Wen has been creating backup power supply units and solutions since 1951, and they are a highly respected and revered leader within the industry.
These days we rely on power more than ever to run our everyday lives, making the need for reliable and long-lasting backup power generators all the more important.
Whether it’s a local power blackout, a winter snowstorm, a hurricane, or a flood, having a backup generator will provide you and your family with peace of mind because you have the ability to keep your appliances and devices running even in an emergency.
Wen Generator Reviews
In this review, we are going to look in detail at two of Wen’s best-selling generators. They are each designed for different levels of power storage and supply and are each in a different price bracket. Read on to discover which model of Wen generator is best suited to your needs.
The Wen DF1100 Dual Fuel Portable 11,000 Watt Generator
So, to kick us off we have this absolute beast of a generator, ideal for those of you who want a serious backup power supply. This monster has enough oomph to run power tools, refrigerators, TV, sump pump, and many other high-demand electricals.
It’s an ideal machine for emergency situations and is a great option for those of you living in storm and hurricane-prone areas, as it can keep your home powered for many days.
However, it comes with a premium price tag, so is the Wen DF1100 dual fuel generator worth the investment?
Power Performance
The first thing to say is that this dual fuel generator can switch between gasoline and propane with just the turn of a dial. This is incredibly useful and opens the generator up to much more reliability and versatility.
The gasoline offers 8300W of running power with a huge 11,000W surge power. This means that heavy-duty power tools can run off this thing, as well as high draw heaters, fridges, and other electricals.
The 6.6-gallon tank has an 8.5-hour half-load running time, which is very generous considering the high wattage it offers. The propane offers 7500W of running power and a very impressive 9500W surge power.
This means that if a storm should cut off your gas supply, you will still be able to achieve excellent power via the propane model. The dual fuel generator offers a backup to your backup, which is pretty awesome.
Versatility
The Wen DF1100 scores highly for its compatibility as it has 4 12V GFCI outlets, 1 120V/30A twist lock outlet, 1 120V/240V 50A outlet, as well as a 12V DC cigarette lighter outlet.
With this wide range of power outlets and a 47 inch LPG connection hose, this generator has excellent versatility. It’s powerful and strong enough to use at the worksite but is also suitable for home appliances.
It’s not designed for technological devices like laptops and smartphones and shouldn’t be used for this kind of charging as it will damage those devices.
Portability
The DF1100 is marketed as a portable generator, however, it weighs a huge 124 pounds and is certainly too heavy to lift and carry. Luckily, it comes with a wheel and handles kit which increases its portability.
The wheels are sturdy and run smoothly over even terrain. Over rough surfaces, they perform less well.
The handles are very low and require you to bend down in order to draw or push the machine.
This isn’t the most convenient or comfortable mode of transportation but is easier than lifting it. We think the DF1100’s portability is limited but sufficient for its purpose.
Ease Of Set Up
Although the DF1100 is a high-powered generator, it comes with a clear and concise instruction manual, and Wen offers excellent customer care and guidance.
They even have teams of specialists who can come out and help you to understand your generator better by explaining the various features and controls. This service is invaluable and helps customers really get the most out of their machines.
Wen also offers a 2-year warranty on the DF1100, so if any problems occur in the first two years of ownership then the generator can be replaced.
Overall Verdict
Overall, we think that the Wen DF1100 dual fuel generator has great versatility and offers awesome power for heavy-duty tools and appliances.
- Switch between gasoline (11,000 surge watts, 8,300 running watt) and propane (9,500 surge, 7,500 running) with the simple turn of the selection...
- Voltage easily goes from 120V to 240V, perfect for transfer switches and emergency backup
- Electric start powers the 457cc 4-stroke OHV engine with the turn of a key
It’s not the most portable option and is not great for running smart devices, however, it’s excellent for keeping your home safe and warm during an emergency.
Wen 56380i Super Quiet Inverter 3800 Watt Generator
Next up is the 56380i super quiet inverter generator which is ideal for camping trips, tailgating, taking to the worksite, and for use as a backup power supply in the case of an emergency.
This generator creates clean energy that will not damage your vulnerable electrical devices such as smartphones and laptops.
So it really is a great option for families and individuals who like to go off-grid for weekends away, but like to enjoy their mod-cons whilst they are out there.
