20 Best Inverter Generator For Home (2023 Updated)

I found this generator in November last year that was a life saver. I have a houseboat on the lake that originally had a 5500-watt Onan generator. The generator had served its purpose and was in need of retirement.

I originally was looking to purchase a Honda 7000-watt generator recommended by a friend, but the price was a turnoff, particularly for a retired person on Social Security. I had made a Westinghouse 2700-watt generator purchase 3 years earlier and was extremely pleased.

Performance and noise level was great. Unfortunately, I had to let it go with my former houseboat sell. So, I went back to Westinghouse to see what they had. I found this iGen 4500 that was a big brother to my 2700.

Price initially caught my eye. Features including electric start local and fob along with paralleling two generators was a huge selling point as well. I was familiar with Westinghouse and felt this find was a big win for us.

My new houseboat was larger than my former. With dual frig and refrigerated air I knew the power draw may be a challenge for a single unit, but paralleling options was huge. I could two units and parallel if I had a desire to run the refrigerated air unit and I could do so a have the price I would have paid to go with the 7000-watt Honda.

Additionally, the noise level with my new unit was at 52db, just slightly higher than the Honda. Extremely impressed with the operation of this unit. Currently, I have one unit on my boat and the other in my shop.

If I have a need at the boat for more wattage the twin unit is very mobile. Until that time, I have the other unit for crazy electrical blackouts.

I bought this Gen about 4 months ago at a very good price. I had wanted the WEN 56235i (2350w) but they were all sold out at the time. I’ve broken it in, changed the oil and have run it under load for about 30 minutes once a month.

It’s lightweight and quiet vs my Westinghouse iGen2500 (larger engine) which is also quiet but slightly louder. Plugging in a Hair Dryer directly to the iGen2500 the power meter reads 1750w when dryer is running on High.

The WEN does not have a power meter but it runs the same Hair Dryer on High without the overload (red) light ever coming on? I bought the Gen(s) for outages at home during Hurricane season not for camping.

Burned significant oil right from the first start. Generator did perform well other than the oil consumption. It was relatively quiet and powered a 1500 watt RV microwave. However, it’s longevity was severely questionable.

I returned it. Thank you to Walmart for the generous return policy.

I bought this generator for camping, but what I use it the most for is when my power goes out. I have my TV and computer on one of those power strips and when the power goes out I plug it in plus one light, so at least I can watch TV and not sit in the dark until the power goes back on.

Very happy I bought it. Runs great and starts very easy. On high idle it’s a little noisy, but whatever. I can deal with it.

I purchased this generator 2 years ago. I run it regularly for my business. The first year and first 800 hours were great. Come year two and just over 800 hours the generator has been nothing but problems.

Furthermore, Honda has a horrible warranty. They are telling me that they do not replace generators, they only repair them. Currently they cannot repair my generator because they do not know the cause of it not turning on or shutting down.

I have read many people having similar issues with what seems to be the heat causing the generator not working properly. They should recall this generator.

Shopped around and considered every possible option before buying this 2500w generator. This is the only one available in Canada that can handle 2200w continuous at this size and price point. Now this is no American made generator as it is made in Vietnam, but at this price, you have to expect that.

I filled the generator with oil and gas and I was quite pleasantly surprised to see it fire up with one light pull of the string! This one is so easy to pull vs a regular generator. I did the break in period my way which is what Champion recommends, 5 hours with no more than a quarter load and I kept varying the load.

The I changed the oil, and yes it needed to be changed as the oil had turned grayish. I then put the synthetic oil in and fired it up again, started again on the first pull. This time, it was time to test the generator to see what it could handle.

I bought this one vs other 1800w models because I want to be able to run my AC in my motorhome, which I know will draw well over 2000w when I will turn it on due to surge. I did not have my motorhome with me so I used two different 1500w heaters and a 1500w heat gun to test.

All three can be set to half wattage to 750W. Well let me tell you, the generator was consistently capable of handling a 3000w surge for up to 5-6 seconds, I was able to run 2250w for minutes before the generator would quit as 2200w is the max rated continuous use.

