Choosing between the Wen 56380i 3800 and Predator 3500 can be hard with how similar they are. Find out how to do this.
The main differences between the Wen 56380i 3800 and Predator 3500 are that the Wen 56380i 3800 has more watts, seemingly better fuel efficiency, a better reliability reputation, longer warranties, and a more budget-friendly price.
On the other hand, the Predator 3500 offers a twist lock outlet and a CO-minder.
You could argue that people who really want the extra layers of safety of the twist lock outlet and CO-minder could prefer the Predator 3500.
That being said, many people will prefer the Wen 56380i 3800 because of the extra power, lower price, longer warranties, better fuel efficiency, and better reliability reputation.
You can definitely operate this generator in a safe way too.
It is worth mentioning that this is a relatively close comparison. If there are any good temporary deals on the Predator 3500, you could consider this generator too.
Important differences Wen 56380i 3800 vs Predator 3500
At first sight, the Wen 56380i 3800 and Predator 3500 are very similar so finding the differences can already be challenging.
Even within this category of differences, there are typically only a few important details that will influence your decision the most.
You can find these important differences between the Wen 56380i 3800 and Predator 3500 in the first table below.
| Feature | Wen 56380i 3800 | Predator 3500 |
|---|---|---|
| Running Watts | 3400 Running Watts | 3000 Running Watts |
| Starting Watts | 3800 Starting Watts | 3500 Starting Watts |
| Run Time @25% Load | Not Specified | 11 Hours |
| Run Time @50% Load | 8.5 Hours | Not Specified |
| Fuel Efficiency (kWh Per Gallon) | 6.568 | 3.541 |
| Outlets | (2) Duplex Of 120V 20A 5-20R Outlets, (1) 120V 30A TT-30R RV Outlet, (1) 12V DC Automotive, (2) USB Ports | (1) Duplex Of 120V 20A 5-20R Outlets, (1) 120V 30A L5-30R Twist Lock Outlet, (1) Two-Pin 12VDC |
| CO-Minder | No | Yes |
| Price Category* | $$ | $$ (Generally Pricier) |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Price category at the time of writing
Other features Wen 56380i 3800 and Predator 3500
Before investing in one of these generators you may also want to know about the smaller differences and ways the Wen 56380i 3800 and Predator 3500 are the same.
| Feature | Wen 56380i 3800 | Predator 3500 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 2.2 Gallons | 2.33 Gallons |
| Voltage | 120 Volts | 120 Volts |
| Decibels | 57 dBA | 56 dBA |
| Portable | Yes | Yes |
| Recoil Pull Start | Yes | Yes |
| Electric Start | Yes | Yes |
| Remote Start | No | No |
| Fully Enclosed Design | Yes | Yes |
| AC Frequency | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Engine Displacement | 212cc | 212cc |
| Built-In Digital Smart LCD | Yes | Yes |
| Hour Meter | No | No |
| Fuel Gauge | Yes | Yes |
| Wattage Meter | Yes | Yes |
| Run Time Remaining | Yes | Yes |
| Engine Type | 4 Stroke | 4 Stroke |
| Low THD | Less Than 1.2% | Less Than 3% |
| Remote Generator Operation | No | No |
| Outlet Covers | Partially | No |
| Low Oil Shutdown | Yes | Yes |
| Parallel Ready | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 99.2 lbs (45 kg) | 102 lbs (46.3 kg) |
| Dimensions | 23.2″ L x 18″ W x 20.1″ H | 22.75″ L x 17.3″ W x 20″ H |
| Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Country Of Origin | China | Not Mentioned |
| Warranties* | 2 Years Limited Residential And 90 Days Limited Commercial | 2 Years Limited Emissions Control System And 90 Days Limited Product Warranties |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Warranties can vary from seller to seller
Differences Wen 56380i 3800 vs Predator 3500 in-depth
If you know the amounts of watts and outlets you need and are more familiar with other generator features, the tables above could be enough to make your decision.
At the same time, some of the differences between the Wen 56380i 3800 and the Predator 3500 deserve a more in-depth explanation too.
