Generac GP5500E - 5500/6875W Portable Generator With Electric Start And EFI Engine

In a nutshell, the Generac GP5500E is a portable generator mostly geared towards:

• RV travellers who wish to upgrade their experience to another level
• Occasional participants of outdoor events, competitions, concerts and festivals
• Food truck owners who do not wish to see their business interrupted under any circumstances
• Homeowners who want to be able to use the most necessary devices in their household, even during a blackout
• Professionals who want to ensure that a power failure will not prevent them from working

The subsequent sections will explore in detail its power characteristics, the diverse outlets it provides, its overall portability, and the supplementary features it offers.

Power & Run Time

The Generac GP5500E houses a 298 cc Generac OHV 4-stroke engine, which provides 120/240V, consumes gasoline and delivers a running wattage of 5,500W along with a peak wattage of 6,875W.

This generator features a standard recoil pull-rope starting mechanism, but also a user-friendly and efficient electric starter (battery included).

The Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) system enhances the engine's reliability, lowers fuel consumption, improves startup, reduces servicing, boosts stale fuel resistance, and offers better altitude adaptability.

Featuring a 5.4 gallons fuel tank, the GP5500E provides continuous power for around 10.5 hours at 50% load on a full tank (fuel consumption around 0.51 GPH).

The quite high THD (<20%) of the GP5500E makes it unsuitable for powering sensitive electronic devices.

Outlets

The control panel is equipped with the following 5 AC outlets:

With its twist-lock L14-30R receptacle, the GP5500E is designed to be transfer switch ready, allowing easy connection to your breaker box for powering your home during a blackout.

Portability

With dimensions of L27 x W27 x H25 in, the traditional open frame design of the Generac GP5500E ensures stability while allowing easy maintenance access to components and promoting effective air cooling. The generator is designed for outdoor use and demanding environments.

While technically classified as 'portable' due to its ability to be moved, the 163 lbs of this generator may make manual lifting and transportation somewhat difficult. However, the limited maneuverability is remedied with its wheel kit (⌀9.5") and its folding handle, facilitating convenient shifting once the generator is positioned on the ground.

Features

The GP5500E's control panel

Enhancing monitoring capabilities, the GP5500E features a digital data center within its control panel, furnishing essential details on the lifetime run hours for tracking activity and status.

Benefiting from its built-in fuel gauge, the generator allows for easy and immediate gas level inspections.

As far as security is concerned, the generator can be used with a peace of mind, as it features an overload protection (circuit breaker) and an automatic low oil shut-off.

The GP5500E also benefits from Generac’s COsense® carbon monoxide monitoring. This technology senses and manages CO output and shuts down the unit when necessary, to protect you from CO poisoning.

Beyond the standard documentation and an owner's manual (opens in a new tab) to assist with setup, the Generac GP5500E ships with supplementary accessories: oil, tool kit and funnel.