So time will tell, but so far so good, no other generators here in Canada come close to this spec wise. And even though this one is a Vietnamese generator really, Generac stands by this model so one should feel pretty good I think.

I will update overtime.

When I first received my W03383, I was excited to test it out. It was early December, so no trip planned for a while. I read through all the startup info and got it ready for first fire and charged the battery (so I thought).

When it was time to start it up, the battery would not work, so I used the pull start. It took a number of tries to get it to fire even with the choke button in. Once it started it ran a bit rough and then smoothed out a little.

Each time I went to start it was the same, the battery would not charge and it ran rough. I contacted Service, concerned that the battery was defective. IMMEDIATELY, they opened a claim and got a new battery ordered for me.

After talking with the Rep and looking at the battery remove guide, I went to remove it to be ready for the new battery (as now I have a trip coming up!). Once it gained access to the battery, I saw that the positive terminal lead had become disconnected from the battery.

So I reconnected it, put the unit back together, and tested it out. Vroom! She fired right up, smoothed right out and ran great. Now after several trips out, the generator has operated flawlessly!! I could not be happier about my purchase.

I did contact Service right away and had them cancel the replacement battery order. Thanks Firman for a great product and Top Notch Service!!.

Shipping took forever but that’s not factory pure’s fault. Fedex just sucks (NY->OH->PA->BACK to OH???? then lost in UT). What I was upset about: They left the fuel bowl drain screw open, so not only would it not run (which had me worried and perplexed for a minute) but when I filled it with gas, it drained all over my patio.

Second, the pull cord lasted a whopping 2 pulls before it decided to wrap itself and jam. Now I have to take it apart to fix that (project for another time). Remote start works, which is definitely cool, however the choke will turn ON automatically, but will not switch to off.

Didn’t think much of it during testing as I mostly wanted the remote to turn it off when I jump into bed in my RV and forget to turn off the generator. Unfortunately, I went to use it around the house for break-in/testing and found that the choke button now doesn’t switch the choke off (switches on, just not off).

It used to work fine. This is literally the second time this generator has ran. Another project, yay. Hopefully this is the end of the issues. They are minor and I am mechanically inclined so it’s not a big issue, hence 4 stars, mostly for the remote function.

This is the first generator I ever bought. I’ve used them quite a bit at work. I got it to mostly power My food in the two fridges in the freezer we have in case we have power outages since there’s a lot of money in there I.

did some research online combined with the owners manual and decided to do a 5 hour break in. I saw some guys recommending that they just left it idling for 1 to 5 hours but just like my car and from some other recommendations I decided to vary the speeds.

Actually the owners manual says to do that also. I kept it under 900 w. I wasn’t sure how to do that so I went and got one of those plug-in watt meters which was really nice. The blow dryer and a heat gun work perfectly.

I varied between all the hi/low cool/warm/hot settings and was able to get it to go from about 100 w all the way to about just under 900 w. I’d run anywhere from about a minute to five minutes or so under load and then idle it for 10-15 minutes or so And let it cool down.

I used high-octane 93 gas. With some fuel stabilizer in case it sits there for a little while. After the break in I also added some oil additive to my full synthetic 5W-30. One thing I wanted to do but forgot was use conventional 10W-30 for the break in.

But I accidentally used my full synthetic for the first two hours. I also bought a magnetic oil cap because that supposed to capture the oil shavings during the break in time. When I first started it it was a pretty good cloud of smoke for a couple minutes.

And it was a little rough. But once it got rolling it seemed to run pretty smooth. For some reason when I Used about 350 W on the blow dryer it ran a little uneven and rough even at the very end of the break in period so I’m not sure what that’s about.

But during the last 15 minutes [after the 5 hrs] when I went full blast on the dryer it was up to 1600 W and sounding really smooth and also smooth idling. That was on my final oil change with the full synthetic and I even put a little additive in there One thing I was a little surprised about was how loud it was.

