Westinghouse WGen 7500 Generator Review

Westinghouse WGen 7500

9.2

Performance

9.5/10

Reliability

9.5/10

Convenience

9.0/10

Noise Level

8.5/10

Value

9.5/10

Pros

• High fuel efficiency
• Considerably quieter than most generators of its size
• Very easy to start and operate
• Minimal maintenance requirements
• Lots of safety features including GCFI outlets and low-oil shutdown

Cons

• Quite heavy
• No low-oil light indicator

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The Westinghouse WGen 7500 is the latest entrant in this manufacturer’s series of WGen generators. This open-frame style generator is currently the most powerful model in its category as its 9500 starting watts and 7500 running watts depict, and might make a great choice as an emergency power backup for almost any home, RV, and most job sites. In this Westinghouse WGen 7500 generator review, we’ll be evaluating how this portable generator performs in terms of power output, performance, and dependability among other indicators of a high-quality generator.

About Westinghouse WGen 7500 Generator

The WGen 7500 generator is among the latest offerings of Westpro Power Systems that was recently acquired by Midwest Equipment (MWE). The third most powerful generator in Westpro’s WGen Series after the 12000 and 9500, this generator offers a considerably higher wattage for a generator at its price and, therefore, promises more dependability whether used as an emergency power backup solution at home, in small commercial establishments, and anywhere else that portable lightweight electricity is needed. This generator is a ‘gasoline-only version’ of the WGen 7500DF that runs on both gasoline and propane but which comes at a slightly higher price for this versatility. It is also a big brother to the WGen 5500 and WGen 6000 generators- two other smaller models that are marketed to homeowners and do-it-yourselfers who want more power than you’d get from competitor generators at the price that these 2 come at.

What’s in the package?

When you purchase this generator, the package will ship with everything that you need to start powering your appliances right out of the box;

• Tool kit and tool bag for assembling the wheel kit
• 0.6L 20oz oil
• Funnel
• Quick start guide
• Manual

Who should buy the Westinghouse WGen 7500?

• This generator will make a great purchase for homeowners who want an affordable yet powerful generator to offer emergency power backup during outages.
• Considering its high starting watts, the WGen 7500 will also fit the bill if you are looking for a generator that outputs enough power to keep several power tools humming at a construction site.
• It might also interest RVers with large ACs

While there aren’t any limitations on who should buy this generator, it is overkill for use in certain applications including camping, boating, and tailgating. These activities are best served by generators in the regions of 2000-3000 running watts. Oftentimes, such generators are quieter and also offer excellent mobility- just what you need when camping! Check our Westinghouse generators review for other good models of the brand.

Key Features

• Uses a 420cc Overhead Valve (OHV) engine with cast iron sleeve- not plastic- for a long usable life and durability, and to reduce oil consumption
• It uses cast iron fan guard to ensure optimum safety for the operators as opposed to the plastics that most generators in this price range are fitted with
• 6.6-gallon fuel tank is a decent size but what makes it even better is its 16-hour running time that eliminates the need for constant refilling. For use at home, this means that you don’t have to risk your life every now and then trying to top up the tank in bad weather. At a construction site, this lengthy runtime means that you work for longer between refills
• Has a remote start key fob that lets you start the generator from a distance. This is something that you’ll really appreciate during bad weather and at a job site
• High peak watts (9500) and running watts (7500) allows you to run most appliances in an average home and several tools in a worksite simultaneously
• Fitted with lots of receptacles to power your items: two GFCI 5-20R 120v household receptacles, two 120v duplex receptacles, one L14-30R 120v/240v Twist-Lock receptacle
• It comes Transfer Switch-ready thereby allowing you to connect it to your house wiring. Hence, you won’t need to use extension cables (professional installation may be required, though)
• Has lots of safety and self-protection features including overload protection, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI), low oil shutdown, rubber-covered outlets, and more
• Built-in digital fuel gauge makes it easy to monitor the amount of fuel in the tank at any given time

Specifications

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Westinghouse WGen 7500 Review

Power Output and Capability

Considering this generator’s 9500 starting watts and 7500 running watts, there’s no doubting that it will be able to power up most of the appliances common in an average home (think of refrigerators, freezers, furnace, sump pump, AC, fans, lighting, and oven etcetera). It also packs enough power for most job site applications and it actually has enough oomph to let your crew run several power tools together. An impressive feature here is that the WGen 7500 comes transfer switch ready. This means that with a 10-circuit transfer switch and professional installation, this generator can keep all your appliances powered without the need for lengthy extension cords.

Performance

The WGen 7500 has an amazingly long running time for a generator with its power output capabilities. The fact that it can run continuously for around 16 hours at 50% load and at least 18 hours at 25% load means that if you live in areas that are often hit by outages that last 2-3 hours, just a single tank can take you for over a week assuming that your wattage needs don’t exceed 3,750 watts. This generator’s high surge watts offer you a greater leeway to add more appliances to the current load without it tripping the current. Similar to other top-rated portable generators, the WGen 7500 maintains a minimum of 3600 rpm that is required to produce 60 Hz. In addition, as it’s the norm with Westinghouse generators, this one has an automatic voltage regulator that ensures reliable and precise power output throughout its voltage output. So, when you connect an additional appliance, you’ll hear the engine rev up to produce a consistent power output while maintaining its speed engine. Worth noting, this generator has a Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of 9%. This means that it’s not so safe for your sensitive electrical equipment such as medical devices, TVs, and stereos that require less than 5% THD of the sine wave AC. This is usually the case with most non-inverter generators but you can go around it by adding an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) device to the rig.

