Generac GP5500 Generator

Generac GP5500 Description

Power outages happen, and they can range from being an inconvenience for homeowners, to a costly matter for business owners. Having a reliable, affordable, and powerful generator makes both of these situations avoidable. Plus, being RV Ready it becomes useful to power up all camping requirements too.

Generac has been in the power business for more than six decades, so it’s not surprising that it’s the world leader in home backup generators. This is a brand that we can trust.

The Generac GP5500 is among the best solutions for various residential, commercial, and recreational applications. Thanks to its portability, consistent power output, and durability, it’s quite popular among a wide variety of users.

It also comes at a moderate price, which attracts many users, who might otherwise be intimidated by the high price tag on similar models.

Power and Runtime

The first parameter that we look at in any gen is how much power and for how long. The GP5500 is among the high-capacity generators that can be used to power multiple appliances for half a day.

It’s a 120/240 V gen with a rated-power of 5500W and a peak-power of 6875W. These values can easily supply the needs of a house, a food truck, or an RV throughout a power outage. Also, this is more than enough electricity for the usual activities of camping or tailgating.

This gen has a 389 cc Generac OHV, which is a 4-stroke engine. There’s no electric start here, just the good old recoil. It runs on gasoline, and the fuel consumption of the GP5500 is around 0.72 GPH, with a fuel capacity of 7.2 gallons.

You can expect it to deliver around 10 hours at 50% load with a full tank. Which might not be the highest run-time or efficiency in this category, with some generators reaching 15 hours easily. The Caterpillars easily come to mind, but then again, they come with a much higher price tag.

This gen comes with automatic voltage regulation, but still, it has a somewhat high THD slightly below 20%. Thus, it may not be the best source to operate sensitive electronic devices, unless you connect a UPS to the outlets.

Outlets and Ports

The GP5500 comes with 5 covered AC outlets, and no DC outlets. The outlets are further divided into twin Duplex 120V 20A (5-20R), plus, a single 120/240V 30A (L14-30R) twist-lock receptacle. The latter is especially useful for direct connection to the house breaker box.

This arrangement is suitable for operating 4 appliances at a time, which is quite sufficient for domestic or recreational usage. It’s also well suited to the max power that this gen can supply simultaneously.

Features

This generator has some interesting features that make it an appealing device, despite a few missing luxuries. Here are some of its strong points.

Durable Engine With Fuel Gauge

The Generac 389cc OHV engine is among the sturdiest in this class. It’s fitted with a fuel gauge, so you wouldn’t get any nasty surprises, and regularly keep the tank full.

Durable Engine With Fuel Gauge

Regular maintenance is among the main predictors of a generator’s lifespan. And it’s something many of us often delay or miss out on completely.

To get your timing correct, this gen has an hour meter that tracks your actual usage from one maintenance visit to the next. Besides, you’d also see reminders of when a routine checkup is due.

Auto Shutdown at Low-Oil Level

In continuation with the previous point, the GP5500 gen will shut down automatically, if the oil level falls below a critical set point. This protects the motor from malfunction and various other mechanical issues.

Circuit Breaker Protected Outlets

Electric overload is an ever-present threat to any power supply. That’s why it’s good to have a circuit breaker that disconnects upon sensing an overload.

Heavy Duty Wheels

Few generators come with wheels, and when they do, you can’t always ensure their durability. This set here is made for stability and longevity. The manufacturer describes these wheels as ‘never flat’.

Fold-Down Handle

A dry weight of 180 lbs can be a bit heavy to carry around from place to place. That’s why the handle and cartwheel-style design is necessary to facilitate its movement. The handle then folds down, when not in use, to keep the envelope of the frame streamlined.

High-Strength Cradle

Open-frame generators have a reputation of being less sturdy than the closed ones, however, the Generac debunks this rumor completely. It’s made from a 1 1/4″ steel tube that’s hardened for extra strength.

Size and Weight

At 180 lbs dry weight, the Generac GP5500 isn’t exactly featherlight, and it does lean on the heavy side when compared to its peers. However, the sturdy wheels attached to its frame make it quite easy to move around.

It doesn’t take up too much space as it measures 28.75 x 26.75 x 25 inches. This is pretty much the norm for a gen of that power rating, and it usually fits within the available spaces in your home or work settings. You might take a few measurements though if you’re tailgating and your car has a sliding cover.

Noise Level

The specific noise level of the Generac GP5500 is not specified in the datasheet. As an open frame gen, we don’t expect it to be too quiet. However, it’s fitted with a low-tone muffler, which decreases the noises significantly.

You can thus operate it at your house, at work, or while camping. It shouldn’t be too disturbing to you or your surroundings.

Emissions

For a moderately priced gen, the GP5500 sure comes with plenty of features. But low emissions isn’t exactly one of its strongest points. It’s EPA-approved, which allows it to be used in various states except for California, since it’s not CARB or CSA compliant.