Inverter generators
The short answer
Need power and outlets? WEN
Want propane? Champion
The WEN has the power edge: 4,000W running vs 3,500W, and it's lighter at 72.7 lb vs 99.2. The Champion adds propane and electric start.
Best for power and outlets
Best for propane and electric start
Before you buy: For the WEN's CO shutoff it's a muddle: Amazon says it has one, and WEN's own page and manual don't mention it. Check the box before you rely on it.
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Counted from the chart below: rows where one is clearly better. It's a tally, not an overall rating.
Bold means one number is clearly better. Blank means it's a tie, it's close, the makers measured it differently, or the sources disagree. I only compare run times at the same load when it's fair, since 1/4 load on a bigger generator is more watts.
| WEN 56477i | Champion 4500 Dual Fuel | Clearer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting watts (gasoline) | 4,800W | 4,500W | |
| Running watts (gasoline) | 4,000W | 3,500W | WEN 56477i |
| Fuel | Gasoline | Gasoline or propane | Champion 4500 Dual Fuel |
| Starting watts (propane) | Gasoline only | 4,500W | |
| Running watts (propane) | Gasoline only | 3,150W | |
| Gas tank | 1.9 gal | 2.25 gal | |
| Run time at 1/4 load (gasoline) | Not published at this load | 14 hr at 1/4 load | |
| Run time at 1/2 load (gasoline) | 7 hr at 1/2 load | Not published at this load | |
| Run time at 1/4 load (propane) | Gasoline only | 21 hr at 1/4 load (20-lb tank) | |
| Noise (maker figure) | 62 dB at 1/4 load | 61 dBA from 23 ft (load not stated) | |
| Weight | 72.7 lb | 99.2 lb | WEN 56477i |
| Starting method | Recoil | Electric (battery included) and recoil | Champion 4500 Dual Fuel |
| Wheels | Yes, with a telescoping handle | Yes, 5-inch solid wheels | |
| Outlets | Four 120V 5-20R, one TT-30R RV outlet, one 12V DC, two 5V USB | One 120V 20A duplex (5-20R), one 120V RV outlet (TT-30R), one 12V DC, parallel ports | |
| CO shutoff | Unclear: the Amazon listing says it has WEN's Watchdog CO shutoff; WEN's 56477i page and manual do not mention it | Yes (CO Shield) | |
| Parallel capable | Yes, with an optional kit | Yes, with an optional kit | |
| Total harmonic distortion (maker) | Under 1.2% at full load | Not published | |
| Display | Not listed | Intelligauge with power meter | |
| Warranty | 3 years limited | 3 years limited | |
| Engine | 224cc | 212cc |
Common things people plug in during an outage or at camp, checked against each generator's own gasoline ratings from the chart above: WEN 56477i 4,000W running and 4,800W starting, Champion 4500 Dual Fuel 3,500W running and 4,500W starting. I used the top of each range, so a smaller appliance may do better.
| Load | Running watts | Starting watts | WEN 56477i | Champion 4500 Dual Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-size refrigerator | 150–400W | 800–1,200W | Yes | Yes |
| Freezer (chest or upright) | 100–500W | 500–1,000W | Yes | Yes |
| Sump pump, 1/3 HP | 500–800W | 1,000–1,600W | Yes | Yes |
| Sump pump, 1/2 HP | 800–1,050W | 1,300–2,150W | Yes | Yes |
| Gas furnace blower (1/2 HP fan) | 300–800W | 800–1,600W | Yes | Yes |
| Window AC, 5,000 BTU | 450–600W | 900–1,200W | Yes | Yes |
| Window AC, 10,000 BTU | 900–1,200W | 1,800–2,400W | Yes | Yes |
| RV rooftop AC, 13,500 BTU | 1,500–2,000W | 2,800–3,500W | Yes | One at a time |
| CPAP (with heated humidifier) | 60–120W | No extra | Yes | Yes |
| Microwave | 600–1,200W | No extra | Yes | Yes |
| Coffee maker† | 600–1,200W | No extra | Yes | Yes |
| Space heater (1,500W setting) | 750–1,500W | No extra | Yes | Yes |
| Well pump, 1 HP‡ | 1,000–2,000W | 2,000–4,000W | Yes | One at a time |
| Circular saw, 7-1/4 in. | 1,200–1,800W | 2,400–3,600W | Yes | One at a time |
| TV (32-55 in.) + router/modem | 90–420W | No extra | Yes | Yes |
| Phone/laptop charging | 20–100W | No extra | Yes | Yes |
| Electric water heater | 3,000–4,500W | No extra | No | No |
‡ Check your well pump's voltage. If it runs on 240V, neither unit can power it, since neither lists a 240V outlet.
Add up the running watts. Then take the one item with the biggest starting surge and add its starting watts to everything else's running watts. Both totals have to fit.
