What are the Advantages of an Inverter Generator?

The three clear advantages an inverter generator has over a conventional open-frame generator, or a standby generator are weight, reduced operating noise level, and mobility.

But considering you likely already knew the obvious benefits, I’d like to share a few other defining characteristics that make inverter generators the better alternative to conventional generators.

So let’s get into it and uncover why an inverter generator is an ideal generator for your future temporary power needs.

What Does it Mean When a Generator Has an Inverter?

When a generator has an inverter, it means that it uses an electronic mechanism that regulates the supply voltage to the motor by throttling the engine up or down depending on the power needs.

An inverter generator can sense the necessary power demand and will then automatically adjust its output accordingly to adapt to the desired load requirements.

Instead of running full tilt the whole time, like a conventional generator, it only runs as hard as it needs to in order to fuel the connected electronics. This is ideal for saving fuel, lowering emissions, and therefore vastly reducing operating noise levels as well.

INVERTER GENERATOR ADVANTAGES

Inverter generators have a massive advantage over conventional generators when it comes to fuel efficiency, as the running amperage of the motor varies.

Other generators without an inverter feature run direct-on-line (DOL) with the motor drawing maximum amperage at full speed every time it runs.

This alone is enough to greatly consider an inverter generator over a conventional generator. The fuel consumption savings with an inverter will reap favorable financial rewards over time, outweighing the initial upfront cost of the inverter generator.

Why Choose an Inverter Generator?

To be blunt, inverter generators are just an overall better option for those on the hunt for a portable generator.

Generators with inverters are no different in terms of functionality to your home HVAC system, and if you’ve ever owned an AC system before compressors came with an inverter feature, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.

The operating cost of any load, be it a generator engine or compressor, is substantially reduced when AC power can be regulated via any variable speed controller.

The advantages inverter generators possess over your lock stock open frame generator are evident as soon as you pick up an inverter. The fact is, any decent capacity open frame generator is something you won’t be lifting into the back of your truck by yourself, unlike an inverter.

why an inverter generator?

The reality is you’re most certainly buying an inverter generator for how versatile they are as you can effortlessly make use of an inverter generator around the house, on a job site, or deep in the woods camping.

“An inverter generator can modulate the engine speed depending on load, because the frequency of the output power does not depend on the speed of the engine. That can save fuel, and also make less noise.”

David Wilmshurst – Mahaffey

Attempting to utilize a regular open frame generator in the same fashion will, unfortunately, require the helping hands of others due to the additional weight.

Lastly, I know I’ve already touched on this point before, but it really can’t be overstated, and that’s the operating noise of an inverter to an open-frame generator.

Even when an inverter model of the same capacity is throttled up to full speed in compassion to an open frame generator, there is about a 50 dBA difference in noise output between the two units.

That is a disparity, and you, your neighbors, or even the nearby campsite will surely notice and undoubtedly despise it within a short period of time.

Why are Inverter Generators So Quiet?

As previously mentioned, inverter generators produce a lot less noise than conventional open-frame generators. This might be a major consideration when choosing a generator, especially so if you’ve got nosey annoying neighbors nearby.

In general, due to the fact that inverters only produce as much power as is needed at a given time, they usually don’t need to run as hard, thus producing less noise.

Inverter generators are also more fuel-efficient but produce less power in comparison to dual fuel generators.

But that is honestly like comparing an eco-friendly 4-cylinder engine to an earth-shattering V8 that was created purely to raise hell and decibels.

Simply put, the higher the power output, the more noise is created. So if you want a mammoth for a generator that doesn’t come equipped with an inverter feature, you can kiss any sort of quiet operation mode goodbye.

What is the Absolute Best Inverter Generator?

Let’s say you’re after the absolute best inverter generator, and you don’t want to waste time fluffing around dry-humping sparrows with subpar inverter generators.

If that’s the case, the one inverter generator I’d recommend you consider (over all other portable generators, for that matter) is the Westinghouse iGen2200 inverter generator.

This inverter generator is super quiet at full speed generating just 52 dBA under load with a runtime of 12 hours on a 1.2-gallon gas tank.

It’s also very reasonably priced, and in comparison to any other conventional generator on the market, you’ll have a much easier time hauling it around as it weighs just 46 lbs.

When it comes to actual bang for your buck, the Westinghouse iGen2200 tops all other portable generators within its capacity.

What is the Best Budget Inverter Generator?

