Best Inverter Generators: Reviews and Comparison of Top 6

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An inverter generator is a device that uses an internally located combustion engine, an alternator and a DC-AC converter to power up electronic gadgets. These devices are increasingly becoming popular in the country due to their high efficiency, ability to reduce emissions, noise, and the fact that they minimize fuel consumption. Inverter generators work in two simple steps. They first produce DC power and then convert it into alternating current through a microprocessor controlled inverter. Additionally, the production of DC energy is produced as soon as the engine starts powering the machine up, thus lowering the voltage. Low voltage results in reduced power consumption. On the other hand, inverter generators run at a constant speed, which not only leads to cleaner power but also reduces noise pollution.

Continue reading to find out what are the best inverter generators on the market in 2020. Also, get an overview of why inverter generators are in high demand in the market today, their features, and learn how inverters work as well as a comparison between inverter generators and converter generators.

• Champion 73536i
• Watts: 1700/2000
• Run time: 9 hours on a full tank of gas at 25% load
• Engine: 80cc OHV
• Includes: 120V Duplex outlet (5-20R), 12V DC Outlet
• Other: Overload Protection, Low Oil Sensor and Economy Mode Switch

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• Westinghouse WH2000iXLT
• Watts: 1800/2000
• Run time: 25% load 22hrs and 50% load 13hrs
• Engine: 79cc OHV
• Includes: 12V DC outlet
• Other: Economy Mode, AC overload reset, Low oil shutdown

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• Champion Power Equipment 75531i
• Watts: 2800/3100
• Run time: 8 hours on full tank of gas at 25% load
• Engine: 171cc OHV
• Includes: 120V Duplex outlet (5-20R), 12V DC Outlet w/cables included, and 1 - TT30 Receptacle
• Other: Overload Protection, Low Oil Sensor and Economy Mode Switch

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• Honda EU2000I
• Watts: 1600/2000
• Run time: 3.4hr at rated load 8.1 hrs at 1/4 load
• Engine: 98.5cccc OHV
• Includes: 20A 125V Duplex, 12V 96W (8A)
• Other: overload protection, low oil shutdown

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• Smarter Tools STAP-2000iQ
• Watts: 1600/2000
• Run time: 8 hours on full tank of gas at 50% load
• Engine: 80cc OHV
• Includes: USFS approved spark arrestor; fuel petcock, 12V charging outlet, USB charging outlet
• Other: overload protection, self venting gas cap and smart throttle

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• Champion Power Equipment 75537i
• Watts: 2800/3100
• Run time: 8 hours on full tank of gas at 25% load
• Engine: 171cc OHV
• Includes: 120V Duplex outlet (5-20R), 12V DC Outlet w/cables and USB adapter included, and TT30 Receptacle
• Other: Overload Protection, Low Oil Sensor and Economy Mode Switch

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Top 6 Portable Inverter Generators Comparison

Champion Power Equipment 75531i Inverter Generator

The Champion Power generator is arguably the best inverter generator there is in the market today. It has 3100W powered by a 171cc OHV engine which makes it capable of running for 8 hours on a full tank. The generator provides impressively clean energy, and its low noise pollution feature makes it the best device to carry in remote areas or in campsites.

It is also capable of powering a 15,000btu air conditioner, something that most inverter generators can’t. Additionally, its clean power makes it an ideal device to use when powering sensitive electronic devices such as smart TVs and computers. This feature also makes it run for a longer time without consuming a lot of fuel.

The device weighs 80lbs which includes 4 integrated wheels and a stowaway handle. Other features include an enclosed housing, 1-12V DC outlet w/cables, overload protection switch, 1-tt30 Receptacle and a low oil sensor.

The generator is 24.2” in length, 18.5” in width and 19.7” in height. Like most Champion generators, this one comes with a 2 year warranty. Customers who purchase the Champion Power equipment 75531i from the manufacturer are also treated to a 24 hour customer service. The generator is already approved for sale in 50 states which means that you can easily get it at a retailer near you.

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Champion Power Equipment 73536i Inverter Generator

With good inverter generator reviews in almost all online commercial websites, the Champion power equipment is a machine worth buying. It weighs 48 pounds, 19.3” in length, 13.2” in width and 16.3” in height. It has 2000W, 17000 of which are rated. Like the Champion 75531i, this generator produces very clean power, making it suitable for people with sensitive electronic and electric gadgets.

It also saves on fuel owing to the fact that its engine varies speed when in operation. Due to its use of new inverter technology, the machine produces low decibels of noise, (53) which also makes it capable of lasting for a long time.

