Wen vs Champion Generator: Which Brand to Choose?

Nowadays, it seems everyone needs a good generator, whether they are homeowners, outdoor lovers, or rescue workers. If you’re searching for a backup generator, you’re likely to get confused due to the several options available, with brands arguing that their products are unbeatable. One of the debates likely to come up during your search is the WEN vs. Champion generators.

The two brands have various generators competing for the same market. For example the WEN 56203i and Champion Power Equipment 100692. The latter has a higher tank meaning it can serve you for longer. However, the WEN 56203i is the quieter of the two and it has more outlets. With these and many more differences, how do you pick one that’s right for you?

In this article, we’ll review some of the popular models of generators from these two brands.

Brands Comparison

WEN is one of the best brands when it comes to power generators, founded by Nick Anton back in 1951. Whether you need a generator for recreation power or emergency backup, WEN has you covered. The company offers a wide range of generators, from the inverter to dual fuel and conventional gas power generators. If you plan to go camping or tailgating or are preparing for a natural disaster, consider getting one of WEN’s portable generators.

Champion Power Equipment is a well-known brand for producing power equipment. Since 2003, the company has earned a reputation for creating the best power equipment on the market. The current Champion product line now includes engines, winches, portable generators, home backup generators, inverter generators, and log splitters. Their generators have a wattage ranging from 1200 to 12000 to suit your needs, including powering your RV or home operations.

Wen and Champion Power Equipment share some similarities when it comes to their generators. Both companies produce portable generators, making them suitable for outdoor operations. Their generators also have reliable engines designed to serve you for a long time. Additionally, their generators are designed to operate quietly, reducing disturbance during operation. Finally, some generator models from the two companies have similar peak and rated watts.

WEN 56203i vs. Champion Power Equipment 100692

The WEN 56203i and Champion Power Equipment 100692 are among the best inverter generators with a 4-stroke OHV, 79cc engine. This means that the devices offer clean and safe power, protecting your sensitive electrical devices, including laptops, televisions, computers, and mobile phones, from damage.

Both generators share a peak wattage of 2000W and a rated wattage of 1700W. This wattage is enough to run a 500-watt deep freezer, a 650-watt microwave, one element of an electric stove, a freezer, and a few lights.

These generators come in handy if you plan to go camping or tailgating. Both weigh below 40lbs, making them easy to carry around compared to other 2000W inverter generators on the market. Besides weight, the generators come with one handle at the top, making them easy to lift from the ground.

One of the best things about the WEN 56203i and the Champion Power Equipment 100692 is that they don’t produce a lot of noise during operation. The former produces a noise level of 51dB at half load while the latter produces 53dB. This means that the WEN 56203i is relatively quiet. Quiet generators reduce disturbance when camping, hunting, tailgating, and restoring backup power.

These two generators use gasoline for power. The WEN model has a fuel tank capacity of 1 gal, serving up to seven hours at half load. On the other hand, the Champion model has a 1.1-gal fuel tank capacity and can serve you for about 11.5 hours at quarter load.

If you need more energy, the generators allow you to link them with other generators, provided they’re from the same company. You’ll need a parallel connection kit sold separately to link two generators.

Power up the generators using the reliable recoil start. They also come with Cold Start Technology, allowing you to start them quickly, even in cold weather. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about power backup during winter. This feature also comes in handy when you want to power up your generator late at night when it’s too cold.

Another thing worth mentioning about these two generators is that they come with outlets for various operations. The WEN 56203i has two three-prong 120V receptacles, one 12V DC receptacle, and two 5V USB ports. In contrast, the Champion Power Equipment 100692 has two covered 120V 20A household outlets and a covered 12V DC automotive-style outlet.

Using either of the two generators to power various home operations is cost-effective since they consume less fuel. Once you turn on the generators and plug in your devices, they automatically adjust their fuel consumption. For the WEN 56203i, the fuel consumption rate is about 0.09 GPH (Gallons Per Hour), while the Champion Power Equipment 100692 consumes fuel at a rate of 0.08 GPH.

Regarding security, the two generators are well-equipped with security features. They come with light indicators, notifying you when the fuel level goes down. The light indicators can also notify you when the generators are ready or overloaded.

Once you see the low fuel level light, you can check the amount of oil remaining through the oil gauge. Refill the tank to avoid damaging your equipment if the level is too low. However, even if you fail to refill the fuel tank, you don’t have to worry too much because the generators come with a fuel shutoff feature. This feature stops fuel flow, allowing the generators to use the remaining fuel from the carburetor before automatically turning off. Besides protecting your generator from damage, this feature also minimizes maintenance requirements since it reduces blockages inside the carburetor caused by stagnant fuel.

Both the WEN 56203i and Champion Power Equipment 100692 are CARB (California Air Resource Board) compliant. CARB-compliant equipment produce fewer toxins, particulates, and harmful emissions, resulting in improved air quality.

If your generator develops issues soon after buying, you don’t have to worry too much since these devices come with warranties. The WEN model offers two years warranty, while the champion model offers three years warranty.

WEN GN400i vs. Champion Power Equipment 100302

The WEN GN400i and Champion Power Equipment 100302 are one of the best generators in the market, which come with an innovative design and advanced technology to improve your life.

These generators come with powerful engines which provide energy for various operations. The WEN GN400i has a 4-stroke OHV, 212cc, producing a surge power of 4000W. When it begins to run, the power drops down to 3500W. Conversely, the Champion Power Equipment 100302 comes with a 4-stroke OHV, 224cc engine, producing 4000 peak watts and 3500 rated watts of power.

