery driver had trouble dinging the box up, even though he did try, flipping the box end over end taking it off the truck! Although in his defense he didn't let the full weight slam down. After reading the instructions from "BEFORE STARTING" thru the "STARTING PROCEDURE", very easy to follow, the unit started up on very first try with the electric start button with propane as my fuel of choice. I plugged into the 120V 20A outlets, as a power backup it worked fine. Portability is good with the heavy duty tires and beefy handle for moving around. I would give this generator a 5 star but haven't got to use all the functionalities that this generator offers or on how well it works on the other, dual fuels. I wasn't able to program the remote with the instructions, but its probably just me missing something. Good Powerful unit!!

I've been considering a generator for my Texas home ever since losing power during cold weather events the last few years. This generator is the perfect combination of power, size, flexibility, and price. A portable generator is much more affordable than the whole home standby variety. While the latter has its advantages, this 12,500 peak 9,500 sustained watt generator can keep most of your homes' important appliances running without the high initial cost. Having the Tr-Fuel feature allows you to power this generator with either gasoline, propane, or natural gas. The generator has a 6.6 gallon gasoline tank built in. It also comes with the necessary hoses and fittings for propane or natural gas. This allows the generator to be extremely flexible, and extends its usage incase you run out of one type of fuel. Now while I don't plan on running the engine indoors, having the CO sensor as a backup is invaluable for my both mine and my families safety. If the generator detects elevated levels of CO, it will automatically shut down. Lastly, the generator comes with a remote starter, which is nice if I ever end up using this during nasty weather. One click of the remote, and the generator starts up. I can even shut the engine off remotely too! The generator was delivered undamaged in a box by a freight company. Once you unpack it, you'll need to install the wheels/feet, but everything else has already been assembled from the factory. It does come with the oil drained out of the engine. The box did include a quart of 4-stroke oil, but my generator required a bit more than a quart, so I'd suggest running to your local home improvement store prior to getting it started. I've only ran it on a tank of liquid propane, but it started quickly the first try and ran without issues. I highly recommend this generator if you're looking for an affordable and flexible home backup power source.

Generator arrived in a large box that the delivery personnel were able to put directly in my garage. Setting up was a breeze, especially with two people. My only complaint on setup is that the provided oil did not make it to the fill line on the dip stick. So I had to go to my local hardware and buy some more before I felt comfortable starting the generator. Using the handle and wheels, I can easily maneuver the generator out of the garage and away from the house when I want to use it and then back into the garage when it's not in use. I have a natural gas quick connect outside my house that is used for my grill. Connecting this generator to that quick connect with the provided hose was easy. No modifications were necessary. The first time I went to start it up using natural gas I followed the instructions. When I pushed the start button on the side of the generator, it attempted to start three times and failed. The light around the start button turned red and I wasn't sure what to do (there was nothing in the instructions about this). I ended up pushing the start button again and it attempted to start a 4th, 5th and 6th time. On the 6th time the generator started successfully and I let it run for approximately 10 minutes before connecting several devices to it directly (vacuum, miter saw, table saw) and all worked as expected. Since then, the generator has started within the first 3 attempts every time. I have only used natural gas, so I don't have a review on the propane or gasoline performance. We have not lost power since purchasing this generator, so I haven't used it to power the house in a true emergency. I did turn off my utility power to test it out and it powered the house as expected! I would highly recommend this generator to anyone. Especially those that plan to use it with natural gas.

I've only run this unit for a couple of hours, so It's not through the break-in period. The location I have for the unit is elevated, at a house on the coast of Galveston Bay. The platform where the generator is placed apparently does not allow CO to disperse enough, because it shut down within a few moments after start up. with the CO sensor triggering. Since this was the first start up, I was not sure if this was a problem or not. I moved the generator to a different area, to an open deck nearby and the generator ran well here. In both places I do think there was adequate wind, and zero CO hazard, so I don't know why I had the problems I did at first. I suspect a too sensitive CO monitor. I did heed the numerous warnings to not run the unit inside or in an enclosed space, and there was no risk of CO poisoning at the first location. The unit is not very quiet, but no louder than can be expected. I am running the unit on Propane, although I plan to use Natural gas, once I can get the proper fittings to the gas line I have at the site. I was required to order a 3/4" mpt to 1/2" flare fitting to make the connection. For some reason this is not a common fitting found in my local hardware stores. Which makes me think vendors like Amazon will eventually run Home Depot, Lowes and Ace out of business. I don't like that idea, it is what it is. I have not run the unit on Gasoline or Natural gas yet, nor have I tried to power my essential house appliances with it yet. I am registering my review prematurely so I can obtain a free cover for the unit. Overall I have no objections. I think the generator will answer my needs in a power outage very well. I hope it will last for many years, but given that I have to leave a review so soon after purchase, I can't guarantee anything. It seems to work out of the box, provide power and is a reasonable price. Update- The unit seems to work well, it provided power for our refrigerator, a freezer, and Airconditioning, a along with a little bit for electronic items. We have a gas stove, so there was no load from that. We did need to be careful as to the order we powered these items on as the start up currents could trip the breaker on the generator. So I know we're using it at near capacity. Overall I'm satisfied with it.

Delivery was done on time, and I was informed prior to drop-off. It was fairly easy to set up; the instructions were clear for operation. It started up the first time using gasoline; I'm waiting on the hookup for natural gas. It comes with both lines for propane & natural gas. Although this was not clear at the time of ordering, I purchased an additional natural gas line. Everything appears to work and runs well, and I'm pleased with the purchase. Have not had a chance to use during an outage but feel confident it will do the job. Had a Generlink installed so power goes directly through breaker panel.

Recent storms in our area have made owning a generator a necessity. The tri-fuel Westinghouse 12500W lets you select the fuel you want to use….Natural gas & propane & if you in a remote local gasoline is an option. The 12500 Peak Watts is plenty of power to run all your garage power tools , RV trailer & a quantity of your household appliances to live comfortably in a power outage. The generator arrived quickly & the box items list was complete. Easy setup out of the box….less than 15 mins…owners manual helped understand the Tri- fuel generator know matter your level of generator knowledge. I would definitely recommend the Westinghouse Tri-fuel 12500W…if you buy the tri-fuel you will have options….if your fuel option change you already have the right generator.

Just got my generator, unfortunately the package was 1 axle and 1 flat washer short but the costumer service was great on usa side and canadian side , and they do whatever they can to get the missing parts to you asap. I think if you spend close to 3000 $ they could check and make sure al parts are there before send it out for delivery. The fuel tank and cross bar are dented and bend a little ,probably happend in transport . The noise is not bad at all I expected much more for such a big generator and it runs smooth. Overall I'm quite happy with this genset and I think I have one of the best genset I can buy for 3 grand in this caliber generators

My generator arrived without the attachment for one wheel, which would usually be welded onto the frame. It cost me close to $300 to have the missing part fabricated and welded onto. To date the company has not reimbursed me for this expense.