iGen4500DF Setup and First Run

[@PickledHam]

I bought my Westinghouse IGEN4500DF direct from the factory. After a 10 week wait I finally got it. Well worth the wait. Best generator ever !!!

[@massa-blasta]

did you get a better deal, direct from the factory? Seems $1049 everywhere

[@PickledHam]

@@massa-blasta not really a better deal. I paid retail. but at the time it was the only option to order it. everyone else was out of stock. I did get a free cover for it

[@beijingbiden5931]

@@massa-blasta buy a 10% off coupon at Lowe’s and then purchase it.

[@johnswilley6764]

Good review! Thank you Sir for your time and effort. I'm waiting on the arrival of ours from Amazon. WE just had a hurricane here in Orlando, and our son-in-law loaded us their Westinghouse gasoline only model. I ordered the DF as propane doesn't go bad, and I have a 100# of it sitting here. Thanks again, and best wishes! PS, thanks for the note about the recall, but that was 2 yrs ago - still nice to know.

[@heaval1]

Very honest,well organized and useful comments. I hope you will do another review after several months of use. Suggestion: do comments on oil change; it seems a bit awkward ! Congratulations on your review. A very good start!

[@robertmorgan2145]

Thank you for your comment. I do plan on updating this review after I get some more time with the generator. I've found very little info on this particular generator so I thought I'd give it a thorough look-over. Hopefully it helps answer questions someone else may have. Cheers!

[@jeffsmack1280]

I thought mine came missing a fiber washer! Thanks for clearing it up.

[@ernestwalden3894]

Its a nice one. I have a 3000watt champion. Everyone should own a generator Exspecialy these days. Everything in a modern day home runs on electric. I get mine out once a month and run it for 20 or 30 minutes. I hear so many people get theres out in an emergency and can't get it started. Man I can't imagine how bad that would've sucked. Anyway thanks for sharing info

[@featheredcoyote5477]

I'd definitely contact FedEx for the way they delivered. Great review man.

[@randyab9go188]

Fedex don't care.

[@pamil1923]

This is just a really good video sir, thank you.👍🏼☮️

[@rjmorgansd]

Thanks I’m glad you found it useful.

[@selinas8039]

read something about high elevation kit to run more efficiently....unfortunately westinghouse does not include that in their shipping package. all it would take is looking up the shipping zip code and installing the proper fuel jet.

[@DavidTaylor-qz8nc]

Got a fireman 7500 watt running about 9500 start up for 600 dollars new at Costco. It's a heavy beast at 239 pounds. It will run for about 12 hrs on 8 gallons of reg. 87 oct. gas . It will also run on LP and natural gas at reduced watts.

[@robertmorgan2145]

I think it’s great for home back up. Sounds like a nice generator and that’s a great price. That’s a bunch of power you have there. Also the propane capability means you never have to run gasoline through it and you can keep the carburetor clear.

[@DavidTaylor-qz8nc]

@@robertmorgan2145 use lose watts output with LP and natural gas compared with reg. gas, but you can still buy though tall LP tank I believe they hold 20 or 25 gallon of LP gas. The can go for about 130$.

[@iTubeTelevision]

Loved your video and especially your comments about Commie-fornia and wanting to watch TV but can't because the wind isn't blowing. Lol TDS Lol We sold our home in LA back in August 2020 and have been RVing the country in our fifth wheel (I retired early with a disability from the LAPD.) We're now heading back towards the west to do some boondocking and need a generator to do it. Your video made my decision easy for which one to purchase. Good job on the video and thank you for taking the time to reply back to the comments. I learned a lot from your replies as well.