Convenience

At a glance, Westinghouse generators look sophisticated and advanced than most other generators at the same price tag- and they sure are! The good news, however, is that they are also designed with relative ease of use too. A standout highlight here is the remote key start fob which allows you to start and shut down the engine from a distance. You could also use a push-button start on the control panel. And what you’ll like here is that this generator comes with an onboard battery and charger to keep it powered. There’s also a recoil start in case the battery is down and won’t start the generator, though. For optimum convenience, this generator’s control panel has multiple power outlets comprising of 4x 120v, 20-AMP outlets of which 2 have GCFI protection thereby meeting OSHA’s requirements for a construction site generator. You’ll also get a Transfer Switch ready 30A L14-30R 120v/240v receptacle. All these outlets have overload breakers for safety as well as plastic covers that protect them from dust and moisture. This generator has a superbly comprehensive control panel with an incredible digital display that Westinghouse calls the VFT data center that provides you with all the vital information regarding the performance of the generator including runtime, voltage, and frequency. You’ll also find a 2-pole circuit breaker with the sole purpose of protecting your generator from overload. The WGen 7500 does not have a low-oil light indicator- something that we’d really want to see for such a powerful generator. But it has a low-oil shutdown switch that protects it from self-damage and won’t let the engine start until the oil is topped up to the proper level. So, if you are keen on checking the oil level, this won’t be an issue. The Westinghouse WGen generator does not require a lot of maintenance also in that its 4-cycle OHV engine has cast iron cylinder sleeves to give it long life and durability.

Portability

Well, while this generator is marketed as a portable model, its 200-pound weight means that you won’t want to lug it around every now and then. Its large wheels and foldaway handle, however, make it very easy to move around the job site. It’s also not so loud at 64 dBA which is a far cry from the 70+ decibels that most generators in this power range tend to output.

Price

Most generators within this power range tend to cost way below the 1-grand mark, and the Westinghouse WGen 7500 isn’t any different. However, it is still much cheaper compared to its closest competitor, the Champion. Compared to the competition in terms of runtime, this generator is much more fuel efficient. This coupled with its low maintenance requirements means that it will also be saving you quite a good amount of money down the road.

Any drawbacks?

• Quite heavy at 200 pounds. Although its 10-inch diameter wheels and foldout handle add a good level of mobility, you’ll still need some help lifting it to the back of your truck for transportation
• Does not have a low-oil warning light- thus you’ll need to constantly monitor the oil level manually
• Considering its high power wattage, a 50 Amp outlet would have been a great addition especially for use with large RV with 2 high power ACs.

What do previous buyers say about the Westinghouse WGen 7500?

I did scour the internet to get a glimpse of what other previous buyers think, and just as you’d expect from such a powerful generator, the feedback is rather positive. Going through the reviews, one thing that stands out is its easy start and ease of use. Lots of people also appreciate its enormous power output affirming that it is not bogged down by loads with a high surge. Most of the negative reports have to do with improper handling during shipping. Thus, you might want to be a little bit quick in unpacking the generator before signing the papers and letting the delivery guys leave.

Other generators from Westinghouse WGen Series

The WGen 7500 is one of the generators that MWE added to its WGen series. Here is a list of the other models in this line:

• WGen 3600 – with 3600 running watts and 4650 peak watts
• WGen 3600DF – DF for dual fuel (propane and gas). With 3600 running watts and 4650 peak watts on gasoline, and 3240 running watts and 4180 starting watts on propane
• WGen 5500- with 6850 starting watts and 5500 running watts
• WGen 6000- 7500 starting watts, 6000 running watts
• WGen 7500DF- runs on both gasoline and propane. Has 9500 starting watts and 7500 running watts on gasoline, and 8550 peak watts and 6750 running watts on propane
• WGen 9500- with 9500 running watts and 12500 peak watts
• WGen 12000- has 12000 running watts and 15000 starting watts

Alternatives to Westinghouse WGen 7500 Portable Generator

If you’d like a little bit more power than what the WGen 7500 offers without going over the 1-grand mark, then Duromax XP12000E might interest you. This one has a peak surge of 12000 watts and 9000 running watts enough for a mansion and a residential construction site. It also has an enormous fuel tank (8.3 gallons) and offers a run time of 10 hours at 50% load. Another good alternative to Wgen7500 is the Powerhouse portable generator. It provides 7250 running watts and falls within the same price bracket. Furthermore, this generator has less than 5% THD which makes it perfectly safe for sensitive electronics.

Westinghouse WGen 7500 Review Conclusion

The Westinghouse WGen 7500 is currently one of the most dependable generators from this manufacturer. It also leads other similar models in its price range in terms of power output, ease of use, convenience, and fuel efficiency. Of course, it’s not perfect, but weighing its strengths and drawbacks, it is a really great purchase for anyone looking for a tough, powerful, and rugged generator with enough juice to power up a job site or an entire home during outages. Its 3-year warranty is just a confirmation of its high level of quality.