While it is hard to find them, there are differences between the Cummins Onan P4500i and Westinghouse iGen4500. Choose right.
The main differences between the Cummins Onan P4500i and Westinghouse iGen4500 are that the Westinghouse iGen4500 offers dual fuel, CO sensor, and/or remote start options and has a price that is a nice amount lower.
On the flip side, the Cummins Onan P4500i has a slightly lower weight and always includes a remote start function.
Besides these, it is worth mentioning that customer reviews imply Cummins customer support is not always great.
From these differences, it is hard to imagine a situation where you would prefer the Cummins Onan P4500i.
The Westinghouse iGen4500 is just the better of these two generators in basically every case.
Differences Cummins Onan P4500i Vs Westinghouse iGen4500
It is no exaggeration to say that the Cummins Onan P4500i and Westinghouse iGen4500 are extremely similar.
That being said, if you look closely, you can still find a few differences between these generators.
| Feature | Cummins Onan P4500i | Westinghouse iGen4500 |
|---|---|---|
| Dual Fuel Version Available | No | Yes |
| CO Sensor | No | Optional |
| Remote Start | Yes | Optional |
| Weight | 98 lbs (44.5 kg) | 104.7 lbs (47.5 kg) |
| Dimensions | 24.5″ L x 18.25″ W x 20.5″ H | 24.5″ L x 17.5″ W x 20″ H |
| Price Category* | $$ (Typically Higher) | $$ |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Price category at the time of writing
Common features Cummins Onan P4500i and Westinghouse iGen4500
Before investing in the Westinghouse iGen4500, you may also wonder about the features this generator has in common with the Cummins Onan P4500i.
| Feature | Cummins Onan P4500i | Westinghouse iGen4500 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Watts | 4500 Starting Watts | 4500 Starting Watts |
| Running Watts | 3700 Running Watts | 3700 Running Watts |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Run Time @25% Load | 18 Hours | 18 Hours |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 3.4 Gallons | 3.4 Gallons |
| Fuel Efficiency (kWh Per Gallon) | 4.897 | 4.897 |
| Voltage | 120 Volts | 120 Volts |
| Outlets | (1) Duplex Of 120V 20A 5-20R Outlets, (1) 120V 30A (TT-30R), (2) USB Ports | (1) Duplex Of 120V 20A 5-20R Outlets, (1) 120V 30A (TT-30R), (2) USB Ports |
| Outlet Covers | Yes | Yes |
| Portable | Yes | Yes |
| Noise Levels | As Low As 52 dBA | As Low As 52 dBA |
| Recoil Pull Start | Yes | Yes |
| Electric Start | Yes | Yes |
| Low Oil Shutdown | Yes | Yes |
| Fully Enclosed Design | Yes | Yes |
| AC Frequency | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Engine Displacement | 224cc | 224cc |
| Built-In Digital Smart LED Display | Yes | Yes |
| Hour Meter | Yes | Yes |
| Fuel Gauge | Yes | Yes |
| Wattage Meter | Yes | Yes |
| Run Time Remaining | Yes | Yes |
| Engine Type | 4 Stroke | 4 Stroke |
| Low THD | Less Than 3% | Less Than 3% |
| Remote Generator Operation | Yes | Yes |
| Outlet Covers | Yes | Yes |
| Parallel Ready | Yes | Yes |
| Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Country Of Origin | Not Mentioned | China |
| Warranties* | 3 Years Limited Residential And 1 Year Limited Commercial | 3 Years Limited Residential And 1 Year Limited Commercial |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Warranties can vary from seller to seller
Differences Cummins Onan P4500i vs Westinghouse iGen4500 in-depth
From the differences and a quick look at the prices, it should become clear that basically everyone will prefer the Westinghouse iGen4500 over the Cummins Onan P4500i.
That being said, even when this is clear, you may want to know what certain of these differences involve and how they can benefit your situation.
Dual fuel version available
In their essence, generators are machines that convert some type of fuel into usable electricity. That being said, what fuel these machines use can vary.
Gasoline is the most standard option for portable generators and the Cummins Onan P4500i and Westinghouse iGen4500 both include this option.
Where these two product lines are different is that you can also get the Westinghouse iGen4500DF which is the dual fuel option that can also run on propane (LPG).
It is worth noting that having a dual fuel generator is often not essential.
However, it does add some flexibility which can be useful in situations like emergencies or off-grid living where you don’t always have access to more gasoline.
Winner: Westinghouse iGen4500DF which is the dual fuel version
CO sensor
When converting fuel into electricity, generators typically emit a gas called carbon monoxide as a byproduct.
Since this gas is toxic there are a variety of safety guidelines for running generators including but not limited to keeping them far enough from your house.
Even when operating your generator with these guidelines in mind, it is possible to get a buildup of carbon monoxide around the machine.
To make things safer, Westinghouse has versions of their iGen4500 that come with a CO sensor.
This CO sensor turns off the generator if it measures too much carbon monoxide.
On the other side, the Cummins Onan P4500i does not offer this option.
You should still be able to run the Cummins Onan P4500i safely but at least offering the option to have a CO sensor is still a benefit of the Westinghouse iGen4500.
Winner: Westinghouse iGen4500 if you get a model with a CO sensor
Price
The differences are small but it is fair to say most, if not all, people will prefer the features of the Westinghouse iGen4500 over the ones of the Cummins Onan P4500i.
That being said, when you compare generators, you likely don’t only care about the features.
How much of an investment your generator requires matters to some extent too.
At the time of writing, the Westinghouse iGen4500 is typically a nice amount more budget-friendly than the Cummins Onan P4500i.
This makes the decision even easier.
Winner: Westinghouse iGen4500
User reviews Cummins Onan P4500i vs Westinghouse iGen4500
One last thing you can double-check before making your decision is whether the Westinghouse iGen4500 delivers on its promises.
Looking at the reviews of the hundreds of customers before you tends to be helpful for this.
First of all, it is worth mentioning that the reviews of the Cummins Onan P4500i could be better.
These are still relatively positive overall but there are generator brands with more positive reviews.
The more negative reviews are related to early technical difficulties of the Cummins Onan P4500i and suboptimal customer support.
On the other side, the reviews of the Westinghouse iGen4500 are relatively positive overall with some mentions that the generator design makes changing oil somewhat inconvenient.
Should you choose the Cummins Onan P4500i or Westinghouse iGen4500?
The Westinghouse iGen4500 offers the option to choose a model with dual fuel, a CO sensor, and/or a remote start.
This generator is also typically a nice amount more budget-friendly.
On the other side, the Cummins Onan P4500i is a few pounds lighter and always comes with a remote start.
In combination with the customer reviews that mention Cummins customer support is not always the most helpful, it is hard to imagine any situation where you would choose the Onan P4500i.
To put it in simpler words, basically everyone will prefer the Westinghouse iGen4500 in this comparison.
If you are still not entirely convinced about whether this is the right generator for you, you can also check out the more in-depth Westinghouse iGen4500 review.
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