[@robertmorgan2145]

Hey congratulations on your retirement! I am coming up on 30 years with San Diego. Two friends of mine in the San Diego Sheriff‘s Department just packed up and moved to Kentucky. One of them traded his house in Carlsbad on 1/10 of an acre for 30 acres in Kentucky. What a difference!. This generator has been great. When I run it on propane I have an extension hose from my dual tanks on the front of the RV into the bed of the truck. Naturally this hose will fill with air but the generator always starts the second time. When you push the button it cranks for about five seconds and then stops to give the battery a rest. Then it cycles again and by that time the propane has made its way through the hose and bled the air out. Actually I haven’t run it on gasoline yet and don’t plan to unless I really have to. That way the carburetor will stay pristine. On a side note I just changed my RV batteries from a couple of 6 V golf cart batteries and I’m now using a lithium iron phosphate. Also known as LiFeP04. This new battery is a 12 V replacement but it charges fully in about two hours instead of the normal five hours for the lead acid. Allows you to use the generator less, conserve your fuel. And by the way a single 100 amp hour LiFeP04 gives you as much usable energy as 200 amp hours of golf cart batteries. Something to look forward to if you continue your RVing. Best of luck to you!

[@iTubeTelevision]

@@robertmorgan2145 Hey Robert, thank you for your almost 30 years of service. What an accomplishment. Your buddies must be so happy living outside California. I know we are. Thanks for the heads up about using the generator with propane. This will be my first timing owning one so every piece of advice is appreciated. Like you, I’m hoping to only use the generator on propane. What lithium battery brand do you have anyway. I’ll have to look into that. Great to know. Thanks. Be safe out there.

[@rjmorgansd]

Tony California I’ve actually been out on injured leave for a while myself. Hope to get back to work before January so I can make it an even 30 years. The key to success after retirement is staying busy. I think right around this time, especially in California, is a great time to be on the retirement end. Regarding the battery, Battle Borne makes a really good one but it’s about $1000. It’s a 12 V 100 amp hour rated battery. But again you get much more usable energy out of the lithium iron phosphate versions. The one I got is a grade a, new version that I ordered from a company in China. They’re not quite as good, but they are half the price and it will suit me for a while. On the generator I’ve tested the battery after it sat for several months and it didn’t seem to lose any charge. That’s good which means it doesn’t have a parasitic drain. Still you should run it at least every month or so to keep the battery charged up. Expect it to last about four or five years before you need a new battery. Changing the oil on it it was actually a little difficult only because the access port is so small. I’ll make a video about that and post it. They call it a 4500 but that’s just a surge wattage. I think the actual running wattage is somewhere around 3800 W. Don’t quote me on that but it’s close. I thought people would make fun of me for keeping the generator in the bed of the truck, but on the contrary everyone at campgrounds has told me I am a genius. I use the generator compartment for storage because my RV didn’t come with a generator. Somebody California will be in my rearview mirror permanently, but for now I enjoy using the RV to take trips out of California and go visit the United States of America. Thank you also for all of your years in LA.!

[@iTubeTelevision]

@@rjmorgansd Bummer to hear, but as you already know, don’t rush it back. Hope you can make it an even 30. Get well. Great to know about the battery. I was wondering if I need to be proactive with the trickle-charging feature. My generator compartment is full as well with stuff so I was thinking of putting it in the bed too. Plus, with my injuries, my back will appreciate it. I hope one day you’ll able to leave Cali and enjoy your retirement years in piece and with like minded Americans. It’s a great country we have. Looking forward to your next video, Robert.

[@robertmorgan2145]

