Welcome to our Westinghouse iGen2500 Review : Regular Blue or Camo model? It seems, the blue version sells out a lot. Not sure if this is an inventory control issue on the side of Westinghouse or if they actually sell these inverters fast — or, another theory, perhaps they are replacing it with the popular ✓ Westinghouse iGen2200. Either way, there are alternatives, which you’ll find below.
Inverter Generators : Are they Worth It?
Why are so many people choosing inverter generators over conventional gas generators? Even though they cost more than comparable generators that don’t make use of inverter technology, there are several logical reasons why these machines are so popular and in fact, much better than a conventional gas generator.
The Westinghouse iGen2500 has become a best selling inverter generator for many good reasons, such as : it’s compact, affordable, well-made, reliable and lightweight. In this article we take a close look at this fantastic little generator.
Consider the Westinghouse iGen2200 (read full review)
✓ Have Questions about Westinghouse Generators : Contact their support department
Intro | Westinghouse iGen2500
If you’ve ever watched TV or used a computer that’s powered by a gas generator, you’ve probably noticed lines moving up and down the screen or that the image is sometimes distorted. A sound system may have interference or distortion when running off a generator that does not have an inverter. This is because a standard gas generator has high levels of Harmonic Distortion (HD).
HD happens when the frequency or voltage changes even if it’s only for a fraction of a second. When you observe alternating current on an oscilloscope, it produces an ellipsoidal wave known as a sine wave. This is the same type of wave as a sound wave. We’ve all heard a sound wave that is distorted (when the volume output is too high for the speakers). Well, voltage sine wave distortion is very much the same.
VIDEO | Indepth Overview of the excellent Westinghouse iGen2500
The only difference is that we don’t hear it or see it. We can only notice it when electronic devices behave in a way that they shouldn’t and sometimes the distortion will go by unnoticed.
While the effects of HD may only be a minor irritation, we’re able to deal with it. It’s not too much of a problem if our TV image goes a bit strange from time to time. It’s likely that you’re not aware of the side effects of HD. Every time the sine wave becomes distorted, a small amount of damage occurs and, over time, this will cause electronic equipment to fail.
The fact is, most modern appliances have built-in electronic controls – not just TVs, computers, cell phones, and laptops. Any electric equipment that has an LED/LCD screen or soft touch controls has a microprocessor and will be damaged by HD.
Westinghouse iGen2500 | Affordable Portable Power
An inverter generator doesn’t supply power directly from the generator’s alternator like conventional generators do. Instead, they convert the power to DC and then back to AC, using a computer controlled inverter. This provides a completely stable (pure sine wave) with an HD of less than 3% at peak load – at 50% load, HD is usually less than 1%. This means that they will not harm sensitive electronics in any way.
The second reason why inverter generators are so remarkable is in their efficiency. If you use the generator enough, you’ll find that the extra few dollars spent when buying the machine, will come back to you in fuel savings. You’ll be saving fuel on two levels. An inverter that provides a pure sine wave means that your electric equipment will run more efficiently and will use a lot less electricity.
Meet the Westinghouse iGen4500 : A Larger Inverter from Westinghouse
In some cases, electric equipment can use up to 50% less power when running off an inverter. Lower power consumption means less load on the generator. The result, lower fuel consumption, which also gives more running time on a tank of gas, and lower maintenance costs (less wear on the generator).
The second way in which an inverter generator saves you fuel is that they are able to run at lower revs when the power demand is reduced. This is thanks to the sophisticated electronic controls that they use. Under normal use, your generator won’t often be running at its full load capacity because you’re switching items on and off. An inverter generator will only run the engine at full power when needed, resulting in huge fuel savings.
VIDEO | Learn About the quality of Westinghouse Generators
So, it’s obvious that an inverter generator has several advantages. Now you’ll want to know which inverter generator is the best. There are a lot of great inverter generators out there, but one seems to be incredibly popular. I think this is because it offers a lot for its price. The Westinghouse iGen2500 is an incredibly well-built piece of machinery with outstanding features, whilst having a very reasonable price tag when compared to similar alternatives.
