Sportsman GEN1000i - 800/1000W Inverter Generator
The Sportsman GEN1000i is a quiet, compact and lightweight inverter generator with a rated wattage of 800 W and a starting wattage of 1,000 W. (Read full specs)
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Description
Zoom on the Sportsman GEN1000i
In a nutshell, the Sportsman GEN1000i is a quiet, compact and lightweight portable inverter generator mostly geared towards:
- Tailgating and campground aficionados with the desire of enjoying power anywhere they go
- Amateur DIY lovers
In the upcoming sections, you'll discover its power characteristics, the array of outlets it presents, its overall portability, and the additional features it possesses.
Power & Run Time
The Sportsman GEN1000i
The Sportsman GEN1000i's design includes a gasoline-fueled 40 cc (1.3 hp) OHV 4-stroke engine. With a 120V output, it gives a running wattage of 800W and also a peak wattage of 1,000W.
At a noise rating of 56 dBA (less noisy than a quiet suburb), the inverter generator is started via a traditional recoil pull-start mechanism.
The fuel capacity of 0.6 gallon allows the GEN1000i to operate for around 6.3 hours at 50% load with a full tank (fuel consumption around 0.1 GPH).
Featuring a <5% Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), the GEN1000i delivers a clean sine wave, guaranteeing the safety of your sensitive electronics plugged into its AC outlet.
Outlets
The control panel is equipped with the following AC outlet:
Additionally, it features 1 DC outlet: there's a 5V USB port providing convenient charging capabilities for mobile phones, tablets, and other electronic devices.
Portability
Since the Sportsman GEN1000i is an inverter generator, its closed design (L15.6 x W8 x H13.8 in) not only provides an aesthetic advantage but also contributes to reduced noise levels compared to conventional, open frame devices. The generator has a contemporary design, convenient for recreationally generating power.
With a weight of only 20.3 lbs, the GEN1000i is deisgned to be a lightweight and easily portable generator. A single person should have no trouble moving it around, ensuring power availability on the go. In addition, a handle (molded in the case) lets you carry it easily and further increases its convenience.
Good to know: This unit ranks 1st in our list of the 10 smallest portable generators.
Features
The GEN1000i's control panel
When the generator is ready, the generator is overloaded and its oil levels are insufficient, you will be informed by the featured light indicators.
From a security standpoint, the generator is furnished with an overload protection (circuit breaker) and an automatic low oil shut-off, ensuring peace of mind during operation.
In addition to the traditional documentation and an owner's manual (opens in a new tab) to help you get started promptly, the Sportsman GEN1000i also includes several accessories: tool kit, funnel and battery charging cables.
Product Videos
The Sportsman GEN1000i versus other generators
The following charts are provided to give you an idea of how some of the key specs of the Sportsman GEN1000i compare to generators of similar power (between 500 and 1500 W).
- In terms of its weight, the Sportsman GEN1000i weighs merely 20.3 pounds, earning it a spot among the lightest generators within the 500 to 1500 rated wattage category.
- As this inverter generator can emit noise as low as 56 dBA, it finds itself in the average expected noise for this kind of power. If you value reduced noise levels, the Honda EU1000i could be worth considering. It's one of the quietest generators in its power range, rated at 42 dBA.
- Regarding its autonomy, the GEN1000i can run for around 6.3 hours at a 50% load, aligning it with the lower performers in its power range. If runtime is a priority for you, the Champion 201285 stands out as one of the generators with the longest run time in its power range, providing around 10 hours of continuous use.
- Run time is crucial, but it heavily relies on the fuel tank's capacity. Thus, considering fuel efficiency alongside is essential. This inverter generator has a better fuel efficiency than other units in the aforementioned output range, consuming approximately 0.1 GPH (gallon per hour) at 50% load. If fuel consumption is your top priority, we suggest to check out the Pulsar PGD16iSCO, which has a fuel consumption of only 0.09 GPH and thus, is one of the most efficient devices in our database.
Price comparison
As you can see from these interactive charts, when compared to other 500-1500W inverter generators, the Sportsman GEN1000i is on the cheap side of the price range.
It can therefore be a really good buy if you're looking to acquire a budget generator.
The bottom line
- Inexpensive
- Inverter
- Lightweight (20.3 lbs)
- Fuel efficient
- Acceptable noise (56 dBA)
- No data center
- 1-year warranty
- Only 1 AC outlet
- No parallel ports
- Relatively low run time
Do you own the Sportsman GEN1000i and agree (or disagree) with these strengths and weaknesses?
Let us know and write your own review.