@@iTubeTelevision Big difference between Lead acid and Lithium Iron Phosphate LiFeP04 batteries. Here's a few things to chew on: Lead acid batteries need to be maintained on a battery minder, or other charger-type device that can keep the battery at about 13.3V and hold it there. These are called "three-state-chargers". They bulk charge at constant current, then hold the battery at full charge to top it off, then hold a lower maintenance voltage to keep it happy. You need a charger capable of putting out at least 10% of the rated capacity of the battery in order to effectively charge it. Ex: If you have two 200 amp hour 6V GC2 golf cart batteries in series (a common setup) you will need a charger capable of putting out at least 20 amps. If you can't hook up a proper battery maintainer then just give it a charge once a month or so. If sitting completely disconnected once every 3-4 months is okay. Make sure you use your battery disconnect switch in your RV, because the oven and fridge control boards and the smoke detector stay powered and will drain your battery in about 6 weeks. Ask me how I know. LiFeP04 batteries are a different breed. (note we are not talking about Lithium Ion, Li-Ion, those are different still....This is only in reference specifically to Lithium Iron Phosphate) You must charge them up with LiFeP04-rated chargers to an exact voltage (usually 14.4V) and take off the charger. Trickle charging is harmful to LiFeP04. Some like the Battle Borne you can charge with a standard 12V battery charger, but this is sub-optimal. After taking off charge the voltage will naturally drift down to around 13.4 and just sit there for months. If you're going to let the battery sit for some time before its next use (days, weeks) ideally you would want to use up maybe 20% of the charge so it doesn't sit at full charge all that time. That is also harmful. With LiFeP04 you don't want to let it sit around for days or weeks either fully discharged or fully charged like on a trickle charger. Now, the great thing about LiFeP04 is that you get to use almost all the energy stored because the voltage stays high, usually above 13V right until the battery is exhausted. They give you twice the performance of a comparably-rated lead acid battery, for 1/2 the weight. And they recover from deep discharge better than lead acid or Li-Ion. They can be charged at very high rates, usually up to the battery rating capacity which means full charge in an hour or two. Lead acid batteries' voltage drops quicker, you get less energy before voltage cutoff, they are heavy, must be kept upright and take around 5 hrs for a proper full charge.

[@MrBritrider]

I’m considering a new WH iGen inverter gen. One question is how does this air cooled engine get any cooling all wrapped up in plastic? Any issues with this? I know a lot of inverters are encased like this. Are we sacrificing engine cooling for more sound muffling?

[@NumberSpace]

If this had a 240v plug it would be perfect! I would need that to run the 1 hp submersible water pump for my well!

[@robertmorgan2145]

You might be able to make that work with a step up / step down transformer like this: www.amazon.com/Rockstone-3000-Watt-Transformer-Converter/dp/B00CLYMMCC/ref=sr_1_5?crid=QK8L1ER7M7F8&dchild=1&keywords=240vac+to+120vac+step+down+transformer&qid=1598332295&sprefix=240vac%2Caps%2C221&sr=8-5 Just make sure it has the right plugs for your setup.

[@NumberSpace]

@@robertmorgan2145 Great find, thanks. But I don't think that would work. It looks like the plug going out is Hot + Neutral + Ground. I would need Hot + Hot + Ground.

[@robertmorgan2145]

@@NumberSpace Sounds like you need a dual phase autotransformer on the output. Maybe start here: shop.pkys.com/split-phase-inverter.html

[@NumberSpace]

@@robertmorgan2145 Thanks for the tip

[@donraptor6156]

Rewire the pump to 120 if power is out for along period!

[@JeffBowe]

My fine owners manual on page 17 shows a drawing of a fuel tank valve to turn off for propane, not the front panel switch, another valve. I cannot find this, even after taking off the side cover and "customer service" is an answering service which said they will email me first and then maybe call me after that sometime next 2-3 days. Does this thing actually have some kind of impossibly hard to find fuel tank switch or is the manual just basically useless?

[@Marcus2750-u1t]

Are you doing a proper break in? I have same one and love it!

[@sandwichtube]

Better to have it delivered to a store and pick it up yourself. You’ll have to glue gun the choke ribbon cable to the circuit board or it will fall off. Don’t bother using gas, it will gum up the carburetor when the gas gets old. Never run a generator without a load. Connect the generator ground post to the ground cable outside of your house. Neutral and ground are the same thing. They should be connected together so the voltage doesn’t float relative to the ground reference.

[@w-2385]

I recently received (the very hard to get) iGen4500DF. I'm hearing an intermittent "rasping" sound when the generator output is between 1900 and 2300 Watts. The noise does not start until I exceed about 1900 Watts, it goes away again if I go over 2300 Watts. You have to be somewhat close to the generator to hear it, but it is definitely there. I have connected a Voltmeter, a Frequency meter, and an oscilloscope (through a 12VAC step down isolation transformer). When the generator makes this funny noise, the voltage, frequency, and wave-form remain perfect. I'm posting this in case someone else has had the same issue or perhaps would like to try their generator at these load levels and see if it makes any kind of "extra" noise. By the way, the generator continues to produce 120VAC right up to 3300 Watts.

