WEN DF480iX

~$750approx. list price

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800 WLights, phones, router, a CPAP
2,200 WFridge, freezer and the essentials
4,000 WFurnace blower, sump pump or a window AC
7,500 WWell pump or a small central AC
18,000 WWhole home with central air

4,000 W running, 4,800 W surge — sustains the furnace blower, sump pump or a window AC tier and everything below it.

Best forRV and campsite users who want 4 kW, propane and CO shutdown at a price that sits near half of Honda's.

The WEN to look at when you want a 4 kW inverter with CO shutdown and propane for under $800. It makes 4,000 running and 4,800 surge watts on gasoline, and 3,600 and 4,320 on propane, with electric start and a tool-free LPG connector. Four 20A outlets and a TT-30R mean it can power a camper and a few extension cords at once. The CO Watchdog sensor shuts it down if carbon monoxide builds up, and owners say it can trip when the unit is placed against a wall or in a low spot, so placement matters. Complaints are weight, at about 78 lbs by retailer figures since WEN publishes none, noise that is higher than WEN's 62 dB quarter-load figure under load, and service routed through WEN directly. It is an easy price to like beside a Honda or Yamaha at this output, and it comes with a three-year warranty, a year longer than WEN's older models. The TT-30R is a 120V outlet, so a 240V transfer switch is out.

From the spec sheet

Specifications

Running watts: 4,000 W
Starting watts: 4,800 W
Fuel tank: 1.9 gal
Runtime: Up to 7 hrs on gasoline, 12 hrs on a 20 lb propane tank at half load (1.9 gal tank); 62 dB measured at 1/4 load

Type: Inverter Generator
Fuel: Dual Fuel (Gas/Propane)
Noise: 62 dB
Outlets: 4x 120V 20A (5-20R), 1x 120V 30A TT-30R, 1x 12V DC, 2x 5V USB
Transfer-switch ready: No
Weight: 78.5 lbs
Warranty: 3-year
Model: DF480iX