Wen 56200i vs. Honda EU2000i 2000 Watt Generator: Ultimate Comparison

Last Updated on December 3, 2024

These days our lives are so plugged in, and so heavily reliant on electricity, that portable generators have become almost essential.

They can be used for watching the pre-game and powering the speaker system when you’re tailgating, or they can help you to power a fan or a heater when you’re camping, or they can help you to power your tools if you’re out building something in the backyard.

A lot of people like to get a portable generator as a back-up for the home, in case of storms or power outages. If losing power is a frequent occurrence, then you might prefer to get a back-up, stationary generator, as it will be better able to handle the power needs of an entire home (thinking fridge, freezer, oven, washing machine, TV, lights, etc.).

However, they tend to be very expensive, both to buy and to run. So if you only need one in case of emergencies or shorter power outages, a portable generator can still be a great idea. The question is, which generator should you get?

These days there are so many portable generators in the market, it can be hard to know which one best suits your needs. Plus, it can be difficult to know which features you should even be looking out for.

That’s where we come in. We’ve done a review of two of the most popular portable generators out there, the Wen 56200i and the Honda EU2000i. We are going to look at some of the key features, like the run-time, the noise levels, the power, the size, and the usability of each of the generators and compare them to find out which is the best choice.

So you can just take a look at our research and decide for yourself which one is the better option for you.

Wen 56200i vs. Honda EU2000i at a Glance

If you don’t have time to read the full article, then just take a look at the quick list of the main advantages and disadvantages of each one that we have compiled below.

However, if you’re serious about buying a generator then we suggest that you read through the rest of the article, so that you can work out which generator is the right one for you.

Wen 56200i Advantages:

• Cheaper
• Quiet

Wen 56200i Disadvantages:

• Shorter run-time

Honda EU2000i Advantages:

• Longer run-time
• Lighter
• Longer warranty

Honda EU2000i Disadvantages:

• More expensive

Winner: Don’t want to read the full article? The editor’s choice is the Wen 56200i.

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What’s the Difference Between Them?

Before we take a look at the main differences and features of these two generators, it is worth mentioning a few similarities that they share. Firstly, as we mentioned in the introduction, they are both portable generators.

This means that they are designed to handle various appliances, but they do have limited power and they can’t power a whole house.

Secondly, they are both inverter generators, which means that they are more energy efficient and both convert the energy into cleaner energy. So, let’s take a look at the differences.

Design

An important aspect to consider when purchasing a portable generator is the design. In particular, the size of the portable generator. It is no use buying one that claims to be portable, and then finding that there’s no way you can lug it to your campsite.

Or that you can’t move it to where it needs to be during a power outage. The Wen 56200i is 18 inches long, by 11 inches wide, by 18 inches high, and it weighs in at around 48 lbs (or just under 22kg for anyone in Europe).

It has an easy to use control panel, which includes the choke/on/off dial, as well as the eco-mode switch. It also has three indicator lights to warn you about fuel levels, overload and output.

In terms of output plugs, it has two x 120V AC ports, one x 12V DC port, as well as a 5V USB port. One of the key design aspects that Wen highlights for this generator is how quiet it is, with noise levels of around 51-55 dB when running. This is quieter than a window air conditioner or the average conversation.

The Honda EU2000i is 20 inches long, by 11 inches wide, by 16 inches high, and it weighs in at around 40 lbs (or just over 18kg for the metric folk). This means that it has similar dimensions, but is quite a lot lighter than the Wen 56200i.

The engine switch is on the side instead this time. Within the control panel, there are again three indicator lights, for oil alert, overload alarm and output indicator, plus there is an eco-throttle.

In terms of output, there are two x 120V AC ports, plus one x 12V DC port. The Honda EU2000i doesn’t have a USB port, which in these days of hyper-connectivity, seems like quite a big flaw. However, it might just be even quieter, with noise levels of around 48-57 dB, depending on what level you are running at.

Verdict:

The Honda EU2000i generator is lighter and has a sleeker design in black and silver, compared to the gauche orange of the Wen 56200i, but we do prefer that the Wen has the dial alongside the other controls, and we think it is important that it also has a USB port. So when it comes to the design, we will have to call this one a draw.

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Power

When it comes to a generator, one of the main things that you want to know is how much power it can supply. It turns out that both the Wen 56200i and the Honda EU2000i have the same power outage.

They can both produce a maximum of 2000 surge watts, or 1600 running watts. In the event of an emergency, this is probably enough to run a fridge and freezer, and maybe another appliance too, so you shouldn’t have to worry about your food going off.

They also both have eco-throttles, in order to be more energy efficient. Given that they both use inverter technology, they are able to provide cleaner, more stable energy, so they should both be well suited to powering more sensitive appliances, such as phones and laptops too.

It is worth mentioning that both generators have the capability of being paralleled. This means that you can buy a second, identical model and link them. As you might expect, this provides you with double the amount of power, which can be a great option if you have a lot of appliances to run.

It also allows you to use a far more powerful generator, without having to fork out the heavier prices, and they tend to be quieter too than having one big hulking generator.

Verdict:

The two generators are equals when it comes to the power they supply.

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Run-time

Alongside the power, the other key aspect is the run-time. It’s no good being able to power all of your appliances, but only for half an hour.

You want to know that your generator can run through the night if needed, or at least make it through the whole tailgating session. For all generators, the total run-time depends on the load size.

If the Wen 56200i is running at a quarter load, it can last for nearly 9.4 hours. This is reduced to around 6 hours when it is at half load, or around 3.5 hours when it is at full capacity.

In contrast, the Honda EU2000i has a run time ranging from 4 hours with a full load, to around 9.6 hours at a quarter load. So the Honda EU2000i probably lasts a little longer, but there’s not much in it.

Verdict:

The Honda EU2000i just edges it for this round, lasting slightly longer both with a smaller and a larger load.

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Price

So you might be thinking that the Honda EU2000i and the Wen 56200i seem to offer fairly similar advantages. They have similar power outputs, similar run-times, are both pretty quiet and similar sizes, although the Honda is quite a bit lighter, and other than the USB port on the Wen, they offer similar features.

So how do you decide which is the better choice for you? Well we think that the matter of the price is quite important in this comparison. Although it is worth remembering that prices do vary, the Wen 56200i generator is around $420.

In contrast, the Honda EU2000i is usually a little over $1000. That makes it over twice the price. It does have sharper features, such as a smoother recoil, it is easier to clean the oil, and it has increased ventilation, but for the use you will get out of it, you have to ask yourself if it is worth that much more.

Verdict:

The price difference between these two generators is fairly astonishing, and the winner for the lower price definitely goes to the Wen 56200i.

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Conclusion

So, there you have it. We’ve looked at the different designs and features of the two generators. We’ve explored the power output and run-times, as well as the noise levels and indicator lights.

Plus we’ve seen that they both have eco-throttles and can be paralleled. It is worth mentioning that the Honda EU2000i comes with a three year warranty, compared to the two year warranty of the Wen 56200i, but whether that is worth the extra price is up to you. Which one do you think you will go for?

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