[@robertmorgan2145]

Sounds like you might be experiencing some type of harmonic with either one of the moving components or the exhaust itself. I know I had a old motorcycle with an expansion chamber type exhaust and it made different noises throughout its RPM range. You might just feel around the outside of the case when it’s doing this to see if it’s a simple vibration of one of the outer panels. You might also check the engine mounting bolts on the inside to see if some thing is loose. If I get a chance to run mine at those power generation levels and find some thing similar I will post back here.

[@w-2385]

@@robertmorgan2145 ... OK thanks

[@rickbraden4272]

I thought this unit was rated over 3300 watts or are you talking 3300 watts with propane?

[@romavictor5252]

Which size are the connectors of the hose? I'd like to have a quick connection in the gas port of the generator.

[@w-2385]

SHOULD THE FACTORY GASOLINE RESIDUE BE REMOVED FROM THE CARBURETOR? As you probably know, these generators are tested at the factory using gasoline. I will ONLY be using propane in this generator. Because of the sticking choke issues and possible carburetor issues I'm wondering if the carburetor should be cleaned out in some way to remove any gasoline residue. The only way I know to do this, which may not totally work, is to run the generator with gasoline until it is exhausted. Suggestions welcome.

[@robertmorgan2145]

I too am planning on only using propane. What usually happens to make generators run poorly after sitting a long time is that old fuel clogs the low speed mixture jet, causing poor idling and hard starting. This is typically a small screw with a really small hole in it (the 'jet') through which fuel is sucked into the carb. When this happens you can try using things like Sea Foam, put 10x as much as you should in a tank with just a little gas, let it run a while. Let is sit for a week or two then it should be cleaned up. Or you can find the screw, remove it and run a really, really small wire through the hole in the mixture screw (the jet) A gunked up float bowl can be just wiped out. You can run the generator with the fuel turned off until it stops. There will still be a little fuel left in the float bowl but it will mostly evaporate. If you wanted a thorough cleaning you could then remove the side panel of the generator and open the float bowl drain screw to get rid of the remaining fuel.

[@raullicon8610]

Will it parallel with a Honda 2000 ?

[@SatelliteGalaxy]

@@raullicon8610 No. In order to parallel generators they almost always have to be same type and same manufacturer. I LOVE my iGen4500DF

[@rickbraden4272]

It's not hard at all to use gasoline if you follow simple precautions that are listed in any generator forum. Gasoline is all I can usevine my two Honda eu2200i, Honda eu6500i & no problem at all.

[@ondaslab]

Hows it holding up, any issues.....also...in the video you compared the noise to your honda....after applying loads...is the noise still comparable?...thanks

[@rjmorgansd]

It’s holding up well. I just got back from a week of Boondocking with it. I hooked it up to one of my 30 pound propane tanks on the front of my trailer and just left the generator in the bed of my truck. Ran a 30 amp cable from my generator to the trailer shore power input. Had no problems at all. I ran the generator about three hours per day for eight days. The loads varied from a couple hundred watts up to about 1.2 kW. I would typically disconnect the cables at night and close up the bed of the truck to keep it from getting stolen. This leaves air in the propane line and when you reconnect it to the generator, it would not start on the first try because of the air in the line. But it has a great feature where, when you push the start button it makes several attempts to start before it gives up. It cranks for about five seconds. Stops for about five seconds to give the battery a rest, and then goes through another cranking cycle. It always started on the second try. As far as noise, I would compare it very favorably to the larger Honda. It’s perfectly acceptable and has the amount of noise you would expect from an inverter-based generator. The sides are all sealed up so it is very acceptably quiet. With it in the bed of the truck, being in the trailer you couldn’t even hear it. Many people around camp told me they didn’t even know I had a generator. As far as fuel consumption, I started with a full 30 pound tank and after eight days of using the generator every day for several hours, I returned with about 4 pounds left in the tank.