Everyone talked about how whisper quiet was so I was a little surprised but I think that’s because our work ones were a little quieter. I’m really happy with it so far. I hope it lasts. I tried to do everything I could during the break and to make it last for a long time.

Well boxed and shipped directly to house. Like the screw in funnel for adding oil, no spills. Kept the oil bottle to refill for future changes. Added 1 quart of gas and ran for 1. 5 hours on eco mode.

Switched eco off and it ran for another 50 minutes. My biggest amp draw hand tool is a circular saw. Turned it on, not in eco mode, and the red light flickered for 1/2 second as saw started. Not concerned about that.

This will be used sparingly to take to rentals if power needed and no one home. Weight is easily manageable for this 65 year old. I have a bigger generator if compressors and big saws needed but it’s close to 100 lbs.

, and I now need ramps to get it loaded. About amp/watt draw of various items. I recommend you buy a kill-a-watt meter to check your household items, published running watts for many things are ridiculously high.

My 2 year old fridge draws 8 watts sitting, 110 with compressor running and a 410 twice a day, for 30 minutes each, when the defrost cycle kicks in. My power strip with 52″ tv, modem and router draws less than 100 watts.

LED light bulbs are 10/15 watts. My 20″ box fan on high is 60 watts. If needed this little generator will run quite a lot. Again, strongly recommend buying a kill-a-watt for actual amp/watt draw of your items.

I live in an area with frequent power outages. While they are short lived, I don’t want to risk being out of power this winter. I decided to purchased some back up power for these emergencies. First I bought a portable battery system with solar charging capabilities.

A month after that purchase, my power went out for almost 24 hours. Fortunately I had a sunny day in the short daylight hours of December and was able to keep the furnace and refrigerator running. At this point I realized that I cannot count on the sun to keep the battery unit powered and found the Westinghouse iGen2200 after a little research.

Amazon had a great price and I couldn’t pass it up; four days later it was on my porch. Un-boxing, I found the supplied tools. Being a new engine, I did not know the lubrication content in the cylinder.

I removed the spark plug and put a small amount of Marvel Mystery Oil in the cylinder (less than a table spoon). I followed the enclosed instructions and filled the crank case with the supplied oil. Next I mixed, in a one gallon can, the fuel, fuel stabilizer and filled the tank.

I gave the pull cord a few slow gentle pulls to get the Marvel oil on the cylinder walls. I replaced the plug and set the controls per instruction for starting. One firm pull brought the engine to life and I was smiling.

I plugged in some small appliances to vary the load on the engine, keeping the demand under 1000w during some initial break-in time including my battery unit. My primary reason for this purchase is to charge this unit.

The iGen2200 works like a champ! It’s light weight, easy to use, and won’t disturb your neighbors when it’s running. I feel sorry for my neighbor that bought a more expensive and lesser quality unit.

This is our 4th Generac product (and counting). Having installed a 22kW Generac Guardian as our whole-home backup generator, we no longer needed our Generac XG6500, which we donated to the in-laws. We did, however need a mid-sized generator to power our hunting camp and to handle remote farm work.

The iQ3500 filled that need perfectly. Unbelievably quiet for the hunting cabin and transfers easily into the bed of a side-by-side for off-grid power tool use. The 3500 ran a circular saw and hammer drill with no lag or audible burden.

Sensitive enough to charge devices via USB. Only downside (as mentioned in other reviews) is the spark arrestor being misaligned with the plastic grate, which may become deformed over time but doesn’t seem to impact performance.

Bought the generator to power my camper trailer – my 1800 watt generator wouldn’t power the AC. I have not run gasoline through it because I haul this in my trailer and don’t want the gasoline smell.

I have been quite happy with it for the last 4 months, but if using only propane, there are a few considerations that should be made. First, the way the hoses connect to the generator makes them “stick out” so they have more chances of getting damaged.

