Westinghouse WGen20000 - 20000/28000W Portable Generator With Electric Start
The Westinghouse WGen20000 is a powerful open frame generator with a rated wattage of 20,000 W and a starting wattage of 28,000 W. (Read full specs)
Amazon Page Content
Description
Zoom on the Westinghouse WGen20000
In short, the Westinghouse WGen20000 is a powerful portable generator adequately designed for:
- Professionals who want to ensure that a power failure will not prevent them from working
- Small homeowners in search of a full power backup solution
In the sections ahead, the power characteristics, availability of various outlets, the portability, and any additional features of the device shall be discussed.
Power & Run Time
The Westinghouse WGen20000
With a 999 cc OHV V-Twin engine with cast iron sleeve, the Westinghouse WGen20000 operates on gasoline, providing 120/240V, with a running wattage of 20,000W and a starting wattage of 28,000W. The impressive running wattage makes this unit the 2nd biggest portable generator currently on the market, along with the Ford FG28KVTWTCO and its cousins, the Westinghouse WGen20000TFc and the Westinghouse WGen20000c.
Operating at a noise rating of 74 dBA (just slightly more noisy than a shower), this generator starts up with a user-friendly and hassle-free electric starter (battery included).
The WGen20000 boasts a fuel tank capable of holding 17.17 gallons, allowing it to run continuously for around 11 hours at 50% load (with fuel usage averaging around 1.56 gallons per hour).
The <5% Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of the WGen20000 ensures a clean sine wave output, providing a secure power source for your sensitive electronics through its AC outlets.
Outlets
The control panel features 9 AC outlets as follows:
Even if this Westinghouse generator isn't quite RV Ready, it still allows for an easy RV connection via an L5-30P to TT-30R adaptor, thanks to its L5-30R receptacle. Besides, thanks to its twist-lock L14-30R receptacle, the WGen20000 is transfer switch ready, facilitating easy hookup to your breaker box to provide backup power for your home during blackouts.
Westinghouse's ST Switch Outlet
The ST Switch outlet
The WGen20000 is what Westinghouse calls Smart Switch Ready. This means that it features a special outlet that allows for an automatic transfer of power in case of a power outage.
To benefit from this feature, you'll need the Westinghouse ST Switch (opens in a new tab), which is not included with the generator.
Simply put, the ST Switch is a cost-effective and versatile portable automatic transfer switch, which can be installed quickly and easily, without an electrician.
Plug the ST Switch into one of your household 120V outlets, plug your appliances to the ST Switch, and connect the WGen20000 to the ST Switch via the special outlet and a 120V cord. The generator will automatically turn on when the power goes out, and automatically turn off when the power returns.
Portability
Measuring L38 x W35 x H40.4 in, the Westinghouse WGen20000 showcases a classic open frame layout, offering stability and simple maintenance access to components, while facilitating air circulation. This type of design is ideal for tough environments and heavy outdoor use.
Since the generator weighs 540 lbs, it could be potentially be difficult to manually lift it and transport it, even though it is technically considered to 'be portable' (in the sense that it is movable). However, the limited maneuverability is remedied with its wheel kit (⌀13") and its folding handle, facilitating convenient shifting once the generator is positioned on the ground.
In addition, the device is equipped with a lift hook on the top of its frame, which provides extra safety during the loading, unloading and transport of the generator.
Features
The WGen20000's control panel
The WGen20000's control center features a convenient meter, showing voltage, frequency, and lifetime hours metrics to aid you with the monitoring of its status and activity.
With its built-in fuel gauge, the generator provides quick and convenient gas level checks.
As far as security is concerned, the generator comes with an automatic low oil shut-off and an overload protection (circuit breaker), providing peace of mind during use.
Along the basic documentation and an owner's manual (opens in a new tab), useful for starting the generator right away, the Westinghouse WGen20000's package also includes these accessories: tool kit, funnel and oil.
Product Videos
The Westinghouse WGen20000 versus other generators
The following charts are provided to give you an idea of how some of the key specs of the Westinghouse WGen20000 compare to generators of similar power (between 14000 and 22000 W).
- With a weight of 540 lbs, the Westinghouse WGen20000 is notably on the heavier side among generators in the 14000-22000 rated wattage range. Weight-conscious users may find the Westinghouse WGen14500TFc appealing, as it is one of the top contenders in this power range, weighing just 348.3 pounds.