[@ondaslab]

@@rjmorgansd thanks for the quick and detailed reply, very informative.

[@stellarproductions8888]

I am so glad that this arrived intact, and that it is running well. But I would have that carrier fired, hopefully, you also had security camera footage to confirm, so its not just your word against them. I have security camera's, and they caught a UPS carrier just tossing my heavy package onto my porch with no care in the world, all them aholes need to be fired. What your carrier did is inexcusable, and should be fired.

[@robertmorgan2145]

Some things you'd never know unless you have cameras. Today I am FedEx-ing this back to Westinghouse because it was recalled. So hopefully I'll be getting it back either repaired or replaced and they'll have another chance to make a good delivery. I did speak with the driver's supervisor and he apologized and said this delivery was "not acceptable".

[@stellarproductions8888]

@@robertmorgan2145 I monitor the review section on many Westinghouse generators on Amazon. So if you should write a review and I notice it, I will make sure to leave you a comment. Glad you got it sorted out and will get a replacement generator, since it was recalled. And also glad you sorted out the carrier as well.

[@robertmorgan2145]

@@stellarproductions8888 Thank you. This seems like a decent generator that has had an unfortunate series of events including its arrival and now recall. But in both cases those issues are being corrected so I'm looking forward to a functional replacement. I appreciate you dropping a line. Cheers!

[@Nathan-gy7oz]

You’ve had this unit for a little while now. Are you still happy with this unit? Is there anything you think I’d want to know before purchasing?

[@robertmorgan2145]

I’m quite happy with it. I just used the generator for a seven day camping trip. I ran it only on propane keeping it in the bed of my truck. It has a nice feature where you push the front start button and it cranks for about five seconds and if it doesn’t start, like when the propane hasn’t worked its way down the tube yet, it will rest for a couple of seconds and then go through a second cranking cycle. It always started the second time. Runs nice and quiet for a generator this size. I can also push the remote key start button from the inside of the trailer and start the generator in the bed of the truck remotely. I am completely happy with it. Changing the oil is the only hard part. They have a tiny little compartment on the side of the generator and it’s really hard getting your fingers in there to remove the bolt. But as far as operation it’s just great.

[@mattmiller3967]

Saw the Hypertherm plasma cutter....its the only plasma to buy :)

[@robertmorgan2145]

Good eye! Yes it is a lot of fun melting metal. The first time I saw a plasma cutter it was like magic the way it cuts.

[@roberthebekeuser3489]

Any input on this igen4500df in very cold winters, will be protected except for outdoor temps propane only

[@rjmorgansd]

I heard that in earlier incarnation of this generator had issues with the automatic choke on a coldstart in extremely cold temperatures. The problem was supposed to have been resolved with this version. But that is all I have to offer because I’m in Southern California and it rarely gets cold here like it does in Texas. :)

[@im_r0und450]

? Will this start and run my 13500 btu ac on propane with ease? Thank I’m advance!

[@chtomlin]

It should....

[@mastershredder2002]

the reset resets the breakers.

[@itsaRiot]

How long will that jenny run on a 30lb bottle of propane under 50% load?

[@robertmorgan2145]

Let me preface this by saying this is an educated guess from 10 years of experience running many different size generators under many different sizes of loads. However I have not tested it. Now, with that out-of-the-way,30 pounds of propane is around 7 gallons or so. I would expect around 2000 W to consume approximately 1 gallon of propane per hour, or roughly 4.5 pounds per hour. So I think you could expect maybe six or seven hours on a 30 pound bottle at half load. Your mileage may vary. Some assembly required. Batteries not included.

[@itsaRiot]

@@robertmorgan2145 thank you for the input very knowledgeable! My job allows us workers to use propane for free for our campers and I'll ask if could run my gen on propane, if so I'll definitely switch it over.

[@robertmorgan2145]

@@itsaRiot Free fuel! You lucky man! Propane is really the way to go. You get a little bit less energy out of propane than the same amount of gasoline but it’s very clean and it leaves no residue in your carburetor. Make sure to drain the gasoline out of your carburetor float bowl before switching over to use propane permanently. You don’t want to leave anything in there for more than a few weeks because it will gum things up. After that as long as you use propane it will be happy sailing.

