The differences between the Westinghouse iGen4500 and Wen 56380i are somewhat small so you may have trouble deciding.
More specifically, the main differences between the Westinghouse iGen4500 and Wen 56380i are that the Westinghouse iGen4500 has slightly higher power capacities, a duplex of 120V 20A 5-20R outlets, seemingly a slightly longer run time, and a longer warranty.
On the flip side, the Wen 56380i has two three-prong 120V 15A 5-20R receptacles and a 12V DC receptacle, seemingly more efficient fuel usage, and a more budget-friendly price.
If you want the extra power, outlets, and longer warranty, the Westinghouse iGen4500 could be worth the extra investment to you.
You may also want the slightly longer run time without adding fuel for certain situations.
On the other hand, the Wen 56380i can definitely be more than good enough for your power needs and preferences.
In that case, choosing this generator can help you save a nice amount of money.
I will also list the main differences and common features in two tables and give a more in-depth explanation of why certain details of the Westinghouse iGen4500 and Wen 56380i matter.
Important differences Westinghouse iGen4500 vs Wen 56380i
Choosing between the Westinghouse iGen4500 and Wen 56380i can be challenging because of all of the small differences in both ways.
Even so, a few of these differences tend to be more important than others. You can find these in the first table below.
| Feature | Westinghouse iGen4500 | Wen 56380i |
|---|---|---|
| Running Watts | 3700 Running Watts | 3400 Running Watts |
| Starting Watts | 4500 Starting Watts | 3800 Starting Watts |
| Outlets | Duplex 120V 20A 5-20R, (1) Tt-30R 30 Amp Outlet, (2) USB | (2) Three-Prong 120V 15A 5-20R Receptacles, (1) AC 120V NEMA TT-30R 30 Amp RV receptacle, (1) 12V DC Receptacle, (2) USB Ports |
| Run Time @25% Load | 18 Hours | Not Specified |
| Run Time @50% Load | Not Specified | 8.5 Hours |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 3.4 Gallons | 2.2 Gallons |
| Fuel Efficiency (kWh Per Gallon) | 4.897 | 6.568 |
| Remote Start | Optional | No |
| Warranties* | 3 Year Limited Residential And 1 Year Limited Commercial | 2 Year Limited Residential And 90 Days Limited Commercial |
| Price Category** | $$$ | $$ |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Warranties can vary from seller to seller
**Price category at the time of writing
Other features Westinghouse iGen4500 and Wen 56380i
In some cases, the other smaller differences and common features can influence your decision between the Westinghouse iGen4500 and the Wen 56380i too.
You can find these in the next table.
| Feature | Westinghouse iGen4500 | Wen 56380i |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Voltage | 120 Volts | 120 Volts |
| Decibels | As Low As 52 dBA | 57 dBA |
| Portable | Yes | Yes |
| Recoil Pull Start | Yes | Yes |
| Electric Start | Yes | Yes |
| Low Oil Shutdown | Yes | Not Mentioned |
| Fully Enclosed Design | Yes | Yes |
| AC Frequency | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Engine Displacement | 224cc | 212cc |
| Built-In Digital Smart LCD | Yes | Yes |
| Hour Meter | Yes | No |
| 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 1.2% |
| Remote Generator Operation | No | No |
| CO-Minder | Optional | No |
| USB Ports | 2 USB ports | 2 USB ports |
| Outlet Covers | Yes | Partially |
| Parallel Ready | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 104.7 lbs (47.5 kg) | 99.2 lbs (45 kg) |
| Dimensions | 24.5″ L x 17.5″ W x 20″ H | 23.2″ L x 18″ W x 20.1″ H |
| Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Country Of Origin | China | China |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
Differences Westinghouse iGen4500 vs Wen 56380i explained
If you are very familiar with generators and/or know exactly what you need, the tables above and a quick look at the prices can be enough to make a decision.
At the same time, the secondary effects of these differences are not always clear either.
In that case, the more in-depth explanations of certain ways the Westinghouse iGen4500 and the Wen 56380i vary can help you choose.
Starting and running watts
When it comes to generators, how much power they can generate and how much you more or less need are two of the main details to look at.
For example, the Westinghouse iGen4500 and the Wen 56380i offer slightly different starting and running watts. This influences what they can run.
Starting watts aka surge watts is how much power a generator can generate in a short burst. This is helpful for starting up certain electrical devices.
After that, you need running watts to keep the devices working.