Features and Specifications
| Inverter | Yes |
|---|---|
| Parallel capable | No |
| RV ready | No |
| Fuel | Gasoline |
| Engine | 40 cc OHV 4-stroke |
| Starting system | Recoil |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Voltage | AC: 120V 60 Hz, DC: 12V |
|---|---|
| Running watts | 800 W |
| Starting watts | 1,000 W |
| Running amps | 6.7 amps |
| Peak amps | 8.3 amps |
| Run time @50% load | 6.3 h |
| Run time @25% load | Unknown |
| GFCI outlets | No |
|---|---|
| Covered outlets | Yes |
| Automatic Voltage Regulation | Inverter |
| AC outlets | 1x 120V 20A (5-20R) |
| DC outlets | 1x 5V USB port |
| Data center | No |
| Indicators | Low oil, overload and output ready |
| Fuel tank | 0.6 gal |
| Fuel gauge | No |
| Weight | 20.3 lbs |
|---|---|
| Approx. dimensions (L x W x H) | 15.6 x 8 x 13.8 in |
| Noise (lower limit) | 56 dBA |
| THD | < 5% |
| Compliance | CARB, EPA |
| Security | Low oil and overload protection |
| Spark arrestor | Yes |
| Neutral | Floating |
| Accessories included | Funnel, tool kit, and battery charging cables |
| Other model numbers | GEN1000iC |
| UPC | 027077802085 |
We've taken extra care to research and verify each of the specifications above. That said, occasional mistakes or omissions are still possible. If you spot any missing or inaccurate information, feel free to suggest a correction so we can address it.
About Sportsman Series
Sportsman Series is a small brand registered under the US based Buffalo corporation. Founded in 1964, the Buffalo Corporation is a small company, which sells tools and home products. Their brands include AmeriHome, Black Bull, Buffalo Tools and Sportsman Series – which offers a selection of generators and several other general products. The brand, and in fact, the corporation itself seemingly outsources all of its production overseas and acts only as a distributor, under its own brands.
Warranty Information
The Sportsman GEN1000i is covered under a warranty for up to 1 year. This warranty may be limited and may not cover all parts of the generator.
For more information about the warranty of Sportsman generators, please contact the Buffalo Tools Customer Support: 1-636-532-9888.
Questions & Answers
What can it power?
| Item | Running Watts | Starting Watts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| At home | Coffee maker | 600 | 600 |
| Cell phone charger | 20 | 20 | |
| Total | 620 W | 620 W | |
| For camping | RV refrigerator | 180 | 600 |
| DVD player | 350 | 350 | |
| Pair of small speakers | 45 | 45 | |
| Total | 575 W | 995 W | |
| For work | Paint sprayer | 600 | 600 |
| Total | 600 W | 600 W |
Couldn't find the right answer for you? Ask your own question.
User Reviews
This Item now comes with CO2 sensor and shuts down when detecting carbon monoxide. I have seen the parallel ports on these ones on some videos, but I don’t know it is an extra feature. The running time is insane had it running powering our chest freezer for almost 12 hours, the freezer never pulls constant wattage that is why took so long but at the same time we were charging stuff, powering lights and pulling some extra watts and experienced a lot of running time.
Got one of these about 2 years ago. First impression was good, nice workmanship.
First off – it never delivered the 800 running watts, not even close to it. Usually I got shy above 600 watts on a good day.
But then the power output diminished through time.
Now after two years and about 150h runtime, 3 oil changes, I only get about 400 watts out of it before the overload protection trips and shuts down the generator.
So I wouldn’t buy this generator again, it does not deliver at all.
Like many, I had been in the market for a small inverter generator. In my opinion, Honda is the benchmark for said type of generators, but with the 1000 watt unit (that would do everything I need) being around $800 it seemed foolish to not spend a couple hundred more and get the 2000 watt unit with twice the output. But it also weighs about twice as much and has higher fuel consumption. Decisions decisions. The weight generally would not be an issue for most, but I haul my camping gear on a trailer that I pull behind my motorcycle. So 20-30 pounds matters to me. So I thought it to death.
Ok, after doing some reading on this generator I picked up one of these from Sam’s Club in February for the super cheap price of $150. Even better, they offered a 3 year warranty for $15. On top of that, my credit card will give me an additional 2 years after that warranty expires. Hard to go wrong.
I was both impressed and concerned about how light this unit is. However, I knew that I would not be needing it for heavy loads when I camp and electric is not available.
After giving the unit a break in run of 8 hours and varying loads with 10W-30 conventional oil, I changed the oil and refilled it with the updated lower quantity (what used to be the low mark is now the full mark) of full synthetic 10W-30.
I ran the generator for a little over 60 hours this weekend. Other than shutdown for fueling and a couple of oil level checks (no loss noted) it ran non stop. My load was light, running two small fans, a dometic portable refrigerator, and at night a CPAP machine. According to my kill-a-watt, the load varies from 70 watts to 180 watts. Yes, it’s loafing but it’s doing everything that I need. The best part, I let it run for as long as 10 1/2 hours between fueling and it never ran out of fuel. I really wish I had tracked consumption more accurately, but I am confident that I used less than 1 gallon of fuel a day.
I could not be happier at this point. I plan to update my review as I put more run time on the unit.
This unit is well worth the price. It puts out decent power for its size and it is light weight.
The engine is a quality design with iron sleeve and a full roller crankshaft and roller connecting rod along with OHV
It is very quiet and I’m sure you would not get any complaints from the campsite, unless it was 3am