WEN GN4500 Review: Should You Get One?

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Discover in this review whether the WEN GN4500 is actually a good budget-friendly 4500 watt generator or a suboptimal option.

WEN GN4500 review in short

WEN GN4500

The WEN GN4500 is an alright non-inverter that can run electronics that don’t need clean power.

That being said, many people do need this clean power to run their devices safely.

Additionally, the number of negative customer experiences with the WEN GN4500 is likely enough to make you turn to alternatives.

There are many good 4500 watt inverter generators that are still reasonably budget-friendly.

Even if you don’t need an inverter, something like the Generac 7677 GP3600 is likely a better choice.

Pros

  • Budget-friendly
  • Long run time
  • Nice fuel efficiency
  • A lot of different outlets

Cons

  • High THD power is not suited for sensitive electronics
  • Decent number of technical issues
  • Loud according to customers
  • Wheel kit is not included

Some of the best uses for the WEN GN4500 include:

  • Powering a variety of electronics through your own inverter
  • Running machines like certain central air conditioning systems that can handle dirty power
  • Running power tools that you don’t mind risking early wear and tear on

It is typically recommended to use clean electricity with a low THD.

Since the WEN GN4500 is not really suited for this unless you have your own inverter so even the two last uses are generally not recommended and at your own risk.

WEN GN4500 performance in important categories

After the quick review with pros, cons, and uses, seeing how the WEN GN4500 performs in different areas can make your decision easier.

Performance CategoryWEN GN4500 Score*Performance CategoryWEN GN4500 Score*
Power Capacity7Fuel Efficiency8.5
Run Time9.5Ease Of Use7.5
Quiet Operation7Portability6
THD5Price Category$$
Reliability Reputation6Overall Expert Rating6.5
Current PriceCheck Price
WEN GN4500 performance on a score of 10 compared to other generators*

Individual reviews compare the specific model to portable generators in general and sometimes scores are based on customer input

WEN GN4500 key features

You don’t have to know about every single detail of the WEN GN4500 to figure out whether this generator would be good enough for your situation.

In the table, you can find the features that are typically the most relevant.

FeatureWEN GN4500 Detail
Fuel TypeGasoline
Starting Watts4500 Starting Watts
Running Watts3600 Running Watts
Run Time @25% Load13 Hours
Noise LevelsNot Mentioned But
Reviews Mention Loud
Outlets(1) 120V 30A TT30R RV Outlet,
(1) 120V 30A L5-30R Twist-Lock
Outlet, (2) Duplex Of 120V 20A 5-20R
Outlets, (1) USB Port, (1) 12 VDC 8A Outlet
THDNot Suited For Sensitive Electronics
Warranty*2 Years Limited Residential And 90 Days
Limited Commercial Warranties
Price Category**$
Check Current Price
WEN GN4500 key features

*Warranties can vary from seller to seller

**Price category at the time of writing

What will the WEN GN4500 run?

Even if you know that the WEN GN4500 offers 4500 starting watts, 3600 running watts, 120 volts, and 30 amps, it may not be clear what devices this enables you to run.

The first thing to note is that the high THD “dirty” power the WEN GN4500 offers can damage your sensitive electronics.

Even with less sensitive appliances and tools, high THD can speed up the wear and tear of these devices.

That being said, let’s say that you have your own inverter to run the power of the WEN GN4500 through.

In that case, the more general guidelines for what 4500 watt generators can run apply.

That means with an inverter, the WEN GN4500 could run a window air conditioner (15,000 BTU), a table saw, or a 1 HP air compressor separately.

You could also choose to run a few small to medium-sized devices like a microwave, refrigerator, and blender together (again with an inverter).

WEN GN4500 customer reviews insights

Even if you are able to make good use of the high THD power of the WEN GN4500, you want to know that the features of generators are not all that matters.

More specifically, generators sometimes come with trends in quality issues that are not mentioned on the sales pages.

To discover these, it can be helpful to look at the experiences of other customers in their reviews.

These customers are still reasonably happy with the WEN GN4500 overall but there are also a decent number of technical issues.

Besides a few cases where customers got a WEN GN4500 that did not function right from the start, the technical issues in the reviews often involve fast wear and tear.

In short, there is a certain risk that the WEN GN4500 will act up which makes it so you likely don’t want to rely on it for powering important appliances like refrigerators and freezers.

WEN GN4500 alternatives

While it has its issues, the WEN GN4500 is still a decent non-inverter 4500 watt generator.

At the same time, you want to know that the market for 4500 watt generators is relatively high-quality with how many people are interested in these.

In simpler words, there are comparable products that you will likely prefer over the WEN GN4500 from this review.

For example, for a somewhat bigger investment, the Westinghouse iGen4500 offers cleaner power in a much more reliable package.

Even if you want to stick to the more budget-friendly non-inverter 4500 watt generators, something like the Generac 7677 GP3600 tends to be better.

Is the WEN GN4500 worth it?

If you don’t mind the “dirty” high THD electricity, don’t mind a less reliable generator, and really want to keep things budget-friendly, the WEN GN4500 could be worth it.

That being said, many people will want to save up for a higher-quality, quieter, and more reliable generator.

There are just so many better options around this power capacity that you don’t want to settle for average.

WEN GN4500

Other WEN GN4500 specifications aka specs

It is likely that you are able to make a decision about the WEN GN4500 with the details I mentioned in the review so far.

That being said, you could also want to know about the other specs of this generator which you can find in the table below.

Additionally, the WEN GN4500 user manual offers even more details about this generator.

SpecificationWEN GN4500 Detail
Voltage120 Volts
PortableYes
Fuel Tank Capacity4 Gallons
Fuel Efficiency
(kWh Per Gallon)
5.850
Outlet CoversNo
Engine Displacement212cc
Recoil Pull StartYes
Electric StartYes
Low Oil ShutdownNot Mentioned
Fully Enclosed DesignNo
AC Frequency60 Hz
Remote StartNo
Built-In Digital Smart LCDYes
Hour MeterYes
Fuel GaugeYes
Wattage MeterNo
Run Time RemainingNo
Engine Type4 Stroke
Remote
Generator Operation
No
Parallel ReadyNo
WheelsBought Separately
CO-MinderNo
Country Of OriginNot Mentioned
Dimensions23.25″ L x 18″ W x 18.75″ H
Weight97.9 lbs (44.4 kg)
Check Current Price
Other WEN GN4500 specifications aka specs

WEN GN4500 FAQ

How long will a WEN GN4500 run?

A WEN GN4500 run will run for about 13 hours on a full tank at 50% load.

How much oil does a WEN GN4500 take?

The WEN GN4500 has an oil capacity of 20.3 fluid ounces or about 0.6 liters.

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Author:

Mats is the founder and head editor of Generator Decision. With a combination of critical thinking, tireless research, and a healthy interest in electronics he helps people find the right generators and how to use these. At this point in the journey, Mats has done research on hundreds of portable generators.