Review of the Westinghouse WGen7500 Open Frame Portable Generator

Should You Buy It?

Yes, the WGen7500 is a great generator which is highly recommended for its ability to provide plenty of power for a reasonable price.

Also, bear in mind that even though it is portable, any generator in this category is very heavy, and you may not really want to move it around a lot. It's probably the kind of unit that you'll put in a protected enclosure outside and connect up to your house.

Key Points about the Westinghouse WGen7500

Overview of the Generator

In the realm of portable generators we are now beginning to approach the most powerful territory. This WGen7500 by Westinghouse is designed to provide you with backup power for much, if not all, of your home during blackouts. While classified as a portable, it's a heavy unit and you won't want to move it around a lot. That being said, for those who also need a lot of power on a jobsite, this could also do the job perfectly.

The generator is housed in a hardened-steel open frame to compensate for its weight.

Controls and Features

As to be expected from such a powerful generator, the WGen7500 has a comprehensive control panel featuring Yellow Touch Points for easy operation, and a digital display that cycles through Volts, Frequency, and Lifetime Hours. But it doesn't have LEDs for low oil, output ready and overload.

The panel houses an electric Start/Stop push button, plus you have the useful benefit of a remote key fob. There is also a manual recoil cord to start the generator in case of, for example, a dead battery.

For external connections there are 2xDuplex 120v GFCI 5-20R and 1x120v/240v L14-30R Transfer Switch Ready outlets. You can connect the latter outlet directly to your home through a manual transfer switch to power much, if not all, of your house. A better DIY solution is available as it is one of Westinghouse's models that has a dedicated Smart Switch Outlet. This allows you to connect a Westinghouse Automatic Transfer Switch without the need to hire a professional.

Circuit breakers provide overload protection, and rubber covers are included on all the outlets to give added protection from the environment.  Unlike the WGen7500DF, there are no USB ports on this model.

At 50% load the generator runs for up to 11 hours on its 6.6 gallon gasoline fuel tank. A fuel gauge is located on the top of the generator near the fuel cap.

A low oil level sensor stops the engine, and prevents it from starting again, when it detects the level is too low safe operation.

With EPA certification and CARB Compliance the WGen7500 can be used in all 50 states.

Here is the WGen7500 manual for more information of the generator and its operation.

Power Output

Powering the WGen7500 is a big 420cc 4-Stroke OHV Westinghouse engine capable of producing 9500 starting watts and 7500 running watts. 

The generator has automatic voltage regulation but is built with traditional/conventional technology so it's not suitable for powering sensitive electronics without the addition of a UPS/line conditioner/surge protector.

And although this is a powerful generator, you should always take note that altitude and climate can significantly affect the power outputs.

Weight

Weighing 192lbs, the WGen7500 comes equipped with a kit that includes roll bars, foam grip handle, and never-flat wheels. While these kind of wheels can avoid possible air loss associated with pneumatic wheels, experience shows they can develop flat spots if left standing for some time. This is especially applicable to generators of this weight. If you think that might be a problem, you could replace them with one of these alternatives. Other owners of heavy generators have propped the unit up to take the weight off the wheels.

Noise Level

With an open frame body you can expect the noise level to be relatively high. And at 72dB, it is.

If this figure doesn't mean much, we can tell you that there are no standards for measuring noise, and most manufacturers have their own methods. It's probably best to see any published noise level as only an indicator. And there is no substitute for standing near to any generator and making up your own mind how loud or quiet it is, however impractical that may be just now.

What Most Buyers Like

The comments for this generator also refer to the dual fuel model, which may be more popular for its added flexibility. They are practically identical barring, for example, the dual fuel's capability of working with propane as well as gasoline and the absence of USB ports found on the WGen7500DF.

Owners comment on the excellent build quality, small footprint, and available power for the price. The instructions are very clear, and so is the procedure for setting the generator up for the first time. With an electric start, powered by the supplied battery, plus a remote key fob, getting it going is simple.

What Some Buyers Like Less

This is a heavy generator and there are quite a few instances of damage in transit, generally by delivery companies. It's not unusual for companies to have only one person making the delivery. So it's not surprising that the chances of a heavy item being damaged in some way are relatively high.

Lots of buyers don't like the plastic wheels, and some say it's noisier than expected. And a low oil LED would help identify a problem when the unit stops unexpectedly due to a lack of oil.

The battery dies when the generator isn't used for several months, but that's to be expected. You can, however, get hold of a trickle charger to keep it in shape when not in use for longer periods.