I’m going to plumb in a 90 degree fitting and add a quick connect to make it more convenient. Second, it doesn’t like to start well (on propane) when the temperature drops below approx. 40 deg F. I think this is due to the pressure in the propane tank decreasing as the temperature decreases and a spring loaded safety valve that has to be overcome by the vacuum generated when the generator is cranking/running.

This would not be a problem with gasoline. It makes it nearly impractical to start it using the pull rope because you can’t get it to spin over enough times to generate enough vacuum to get the propane to “flow” properly.

I rely on the pull start as a backup in case my battery dies. It would be nice to have a primer/bypass to help get it started. Hoping that I can use starting fluid to get it to fire a few times on a pull start to get it going.

Also considered making custom “jumper cables” to bypass the internal battery in case it goes dead. Note that I expect the weaknesses of the propane option to be common among all dual fuel options but maybe some are less finicky.

Overall I’m quite happy with the generator, just needs a few tweaks to make it more convenient for my application.

I just received this generator for my birthday! I plan to use it for my camper! So far am very pleased with the performance and quality! It should power everything I need it to power and more. Its dual fuel so a can run on extra gas I’ve got for my truck or the propane I use for my camper.

They provide everything you need to get this thing up and running for both gas and propane except for the fuel! The remote start fob is already pared so that makes life a little easier! I cant speak on the long term reliability yet, I’m not even though my 5 hour brake in yet but I’m excited to put this thing to some real use! But so far this generator has been super simple to get started, just add the provided oil with the provided funnel and some fuel and shes ready to go (into break-in period).

It is defiantly quitter than I expected especially when its on eco mode! The included battery charger for the onboard battery that plugs right into the face of the generator is a very welcome addition as well, that one less thing you have to buy and one less process you have to go though to keep this thing up and running.

And its worth noting that I have had zero choke issues! I think this is the latest and greatest model because both my USB ports are 2. 1 amp. I think some of the older ones had a 1. something and a 2.

1amp USB port instead of both being 2. 1, the included oil funnel is a different than most sights have photos of, and the manual is a little different than the one you can download online (Home Depot).

So maybe they worked the choke out! Only complaint so far is the oil drain hole on the bottom of the generator is a little small and it’s kinda hard to not make a mess. A drain tube that you could lead out of the hole would be a nice addition.

But if that continues to be my only complaint I am 100% satisfied!.

Bought my 3000is for the boat to run a dorm style refrigerator, an ice maker & a battery charger. When connecting the battery like so many others have stated no bolts or nuts to connect the battery. Since I’m in the country going to town is a big deal.

Cost me $14. 49 at O’Reilly’s. Finally started it up, & the noise was awful! Couldn’t push choke in or use eco without it dieing. Finally after 5 hours of running I was able to push the choke in. But the generator is loud at 87db, turned on the eco switch & it stayed running but no quiet.

I don’t think this will work on the boat as it’s too darn loud! My 6. 5kw Onan generator in the RV is a lot quieter this this junk. Honda used to have a reputation for the quietest generator but not any more by a long shot.

And apparently there quality control is gone.

Generator failed to stay running after it warmed up. It would sputter and die. It would restart but the same thing would happen. Returned it to the store I purchased it from and they said it had bad gas (which they put in when new).

I thought, OK I will give it a try with new gas. The same thing happened after a few hours of use. I returned it again. They then said they found a sliver of metal in the carb. I took it back home and it still would not stay running for more that an hour or two.

I took it back an currently waiting for them to find the problem. The thought maybe the coil was acting up when it got hot. This is my second one like this to own. I bought one exactly like this one and it has worked flawlessly so far.

I will update this post if possible when the problem is resolved.

Bought this for home power backup because it had great ratings from customers on a number of different sites. It is very quiet, especially once the eco-throttle is engaged. I would recommend getting the wheel kit because though it is possible for one person to lift, it is quite heavy.

The staff at Issaquah Honda Kubota were very helpful preparing it, explaining the correct operating and maintenance procedures, and helping get it into my vehicle. The electric start is good, and having a pull-cord as backup is reassuring.