[@matteoromero]

Mine won’t start. I followed all these steps and it attempts twice and stops. I tried 3 times but don’t want to keep going expecting a different result. Westinghouse took down my info and said they’d get back to me. Any suggestions? Edit: Mine is gasoline only

[@rjmorgansd]

You didn’t mention if you are attempting to start on propane or gasoline. I’m going to assume propane and continue with some things to check. Start with the basics. First and foremost make sure you put oil in the generator. If it won’t run it’s either spark or fuel or air. Air is usually a given so I check fuel and spark. Time to fall back and regroup. Make sure the generator is set to propane. Make sure your propane bottle is sufficiently full, and that the valve is on. Counter clockwise is open. Check your regulator. Try unplugging the regulator and plugging it back in again. Mine always starts on the second time and I have an 8 foot extension hose between the generator and the propane bottle. That hose always starts off filled with air and the propane works its way through the hose with each engine start cycle. If you have a long propane hose it might take three or four cycles. Note that tiny little washer that needs to go in your propane hose that I show in the video. If the above fails I would check the spark plug next.

[@matteoromero]

@@rjmorgansd thanks for the follow up! Mine is gas only. So it must be the spark.

[@rjmorgansd]

there is an automatic choke on the engine that the starter tugs on for the first couple of seconds just to get it running. On the older version of this generator people had problems with that but mainly just in really super cold weather. Since we are in the summertime I’m assuming that’s not your problem right now. A new generator with gasoline could take a little while for the gasoline to work through all the plumbing. Try about 10 start cycles and see if that works. As long as you have oil in the engine you won’t be hurting anything. Make sure to charge your battery if you are done at the end of the day and it doesn’t get running. @@matteoromero

[@matteoromero]

@@rjmorgansd thanks a lot for all the detailed help!! I’ll give it a shot now.

[@matteoromero]

@@rjmorgansd the solution ended up being the choke. I had to unscrew the 5 bolts on the engine compartment to access it and I manually moved it. It started on the first try but sounded awful. I moved the choke back and it ran for 25minutes until I stopped it. I was then able to start it again without touching the choke.

[@bsb1191]

With all of those plugs and seals, how does it do in the rain?

[@robertmorgan2145]

Generators like this will usually do pretty OK in a rainstorm just because pretty much everything is sealed. Water can’t get into the gas tank nor the exhaust or air intake. But still I wouldn’t recommend keeping it outside. I do like the covers, though, because I often go camping in dusty areas and it helps keep the connectors clean.

[@bsb1191]

Robert Morgan Thanks for the info! I bought one today and was curious how it would do if I were camping and it happened to rain. Sounds like it’s built for the occasional storm. Thanks again!

[@robertmorgan2145]

Blaire sure thing! I am very happy with the generator. I run it on propane and it does very well. That way it also keeps the carburetor bowl dry and clean. If you are going to use it for a standby generator it’s good to shut off the fuel and let it run out of gas to dry out the carburetor if you aren’t going to use it for a while. Cheers.

[@bsb1191]

Robert Morgan Good call! Mine is the gas-only version. Home Depot had it for $949 and I can’t be picky right now because RV generators are in extremely short supply!

[@rickcormier9160]

How long will this generator run on a 20# propane tank at 1/2 load.

[@massa-blasta]

do these generators ever go on sale?

[@robertmorgan2145]

I haven’t seen any sales. I got mine through Walmart only because they have a good price on an extended warranty.

[@jeffwardecke2230]

Great vid!! interesting that they want you to start it in none - eco mode, kinda defeats the purpose of the remote control if you have to go to the genny to flip the switch to eco anyway .