- As its lowest possible noise is rated at 74 dBA, this generator qualifies as one of the more quiet of the products of similar power. If you value reduced noise levels, the DuroMax XP28000iHT could be worth considering. It's one of the quietest generators in its power range, rated at 70 dBA.
- As the WGen20000 features an autonomy of around 11 hours at 50% load, it has one of the highest run times in comparison to the other generators of its power range.
- Run time is crucial, but it heavily relies on the fuel tank's capacity. Thus, considering fuel efficiency alongside is essential. This generator is not fuel-efficient compared to devices of similar output: its estimated fuel consumption stands at 1.56 GPH at a 50% load. If minimizing fuel usage is one of your key priorities, the Westinghouse WGen14500DFc is one of the most efficient devices with similar power output, with a gasoline consumption of only 0.95 gallons per hour.
The bottom line
- GFCI Outlets
- Impressive quantity of AC outlets
- 4 different AC outlet types
- Electric start
- Clean sine wave
- Smart Switch Ready
- Quiet for its power (74 dBA)
- High run time
- No recoil back-up
- No remote start
- On the heavy side (540 lbs)
- Low fuel efficiency
Do you own the Westinghouse WGen20000 and agree (or disagree) with these strengths and weaknesses?
Let us know and write your own review.
Features and Specifications
| Inverter | No |
|---|---|
| Parallel capable | No |
| RV ready | No |
| Fuel | Gasoline |
| Engine | 999 cc OHV V-Twin, cast iron sleeve |
| Alternator | Copper windings |
| Starting system | Electric |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Voltage | AC: 120/240V 60 Hz |
|---|---|
| Running watts | 20,000 W |
| Starting watts | 28,000 W |
| Running amps (@120/240V) | 166.7/83.3 amps |
| Peak amps (@120/240V) | 233.3/116.7 amps |
| Run time @50% load | 11 h |
| Run time @25% load | 13 h |
| GFCI outlets | Yes |
|---|---|
| Covered outlets | Yes |
| Automatic Voltage Regulation | Yes |
| AC outlets |
|
| DC outlets | No |
| Data center | VFT |
| Indicators | No |
| Fuel tank | 17.17 gal |
| Fuel gauge | Yes |
| Weight | 540 lbs |
|---|---|
| Approx. dimensions (L x W x H) | 38 x 35 x 40.4 in |
| Noise (lower limit) | 74 dBA |
| THD | < 5% |
| Compliance | EPA |
| Security | Low oil and overload protection |
| Spark arrestor | Yes |
| Neutral | Bonded to frame |
| Accessories included | Oil, funnel, tool kit, battery, and wheel kit |
| Country of origin | China |
| UPC | 850011336601 |
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 Westinghouse
The US based Westinghouse Outdoor Power Equipment is a legacy subsidiary of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, founded in 1886. While the company has been acquired and merged into the American CBS, the Westinghouse name remains as the brand name for many of their electrical solutions, which stretch across the scale from power plants to portable generators. Portable generators – the main product of the Outdoor Power Equipment branch of Westinghouse – used to be manufactured by Westpro Power Systems, which was bought in 2016 by Midwest Equipment. Lawn equipment, such as trimmers and blowers, is also sold under the Westinghouse brand name. All of their products are designed in the US. However, they are in many cases manufactured in China and Vietnam.
Warranty Information
The Westinghouse WGen20000 is covered under a warranty for up to 3 years. This warranty may be limited and may not cover all parts of the generator.
For more information about the warranty of Westinghouse generators, please consult Westinghouse's warranty policies (opens in a new tab). Alternatively, you can also contact their Customer Support: 1-855-944-3571.
