WEN 56200i Generator 1 year review

In this episode we review the WEN 56200i inverter generator.

WEN Generator http://amzn.to/2mjLFOw​
15A to 30A pigtail http://amzn.to/2mjKsXv​
Boeshield T9 http://amzn.to/2l5dwSw​

We were in the market for a 2000W inverter generator about a year ago. We looked at the Yamaha and Honda options but thought $1000.00 was a bit steep. Then we stumbled upon the WEN 56200i. This generator boasted the same running and peak wattage 1600/2000 as the Honda and Yamaha generators but costs about half as much. We were a little apprehensive about the purchase believing you usually get what you pay for, but we were pleasantly surprised with the WEN 56200i. This generator comes with an Eco-Mode that can adjust the RPMs based upon the electrical load. It is also capable of parallel connections with a Parallel Kit allowing you to hook up another generator if you need larger electrical capacity. This is a Pure Sine Wave system allowing you to hook up your sensitive electronics without worry.

This system is fairly quiet at anchor and the 8 hour run time on a tank of gas could allow you to run it throughout the night. It will get up to about 60 decibels at peak power which is comparable to the Honda or Yamaha. We do usually turn it off if we are near other cruisers, just to be courteous but we have gone to sleep with it on.

We use a pigtail in one of the two three-prong 120V receptacles and a jumper in the other. The jumper allows the system to no fault for the reverse polarity indicator on our AC panel. The pigtail gets plugged into our shore power cord and the boat. This allows all of our outlets and any other AC powered systems in the boat to get power. There is also a 12V DC receptacle and a 5V USB Port if you need more hookups at the generator.

The WEN 56200i also has several safety features to keep the system running smoothly. The Overload Protection, Low-Oil Shutdown, and Low Fuel Shutdown help ensure you won’t damage your generator or run it completely out of fuel.

While this is a portable generator you want to make sure you have room to store it on your boat. It measures 18X11X18 and weighs just under 50lbs making it a little hard to store on a small sailboat. Lisa made a Sunbrella cover to keep it out of the direct sunlight while it’s on the deck. We also disassembled the generator and prepped it for the marine environment using high-temperature paint and Boeshield T-9 to keep corrosion at bay.

We have a 12,500 BTU AC and heat system aboard Starjewel. This generator has enough power to run the air conditioner and charge phones, computers, and the battery bank. However, it did not have enough power to start the compressor every time. We installed a SUPCO Hard Start capacitor to our air conditioner. This allows us to run our AC and almost anything else aside from the microwave at the same time. This little capacitor has really expanded our comfort at anchor in the winter and summer.

Music: The world in you by Mike Kuntz

Get your own music at Epidemic Sound and enjoy a 30-day free trial here https://www.epidemicsound.com/referra...​

Always be safe at anchor with your new Viking anchor: https://vikinganchors.com/?atid=4​

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