My purchase of the Westinghouse igen 4500DFc on July 4, 2022 was a good decision. Something, aside from the fact Westinghouse invented and perfected ac electricity generation, felt right when i viewed this model. The brand adds authenticity to this timeless masterpiece of consumer level portable generators.
The panel with the green lights and the "data center" had me intrigued. Could it possibly function as advertised? Yes, it does.
All the features i studied, zoomed in at, compared, were seemingly pie-in-the-sky offerings until i got the generator and see that they do all function excellently.
I won't ALL CAPS or bold my customer review words to add emphasis but believe me this igen 4500dfc rocks!
My first- out of the box- run lasted over 24 hours in "eco-mode" with a varying load @ .5 - 1 Kw. The unboxing itself was a nice experience with only a single issue of an underside mount nut which appears to have turned loose and wss at the bottom of the Styrofoam packaging. A good twist to all 4 -1/2" SAE mount nuts and it was good to go.
Set up went smoothly.
The sound is very quiet.
The exhaust surprisingly hot. But low to the ground. And the igen 4500 has a CO2 sensor and shut-off capability which is another benefit to a fully loaded package. I mean i cannot think of another feature i could want. Except for maybe temperature or some fancy of my obsessive compulsion need to have information and instrumentation to measure critical data. This genny does most of it already.
It tells run time left to no fuel, and accurately adjusts for load variation.
It displays Kw output power.
It has 2 fuel level indicators and i still cant fogure out how Westinghouse engineers designed the fuel level sensor or float. There is no indication in the "exploded views" in the accompanying user manual.
The User Manual is even impressive. It exudes a level of concern for the users in terms of explaining every detail, every procedure (even for preparing the enclosed key fob to 'pair' with your igen). The manual is thick and contains a seemingly comprehensive parts list with their schematic and mechanical drawings. Step by step set up guides you to start up. You will need to be slightly dexterous with at least basic level of mechanical skill to get the oil in and to hook up and correctly install the battery for electric start. I hope i got mine right, its tricky and could use a redesign. On my setup battery install and oil fill took about equal time, too much time in my opinion at roughly 10-15 mins each task. And i made the mistake of overfilling the oil strait out due to the accompanying screw in funnel that you get which is good but... you'll see for yourself. Oil cleanup inside the generators frame can be tricky too so clean up for my tiny overflow took 2 sheets of paper towel and my cell phone on flashlight to see inside the "oil door" to wipe around all the extrusions and surfaces in there below and around the oil dipstick area. The oil door looks good with a layer of soundproofing material, foam egg carton, attached by adhesive. Lets see if this has longevity but now, i am nitpicking really.
The oil door could be a bit larger for my liking, it is a lot of work to do in there for larger sized hands to be asked of, a lot of twisting and turning followed by wiping up in all over. I sensed to use care and caution so that i would not wind up getting rubs from the hatch edges of the oil door as the edge is plastic and formed to fit an edge rather than say a rolled extrusion softened for the more tender folk suck as myself. Otherwise be prepared to spend 30-40 mins setting up. Put of the box look is great with an accompanying smaller cardboard box containing a jug of oil (.6L), a battery tender charger plug and wire, a tool kit, a funnel, and maybe the user manual were in there too. The key fob comes hooked onto the manual pull start cord and the fob feels good in my hand made of a durable metal with a tiny carbuncle clip. On and off are the only two buttons on the fob.
So in conclusion i say its probably the best generator out there today. I say i am impressed and i hope to remain impressed. They really have (whoever "they' are) convinced me that they care about producing a very good quality product and that with all their engineering they sincerely with for us to enjoy long lasting lifespan and happy healthy electrical generation for years to come.