The Westinghouse iGen4500 offers 4500 starting watts and 3700 running watts.
On the other side, the Wen 56380i is somewhat weaker with its 3800 starting watts and 3400 running watts.
The differences between these two generators are not that big but from a certain number/strength of electrical devices, the extra power of the Westinghouse iGen4500 becomes necessary.
Even if it is just to play it safer.
Winner: Westinghouse iGen4500
Outlets Westinghouse iGen4500 vs Wen 56380i
Once you have enough power, the next step is actually connecting your electrical devices to the Westinghouse iGen4500 or Wen 56380i.
To do this, you will need the right outlets for the devices and adapters you have.
Both the Westinghouse iGen4500 and Wen 56380i have a Tt-30R 30 Amp Outlet and two USB ports.
Besides these, the Westinghouse iGen4500 also comes with a duplex of 120V 20A 5-20R outlets.
On the other side, the Wen 56380i comes with two three-prong 120V 15A 5-20R receptacles and a 12V DC receptacle.
Whether you will prefer the outlet combination of the Westinghouse iGen4500 or Wen 56380i depends on what electrical devices you plan to power and what adapters you have available.
Winner: Westinghouse iGen4500 if you prefer a duplex of 120V 20A 5-20R outlets
Winner: Wen 56380i if you prefer two three-prong 120V 15A 5-20R receptacles and a 12V DC receptacle.
Run time, fuel capacity, and fuel efficiency
The next differences between the Westinghouse iGen4500 and the Wen 56380i are worth mentioning but at the same time, you don’t want to take them too seriously.
This is because the Westinghouse iGen4500 only mentions a runtime at 25% load whereas the Wen 56380i only mentions a runtime at 50% load.
More specifically, the 3.4-gallon fuel capacity of the Westinghouse iGen4500 offers an 18-hour runtime at 25% load.
The Wen 56380i mentions a runtime of 8.5 hours at 50% load thanks to its 2.2-gallon fuel capacity.
Just using these for the comparison calculations is actually not perfect but due to a lack of other data, I used these for estimating fuel efficiency anyway.
From the numbers above, you can estimate that the Westinghouse iGen4500 generates 4.897 kWh per gallon of fuel at 25% load.
On the other hand, the Wen 56380i generates around 6.568 kWh per gallon of fuel at a 50% load.
Winner: Imperfect details suggest Westinghouse iGen4500 has a slightly longer run time
Winner: Imperfect calculations suggest Wen 56380i is more fuel efficient
Price
Whether or not a generator will do what you need it to do tends to be more important but at some point, you also want to know about the price differences.
Exactly how much of an investment the Westinghouse iGen4500 and Wen 56380i require can vary from day to day and where you look.
That being said, the Wen 56380i is a nice amount more budget-friendly than the Westinghouse iGen4500 at the time of writing.
Winner: Wen 56380i
User reviews Westinghouse iGen4500 vs Wen 56380i
Starting with the feature differences between the Westinghouse iGen4500 and Wen 56380i is a good idea.
You do still want to keep in mind that generator brands don’t always deliver on their promises.
That being said, customers tend to be happy with both the Westinghouse iGen4500 and Wen 56380i.
In the case of the Westinghouse iGen4500, there are some mentions about the construction making it harder to change the oil.
On the other hand, besides a few very exceptional faulty initial generators (that were resolved by support) the customers of the Wen 56380i mostly seem to be careful with giving the full 5 stars.
So overall, customers are just a bit more positive about the Wen 56380i than the Westinghouse iGen4500.
At the same time, both of these generators are definitely good options.
Is the Westinghouse iGen4500 better than the Wen 56380i?
In short, the Westinghouse iGen4500 offers just a bit more power, a duplex of 120V 20A 5-20R outlets, seemingly a slightly longer run time, and a longer warranty.
On the other side, the Wen 56380i comes with two three-prong 120V 15A 5-20R receptacles and a 12V DC receptacle, seemingly more efficient fuel usage, and a price that is a nice amount lower.
People who want the extra power, outlets, and longer warranty, could find the Westinghouse iGen4500 worth the extra investment.
There are also situations where you want to play it safe in terms of run time without adding fuel and warranty needs.
That being said, many people will also find the Wen 56380i more than good enough for their needs and the lower investment required is welcome too.
You may find the more in-depth review of the Westinghouse iGen4500 helpful for making your choice.
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