If you want to go camping with your RV, you can choose either of the two generators since they come with RV-ready outlets. WEN has a 120V RV-ready TT-30R receptacle, while Champion has a 120V 30A RV (TT-30R) outlet. Besides RV outlets, the generators come with other receptacles to facilitate various operations. The former model has two 120V NEMA 5-20R receptacles and two 5V USB ports, whereas the latter features two 120V 20A household outlets and a 12V DC automotive-style outlet.

Although these generators share various similarities, they also have some differences. For starters, the WEN GN400i comes with a 1.85-gal fuel tank capacity which offers about 7 hours of runtime at half load. On the flip side, the Champion Power Equipment 100302 has a 2.9-gal fuel tank capacity that can last you for 17 hours at a quarter load.

The WEN GN400i and the Champion Power Equipment 100302 are fuel-efficient, so you don’t have to worry about operation costs. However, the fuel consumption rates for the two generators are different. The WEN model has a consumption rate of 0.26GPH, while the champion model’s consumption rate is about 0.17 GPH.

The best thing about these generators is that they use inverter technology, making them safe for use with sensitive devices such as phones, laptops, computers, and TVs. They are also lightweight, with WEN weighing 66.1 lbs. while Champion weighs 81.6 lbs. The weight makes them easy to carry around, especially if you want a power backup system when  camping Trusted Source Why Camp? - Camping (U.S. National Park Service) landing page to describe why camping is important. www.nps.gov . Besides weight, the two generators come with two handles allowing people to lift them. Finally, they have a compact design that will enable them to comfortably fit in your RV camper without taking up too much space. This feature is essential since it means the generators will leave enough space for packing other essential items for your trip.

Another thing worth noting about the two generators is that they are parallel-ready. Therefore, if you want more power, you can connect them with other generators, provided they’re from the same brand. Additionally, they have an electric or recoil startup system.

The WEN GN400i costs about $400, while the Champion Power Equipment 100302 costs around $770. However, the price usually varies depending on the retailer. Therefore, it’s advisable to your research well to find a seller who offers favorable prices. Nevertheless, the WEN model is cheaper than the Champion model. Therefore, the WEN GN400i will suit your needs if you’re on a tight budget. Although the generator is cheaper, it doesn’t mean that it’s less effective. You will still enjoy great features on a cost-friendly budget.

Although the Champion model is quite expensive, it comes with additional items, including an oil funnel, Battery Charging cables, and a USB adapter. The oil funnel is essential since it prevents oil from spilling when refilling your generator, reducing wastage. The battery charger, on the other hand, charges the battery once the generator goes off, ensuring the generator is always ready for use. At the end of the charging cycle, the charger returns to standby. Finally, the USB adapter helps you to connect USB port devices to non-USB devices.

Finally, both generators are CARB-compliant. This means the generators’ emissions are within the acceptable range and cannot affect the environment.

WEN GN875i vs. Champion Power Equipment 100520

The WEN GN875i and Champion Power Equipment 100520 feature a 4-stroke OHV, 420cc engine which offers 7000W running wattage, allowing you to run several electrical appliances simultaneously without experiencing any challenges. The engine also offers 8750 starting watts, enough to start motors that require an extra boost.

Both generators come with a 4.2-gals fuel tank capacity. Nevertheless, their run times are different. The WEN GN875i can serve you for 6.7 hours at half load, whereas the Champion Power Equipment 100520 can run for 10.5 hours at quarter load. Power up the device through the electrical starter or the pull-start mechanism. The electric starter is quite easy to use. All you need to do is push the power button.

Generally, both generators are light, allowing you to carry them with you whenever you go camping. The WEN model weighs about 147.3 lbs., while the Champion model weighs 152.7 lbs., making it slightly heavier. Carrying the generators is not an issue since they have two handles, allowing two people to lift them. These handles are foldable, improving your grip when carrying the equipment. This type of handle also makes it easy to store the equipment since it won’t take up too much space. If there is no one around, you can push them, thanks to their wheel kit.

RV Trusted Source RVs: A Way to See America From the Safety of Your Own “Home” Americans embrace recreational vehicles as sales have grown steadily for years. www.census.gov campers can use either of the models since they have a relatively compact design allowing them to fit in your RV without taking up too much space.

Confidently connect your sensitive electronic devices since the two generators are made with an inverter technology that produces clean power. Noise is also not an issue with the two generators since they are designed to operate quietly.

With a total of 6 AC, the WEN GN875i offers more outlets compared to the Champion Power Equipment 100520, which has 5 AC receptacles. Nevertheless, the Champion model has the advantage of having GFCI outlets. Both generators also have a DC output, but the Champion model does not have an in-built USB port. It’s also important to note that both generators can produce 120 or 240V.

One of the best features of these two generators is the data center which helps you to keep an eye on certain aspects, including total runtime, voltage, session time, and frequency. Additionally, these two products have a fuel gauge that enables you to check the gasoline level. If the fuel level has gone down, it’s important to refill the tank to avoid damaging your generator and electronics.

To buy a WEN GN875i generator, you need to spend around $899, while the Champion Power Equipment 100520 costs about $1,250. Despite the Champion model being expensive, it comes with additional items in the box, including a flexible oil funnel, USB adapter, and battery charging cables.

Final Thoughts

Both WEN and Champion have established a reputation as high-quality generator producers. However, both brands have their set of advantages and disadvantages. Eventually, the decision between WEN vs. Champion generators boils down to the amount of power you require, the features you value most, and the price range you’re ready to pay. Nevertheless, you can never go wrong with generators from either of the brands since they both make high-quality products.

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