I’ve heard of many people that have put these generators to work under extremely hard working conditions and have all the praise in the world for these little powerhouses. This is why we’re going to review the Westinghouse iGen2500 and see why they’re receiving so much positive attention.
Westinghouse iGen2500
A fantastic inverter generator…
Features:
- Weighs 48 lbs.
- Built-In Carry Handle for Easy Transportation
- Safely Powers Sensitive Electronics Such as Laptop Computers, Cell Phones, & More
- 2200 Running Watts and 2500 Peak Watts
- Very Quiet: Operates As Low As 52 dBA
- Up To 10 Hour Run Time (1.0 Gal Fuel Tank)
- <3% THD
- Outlets : 2 USB Ports (5V DC) and a 120 VAC 20A Household Duplex Outlet
- 30-50% More Fuel Efficient Than a Traditional Generator!
- Has a Double-Insulated Acoustic Enclosure, Asymmetrical Cooling Fans, and Low Tone Mufflers to Reduce Operating Noise
- 2,500 peak watts, 2,200 running watts
- Fuel efficient – 7.7 hrs on 1.0 gal of gas @25% load
- Very quiet – Less noise than normal conversation volume
- 3-Year Warranty
- EPA Compliant
Overview | Westinghouse iGen2500
As a company supplying power generation products, Westinghouse is one of the most experienced and this gives me a lot of confidence in their ability to provide the best products and backup service. George Westinghouse started the company in 1886, so they’ve been in this business from the very beginnings of electrical supply in the US.
The Westinghouse iGen2500 is the ideal portable generator for RVs and home backup. It’s small and light enough for one person to carry, weighing only 46 LBS (net weight). Despite being so small, it delivers great power – 2200 running watts and 2500 peak watts, making it about the best in its class. Capable of powering induction motors, it’s perfect for any electrical device. This includes refrigerators and AC units. If you manage your power usage, you should have very little trouble keeping everything you need to be powered up with clean inverter supplied electricity.
Run in Parallel | Westinghouse iGen2500
The 98cc, EPA compliant engine, is remarkably quiet and you’ll hardly notice that it’s there. Thanks to the advanced engine and economy mode that allows it to run at low revs when the power demand is low, it uses very little fuel. This means that the 1-gallon gas tank will keep the generator running for about 6-hours at 50% load. For normal household and RV applications, your average load will be between 25% and 50%. This means that most people will get 6-7 hours from a tank.
It has a simple and easy to use control panel with two standard 120V outlets and two USB outlets. An LED display lets you see, at a glance, how much fuel you have in the tank and what percentage load you’re using. It also has a digital display for output voltage and running hours so that you can see when it’s time to service the machine. It’s designed to be one of the easiest generators to service and transport.
There are pipes that direct both the oil and fuel out of the casing when you drain either the oil or the fuel from the carburetor. No mess and no oil or fuel collecting inside the generator housing. The recoil starter hardly needs any effort to get the generator running and it will be purring away with only half a pull. An easy to use choke, makes starting it in cold conditions perfectly simple.
There’s great news for people who want more power without getting a large heavy second generator. The Westinghouse iGen2500 has parallel connectivity. This means that you can double up your power output by connecting up a second iGen2500. When using two generators in parallel, the sine waves of both generators are synchronized. This means that you end up with the sum total output of both generators.
Two Westinghouse iGen2500s connected in parallel will give a running output of 4400W and a peak load capability of 5000W. This should be enough to keep most homes fully powered up during an emergency.
The Westinghouse iGen2500 must be one of the best value for money inverter generators on the market. There’s little wonder why they are so popular. Westinghouse has an outstanding quality record and a service team that genuinely cares about customer support, I haven’t found anyone with anything bad to say about the product or the guys at Westinghouse. Their 3-year limited warranty is also one of the best that you’ll find.