Questions & Answers
What can it power?
| Item | Running Watts | Starting Watts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| At home | AC (10,000 BTU) | 1500 | 2200 |
| Dish washer | 1500 | 3000 | |
| Electric fry pan | 1500 | 1500 | |
| Microwave (1000 watts) | 1500 | 1500 | |
| Sump pump (1/2 hp) | 1050 | 2150 | |
| Refrigerator (energy star) | 192 | 1192 | |
| Clothes dryer | 5400 | 6750 | |
| Electric range | 2100 | 2100 | |
| Vacuum cleaner | 1075 | 1175 | |
| Security system | 180 | 180 | |
| Total | 15997 W | 17497 W | |
| For work | Electric welder | 9000 | 9000 |
| Table saw | 1800 | 4500 | |
| Air compressor (1 hp) | 1600 | 6100 | |
| Grinder | 1400 | 2500 | |
| Demolition hammer | 1260 | 1260 | |
| Reciprocating saw | 730 | 960 | |
| Bug zapper | 80 | 80 | |
| Total | 15870 W | 20370 W |
Can all of usable power be connected to the breaker panel using one cord ( 20k out from one 50 amp outlet to breaker panel) (Asked March 18, 2023)
The maximum power you'll get out of a single 50A outlet is 240V*50A=12kW.
Couldn't find the right answer for you? Ask your own question.
User Reviews
It worked great for several months. Later it was hard to start took multiple tries. When I go to start it tries several times and partially starts but won’t keep running. Have contacted Westinghouse and they have done nothing. No suggestions on fixes. DO NOT RECOMMEND!
Very pleased with this generator although the box it When it get here after the order was cancelled, I ended up getting it free from Amazon due to a miscommunication from them. I purchase it from them and they gave me a delivery date. It didn’t come. So I canceled the order. then two Months later it showed up at my house. Called Amazon about it and they said i could either return it on my dime or just keep it or dispose of it. Lucky me. After several tries, I successfully converted it to natural gas and it runs the whole house with 8 tons of air conditioning. I also added a tachometer. I broke in the engine in at 50% power for 6 hours on gasoline before running the whole house on Natural gas. Be sure to get a good quality synthetic oil 10W30 oil. I don’t trust that Chinese oil they sent with it. Fram extra guard PH4967 oil filter fits it very well.
Westinghouse WGen20000 Review: For the most part, I agree with GeneratorBible.com’s review; overall, the thing is awesome. But they forgot some strengths, and mislabeled some of them as weaknesses.
The WGen20k is relatively clean-burning, which is nice even outside of California (mentioned in the review, but not as a strength); and while a Remote-Starter sounds nice, it would require an Automatic Choke and some Computer Circuitry, which would drive up the price (I paid about half of what Amazon’s currently charging, and it was still a lot), so I can see why they left ‘em out. They also list the lack of Recoil Starter and extra Weight as weaknesses, but neither is necessarily bad…
First, have you ever pulled the recoil cord on a lawnmower and encountered what’s known as ‘Kickback’ — it’s not much fun (and that’s with a small 150cc engine). Now imagine that same thing with a 1,000cc engine — holy cats, you’d lose an arm! Second, if you need to maneuver it around various job-sites every day, then yeah, the Weight would be an issue… but if you’re using it for residential back-up power, it’s a plus; I took the wheels, handles, and lifting hook off of mine, and chained it to a concrete pad. Now let’s say you’re a thief looking for a Generator; with a full tank, this thing weighs almost 650-lbs, but even with 4 big guys and a die grinder, each grabbing a corner and trying to coordinate their shuffling — they’re not going to accomplish much without a lot of time, energy, noise, sparks, and other unwanted attention (security lights and cameras) — and while my 12ga would unfortunately put a sizable divot in my lawn, the sound alone would be enough to wake God, and all the neighbors in a half-mile radius, and send those would-be thieves a running.
They also forgot a couple of weaknesses: 1st, the Dip-Stick is almost unreadable — which is important because the oil-level is crucial, and there’s not much of it (so there ain’t much difference between the minimum and maximum levels); and 2nd, the Ignition-Keys suck.
I use a 6,000 lumen shop light to help decipher the Dip-Stick enigma (not much else I can do), but the Keys have a plastic shroud around the head that’s designed to fit over the ignition-cylinder, but the shrouds are warped, and the plastic is hard (one of ‘em wouldn’t even fully engage, with a strong effort). So I had new Keys made at a locksmith (from Ilco X259 blanks).
I read a little about this Generator in some online-forums — before it was even available, and found people complaining that it’s just too much. I think they’re overlooking one important concept; just because your house draws 10 kilowatts, and you buy a 10 kilowatt Generator — that doesn’t mean you have a ‘whole-house’ Generator — far from it. Every manufacturer lists their Generator’s fuel consumption at 50% load. There’s a reason for that, and it’s the same reason that automotive manufacturers equip cars with engines capable of pushing them to twice the speed limit, or more. If every American road were built like the Autobahn, and everyone drove their Fords and Chevys flat-out everywhere they went (assuming they had the skills), they’d blow their engines in less than a week. So if you run your Generator at no more than say 60 or 70%, it’ll last years, maybe decades longer than if you drive it like a teenager.