These explanations can help you make sure you are choosing the right generator for your preferences and needs.
Starting and running watts
The main reason you would get a generator is to power appliances and tools by converting fuel into electricity.
That being said, within this common goal, generators can still vary in terms of how much power they can generate.
In this comparison, the Wen 56380i 3800 comes with 3800 starting watts and 3400 running watts.
On the other side, the Predator 3500 comes with 3500 starting watts and 3000 running watts.
Starting watts can be helpful for appliances like refrigerators that need an initial burst of power to get started.
After that, the Wen 56380i 3800 and Predator 3500 need enough running watts to keep your devices going.
Ideally, you want to figure out how many watts your devices need to see whether you need the extra power of the Wen 56380i 3800.
In practice, these amounts of watts can make a difference in starting certain medium-sized devices and running an extra small device like a TV.
Winner: Wen 56380i 3800
Outlets
Once you know that the Wen 56380i 3800 and Predator 3500 offer enough watts, you still need to get these into your electrical devices.
There are one main difference to highlight when it comes to the outlets of these generators.
First of all, these generators both come with two 20 amp 120V 5-20R Outlets.
That aside, the RV-friendly 30 amp outlets on these generators come in different types.
More specifically, the twist lock outlet of the Predator 3500 makes it harder for the extension cord to accidentally get pulled out.
This can be useful if you have any electronics that you really don’t want unplugged.
On the other side, the Wen 56380i 3800 has a 120V 30A TT-30R outlet that can make it easier to connect to certain RVs, food trucks, and similar things.
Whether you will prefer the Wen 56380i 3800 and Predator 3500 in this area depends on what outlets connect the most easily to the things you want to power.
Winner: Wen 56380i 3800 if you prefer a TT-30R and 12VDC automotive outlet
Winner: Predator 3500 if you prefer an L5-30R twist lock and two-pin 12VDC outlet
CO-minder
This next difference between the Wen 56380i 3800 and Predator 3500 is not the most essential but it is welcome and explaining a bit more.
When converting fuel into electricity, generators typically produce carbon monoxide (CO) too.
Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas which is why there are safety guidelines for using generators.
However, even when following these guidelines, it is possible to get a buildup of carbon monoxide around the generator.
For this reason, certain generators like the Predator 3500 come with a CO-minder that turns the machine off when it notices too much carbon monoxide.
It is still possible to operate the Wen 56380i 3800 safely but this CO-minder is a nice safety addition to the Predator 3500.
Winner: Predator 3500
Price
The Wen 56380i 3800 and Predator 3500 each have their strong points.
If you don’t have any absolute musts in terms of power needs, any price differences could make choosing between these generators easier.
At the time of writing, the Wen 56380i 3800 is just a bit more budget-friendly than the Predator 3500.
This is typically not the biggest difference but it could make your decision more straightforward.
Winner: Wen 56380i 3800
User reviews Wen 56380i 3800 vs Predator 3500
When you compare two generators like the Wen 56380i 3800 and the Predator 3500, the price and feature differences are often enough to make a decision.
That being said, there are also cases where customer reviews uncover unexpected downsides you would not notice from just reading the features.
This is why I also make it a point to go over the customer reviews of the generators I look at.
For both generators, there are a few exceptional cases of initially faulty products. These tend to get resolved by customer support but could be inconvenient.
In the case of the Wen 56380i 3800, many people are also just hesitant to already give this generator the full score.
So the reviews for both the Wen 56380i 3800 and Predator are very positive with a tiny edge for the Wen model.
Is the Wen 56380i 3800 or Predator 3500 right for you?
Overall, the Wen 56380i 3800 offers more watts, seemingly better fuel efficiency, longer warranties, better reliabilty, and a price that is slightly lower.
On the flip side, the Predator 3500 offers a twist lock outlet and a CO-minder.
If you really want these extra layers of safety, you could theoretically invest a bit more in the Predator 3500.
That being said, with how good the Wen 56380i 3800 is in areas that tend to matter more, many people will just prefer this generator.
It is worth mentioning that this comparison is somewhat close. If you find a good deal on the Predator 3500, you could go for this option too.
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