[@robertmorgan2145]

Yeah that is true, but it will start up in Eco mode also. My Honda EU 2000 also has the same recommendation to start in non-eco mode. I think probably they found that it’s a little bit easier to start at the high throttle setting

[@jeffwardecke2230]

@@robertmorgan2145 This unit is impossible to find right now, everyone is sold out. :-(

[@robertmorgan2145]

@@jeffwardecke2230 Hi Jeff, my brother wanted one and recently settled for a Champion because you are right, this one is really hard to find. I ended up finding these at both Walmart and Home Depot but only online. I had to sign up for email notices when they were available. After waiting a couple MONTHS I finally got a notice that HD had one available, then I went and looked at Walmart and they, too had exactly one available. The next day I went to place my order and it was sold at both places. Came to realize both places are merely drop shipping and neither really had it in stock. About three months later I got another email from Wamart. They again had ONE in stock and I pounced on it and got it. HD also said they had one and shortly after I bought it from WM, HD said they were out of stock again. Ha. (And after all that the FedEx guy flipped and dropped the box 30x up to my porch, but that's another video....) Was a long wait but now I have it. I like this one better than the Champion because it has a larger fuel tank and wireless remote start which works really well. Walmart also had a very reasonably priced extended warranty.

[@jeffwardecke2230]

@@robertmorgan2145 I'm sure you consider yourself lucky! lol and I did watch the fedex vid twice; once with my wife. Time was a factor and don't have time to play russian rulet with so many competitors from H Sally. I did stay with Westinghouse and purchased there 5300DF with remote start, as far as the noise goes; the unit will be in a soundproof enclosure on the back of the truck with cooling/fresh air fans and exhaust port, I can by 2 for the price they want know. Not a decision made lightly. Pulling a camper not 5th. Happy trail!!

[@robertmorgan2145]

Jeff Wardecke I’m sure those will work for you just fine. There’s nothing better than a generator that can run on propane when you are talking about emergency back up. Propane has an infinite shelflife and will always be ready for you.

[@esquire9445]

FYI, recall on these units manufactured in 2019 fuel leak fire hazard.

[@robertmorgan2145]

I appreciate your message, but I saw the recall on the 2500 model however not the iGen 4500. Do you have a link? This is the 2500 model recall: (link: ohsonline.com/articles/2017/12/12/4500-portable-generators-recalled.aspx)

[@esquire9445]

@@robertmorgan2145 it’s only the dual fuel version with manufacture dates from October 2019 through December 2019 www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/mwe-investments-recalls-westinghouse-portable-generators-due-to-fire-hazard

[@robertmorgan2145]

Thank you very much. Looks like it’s a slightly different version than the one I have but it’s not very comforting to know that apparently whatever Chinese company is making these under the name of Westinghouse seems to have a problem with fuel system design. I’ll keep an ion it. Thanks again.

[@esquire9445]

@@robertmorgan2145 I think it says it’s a bad fuel valve. This doesn’t apply to the regular gas version, so I assume there is a propane valve in the generator somewhere? Probably just a low quality ball valve where the hose is suppose to plug in?

[@robertmorgan2145]

Hey Esquire you called it! My unit was recalled. I am in the process of sending it back to Westinghouse. Seems the carb float has a tendency to sink, causing fuel overflow. I'm going to call them before sending it back to make sure they have the parts available to make the repair, because I don't want to wait all through desert season to get my gen back. I only use it on propane so no chance of leaking. FYI recall info here: westinghouseoutdoorpower.com/pages/product-safety

[@bigbadbob143]

Can I purchase a longer hose?

[@robertmorgan2145]

Yes you can. The longer the hose, the more start attempts the generator will need before the air bleeds out of it. I have a 12 ft hose, and when starting for the first time it takes two cycles of the start sequence before the propane gets to the generator. After that, if you leave the hose connected it starts right up. I got this one: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D9KGS78/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@bigbadbob143]

@@robertmorgan2145 The problem that I am running into, is the short provided hose has a large opening allowing more LP. When I tried a standard hose, it does not get enough LP to keep it running. Westinghouse does not sell a longer hose.

[@robertmorgan2145]

@@bigbadbob143 What I did was extend the propane outlet with a large diameter propane bottle extension hose. You can get them from Walmart or Amazon. I included the link above. It essentially moves the output of the propane bottle closer to your generator. That hose should carry the full flow of propane.

