Large inverter (6,000 W+ running)
Champion 8500-Watt Tri Fuel Inverter Generator
A tri fuel inverter — gasoline, propane or natural gas — with 6,500 running watts on gasoline, a 120/240 V 14-50R and StartLINK for automatic start from a transfer switch.
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Best for
Homes with natural gas or a large propane tank that want an inverter instead of a standby unit
Specifications
| Output (gasoline) | 6,500 W running / 8,500 W starting |
|---|---|
| Output (propane) | 5,850 W running / 8,500 W starting |
| Output (natural gas) | 5,265 W running / 8,500 W starting |
| Voltage | 120/240 V; 27.1 A running at 240 V on gasoline |
| Outlets | 120/240 V 14-50R (27.1 A), 120 V TT-30R, two 120 V 5-20R GFCI duplexes, 12 V DC — no L14-30R |
| Auto start | StartLINK — wired connection to an automatic transfer switch or energy storage system for auto start/stop |
| CO shutoff | CO Shield — automatically shuts off the engine on unsafe, elevated CO; meets ANSI/PGMA G300 |
| Parallel | No |
| Run time | 13 hr at 1/4 load on 4.5 gal gasoline; 12 hr at 1/4 load on propane (tank size not stated) |
| Noise | 64 dB(A) (distance not stated) |
| Start | Wireless remote (up to 80 ft), electric, recoil |
| Weight | 132.3 lb |
| Emissions | EPA certified |
| Warranty | 3-year limited |
Specifications as published by Champion. Confirm against the current spec sheet before buying — manufacturers revise models without renaming them.
What's good
- Runs on natural gas — no fuel to store or refill when it's hooked to a gas line
- Hoses for both propane (6.6 ft) and natural gas (25 ft) in the box
- StartLINK lets a compatible automatic transfer switch start and stop it — standby-style behavior from a portable
What's not
- No L14-30R: feeding a transfer switch means a 50 A (14-50) inlet and cord rather than the common 30 A L14-30 kit
- Not parallel capable
- Running watts drop on gaseous fuels — 5,265 W on natural gas is about 19% below gasoline
- A natural gas connection is a gas fitter's job: the hose needs a properly installed outdoor gas outlet
Our verdict
This is the portable that behaves most like a standby: tri fuel, so natural gas can feed it indefinitely, and StartLINK so a compatible transfer switch can start it. Size it on the natural gas figure if that's the fuel you'll use — 5,265 running watts covers the essentials of a smaller home, not the whole house. Plan the inlet around its 14-50R, and keep it outside, 20 feet from the house with the exhaust pointed away.
Compare with the alternatives
- Westinghouse iGen12000DFc — home backup of the essentials — fridge, freezer, furnace blower, well or sump pump — through a transfer switch
- Honda EU2200i (EU2200ITAN) — a refrigerator, internet and electronics through an outage, or quiet power at a campsite
- WEN DF680iX — furnace blower, fridge and sump pump in an outage, or an rv with one air conditioner
- Honda EU7000iS — quiet, transfer-switch-ready 240 v backup for essentials when reliability matters more than watts per dollar
- Westinghouse iGen2550DFc — a fridge and essentials on propane, or light use in a 30 a rv