Best inverter in portable and inverter generators
A quiet dual-fuel inverter with CO Shield that Champion says meets PGMA G300-2018; plenty for essentials, but its outlets are 120 V only.
Our score: 8.1/10 out of 10Researched, not lab-tested
- Running watts
- 3,500 W
- Fuel
- Gasoline or propane
- Starting watts
- 4,500 W
- Largest outlet
- 120 V 30 A (TT-30R)
Is it right for you?
Pros
- CO Shield shutoff; Champion states ANSI/PGMA G300-2018
- 3,500 running watts on gas, 3,150 on propane
- Up to 21 hours at 25% load on a 20 lb propane cylinder
- Electric and recoil start; rated 61 dB(A)
Cons
- 120 V only: TT-30R is its largest outlet, no L14-30R
- 99.2 lb: wheels help, but it is no carry-along
- No Canadian safety mark stated on Champion's US page
- Starter battery needs charging twice a year in storage
- Best for
- Owners who want quiet, fuel-flexible backup for a fridge, freezer, sump pump and lights, and who can store propane safely outdoors.
- Not for
- Homes that need 240 V for a well pump or a transfer switch fed through a 30 A twist-lock inlet.
Our verdict
The 201319 is the inverter we would pick for quiet, fuel-flexible essentials. It gives 3,500 running watts on gasoline and 3,150 on propane, with 4,500 starting watts on either, and Champion rates it at 61 dB(A). It is also the only portable in our comparison whose maker states it meets ANSI/PGMA G300-2018, the voluntary standard for CO shutoff, through Champion’s CO Shield.
Propane matters in a long outage: it doesn’t go stale like stored gasoline, and Champion quotes up to 21 hours at a quarter load on a 20 lb cylinder, against 14 hours on the 2.25 gallon gas tank. Electric start comes with recoil as a backup. It is an inverter, which owners report suits high-efficiency furnace controls and electronics better than an open-frame unit. The limits are 120 V outlets only, with a TT-30R as the largest, so no L14-30R for a whole-panel transfer switch, and a weight of 99.2 lb on wheels. Champion’s US page states no Canadian safety mark.
Setup and safety
Outdoors only. Run it at least 6 m (20 ft) from the house, with the exhaust pointed away from doors, windows and air intakes, never in a garage, shed, basement or carport, even with the door open (Health Canada, CPSC). Champion says CO Shield does not replace indoor CO alarms: keep battery-backed alarms inside, outside the bedrooms.
Connecting it. Never plug it into a wall outlet or the panel, and never use a male-to-male cord: that backfeeds the grid and can kill line workers (how a transfer switch or interlock prevents it). Use heavy-duty outdoor-rated cords to the appliances. Champion’s manual says any connection to a building goes through a listed 30 A transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. In most places that also needs a permit or a notice to your utility, sometimes before you buy; rules differ by province and state (see the rules by province and state).
Reading the CO Shield light. After a stop, a blinking red light means a CO shutoff and a blinking yellow light means a fault in the CO Shield system. If it keeps shutting off outdoors, the manual says to clear anything within 5 ft and turn the generator about 45 degrees so wind doesn’t blow exhaust back over it. Tampering with the module stops the generator running.
Upkeep. Change the oil (0.5 qt of 10W-30) after the first 5 hours, then every 100 hours or yearly; clean the air filter every 50 hours or yearly. In storage, charge the starter battery at least twice a year with a lithium-ion maintainer of no more than 1.6 A.
Specs
Champion 4500W Electric Start Dual Fuel Inverter with CO Shield (201319)
Generator output
| Running watts | 3,500 W |
|---|---|
| Starting watts | 4,500 W |
| Fuel | Gasoline or propane |
| Largest outlet | 120 V 30 A (TT-30R) |
| Parallel capable | Yes |
| Running watts on propane | 3,150 W |
Fuel
| Runtime at 25% load | 14 h |
|---|---|
| Fuel tank | 2.25 gal |
Other details
| CO shutoff | Yes |
|---|---|
| Noise (maker's rating) | 61 dB(A) |
| Weight | 99.2 lb |
| Warranty | 3 years |
Maker’s figures, checked 3 Nov 2026.
Champion 201319 questions
What does PGMA G300-2018 mean?
It is a voluntary US safety standard that includes carbon monoxide shutoff for portable generators. CPSC estimates that generators meeting G300-2018 could cut CO deaths by about 87%. Champion states the 201319 meets it. No US standard is mandatory yet, and a generator meeting it is still for outdoor use only.
Can it power my furnace?
It can, if the furnace’s draw fits within 3,500 running watts and you connect it the safe way: a listed 30 A transfer switch fitted by a licensed electrician, as Champion’s manual requires, or a cord if the furnace has a plug. Its 120 V outlets mean a single-circuit or 120 V switch, not a 240 V whole-panel one.
Gasoline or propane: which should I store?
Propane, for most long outages. It doesn’t go stale, and Champion quotes longer run time on a 20 lb cylinder than on the gas tank, at the cost of a little power (3,150 against 3,500 running watts). Gasoline needs stabiliser and regular rotation.
Is it sold in Canada?
Champion’s US page states no Canadian safety mark for the 201319. In Canada, look for a CSA or cUL mark on the rating label before you buy.