I will be running it every few weeks to ensure it is working and keep fuel moving through the carburetor, but hoping I won’t need to use it in a power cut. Nice to know it is there if I do, though.

After reviewing portable generators this was my choice. Boxed extremely well for shipping. Looks well made. Surprisingly, it only requires 11oz of motor oil. Directions are clear. Their should be a place to store a spark plug, screw driver and wrench.

I ordered a cover for the generator when not in use. Finding a spare spark plug, and air filter was a lot of work. WEN was out of stock on everything. It’s a tad heavier than I expected. Over 50lbs. If it gives me 5 + years of service I’ll be pleased.

I’m very impressed with this unit. First I thought that this unit would be probably a so so item due to the reasonable price. I was definitely surprised and happy about the easy set up and the super-performance.

The noise level is as described. Just wonderful experience with this merchandise thank you I am a happy customer.

This is my 2nd unit so I can run in parallel for the RV. Very quiet, as generators go. I also use as an emergency electrical source for power outages. I have computer UPSs and a pellet stove that wont work with a regular generator but work flawlessly with this unit.

Have tested with various loads (using a kill-a-watt meter) and have run pulling 1650 watts continuously, but that was for sure the limit (as it is advertised). As true with any generator/inverter, you need to know your load.

Many electrical devices have surge power needs that can be twice the running watts. Power tools, compressors, air conditioners, microwaves can need a large surge to start. This unit will run my RV 13.

5k btu air conditioner no problem, but I have a hard start capacitor on it to ease the starting surge. Also, microwaves are typically rated in “Cooking watts” so be sure of the actual electrical watts needed to operate.

Check the manufacturer’s site, owners manuals, etc, so you make sure you size your gennie appropriately.

I bought this generator a few months ago and just got the opportunity and desire to take it out of the box and get it set up for any potential power outages that may come during the hurricane or the winter.

I put the proper oil and gas in and reviewed the instructions and went to start it up. It is a Honda generator and I paid a premium for it and expected no problems at all. Despite following the instructions to the absolute letter I absolutely can not get the thing to start.

I am really glad I tried this before I actually needed it. I am very familiar with all sorts of power equipment which I frequently use and have done all the trouble shooting that I can. I am taking it to a dealer as soon as possible to get the issue resolved.

I am hoping its something that I have overlooked and is an easy fix but if that is the case then the instructions and the user manual need to be updated or made more user friendly. Despite not actually working the quality of the generator appears to be absolutely top notch.

I purchased this unit mainly because it is a Honda. My shed and garage are filled with Honda products and I see no need to change to a different manufacture. The products I own are 2 marine outboards, two snowblowers, one is a two stage and one is a paddle, tiller, weed wacker, now 23″ lawn mower, Eu2200 generator and now a Eu3000 generator.

My oldest items are over 20 years, several are 7 to 15 years, one 2 years old and now the Eu3000 is my latest purchase. Now you are not going to believe what I am going to tell you. That is that none have ever let me down or broke down.

All I do to take care of my items is use common sense and follow Hondas recommended maintenance and storage rules. Sure they cost more than most like items but you are paying for quality and reliability and it is worth every penny.

So far I have put 6 1/2 hrs. on the unit and it works perfectly and is very quiet. Comparing this unit to many others it is more expensive, and is considerably heavier and I knew that before I purchased it.

It is not a generator that one man can pick up an put in his truck especially with the gas tank full and added wheels with is a must. With a friend, we can pick up this unit and load it into the back of a pickup with a little grunt and that much portability works for me, you may be different and need something with more portability.

There is a similar generator from Honda that has basically the same power ratings but much, much lighter and can be loaded onto a pickup by one person. See the specs. on this site. The difference with a little research is less costly, lighter, more noise, better portability and a few less niceties.

Do the research, its worth it. I knew exactly what I was getting when I bought this unit and I am extremely happy with my purchase. Best of all, when you are camping and nighttime arrives and you and your friends are sitting around the campfire and talking, no one have to raise their voice to be heard over the generator.