The estimated maximum running-wattage of my small, 1,000 sq ft house (with everything going, all at once), is between about 9,000 and 15,000 watts (summer use is less than winter, spring and fall are lower still), so even I have to be a little careful during winter outages — what the house lacks in size, it makes up for with inefficiency (Radiant Ceiling Heat, circa 1962… God, what a bad idea).
Suggestions: With the standard 2-Wheels, I found it surprisingly easy working my way into holes (in gravel and loose soil — I’m assuming mud as well), but that’s okay because at almost 550-lbs Dry, it’s loads of fun getting back out. Farmers and Construction Workers could keep the thing in a dedicated truck, but that’s less convenient in use, and ties up an entire truck for the duration of the project. But if the Generator had 4-Wheels instead of 2, that would increase maneuverability even on solid ground. Relocate the 2 existing wheels farther forward, add 2 more (on castors) in back, and viola. I’ve seen 4-Wheel ‘kits’ to adapt certain (smaller) Honda Generators, but they are unsteerable — or rather, ‘skid’ steerable, which presents a whole new set of problems.
A small Motor driving those 2 castors would improve handling even more. It would also require a larger battery, more circuitry, and a subsequent increase in price (maybe they could make it a factory ‘Option’). If they could keep the price reasonable, the WGen20k would immediately become the ‘Must-Have’ generator for anyone seeking a ton of power; Contractors, Suburbanites, even people out in Rural areas (City-dwellers, probably not — they don’t typically have the space for something this big).
Dual-Fuel Capability would also be nice (but would also up the price)… same for a Remote-Starter (and the price-tag), so maybe these could all be Options. Speaking of optional equipment, how about a larger Fuel-Tank? You could increase the capacity to 50-Gallons, and only increase the overall height by 7.5-Inches — or 100-Gallons, with an extra 15-Inches. These would also cost more and weigh a ton (when full), but they’d be an option, and that Motor-Drive would ease the weight, and the extra fuel would prove extremely useful… not just for Contractors working on jobs that last longer than a day; but also Suburbanites looking for an affordable, whole-house solution; and people living out in Rural areas (even Farmers and Ranchers need affordable, continuous power when the grid goes down). Filling a Tank that large would be interesting. I currently keep a half-dozen 5-Gallon Jerry Cans nearby, but if this thing had a 50 or 100-Gallon Tank, I’d either call a Fuel Delivery Company, or buy a 50 or 100-Gallon Fuel Transfer/Storage Tank, with a 12v Pump.
The WGen20k Generator currently comes with a small custom-made funnel, which is handy when changing the oil. But what I’d really like is a ‘large’ funnel, for gassing it up. I use a Step-Stool (because holding a 35-lb jerry-can down around your hips, is a whole lot easier than up around your chin), but if the Generator came with a built-in, folding Step-Stool, that would make things easier. Now that I think of it, a Locking Gas-Cap wouldn’t suck. And if they could mount the Control-Panel and Dashboard up higher on the Frame, that would be more convenient (less bending over)… at least for us snowflake Suburbanites (Contractors and Country-Folk wouldn’t give a f__k).
One last suggestion for people using Portables as whole-house Generators; invest in a $20 Utility Power Return Alarm — a small box that beeps loudly when the power comes back (otherwise, you could be generating unnecessarily for hours, blissfully ignorant).
If Westinghouse could add these things (along with a functional Dip-Stick, and set of Keys), and keep the MSRP within say $750 of what it is now, then their WGen20k would corner the market for high-output Generators. As is, it’s still pretty useful, and affordable. I was tempted to give it 4-Stars, but I can’t really fault a product for falling short of ‘potential’ — no other Generator offers my suggestions, so if Westinghouse (or some other company) does so in the future, then that’d be a bonus. Then I thought about giving it 1-Star, because manufacturers only read and repond to those, but that would be misleading and dishonest — and I’m not a corporation, or an a-hole (though some might argue that last point).