[@williamrevel721]

how long dose it run on propane

[@robertmorgan2145]

It really depends upon the load and the size of propane tank. A gallon of propane has about 80% the energy of a gallon of gasoline, so it requires a bit more to run on propane. A 20lb cylinder of propane has about 5 gallons, so you can do the math from there. The really nice thing about using this on propane is you can run it off your RV propane tanks if you go camping with an RV. Also, since you're not using the carburetor for gasoline you don't have to worry about it getting gunked up if the gas sits in it too long. Propane stores forever so it's a great back-up or camping generator.

[@randyab9go188]

I just wanted to let everyone know that Westinghouse had nothing to do with the production of this generator. Westinghouse consumer products no longer exist as an entity except in a trademark that anyone (including you if you have enough money) can license and use. All consumer products with Westinghouse name on it is used under license. Westinghouse consumer products died in the 1970's. It's the same with other well-known US manufacturers such as RCA and GE. The names are used under license and the products are made by the Chinese. General Electric washers dryers and refrigerators are now owned by the Chinese. Some are still made in Louisville Kentucky. I foresee that production being shipped to China sometime in the future.

[@robertmorgan2145]

Yes Randy you are correct. I mentioned in the video this is the “Westinghouse version. “. Cummins Onan was a very good name in back up engines and they also license their name to this product. They both come out of the same building in China somewhere, actually quite sad. I would much rather have had something like this designed and built in the 1980s, because it would be built like a brick house. Having said that I do like the features on this generator and I hope it lasts a while.

[@agentorange2554]

@@robertmorgan2145 I originally looked at this product as an alternative to harbor freight, thinking it was made in America. Nope. But it's quiet and puts out the energy I will need. I'm just wondering how many times I will have to "re-engineer" it as time goes by

[@jowensblack48]

This is the unit I want but they are sold out or 20% over MSRP...I'm cheap

[@CharlesCHubbard]

I signed up to receive an email notification from Lowes when they were back in stock. Got that email a few days ago and purchased one quickly. They are now out of stock again.

[@donraptor6156]

That is $20.00 tank of fuel! Why? Gas is half that!

[@robertmorgan2145]

Several reasons to use propane. I live in the People's Republic of California. Gasoline retails for upwards of $3.75 per gallon in my area right now because CA taxes the bejesus out of gas. Also, this generator is for use in my trailer and back up at my house. So it's for part-time use. Propane stores forever. CA gas stores for about 60 days then starts to degrade and varnish due to the additives. And when you leave gas in a float bowl it clogs the low speed jet of any carb. Propane always starts right up. When in the trailer I carry it in the truck bed and connect a hose to a splitter at the two front propane tanks. When at home, I have a propane tank out on the patio for use when CA shuts off the power. This actually happens quite often because they closed all but one of the nuclear plants and switched to solar and wind. The result is my electric bill has quadrupled and the power sometimes goes out after about 3pm on warm days due to "rolling blackouts". Why AFTER 3pm you ask? Because the sun is off its peak and not providing power to the solar plants. They also shut off the power on windy days because the power companies don't want to get sued for faulty lines that flap in the breeze and start fires in the poorly managed tinderbox forests. So when the wind doesn't blow, we don't get wind power. When the wind blows too much they shut off the power. When it's getting dark, no power. When you hear Trump's line about "darling, I want to watch TV but the wind isn't blowing"...He is 100% accurate. So I've got my gen and some propane and I'm good until I can get outta here.

[@carl16760]

its a lot more quiet than video portrays...

[@robertmorgan2145]

Yes, microphones on iPhones are kind of funny because without any reference it seems to magnify the sound. That’s why I said in the video that it’s no louder or no quieter than most other inverter -based generators. Generally speaking people will be very happy with this generator it really is pretty quiet.

[@carl16760]

@@robertmorgan2145 yeah I got one looks just like yours...and got a Generac 7500/5500 all gas. so yeah...wow difference...now the 30A plug change...oh maybe a transfer instead of hard wire...more money money money....100 hour plugs thats bettr.