It is very quiet. My first camping experience was good on gas, quiet, handled my AC, refrigerator, lights, music, coffee maker etc. very well, you just have to be use to selecting your overall amp draw which is normal common sense.

You get what you pay for!.

worked all of about 8 hours now won’t run. I have a duromax sidekick 2000 watt generator which is almost identical, but a better generator for sure. This generator is not as quiet and is much weaker, than the claimed voltage This generator appears to be a cheap copy and is a massive failure, it will not run even 1000 watt appliances.

It worked on my 350 well pump a few times, then stopped. I tried it on a dehumidifier and it ran for an hour then died. It is not as good as my 4 year old duromax side kick!.

Unit was delivered in the original box with no obvious damage to the box or the unit. When removing the unit from the box , I noted rattle coming from a loose part inside the unit. I also observed the DC breaker was depressed past the normal “engaged” position and was inoperable (see pic).

When I opened the unit to add the oil, I was able to retrieve 2 small parts (see pic). After I finished prep, I attempted to start with no success. The good news, is the eBay return policy and process worked well albeit I have to empty all the fluids (oil & gas) and lug this 50+ lb unit to the Post Office to send it back.

I bought this to power critical loads at my house in case of an extended power outage. After the initial break-in procedures I backfed the generator power into my house breaker panel and selectively closed breakers to power up the essential loads.

I was able to supply power to the furnace, refrigerator, freezer, sump pump, garage door opener, and living area lights and outlets simultaneously. It looks like to run the Microwave I will have to make sure some of the bigger loads, like the refrigerator and freezer are not running at the same time.

The power is ‘clean’ enough that the sensitive electronic components of the furnace controls, the television, and the computer modem worked perfectly. The generator starts easy and runs smoothly. It has just the right power output capability to do what I need.

The smaller 2200 unit was just a little underpowered and a larger unit was overkill for me. The digital display is a feature I really like. It is nice to know the actual voltage and watt output. I suppose in an extended period of use the remaining run time and fuel level will also be helpful.

Total run time will be useful for keeping a good maintenance schedule. The sound level is low enough that it is barely noticeable from inside the house. The neighbors may not even know it is running.

I tried to check decibel levels but I am not sure how much was generator noise and how much was normal ambient noise. It seems that with birds, wind, traffic, etc. I have about 60 decibels of constant sound outside.

With the generator running the decibel level increased to 85-90 decibels. I don’t have any long term experience with this unit yet but so far it seems like it is just what i hoped for emergency use.

Purchased the iGen2500 in early May 2022 to replace a 2000 watt generator purchased from Harbor Freight, which is used for emergency home backup and to run boat air conditioning unit when underway. The 2000 watt generator struggles with startup power draw of air conditioning unit.

The additional amps provided by the iGen2500 should eliminated this issue. I have just begun breaking-in the iGen2500. The documentation provided with the unit is printed on quality glossy paper and card stock, and well written in proper English.

The side panel covering access to the air filter, fuel bowl and oil drain/fill port, was a tight fit requiring strong fingers to free it from 3- plastic compression posts. An adequately long fuel hose connects to the fuel bowl drain plug, which will provide an easy and clean way to drain the bowl when needed.

A cheap flexible oil filling funnel is provide. But, the funnel has a threaded end, which screws into the oil inlet, and has an “O” ring to seal off any possible drips. It worked very well. The oil bottle provided had the exact amount of oil needed to fill the oil reservoir and will be saved for future oil changes.

Startup was easy, and the unit ran smoothly when no power draw was applied. As of now, I am very pleased.

Ran it for a couple of hours and connected different items to it. Responded well. Some very slight surging in rpm’s under a steady load. No big deal but will keep an eye on it. Display codes to identify what is being displayed do not all match manual, but you can figure it out easily enough.

In my opinion, it would be much better to display the power draw in Watts rather than Kilowatts, but again, a minor thing. Tried shutting it down after running it for a couple of hours, then restarted.

