Last Updated on December 3, 2024
If you’re reading this article, then you are probably in the market for a light-weight, quiet, portable inverter generator. Perhaps you are going camping, but it’ll be hot, so you want to be able to run a fan for a little while.
Or maybe you enjoy tailgating and want a way that you can enjoy the game, including the atmospheric sounds from the game, without having the noise from the generator drowning it out.
Or you could need a portable generator to use your tools outside, or any number of other reasons. Whatever the reason, we’re going to help make your purchasing decision easier for you, by giving you a full run-down of the Generac iQ2000.
Generac has been making generators since the 1950s, and has become a firm favorite for many. They might be less well-known than Yamaha or Hyundai, but the Generac iQ2000 portable inverter generator is one of the most popular choices on Amazon, and for good reason.
In this article, we are going to run through its features, power, and run-time. We’re also going to take a look at its design and noise levels, as well as some of the issues that other people have found. After reading this article, you’ll know for sure whether or not this is the right portable generator for you.
But first, let’s take a look at the main pros and cons of this generator.
Generac iQ2000 Inverter Generator at a Glance
Advantages
- Quiet
- It has 3 modes: Economy, standard and Turbo.
- Low oil Indicators.
- Portable
- Clear runtime display panel
- Easy to use and user friendly.
- Parallel-ready, to generate twice the amount of power.
- Low noise level and extremely quiet operation.
- Affordable option
- AC Rated Output(Running/Starting): 1600 running watts/2000 starting Watts; AC Rated Voltage: 120V
- PowerDial integrates start/run/stop functions into 1 easy-to-use dial.
- Shorter battery life than many
- Less power than bigger portable generators
Features
One of the main advantages of the Generac iQ2000 portable inverter generator is its usability. This portable generator has an excellent design which makes it a really simple choice for anybody, even if you’ve never used one before.
The main feature that makes this portable generator so simple is its clear LED display. On the display, there is a fuel gauge, so that you can see how much fuel you’ve used and how much you have left. When it comes to inverter generators the noise level score is much better than conventional generators. The iQ2000i displays the fuel gauge and Power output.
There is also a power bar, to show you the amount of wattage that you are currently using, and how much is still available. Then there is a run-time display at the top, which shows you how much time you have left of charge.
In terms of using the generator, it is super simple. On the side, there is a power dial, which has start, run and stop functions. Then back on the display, there is a simple button that allows you to pick between the three settings.
It is highly rated when it comes to ease of use. The Generac iQ2000 is a strong competitor in the 2000 watts inverter generator category. It scores well on portability, run time, and ease of use.
The first is Economy mode. This is the quietest setting, as well as the most efficient, and is best for the less demanding loads. Standard mode is the middle one, and probably the one that would be most appropriate for your general needs. Then there is Turbo mode, which will provide you with the most power, but also the most noise and the smallest run-time. It basically comes with 3 modes: Economy mode, standard, and turbo modes., keep in mind that the turbo mode is the loudest. Switching between these modes gives you more control over fuel consumption.
Other great features on the Generac iQ2000 inverter generator include the generator status. This is a small set of indicator lights that lets you how much time is left before the fuel runs out, and warns you about low oil. but it also warns you when there is a danger of overheating or overloading and it is really easy to use.
If you think that you are going to need more energy than this can provide, it is still a great option because it is parallel-ready. This means that it can link up with another generator, just using a parallel-kit, so you can keep it running for longer or supply bigger loads. Finally, there is the fact that it is easily portable.
It weighs 46lbs and has a handle that makes it simple to carry. It seems like the manufacturers are confident of the product they’ve made too, as it comes with a three-year warranty. This one’s in it for the long haul.
Power
The Generac iQ2000 has a fuel capacity of 1.06 gallons. It’s AC rated output starting watts is 2000, and then its running watts is 1600. Its rated amps are 13.3 amps at 120 volts, and it has a rated AC voltage of 120 VAC, with a frequency of 60 Hz.