The Champion’s engine is powered by an 80cc OHV and designed to produce energy capable of running for 9 hours when on a full tank, while with a gas load of 25%. It is EPA/CARB approved to be sold in 50 states in the U.S.

The generator has also got some features not present in most of the other inverter generator counterparts. For instance, it is parallel ready, which means that you can combine power produced by two 2000W inverter generators and have it converted into one outlet, so long as you have a 73500i parallel kit.

Additional features for this type of inverter generator include a durable housing with a comfortable to use handle, oil funnel, 12V DC charging cable, overload protection, 1-120V Duplex outlet and a spark plug outlet. Finally, the generator comes with a limited warranty of two years plus a lifetime technical support service.

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Westinghouse WH2000IXLT Portable Inverter Generator

Running on 1800W out of 2200W, this generator produces enough power to light an average home with all its electronic gadgets. Its cost effective parallel technology makes it a good purchase for anyone who wants both power and efficiency. It has a 12V adapter where you can charge cell phones, laptops and other appliances.

This new generation model generator gives you more power with its simple parallel cable, which is sold separately. The generator is also light in weight, weighing only 49 pounds. The power produced by this machine is clean enough for use in sensitive electric gadgets and appliances as it produces less than 3% THD.

Like the champion 75531i, this generator can be combined with a second Westinghouse 2000IXLT to generate twice the amount of power than one generator can produce.

Actually, the WH2000IXLT is among the best inverter generators there are today, with capabilities of powering a CR2500 or CR5000 climate right. It is widely favored in most inverter generator reviews due to its high quality features, some of which are, a double air circuit and muffler to maintain coolness as your unit runs, a power indicator light, low oil shut down, asymmetrical fans, a sound output, AC overload reset, high efficiency running mode, a tool kit and an oil fill measuring container.

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Honda EU 2000ITIA3 Portable Inverter Generator

The generator boasts of a powerful Honda GX100 engine. This makes it produce a great chunk of energy capable of powering an average home’s lighting systems plus all its electric appliances and gadgets.

It runs on a 2000 Watts inverter that produces only about 53 decibels of noise, lower than a normal conversation of two. When on a full tank, the generator can run for up to 8 hours, producing continuously clean power while on.

With a Honda EU 2000ITI, you can carry it around your home compound or wherever you need it owing to its light weight. For the record, it weighs only 46 pounds, with dimensions of 20.1”*16.8*11.4.  And with its compact size, the generator is able to produce consistently clean power, just like the power produced by other house outlets.

Together with a few other types of generators, the Honda 2000ITI can be used in tandem with a similar machine to double the amount of power produced by one. The generator also benefits from an oil alert system that protects it from any damages that may occur should oil reduce in the engine.

Also, it is equipped with circuit protection to prevent overloading as it runs. With all the amazing features, the Honda EU2000ITI is a good generator to use on your microwaves, refrigerators, fridges, blenders, garage door openers, hairdryers and woofers when power is out. It also comes with a 3 year warranty, so you can rest assured that the generator is made to last for quite a long time.

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Smarter Tools STAP-2000Iq Generator

This Yamaha powered smarter machine is among the top inverter generators there are today. With close to grave silence noise produced when the machine is operating, it is an appropriate generator for camps, homes and offices. It is very light in weight, with a mere 47 pounds as its weight. It is also small and compact in nature, with sides 19.8”*11.2*18.2”. Besides producing enough power for an average home’s electronic appliances and gadgets, the machine has many admirable features when compared to its counterparts. For instance, it has USFS approved spark arrestors, indicator lights, a fuel gauge, a USB charging port and an easy to access oil fill door.

To add on to the above mentioned features, this Yamaha machine has a fuel petcock, self venting gas cap, LED indicator lights, a smart throttle plus the ability to power up energy in tandem with similar inverter generator energy towards a single outlet. The generator runs on the all conquering Yamaha MZ80 engine, which is the highest rated inverter generator in terms of engine life, as issued by both the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Its price tag is also close to that of a normal gas generator, except for the fact that this model is 123.6lbs less heavy than most generators in the market today. Finally, it comes with a 3 year limited warranty which explains exactly why it tends to last for long.

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Champion Power Equipment 75537I

It is among the top rated inverter generators in the world today, with an incredible 3100W engine run by wireless remote control. It weighs 95 pounds which are justified by its heavy power production capability. It measures 27” in length, 18.5” in width and 17.5” in height. Its ultra clean power is good enough to run your laptop, fridge, microwave, blender, TV among many more electrical appliances.

The power produced by its 2800 Rated watts is enough to power up a 15,000bru air conditioner. Additionally, this champion produces impressively low noise when running, making it a good companion in campsites and other remote areas.