So if you’re after an inverter generator but don’t want to break the bank, the WEN 56200i inverter generator is your outright best budget option. 

The WEN 56200i is on par in terms of operating noise levels, as it produces 53 dBA at full load. This is one 1 dBA more than what the Westinghouse iGen2200 generates.

While the build quality of the WEN 56200i isn’t in the same realm as the Westinghouse model, you’re still getting a reliable inverter generator while saving around $150+ in the process.

With its 79.7cc 4-stroke OHV engine, you will get enough juice from this extremely portable inverter generator for all your camping needs, tailgates shenanigans, and delivering essential power when an outage occurs.

One of the downsides of buying the WEN 56200i is the limited warranty period. Plus, some Reddit users had previously reported issues when having warranty-related faults actioned under a claim.

But, if you’re willing to take a chance due to budget restrictions, the WEN 56200i could be a fantastic buy for all your temporary power needs.

Which is Better: Inverter or Open Frame Generator?

The Current

One thing to consider when comparing these two types of generators is the current that they create. Conventional generators create only AC current, whereas inverter generators create currents in phases (high-frequency AC power to DC power and then back to stable AC power).

The advantage of an inverter generator is that the flow of electricity is more constant and much cleaner. Inverter generators are much safer to use with sensitive gadgets and equipment; such as laptops and mobile phones.

Conventional generators can cause a lot of harmonic distortion, which can end up damaging sensitive electronic components.

Power

Due to a difference in the size of the fuel tank as well as mechanical differences in the production of electricity, conventional generators produce more power than inverter generators.

When it comes to conventional units can put out up to 10,000 watts, whereas inverters usually top out at around 4,000 watts.

Fuel Efficiency

Although conventional generators produce more power, inverter generators are more fuel-efficient.

They often automatically adjust their power output to meet the demand, thus not using more fuel than is required to power whatever you have connected to it. Not only do inverter generators use less fuel, but they are also much less bulky due to this (smaller fuel tank).

Portability

Due to the smaller fuel tank and other smaller components, inverter generators are usually much smaller and lighter as a whole, thus making them more portable.

You can easily find an inverter generator that weighs between 40 and 100 pounds, making them quite portable, a feature that a conventional generator does not have.

Eco-Friendliness

Due to their lower fuel consumption and their ability to match power output to the demand, inverter generators also tend to be much more eco-friendly than conventional generators. Inverters produce fewer emissions that may harm the environment.

Noise Emissions

If there is one thing you need to know, it’s that conventional generators are loud. Think 100 dBA of raging machinery that will cause industrial deafness if you hover around it for far too long. Inverter generators, on the other hand, are over 50 dBA quieter than conventional generators.

Price

When it comes to the money you’ll be spending, be aware that inverter generators (and generators in general) can be very expensive and usually always cost more than comparable conventional generators.

Open-frame generators do have their disadvantages, but one of the prime advantages open-frame generators have over inverters is the lesser price tag.

Are Harbor Freight Generators any Good?

If you don’t know, Harbor Freight is a popular retailer that sells low-priced tools, power equipment, and other related products.

One of the main reasons why people love shopping at Harbor Freight is its low prices. Here, you can find decent-quality generators for a fraction of the cost when compared to other brands available. For this very reason, many are concerned about the quality of Harbor Freight generators.

As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.

For the most part, Harbor Freight generators offer sufficient performance and acceptable features, although quality control issues have been reported by some users over the years. 

That said, if you spend damn near twice as much on something like a Honda EU2000i generator, it would be hard to make any sort of comparison as it would be like going from a Dodge Dart to an AMG C63s.

You’re going to instantly notice the difference between the two generators and likely glare at the lesser model with nothing but disbelief and contempt.

However, if the price is the overall determining factor for you when choosing an inverter generator, you could take a hard look at what Harbor Freight has to offer with the Predator 3500 Watt Super Quite inverter generator.  

Who knows, you might get yourself a few solid years of use out of a Harbor Freight generator, and you could then deploy that leftover cash to other more important things like; beer or scotch, or more beer.

in Conclusion

Whether you go with an inverter generator or a traditional open-frame generator will depend upon your budget and power consumption requirements.

An inverter generator is truly an awesome investment for those looking for a reliable temporary power source in the portable generator department.

Inverters generators are highly efficient and provide reasonably quiet operation when compared to a whole house generator or even a dual-fuel portable generator.

The advantages are pretty clear, although justifying the added expense of an inverter will depend on how much you expect to use such a generator.