Power Performance
The 56380i inverter generator offers a peak surge power of 3800W and a running power of 3400W. This is very useful for camping equipment and household appliances, as well as technological devices.
The reason that it’s suitable for even the most sensitive electronic devices is that this generator produces really clean energy, which is only 1.2% away from being a pure sine wave, with minimal harmonic distortion.
With a 2.2-gallon tank available, this generator has a half laid running time of 8.5 hours.
You will be able to keep your coffee makers, rice cookers, blenders, mini-fridges, and fans running for an entire weekend break with this machine.
And you will be able to charge your electricals too!
Portability and storage
The 56380i is certainly a more portable option than the DF1100, however, it still weighs a whopping 99 pounds and is therefore not suitable for lifting and carrying.
Thankfully it has a compact design which means it can tuck nicely into a car trunk, and the wheels and foldable handle mean that this generator can be dragged from the parking lot to the campsite easily.
It also has two back feet which enable this generator to stand still and stay stable wherever you choose to rest it.
As the handle folds away, it’s easy to store and can be kept in the garage as a backup generator for power outages and emergencies.
Ease of Use
We really like how the 56380i inverter generator has a simple electrical button ignition.
There are no keys or cords that need to be pulled or twisted, so you have the ease of an electric power station with the power of a gasoline generator. The control panel is well laid out with the multiple power outlets all labeled clearly.
And best of all, the digital wattage display lets you know exactly how much power the generator is supplying at any time so you can keep an eye on your usage.
Super Quiet Running
The 56380i is marketed as a super quiet generator, and when we tested it we found that it ran at approximately 57 decibels with a quarter load.
This is far quieter than most other comparable generators and is the equivalent of a gentle conversation.
This means that you can run this generator at the campsite without fear of annoying other campers, and can run it whilst fishing without frightening the fish away.
This super quiet feature makes the 56380i a more environmentally friendly option than other generators, and there is also an eco-mode that can be activated for more efficient fuel consumption.
Automatic Fuel Shutdown
The 56380i has some awesome protections in place to make sure that it stays fit and healthy over time.
The machine automatically shuts down when it detects low fuel and it uses up the remaining fuel in the carburetor before shutting down so that blockages caused by remaining fuel sitting in a stagnant drum are minimized.
This makes the 56380i far more low maintenance than other models. It also has overload protection and in-built spark arrest.
These safety features not only extend the generator’s lifespan but also make it suitable for use in national parks!
Parallel Connectability
A really great feature of the 56380i generator is its ability to be linked to other generators via the parallel connection kit which is included in the package.
This means that, should you require more than 3800 watts of energy, the generator can be linked up and boosted very easily.
Overall Verdict
Wen’s 56380i inverter generator is not as powerful and robust as the DF1100, however, it’s far more portable and compact.
Higher wattage can be achieved through parallel connections with other generators, making this an extremely versatile machine.
- Dimensions: 23.2" L x 18" W x 20.1" H | Weight: 99.2 lb.Dimensions: 23.2" L x 18" W x 20.1" H | Weight: 99.2 lb
- Extremely quiet operation minimizes noise;, EPA III and CARB Compliant
- 212cc 4-stroke OHV engine produces 3800 surge watts and 3400 rated watts with a half-load runtime of up to 8.5 hours
It’s a great choice for serious campers as it can not only power appliances but is also suitable for delicate electronic devices like phones and laptops.
Final Thoughts
Both the Wen generators we have looked at are incredibly powerful and will offer excellent backup power whenever and wherever you might need it.
For some serious oomph, like that needed in a workplace or during an extended period without mains electricity, the DF1100 is definitely best suited.
The dual-fuel capability means that even if gas supplies are down this generator can still keep your household appliances powered and running. However, it’s incredibly big and heavy and we question how portable it really is.
The Wen 56380i is far more portable by comparison.
It’s not able to offer the high wattage of the DF1100 but produces clean energy that is close to a pure sine wave in quality and is, therefore, safe to use with delicate electronic devices like smartphones and laptops.
The super quiet delivery of this generator, plus the in-built protections and eco-mode, make it an eco-friendly option that is certified for use in national parks.
You won’t annoy fellow campers thanks to the low running noise, and you will be able to enjoy all your mod-cons whilst out in the wild.