As I’ve seen in some other reviews, it did not restart as easily as a warmed-up engine should. Took a number of pulls and trying choke versus no choke. Maybe just have to figure out the right combination, but that issue could be annoying if I don’t figure out the right combination.

After allowing to cool down, restarted on the first pull. Being from the U. S. , I would prefer the Fuel Level to be displayed in quarts or tenths of a gallon, but the visual fuel gage mostly makes that a non-issue (and it is a minor thing anyway).

So overall, with my minor nitpicking, I still give it 5 stars as my initial reaction. How it holds up, hopefully over many years, will tell the final story. Also, the ultimate test will be a power failure when I see how it handles things.

(I know it is not a whole-house generator. I mean using it appropriately, but under extended times of heavy load).

The generator, though fairly quiet, is not as quiet as I expected at higher loads! There seems to be a generator dynamo whine in addition to the sound of the gas engine that gets louder as you draw more power.

You can hear it in the YouTube review videos as well if you listen to the generator as the load increases. But that’s not to say it isn’t a relatively quiet generator, especially when running at a lower load.

At full load the whine adds some dB to the overall loudness, but it’s certainly not enough to be a problem. 6/17/2017 Update – I’m finding in normal use that I don’t notice the whine and it seems to have diminished a bit over time as well.

I also forgot the mention originally that a major factor in selecting this generator among the competing products with much the same specs was the availability of spare parts. Pulsar is a brand carried in many major stores here in the US and spare parts are much easier to come by if ever needed because of that.

The generator needs to have a break-in period before it will run as well as it can, so ignore the YouTube video of the guy who pulls the generator out of the package, adds oil and gas and then immediately slaps a full load on it and it bogs down.

This will happen on any generator that’s not been broken in (whether done at the factory or needs to be done by the customer), not just this one! LOL The break-in procedure I did emulated the “MotoMan” dyno run type engine break-in.

The generator certainly ran better towards the end of the break-in, with more power and stability. Here are the steps I took: Small 4-Stroke Generator Break-in Procedure 1. Fill engine with break-in oil (I used Royal Purple 11487 High Performance Engine Break-in Oil – 1 qt.

) 2. Add gas to tank (no additives or stabilizers at this time) 3. Start engine (per the manufacturer’s published procedures) 4. Allow engine to warm up (ECO off, 5-10 minutes as needed) 5. After engine has warmed up, increase load and cycle 3 times at 40%-60% capacity, shut off and cool for 15 minutes 6.

Start up and increase load, cycle 3 times at 40%-80% capacity, shut off and cool for 15 minutes 7. Start up and increase load, cycle 3 times at 30%-100% capacity (use Eco mode for this), shut off and cool for 15 minutes 8.

Drain oil & refill with conventional 10w-30 oil (I used the oil that came with the generator for this) 9. Run a full tank or two of gas with normal use 10. Drain oil and refill with synthetic oil 10w-30 (Amsoil 4-Stroke Small Engine Oil is what I used, Shell Rotella T6 is also a good choice and easier to find), use this oil from now on 10a.

Change spark plug, if so inclined, and ensure you check the gap and use anti-seize on the threads (I used a platinum spark plug, though they are harder to find for this engine). 11. Use a fuel stabilizer when storing with fuel in the tank, and for any extra fuel (I use PRI-G Fuel Stabilizer PRI-G-16-A, 16 oz for this, been using it for years and it just works no matter how old the gas is.

I broke in the generator using James Lummel’s advice in a review below (Thanks James). I ran the Royal Purple 11487 High Performance Engine Break-in Oil for the first part of the break-in however I don’t think I executed the proper load transitions as James suggested.

In any case, I used the Royal Purple and cycled power with cooling in between. It started easy and all went well (other than oil on the patio which didn’t go over well). I noticed it runs very well under load but does not run well under light or no load.

It sputters unlike a Honda generator that a friend has. This sputter may go away after more use, I don’t know. I have a total of 9 hours on it now;. Continuing, I used the purple oil. Ran the burn-in.