The first thing that we should clarify about the Generac iQ2000 is that it is an inverter generator. This makes it a smart choice for a lot of reasons, but the main reason is that it is a far more efficient choice of the generator, and we’ll briefly explain why.
To start the engine you need to twist a turn knob on the side. This is right below the pull cord for its manual recoil system.
A conventional generator produces AC (Alternating-Current) power directly, which means that it wastes a lot of fuel. In contrast, an inverter-generator produces AC power according to the demand load, which it then converts into raw DC (Direct Current) power, before turning it back into a cleaner, AC power, which is what your appliances run off.
This might sound like more power, but it uses way less fuel this way. Plus, it means that it is power sensitive to all your electronics and appliances. Inverter generators are also a lot quieter, so it’s way more useful for day-to-day use.
Run-time
We mentioned above that the Generac iQ2000 has a starting output of 2000 watts, and then a running output of 1600 watts. This 1600 watts of power would be the generator at full-capacity, at which point it would last for a lot less time.
The official run-time at 25% power is 7.7 hours, although various people reviewing the generator have found it to last for up to 10 hours at 25% capacity. This would of course be if you were using the generator for something smaller.
If you wanted to run the generator at 50%, it would last for closer to 5.7 hours. This puts it in the middle of the range of similar generators. It lasts longer than some, but it’s not the best one out there when it comes to run-time.
Running the generator at full power is not usually recommended, as it tends to cause damage and shorten the life-span. However, one reviewer saw a man charge his Tesla car with a Generac iQ2000, drawing 12 amps of current. If we consider that the maximum amount that it can supply is 13.3 amps, we can see that this means he was using it at around 90% load (or 1440 watts).
The run-time displayed was 2 hours 35 minutes, and it was showing 8 bars out of 12 on the fuel meter. This means that if he ran a full fuel tank at 90%, the runtime would be around 3 hours and 52 minutes. But unless you’re charging a car, you probably won’t need to run it with so much power that often.
Noise
One of the main concerns that people have when looking into purchasing a generator is the amount of noise that it’s going to make. A lot of campsites have strict limits on when generators can be used and how much noise they are allowed to make.
It is not uncommon to hear that inverter generators can only be operated from 8 am to 8 pm, or that there is a 60 dB (decibel) limit.
Well, if you’re looking for a super quiet generator, you can’t get much better than this. The Generac iQ2000 runs at 53 dB with a 25% load. Of course, when it is running at a higher load or on a higher setting, it will be a bit noisier. However, most people tend to set a generator around 70 feet away from them. At that point, this generator is really not going to disturb you.
In fact, the Generac iQ2000 was specifically designed to be quieter than its Honda competitors, who claim to be the quietest portable generators on the market, and third-party testing has confirmed that. So if you’re looking for a quiet generator, you really can’t get much better than this.
Issues
The Generac iQ2000 is a popular choice, and it is pretty good at what it does, so the number of reported issues are fairly limited. Some people have reported that it isn’t very good at altitude.
Although this is a valid problem, Generac is not alone; it tends to affect all generators. The air is thinner and this affects how well they work.
Some people have also reported problems with fuel leaking. More often than not, the reason for this is simply that the carburetor drain isn’t closed.
However, the manual is really comprehensive, so you should be able to find a solution in there. And if not, your three year warranty should sort you out for most defects.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. The Generac iQ2000 is a popular choice for a reason. As far as portable generators go, this is one of the smaller and lighter choices, as well as being more reasonably priced.
It isn’t the most powerful, but there won’t be many times when you’ll be looking to use a portable generator for something that this can’t handle.
As long as you’re not using it at full power, it should last for 5-8 hours, and it will be much quieter than most generators. Most importantly, it is really user-friendly.
The simple dials and gauges mean that you know exactly what you’re doing, how much power you’re getting, and how much longer you can keep using it for.
Now you should know for sure whether this is the generator for you, or if you need to keep looking further a field. We have also compared the IQ2000 with IX2000 model, you can check it out here.
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