Inverter generators
The short answer
Plugging in an RV? Westinghouse
Want a CO shutoff? Champion
On numbers these are nearly twins: 1,900W vs 1,850W running, and 11 hr vs 11.5 at 1/4 load. What separates them is features and safety.
Best for RV hookups
Best if you want a CO shutoff
Before you buy: Champion says its 2500 isn't meant for emergency home backup. The iGen2550 has no CO sensor, so it has to sit well away from the house. Westinghouse sells a separate iGen2550c with one.
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Counted from the chart below: rows where one is clearly better. It's a tally, not an overall rating. The iGen2550's edges here, the RV outlet and USB ports, aren't scored as wins, so they don't show up in it.
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.
| iGen2550 | Champion 2500 | Clearer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting watts (gasoline) | 2,550W | 2,500W | |
| Running watts (gasoline) | 1,900W | 1,850W | |
| Fuel | Gasoline | Gasoline | |
| Gas tank | 1.1 gal | 1.05 gal | |
| Run time at 1/4 load (gasoline) | 11 hr at 1/4 load | 11.5 hr at 1/4 load | |
| Run time at 1/2 load (gasoline) | 7 hr at 1/2 load | Not published at this load | |
| Noise (maker figure) | 52 dBA ("as low as"; load not stated) | 53 dBA from 23 ft (load not stated) | |
| Weight | 43.2 lb (spec table); 42.4 lb (description) | 39.7 lb | |
| Starting method | Recoil | Recoil | |
| Outlets | One 120V 20A duplex (5-20R), one TT-30R RV outlet, two USB | One 120V 20A duplex (5-20R), one 12V DC, parallel ports | |
| CO shutoff | No (Westinghouse spec table) | Yes (CO Shield) | Champion 2500 |
| Parallel capable | Yes | Yes, with an optional kit | |
| Total harmonic distortion (maker) | 3% or less | Not published | |
| Warranty | 3 years residential; 1 year commercial | 3 years limited | |
| Engine | 80cc | 80cc | |
| Note | Champion's page says this unit is not recommended for emergency home backup |
Common things people plug in during an outage or at camp, checked against each generator's own gasoline ratings from the chart above: iGen2550 1,900W running and 2,550W starting, Champion 2500 1,850W running and 2,500W starting. I used the top of each range, so a smaller appliance may do better.
| Load | Running watts | Starting watts | iGen2550 | Champion 2500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | One at a time | One at a time |
| 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 | Tight | Tight |
| RV rooftop AC, 13,500 BTU | 1,500–2,000W | 2,800–3,500W | No | No |
| CPAP (with heated humidifier) | 60–120W | No extra | Yes | Yes |
| Microwave | 600–1,200W | No extra | One at a time | One at a time |
| Coffee maker† | 600–1,200W | No extra | One at a time | One at a time |
| Space heater (1,500W setting) | 750–1,500W | No extra | One at a time | One at a time |
| Well pump, 1 HP | 1,000–2,000W | 2,000–4,000W | No | No |
| Circular saw, 7-1/4 in. | 1,200–1,800W | 2,400–3,600W | No | No |
| 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 |
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 (iGen2550 68% of 1,900W · Champion 2500 70% of 1,850W)
Biggest start: furnace blower starting 1,600 + everything else running 400 + 75 + 20 = 2,095W (iGen2550 82% of 2,550W · Champion 2500 84% of 2,500W)
iGen2550 YesChampion 2500 Yes
Running: 400 + 1,200 = 1,600W (iGen2550 84% of 1,900W · Champion 2500 86% of 1,850W)
Biggest start: fridge starting 1,200 + everything else running 1,200 = 2,400W (iGen2550 94% of 2,550W · Champion 2500 96% of 2,500W)
iGen2550 TightChampion 2500 Tight
Running: 600 + 120 + 200 + 100 = 1,020W (iGen2550 54% of 1,900W · Champion 2500 55% of 1,850W)
Biggest start: 5,000 BTU AC starting 1,200 + everything else running 120 + 200 + 100 = 1,620W (iGen2550 64% of 2,550W · Champion 2500 65% of 2,500W)
iGen2550 YesChampion 2500 Yes
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: a 13,500 BTU unit needs more starting watts than either generator has. A soft starter added to the AC is often what decides it. Micro-Air, which makes the EasyStart, says it cuts startup current by up to 75%. Even then, leave the fridge and other big loads off.
Outlets: Neither generator lists a 240V outlet in the chart above, so anything that needs 240V is out. Check your appliance's label. The iGen2550 has 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 "No" on both.
Home backup: Champion's page says the Champion 2500 isn't recommended for emergency home backup.
Load watts: Champion Power Equipment, Generator Wattage Chart. Champion makes the 2500, 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 "One at a time" 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 burn gasoline, so both put out carbon monoxide. Keep them outside, well away from doors, windows and vents, with the exhaust pointed away from the house. The Champion has a CO shutoff and the iGen2550 doesn't, so give the iGen2550 extra distance. Never in a garage, shed or on a porch.
Both are small enclosed gas inverters in the 2,500-watt-peak class.
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if a CO shutoff is a must. Westinghouse sells a separate iGen2550c with a CO sensor. This listing isn't that unit.
if you need an RV outlet on the generator itself, or you're buying mainly for outages.
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
Sources: Amazon reviews
Call it a tie. Westinghouse says "as low as 52 dBA" with no load stated. Champion says 53 dBA from 23 feet with no load stated.
They're close: 11 hours at 1/4 load for the iGen2550 on 1.1 gallons, and 11.5 for the Champion on 1.05.
No, per Westinghouse's spec table for this model. The iGen2550c is the version with one.
Both are 3 years. Westinghouse lists 3 years residential and 1 year commercial, and Champion lists a 3-year limited warranty.
Where the sources disagree on a spec:
Specs are from Westinghouse 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.