The low noise is achieved by the machine’s ability to vary speed when running, a feature that also helps it last for a longer period of time notwithstanding an ability to minimize fuel consumption. The generator has also got some integrated wheel and an easy to hold handle. It runs on a 171cc Champion OHV engine made just for this model of Champion inverter generators.

When on a full tank with a 25% gas load, the generator runs for between 4-8 hours depending on the type of work being done. Some other worth to note features are an economy mode switch, plug-in trickle charger to increase the battery’s life, overload protection, a limited 3 year warranty and good customer service for technical support. Finally, the Champion power 75537I does support inverter technology, where the generator’s engine automatically reduces speed when the electrical load is low, thereby reducing fuel consumption and engine wear.

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Best Inverter Generators Comparison Chart

What is an Inverter?

It is an electronic device that converts direct currents from generators, batteries and other fuel cells into alternating currents. Inverters work depending on several factors, the input voltage, output voltage and power handling ability. They do not produce any power, but only convert power from DC sources into alternating current. An inverter can either be electronically made or be a combination of rotary apparatus and electronic circuitry. Below are some of the components of a normal operator.

• Input Voltage

  The input voltage of an inverter depends on the design and use of the device itself. There are several examples of input voltage used in several machines and gadgets. A normal 12v lead acid battery, for example, supports a 12VDC input voltage while the input voltage for an electric vehicle battery ranges from 300 to 450 VDC. The input voltage can go up in the thousands if the inverter is part of a high current DC system.

• Output voltage

  Depending on the type of inverter in question, AC current may be produced by either using a switch boost converter which first produces high voltage direct current and then changes into AC using a line frequency transformer to create an output voltage. The output voltage can however be regulated to equal the gridline voltage.

  Note that the runtime of any inverter depends on the DC source power or the power being drawn from the inverter itself as it runs.

How Does an Inverter Work?

Most of the electric and electronic gadgets in our homes are made to run with AC energy. So, if you plan to power up your electronic gadgets with power from a top rated inverter generator such as the Champion or Honda models, or from a simple car battery or other fuel cells, you will need a device to convert the DC energy produced by such devices into alternating current (AC). And that device that converts DC into AC is called an inverter.

Most of the inverters found in retail stores use electromagnetic switches that run at extremely high speeds, flickering on and off as the action moves about in a back and forth action. The power produced in such a way is known as square wave output. However, electronic inverters produce smoothly alternating AC output from a DC input. While electric gadgets don’t care much about the waves used to convert power into them, electronic devices do, which prompted the invention of two distinct types of inverters, a pure sine wave inverter and a modified inverter.

The pure sine inverter uses donut shaped transformers and circuits to convert direct energy into a smoothly varying AC energy, similar to power supplied by normal power outlets. Most top rated inverter generators use these kinds of inverters. The kind of current they produce can power electronic gadgets such as TVs, laptops, video games as well as woofers. A modified inverter on the other hand uses rather simpler electronics to produce not so smooth alternating current. They are therefore only suitable for producing current for hefty electric appliances, otherwise using them on normal home appliances could lead to overheating and potential damage to your gadgets.

Note that uninterruptible power source inverters are capable of storing power by themselves in an electrical form, which you can then use should the power source get depleted.. The inverters store the energy in high speed flywheels.

Inverter Generator VS Conventional Generator

When compared to conventional generators, inverter generators are a recent development, made entirely of high tech magnets and electronic circuitry. They basically output AC energy like all other types of generators do but do it in a 3 phase form. While outputting the AC current, they convert the current to DC form, and then invert it back to AC current while it is pure and smooth, in a pure sine wave. Inverter generators are incredibly smaller in size when compared to their counterparts. They also produce relatively good amounts of power, although conventional generators beat them in terms of fuel storage capabilities, obviously resulting in more power. Don’t get it wrong though, as inverter generators use modern technology to maximize their use of fuel and running time, thereby producing much more power in the long run. They also run at varying speeds, thereby increasing their efficiency.

Conventional generators on the other hand run at a constant speed, but they lack features such as sound dampening technology, quiet engines or mufflers. They also come in varying watts, ranging from 500w to 50,000w with the higher watt generators producing much more energy to run big industries and companies.

Conclusion

Since the late 1800s when inverters were discovered, their functions and applications have multiplied rapidly. They are now found in generators, the machines that help convert DC stored energy into a form that can power up a laptop, a freezer, TV or any other electronic gadget. And while there are efforts to come up with a conclusive list of portable inverter generator comparisons, we believe that the six types of generators described above are simply the best by any standards. Finally, the future for inverter generators looks bright, with engineers and leading manufacturers gearing up to invent super powerful generators that are small in size but consume very minimal amounts of fuel.