WEN 56235i Portable Inverter Generator

Rated output and the outlets on the panel

WEN's product page and the 56235i manual give 2,350 surge watts and 1,900 rated watts. The manual adds 120 volts, 60 Hz, single phase and 15.8 amps of rated AC current, plus a 12 volt, 8.3 amp cigarette-style DC outlet and 5 volt USB ports rated at 2.1 and 1 amps.

WEN's page and the listing describe two three-prong 120V receptacles, which the manual's control panel shows as NEMA 5-20R duplex receptacles. The panel also carries the DC outlet, the USB ports, a circuit breaker, a grounding nut, a parallel connection, an on/off switch with a Fuel Off position, a choke lever, an Eco-Mode switch, a reset button and output, overload and low-oil lights.

Engine, tank and run time

The manual lists a 79cc four-stroke OHV single-cylinder engine with forced-air cooling, a 1.06 gallon (4 liter) fuel tank, a 15 fluid ounce oil capacity and a half-load run time of 5.7 hours. Product weight is 39 pounds and the body measures 17.3 by 11.5 by 17.7 inches.

The Amazon listing gives a runtime of 10 hours without stating a load, while WEN's manual gives 5.7 hours at half load. WEN's product page says the engine runs at 51 decibels at quarter load, and the manual's specification pages give no decibel figure. The listing's dimensions read 17.3 x 11.5 x 17.5 inches against the manual's 17.3 x 11.5 x 17.7.

Fuel shutoff, parallel use and warranty

Both WEN documents describe a fuel shutoff: the product page says it lets the generator use up the fuel left in the carburetor before shutting down, and the manual says the Fuel Off switch position burns that fuel off, helping to combat fuel degradation. The manual notes that the plain Off position leaves fuel in the carburetor and points to its draining instructions for that case.

The manual lists a parallel connection for sharing wattage between inverter generators and names a WEN parallel connection kit among its accessories, and WEN's product page lists high-altitude kits for the 56235i. The manual describes no carbon monoxide sensor or automatic CO shutdown, and its carbon monoxide warnings should be read before first use.

The manual's warranty statement, from Great Lakes Technologies, covers defects in material or workmanship for two years of personal use, refers to a shorter period for professional or commercial use, and gives 30 days to report missing or damaged parts.