Running: 400 + 800 + 75 + 20 = 1,295W (WEN 56477i 32% of 4,000W · Champion 4500 Dual Fuel 37% of 3,500W)
Biggest start: furnace blower starting 1,600 + everything else running 400 + 75 + 20 = 2,095W (WEN 56477i 44% of 4,800W · Champion 4500 Dual Fuel 47% of 4,500W)
WEN 56477i YesChampion 4500 Dual Fuel Yes
Running: 400 + 500 + 1,050 + 75 + 20 = 2,045W (WEN 56477i 51% of 4,000W · Champion 4500 Dual Fuel 58% of 3,500W)
Biggest start: 1/2 HP sump pump starting 2,150 + everything else running 400 + 500 + 75 + 20 = 3,145W (WEN 56477i 66% of 4,800W · Champion 4500 Dual Fuel 70% of 4,500W)
WEN 56477i YesChampion 4500 Dual Fuel Yes
Running: 2,000 + 600 + 150 + 100 = 2,850W (WEN 56477i 71% of 4,000W · Champion 4500 Dual Fuel 81% of 3,500W)
Biggest start: 13,500 BTU AC starting 3,500 + everything else running 600 + 150 + 100 = 4,350W (WEN 56477i 91% of 4,800W · Champion 4500 Dual Fuel 97% of 4,500W)
WEN 56477i TightChampion 4500 Dual Fuel Tight
These are typical figures. Check the label on your own appliance. It lists watts, or amps you can multiply by 120 to get watts.
Motors need starting watts. Fridges, freezers, pumps, furnace blowers and air conditioners pull a short surge each time they kick on, well above their running watts (see the Starting column). Heaters, coffee makers and chargers don't.
Running several loads adds up. If two motors start in the same second, both surges stack. Honda's own advice is to start the big ones one at a time.
RV air conditioners: both have the starting watts for a 13,500 BTU unit on paper. A soft starter still eases the start: Micro-Air, which makes the EasyStart, says it cuts startup current by up to 75%, which leaves more room for other loads.
Outlets: Neither generator lists a 240V outlet in the chart above, so anything that needs 240V is out. Check your appliance's label. Both have a 30A RV outlet (TT-30R). Running watts still cap the total, whichever outlet you use.
Water heaters: If your water heater runs on 240V, neither unit can power it, since neither lists a 240V outlet. On watts alone it would be "Tight" on the WEN 56477i and "No" on the Champion 4500 Dual Fuel.
Well pumps: Check your well pump's voltage. If it runs on 240V, neither unit can power it, since neither lists a 240V outlet.
Load watts: Champion Power Equipment, Generator Wattage Chart. Champion makes the 4500 Dual Fuel, but the chart covers appliances, not generators. †Coffee maker: 600W for a 4-cup maker from Honda's wattage guide, and 1,200W from Generac's wattage worksheet. Microwave: the wattage on the box is usually cooking power. Honda's guide lists a 1,000W microwave at 1,500W from the outlet, which is "Yes" on both. None of these charts list an 8,000 BTU window AC, so it falls between the 5,000 and 10,000 BTU rows. Start-up advice: Honda. Soft starter: Micro-Air.
One thing before the details: both are gas engines, so both put out carbon monoxide, on gasoline or on propane. Keep them outside, well away from doors, windows and vents, with the exhaust pointed away from the house. The Champion lists a CO shutoff. For the WEN, I wouldn't count on one until you've checked the box. Never in a garage, shed or on a porch.
Both are wheeled inverters with a TT-30R RV outlet. "4800" and "4500" are starting watts. The running watts are 500 apart.
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if you need propane or electric start. Also check the box for the CO Watchdog before you rely on it, because WEN's own page doesn't list one.
if you need more than 3,500 running watts on gasoline, or more than one duplex.
These points come from owners posting on Reddit, owner forums and retailer reviews, not from my own testing. A point is listed only when at least three separate owners of this exact model said it. Individual units vary.
Sources: Amazon reviews, Reddit, iRV2
Sources: Amazon reviews
The sources disagree. The Amazon listing says it has WEN's Watchdog CO shutdown sensor. WEN's own 56477i page and its November 2023 manual don't mention one. I don't count it either way.
Different loads again, so I can't compare them. WEN gives 7 hours at 1/2 load on 1.9 gallons. Champion gives 14 hours at 1/4 load on 2.25 gallons.
Too close to call. WEN lists 62 dB at 1/4 load and Champion lists 61 dBA from 23 feet. Different tests.
Yes, each with its own brand's kit.
Where the sources disagree on a spec:
Specs are from WEN and Champion, checked October 8, 2026. Any line marked "Amazon listing" is not a maker figure.
By Mike E. · Last checked October 8, 2026 · Based on manufacturer specs. Lines marked "Amazon listing" are from Amazon, not the maker.