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Description
Zoom on the Cat RP6500 E
In a nutshell, the Cat RP6500 E is a portable generator mostly geared towards:
- Food truck owners and people participating in outdoor fairs, festivals or events
- Homeowners who want to be sure of their ability to power their fridges, cooking tools, heating and lighting equipment during power failures
- Professionals in need of safely powering high-intensity work or lighting equipment
The following sections will present you in detail its power characteristics, the different outlets it offers, its overall portability, the extra features it benefits from and any relevant emission compliance details.
Power & Run Time
The Cat RP6500 E
The Cat RP6500 E houses a 420 cc OHV 4-stroke engine, which provides 120/240V, consumes gasoline and delivers a running wattage of 6500W along with a peak wattage of 8125W.
This generator features a conventional pull-start mechanism and also a simple and elegant electric starter (battery included).
With a full tank, the RP6500 E can operate for around 12 hours at 50% load (fuel consumption around 0.66 GPH), thanks to its fuel capacity of 7.9 gallons.
- For camping/tailgating: 1 microwave (1000 watts), 1 electric fry pan, 1 radiant heater, 1 blender, 1 game console and 1 cell phone charger
- At home: 1 electric fry pan, 1 microwave (1000 watts), 1 clothes iron and 1 coffee maker
- For work: 1 demolition hammer, 1 electric nail gun, 1 concrete vibrator (1 hp), 1 work light, 1 drain cleaner and 1 bug zapper
Outlets
The control panel features the upcoming 6 AC outlets:
While this Cat generator is not RV Ready, its L5-30R receptacle can be used for a simple RV connection with an L5-30P to TT-30R adaptor. Besides, as it features a twist-lock L14-30R receptacle, the RP6500 E is transfer switch ready: in case of a power outage, you will be easily able to connect it to a breaker box and power your household.
Portability
The Cat RP6500 E has a conventional, open frame design, of the following dimensions: L32.9 x W27.4 x H24.7 in, which offers support and allows it to be raised above ground level. The design is ideal for rough environments and demanding outdoor use.
Although this generator is technically considered 'portable' (in the sense that it can be moved), its 202 lbs make it incredibly difficult to manually lift and transport. Never less, thanks to a wheel kit and a folding handle (a decent solution to its lack of maneuverability), the generator can be easily moved, once placed the ground.
Features
The RP6500 E's control panel
The RP6500 E and its control panel include a convenient meter, which displays voltage, frequency and lifetime hours. This feature comes handy when monitoring its status and activity. To offer you even more control and easy operation during night time, the panel is LED-lit.
Thanks to a built-in fuel gauge, the generator allows you to quickly, conveniently and easily check the gas level at a glance.
From a security standpoint, the product offers an overload protection (circuit breaker) and an automatic low oil shut-off, allowing you to use it with a peace of mind.
While the standard documentation and a user manual, helpful for starting the device promptly, come with the Cat RP6500 E, the following accessories are also included: funnel, tool kit and oil.
Emissions
The Cat RP6500 E is EPA-approved and CARB-compliant. Thus, selling and purchasing this generator is allowed in each of the 50 states, including California.
Moreover, it features a spark arrestor and therefore, can be used in forested areas.
Product Video
The Cat RP6500 E versus other generators
The following charts are provided to give you an idea of how some of the key specs of the Cat RP6500 E compare to generators of similar power (between 6000 and 7000 W).
- Since the generator weighs in at a dry weight of 202 lbs, the Cat RP6500 E belongs in the expected weight range for devices which can produce between 6000 and 7000 rated watts. Regarding dry weight, one of the champions in the same power range is the Lifan LF7250, with a dry weight of only 140 lbs.
- Since the RP6500 E boasts with a run time of 12 hours at 50% load, it can be safely judged as a device of a higher run time than most generators of a comparable output. Furthermore, considering the run times, one of the generators which have a roughly same power output, with the highest autonomy, is the Pulsar PG7500B, as it provides 13 hours.
- Autonomy holds its importance, however, it is largely dependent on the generator’s fuel capacity and so, it is nonsensible to discuss it without mentioning fuel efficiency as well. Standing at an estimated 0.66 GPH (gallon per hour) at a 50% load, this generator is somewhat average in this area compared to other devices, within the aforementioned wattage range. If you wish to further improve in the area of fuel efficiency, the Lifan ESI 7000iER-EFI, which boasts with a gas consumption of only 0.38 GPH, may be the right generator for you.
Price comparison
As you can see from this dynamic chart, when compared to other 6000-7000W generators, the Cat RP6500 E is on the average side of the price range.
Therefore, this generator nicely fits in the expected budget for this kind of product.
The bottom line
- In the expected price range
- Several accessories included
- Electric start
- High run time
- Decent weight (202 lbs)
- Decent fuel efficiency
- No remote start
Where to buy the Cat RP6500 E?
Amazon 
eBay | Price history for the Cat RP6500 E | |
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Features and Specifications
General
| Inverter | No |
|---|---|
| Portable | Yes |
| Parallel capable | No |
| RV ready | No |
| Fuel | Gasoline |
| Engine | 420 cc OHV 4-stroke |
| Starting system | Recoil, Electric |
Power
| Voltage | AC: 120/240V 60 Hz |
|---|---|
| Running watts | 6500 W |
| Starting watts | 8125 W |
| Running amps (@120/240V) | 54.2/27.1 amps |
| Peaks amps (@120/240V) | 67.7/33.9 amps |
| Run time @50% load | 12 h |
| Run time @25% load | N/A |
Features
| GFCI outlets | Yes |
|---|---|
| Covered outlets | Yes |
| Automatic Voltage Regulation | Yes |
| AC outlets | 2x Duplex 120V 20A (5-20R) GFCI 1x 120/240V 30A (L14-30R) 1x 120V 30A (L5-30R) |
| DC outlets | No |
| Data center | VFT |
| Indicators | No |
| Fuel tank | Metal, 7.9 gal |
| Fuel gauge | Yes |
Misc
| Weight | 202 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 32.9 x 27.4 x 24.7 in |
| Noise (lower limit) | N/A |
| THD | N/A |
| Emissions | CARB, EPA |
| Security | Low oil and overload protection |
| Spark arrestor | Yes |
| Neutral | Bonded to frame |
| Accessories included | Tool kit, funnel and oil |
| Warranty | 2 years |
Unlike many websites, we did our best to research each of the specs above. That being said, we are not immune to making the occasional mistake or omission. Should you notice any missing or incorrect values, don't hesitate to suggest improvements so we can address the issue.
About Cat
Caterpillar Inc., often abbreviated as simply CAT, is an American engineering corporation, whose product range includes machinery, engines, financial products, mobile phones and of course, power generators. The company, founded in 1925, is one of the backbones of the US Dow Jones index and is placed among the Fortune 500 list. While CAT mainly focuses on industrial scale generators, it also provides a wide range of portable and household-scaled devices. A majority of the industrial-scale CAT products is made in the USA. However, the production of many of their household products is reported to be outsourced overseas.
Warranty Information
The Cat RP6500 E is covered under a warranty for up to 2 years. This warranty may be limited and may not cover all parts of the generator.
For more information about the warranty of Cat generators, please consult Cat's warranty policies. Alternatively, you can also contact their Customer Support: 1-844-PWR-ME-UP (844-797-6387).
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