The Pulsar 4500 and Westinghouse iGen4500 look similar at first but there are important ways they vary.
Some of the main differences between the Pulsar 4500 and Westinghouse iGen4500 are that the Westinghouse has fewer quality issues, lower noise levels, more in-depth tracking, and an optional CO minder.
On the other hand, the Pulsar PG4500iSR has better fuel efficiency and a VDC outlet.
Because the differences in technical issues and similarity in price, the Westinghouse iGen4500 will basically always be the better choice.
Important differences Pulsar 4500 vs Westinghouse iGen4500
The Pulsar 4500 and Westinghouse iGen4500 vary in a decent amount of ways but you likely don’t care about all of these.
In this first table, you can find the differences between these two generators that likely influence your choice the most.
| Feature | Pulsar PG4500iSR | Westinghouse iGen4500 |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Reviews | Not That Positive | Very Positive |
| Fuel Efficiency (kWh Per Gallon) | 6.359 | 4.897 |
| Decibels | 64 dB | As Low As 52 dBA |
| Built-In Digital Smart LCD | No | Yes |
| Outlets | (1) 120V 30A TT30R RV Outlet, (1) Duplex Of 120V 20A 5-20R Outlets, (1) USB Port, (1) 12 VDC 8A Outlet | (1) 120V 30A TT30R RV Outlet, (1) Duplex Of 120V 20A 5-20R Outlets, (2) USB Ports |
| Remote Start | Yes | Optional |
| CO-Minder | No | Optional |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
Other features Pulsar 4500 and Westinghouse iGen4500
Before investing in the Pulsar 4500 and Westinghouse iGen4500 you may also want to take a look at the smaller differences and common features too.
| Feature | Pulsar PG4500iSR | Westinghouse iGen4500 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Dual Fuel Version Available | Yes | Yes |
| Starting Watts | 4500 Starting Watts | 4500 Starting Watts |
| Running Watts | 3700 Running Watts | 3700 Running Watts |
| Run Time @25% Load | Not Mentioned | 18 Hours |
| Run Time @50% Load | 11 Hours | Not Mentioned |
| Low THD | Less Than 3% At Half Load | Less Than 3% |
| Voltage | 120 Volts | 120 Volts |
| Portable | Yes | Yes |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 3.2 Gallons | 3.4 Gallons |
| Outlet Covers | Yes | Yes |
| Engine Displacement | 224cc | 224cc |
| 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 |
| Hour Meter | No | Yes |
| Fuel Gauge | No | Yes |
| Wattage Meter | No | Yes |
| Run Time Remaining | No | Yes |
| Engine Type | 4 Stroke | 4 Stroke |
| Remote Generator Operation | Yes | Optional |
| Parallel Ready | Yes | Yes |
| Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Country Of Origin | Not Mentioned | Not Mentioned |
| Dimensions | 26″ L x 19″ W x 21″ H | 24.5″ L x 17.5″ W x 20″ H |
| Weight | 102 lbs (46.3 kg) | 104.7 lbs (47.5 kg) |
| Country Of Origin | China | China |
| Warranties* | 3 Years Limited Warranty | 3 Years Limited Residential And 1 Year Limited Commercial |
| Price Category** | $$ | $$ |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Warranties can vary from seller to seller
**Price category at the time of writing
Differences Pulsar 4500 vs Westinghouse iGen4500 explained
Most people will be able to choose between the Pulsar 4500 and Westinghouse iGen4500 with a look at the main differences and prices.
That being said, there are also a few areas where a bit more explanation could make your decision easier.
User reviews Pulsar 4500 vs Westinghouse iGen4500
Comparing generators like the Pulsar 4500 and Westinghouse iGen4500 is not only about looking at the feature lists brands give.
In some cases, the generator you actually get can come with unexpected downsides.
Luckily, looking at the reviews of the customers before you can help you avoid this.
In the case of the Pulsar 4500 and Westinghouse iGen4500, it is clear which generator makes customers the happiest.
There are a relatively high number of technical issues people have with the Pulsar PG4500iSR.
Additionally, customer support does not seem that helpful in resolving these issues.
The Westinghouse iGen4500 is not entirely perfect either
However, besides a few exceptional mentions of a challenging oil change, not as quiet as hoped mentions, and very exceptional issues, customers are really positive.
In short, customers are a lot more positive about the Westinghouse iGen4500 than the Pulsar 4500.
Fuel efficiency
Fuel efficiency is not necessarily the most important detail when choosing a generator but it is worth explaining this difference a bit more.
The Pulsar PG4500iSR has a fuel tank capacity of 3.2 gallons and a run time of 11 hours at 50%.
On the other hand, there is the Westinghouse iGen4500 with a fuel tank of 3.4 gallons and a run time of 18 hours at 25% load.
The comparison between different loads is not perfect but you can this data to calculate how many kWh (a measure of power quantity) each generator gets out of a gallon of fuel.
With the numbers above, you get that the Pulsar 4500 can get about 6.359 kWh out of a gallon of fuel whereas the Westinghouse iGen4500 “only” produces 4.897 kWh out of this.
Compared to similar generators, the Westinghouse iGen4500 actually already does a good job in this area.
However, it does look like the Pulsar 4500 has even better fuel efficiency.
Winner: Pulsar 4500
Built-in LCD screen
The built-in LCD screen is another detail that is often not the most important to consider but not everyone may know what this involves.
Generators like the Westinghouse iGen4500 have an LCD screen that shows details like an hour meter, wattage meter, and run time remaining.
These details make it easier to know when you will have to refuel and/or do maintenance.
On the other hand, you have the Pulsar PG4500iSR which does not even have a fuel gauge.
Accurately estimating how long this generator will be able to last at loads different from 50% on a full fuel tank is basically not possible.
Again, this is not the most important detail but it does make the Westinghouse iGen4500 more convenient to use.
Especially in something like a home backup power situation where you really don’t want your refrigerator to stop at all.
Winner: Westinghouse iGen4500
Price
By now you may wonder whether the higher quality of the Westinghouse iGen4500 also comes at a more premium price than the Pulsar 4500.
While this detail can vary over time, these two generators require about the same investment at the time of writing.
It is possible that any temporary deals give either the Pulsar 4500 or Westinghouse iGen4500 the advantage in this area.
Winner: Depends on current deals
Is the Westinghouse iGen4500 better than the Pulsar 4500?
In short, the Westinghouse iGen4500 has fewer quality issues, lower noise levels, more in-depth tracking, and the option to choose a model with a CO minder.
On the other hand, the Pulsar PG4500iSR has better fuel efficiency and a VDC outlet.
Since these generators are typically the same price, it is hard to imagine why you would choose the Pulsar PG4500iSR.
In simpler words, the Westinghouse iGen4500 will basically always be the better choice.
You can check out the more detailed Westinghouse iGen4500 review to make sure this is the right model for you.
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