Learn more by visiting the Westinghouse site. They manufacture exceptional products which I happily recommend due to their commitment to quality and providing great support to customers.
Westinghouse iPro2500
Jobsite-grade generator. Build to higher standards than a regular generator.
Features:
- 2,500 peak watts, 2,200 running watts
- Fuel efficient – 7.7 hrs on 1.0 gal of gas @25% load
- OSHA Compliant and perfect for job sites and a wide variety of tools
- Very quiet – Less noise than normal conversation volume
- Safe for electronics – Inverter Technology
- Lightweight – Under 49 lbs
- 3-Year Warranty
- Quiet and compact: the iPro2500 is the quietest OSHA-compliant inverter generator on the market specifically designed for contractors and industry professionals
- Safely powers sensitive electronics such as laptop computers, cell phones and more (2200 running watts and 2500 peak watts at less than 3% THD)
- Lightweight and compact design: the iPro2500 weighs 48 lbs. and features a built-in carry handle for easy transportation
- Features 2 USB ports (5-Volt DC) and a 120-Volt AC 20A GFCI household duplex outlet – safely powers sensitive electronics such as laptop computers, cell phones and more (2200 running watts and 2500 peak watts at less than 3% THD)
- Enhanced fuel efficiency – 30-50% more fuel efficient than a traditional generator
- Quiet operation: the iGen2500 utilizes a double-insulated acoustic enclosure, assymmetrical cooling fans and low tone mufflers to reduce operating noise
Overview | Westinghouse iPro2500
I don’t think that you’ll find a commercial grade inverter generator in this price range – not by a long shot. Even though this generator is about $100 more expensive than the Westinghouse iGen2500, it’s specifically designed with the professional contractor in mind. Anyone who understands the tough working conditions that are required by professionals, should agree that this price is well worth it. If you’re looking for a generator for your worksite then have a read of our indepth guide specifically focused on reviewing and discussing jobsite generators.
In terms of power, quiet running, and parallel functioning, the Westinghouse iPro2500 is on a par with the iGeni2500. The only difference that you’ll notice, when you look at the machine is that this model doesn’t have the LED display and it’s a different color.
The real difference is under the skin, where you can’t see. It’s designed to be robust and able to take the knocks that come with the daily grind of hardworking professionals. I may be wrong, but I think that the Westinghouse iPro2500 is the only generator in this price range that complies with the standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). As a professional contractor, you probably know how important it is to keep up with ever increasing compliance regulations set by the department of labor.
Parallel functionality is most advantageous to the professional contractor. If you look at your working environment, you’ll see why this versatility is fantastic – both in terms of financial prudence and convenience. There will be many situations where the running power of 2200W (2500 peak watts) will be fine to supply your needs on a small to medium sized job site. In this situation, the Westinghouse iPro2500 is perfect – it’s very lightweight, fuel efficient and exceptionally quiet.
Not every job is the same though, there will be times when you need more power and you may also be working on several sites at the same time. This is where the Westinghouse iPro2500 will make your life so much easier and save on the cost buying a larger generator. You can use just one for smaller jobs and connect a second in parallel to step up your power when necessary.
Another area where contractors lose out when buying a generator is on your warranty. If you look at most warranty agreements for generators, they stipulate that the warranty is not valid for commercial use or that you’re only covered for a short period – usually 3-6 months. It’s only large expensive generators that offer a warranty for these conditions.
The Westinghouse iPro2500 comes with a commercial warranty of 2-years (for non-commercial use the standard 3-year warranty applies). For such an affordable piece of machinery with the flexibility of parallel functioning, I really can’t think that there can be a better deal on a generator that’s designed and built to meet the specific needs of the commercial market. The Westinghouse Company has always been one of the best for customer service and you can be assured of lifetime technical support.
Want more options, read : inverter generator buying guide.