Best budget in portable and inverter generators
A small, quiet inverter with automatic CO shutdown for a fridge, lights and phones; 120 V only, so it can't feed a transfer switch.
Our score: 7.4/10 out of 10Researched, not lab-tested
- Running watts
- 1,800 W
- Fuel
- Gasoline
- Starting watts
- 2,200 W
- Largest outlet
- 120 V 20 A only
Is it right for you?
Pros
- CO sensor shuts the engine down automatically
- 1,800 running watts at a stated 52 dBA
- Up to 12 hours at 25% load on its 1.14 gal tank
- 47.4 lb with a carry handle; parallel capable
Cons
- 120 V outlets only: no L14-30R for a transfer switch
- Recoil start only, with a manual choke and no fuel gauge
- Westinghouse marks it as not CARB compliant
- No Canadian safety mark stated by Westinghouse
- Best for
- Keeping a fridge, a few lights, a modem and phone chargers running through a short outage, where light weight and low noise matter more than whole-house power.
- Not for
- Running a well pump, furnace circuit or anything 240 V, connecting to a home transfer switch, or buyers in California (Westinghouse marks it not CARB compliant).
Our verdict
The iGen2200c is the small, sensible end of backup power: an inverter generator rated at 1,800 running and 2,200 peak watts, with a CO sensor that shuts the engine down automatically if carbon monoxide builds up around it. Westinghouse rates it at 52 dBA and up to 12 hours at a quarter load on its 1.14 gallon tank, and it weighs 47.4 lb, so one person can carry it out of a shed.
That covers a fridge, a few lights, a modem and phone chargers through a short outage. It does not cover a furnace circuit, a well pump or anything at 240 V: the outlets are two 120 V 20 A duplexes and two USB ports, with no 30 A outlet, so it cannot feed a home transfer switch. You can pair two Westinghouse inverters with a parallel cord, sold separately, for more output. Westinghouse marks it as not CARB compliant, and states no Canadian safety mark for it.
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). The CO sensor is a backstop, not a reason to run it closer. Keep battery-backed CO alarms inside, outside the bedrooms.
Plug appliances straight into it. Use heavy-duty extension cords rated for outdoor use, never a male-to-male cord, and never plug the generator into a wall outlet or the panel: that backfeeds the grid and can kill line workers (how a transfer switch or interlock prevents it). With 120 V outlets only, this generator is a cords-to-appliances machine; for hardwired circuits look at a larger model with an L14-30R in our portable generator comparison.
First start and upkeep. Westinghouse’s quick start guide says to add oil without overfilling (it takes 11.8 oz of 10W-30), fill with unleaded gasoline below the filler neck, set the tank vent to on, switch Eco mode off and start it with nothing plugged in. It is recoil start with a manual choke and has no fuel gauge. Owners who regret their generators often mention stale fuel and a unit that would not start in the next storm, so run it now and then and treat stored gasoline with stabiliser.
Specs
Westinghouse iGen2200c Inverter Generator with CO Sensor
Generator output
| Running watts | 1,800 W |
|---|---|
| Starting watts | 2,200 W |
| Fuel | Gasoline |
| Largest outlet | 120 V 20 A only |
| Parallel capable | Yes |
Fuel
| Runtime at 25% load | 12 h |
|---|---|
| Fuel tank | 1.14 gal |
Other details
| CO shutoff | Yes |
|---|---|
| Noise (maker's rating) | 52 dB(A) |
| Weight | 47.4 lb |
| Warranty | 3 years |
Maker’s figures, checked 3 Nov 2026.
iGen2200c questions
Will the iGen2200c run a fridge?
Usually, yes. A fridge plus a few lights and chargers is the job it suits, within its 1,800 running and 2,200 peak watts. Check your fridge’s rating plate or measure it with a plug-in watt meter, and remember that starting surges and defrost heaters add load. Start the generator first, then plug the fridge in.
Can it connect to a transfer switch?
No. It has only 120 V 20 A outlets and USB ports, with no 30 A or 240 V outlet, so it cannot feed a home transfer switch or inlet. Run outdoor-rated cords to the appliances instead. If you want to power the furnace or well pump through the panel, you need a larger generator with an L14-30R.
Can I use it in Canada?
Westinghouse states no Canadian safety mark for the iGen2200c on its product page. If you buy one in Canada, look for a CSA or cUL mark on the rating label.
Can I double the power with a second generator?
Yes, it is parallel capable. Westinghouse sells a 30 A parallel cord that joins it to another Westinghouse inverter generator for more combined output. Even paired, it still cannot backfeed a panel: connect appliances with cords, and use a transfer switch fitted by an electrician for anything hardwired.