Replaced the oil with the manufacturers oil and ran it for 6 hours (varied load from 1600 watts to 600 watts to no-load). Tank ran empty. Replaced oil again with Pennzoil Platinum Synthetic 10W-30 oil (yeah, I know, people get particular with the type of Synthetic oil, use what you like).

Works good and handles full load at 1600 watts tested to 2000 watts. It handles full 1600 watts and voltage remains 120VAC or above. Above 1600 watts the voltages dips to 105VAC when it reaches 2000 watts.

I noticed during transient loading from say 500 watts to 1500 watts, the voltage dips as low as 75 VAC RMS looking at it with Fluke 87 DMM in min/max mode without the economy mode on. I don’t know what the standard is for the other brands of inverter generators but I don’t think that would hurt electronics as it a quick recovery.

I give it 4 stars as it starts easy and gives the power out as advertised. I deducted a star from 5 as it runs rough at no or little load. The sound of the missing at light load is irritating if it’s close by but easily ignored from a distance.

It’s possible that the no-load missing may subside with more use. Also, the stickers on the generator were pealing off right out of the shipping box. They won’t last long but most of them are only ornamental, Some of the stickers do have info though.

Keep the manual. About the only thing in James Lummel’s post that I didn’t follow is the use of PRI-G gas treatment. It’s expensive, the value is questionable and it only holds gas stable for 12 months with some reviews suggesting it doesn’t work for a stabilizer.

Buy Sta-bil gas treatment to treat your gas. It lasts 24 months and the application is designed for small gas containers. PRI-G says 1 oz for 16 gallons. I carry a 5 gallon container for my generator.

I’ll update the review if changes in operation occur.

This generator arrived on time and it was well packaged. I read the manual before I did anything with it. I charged the starter battery for several hours before I added oil. The oil access point is a little difficult to open, but everything is easy to reach once open.

I like that the oil provided is the amount required. No guessing. I took the unit outside and followed the electric start process. The unit fired right up and settled in to run mode very quickly. I put a timed load on it, two strings of 10 100Watt incandescent bulbs that turned on and off numerous times over the 5 hour burn in.

When I shut the generator off, I let it cool down and changed the oil. When I filled the gas tank up after burn in and the first oil change, I went inside and ate dinner. After dinner, I went to put the unit on the back rack of the trailer for a trip the next morning.

I noticed a little fuel on the ground, and chalked it up to me being sloppy. The next morning I went outside and saw a large pool of gasoline on the concrete drive. I opened the fuel tank and found that it was now quite empty.

I was due to leave on my vacation this same day, so I was far from a happy camper. I decided to do fix the problem and write a review. The generator was easy to service for someone that is mechanically inclined, and I quickly located the culprit.

There is a small elbow of a rubber fuel line between the tank fitting and the shut off valve. This had a split in it just below the clamp location. It didn’t appear to me that it was chafed through from vibration, but what I feel happened was the hose clamp took several tries to get on, and the clamp cut the hose.

I replaced the little section and reassembled the unit. I added a small amount of fuel to the tank and had my morning meal rather late. I returned to the generator after the meal and found no trace of a further fuel leak.

I filled the generator again, and let it sit for another 45 minutes while I cleaned the gasoline from the interior. Once I was satisfied that running the generator would not ignite my driveway and leave me with a plastic blob around a motor and power head, I started the unit up and placed it under load once more.

There were no further leaks. I went inside and showered and cooled off before departing on vacation. I am sitting in my trailer running the AC and I am confident this generator bill not fail me now. I was truly lucky I had the unit outside when the fuel made it’s mass exodus.

I was also lucky that I am mechanically inclined and able to undertake this type of repair. I would like to hear from the seller/manufacturer so I can discuss this with them. I would reconsider my rating based upon further discussion.

**ADDED comments*** I have not heard from Pulsar about my issue, but I have raised my rating from 2 to 3 stars. This generator ran flawlessly for 3 days. I just changed the oil again and it is ready for my next trip.

I would buy this again, even with the issues I had.