Constantly facing the problem of a power outage can be so annoying at times. We guess that you have encountered the same issue, which made you decide to search for an alternative source of power. Well, you are in luck then! Because the WEN DF1100T 11000-watt dual-fuel portable power generator is one of the best solutions available.
Our life vastly depends on online communication and the pandemic has made this even more prevalent. But a sudden power outage in the middle of an online conference is a real pain, especially if you live in a place with constant bad weather, hurricanes, and other sorts of occurrences, you will resonate with this very well.
For this and so many other reasons, you should certainly start to consider acquiring an alternative power source. We bet you immediately thought about a power generator, but what type of generator? There are so many options available in the market, that it will probably take you several hours to research. In this article, we present you with the WEN DF1100T 11000-watt generator, which operates with a dual-fuel system. We highlight not only the physical and functional traits of the DF1100T generator, but also compare it with a few similar ones for you to make the right purchase decision. So, let’s get into it.
About the Brand WEN
WEN is one of the most recognized generator producers both in the American and international markets. The company was established in 1951, with headquarters currently located in Elgin, Illinois. During the start of its operations, the company was primarily producing several kinds of electrical tools. Currently, the scope of the company’s product offerings is not limited to power generators only. WEN also offers:
- drills,
- tool chests,
- nailers,
- hand tools,
- jigsaw operating with electricity,
- air compressors,
- wood grinders.
By 2001, WEN had already sold 50 million products worldwide, which is a pretty impressive number.
The company always based its strategy on satisfying the needs of customers who have different interests and preferences. In addition to offering a wide range of products, WEN is also known for its fast customer support. This is surely an advantage, especially for first-time users. Another great advantage that WEN generators offer is the very low amount of maintenance required from the user. We have attached the maintenance schedule for you at the end of the article.
WEN DF1100T 11000-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator Review
The WEN DF1100T generator is known for its ability to create power from 2 different sources: gasoline and propane. This is a very important benefit, especially when you run out of a certain type of fuel. The provided number of watts differs, which we will look at in the sections below.
This generator includes two powerful wheels in the structure, which makes it very easy to move it around. It is a great benefit, as you will be able to use the WEN DF1100T not only for powering your house, but also a camping site or your workplace. Another important advantage that we would like to highlight is the voltage versatility. This means that the power generated with the WEN D1100T can be used for providing electricity to several appliances, including TVs and refrigerators.
Besides looking into the most common technical descriptions, we also highlight customer reviews from across the web and summarize the main points in the upcoming sections.
We know that you still have so many questions, even though we talked about many advantages. There are lots of options available in the market and researching for the right generator may become a little overwhelming for you. That is why we broke down every technical characteristic of the WEN 1100 for you to read about. Let’s begin!
Power Output
As mentioned previously, WEN DF1100T runs on both gasoline and propane. This is especially advantageous if you are short on one of those fuel types. You can always switch them up and rest assured that your appliances have an alternative power source. The running watts of the WEN DF1100T, when operating with gasoline, are 8300, and the peak watts are 11,000. The same metrics in the case of running the generator on propane are 7500 and 9500 respectively. These are quite powerful measures, proving that your generator will provide the whole house with electricity in case of a power outage.
Additionally, switching between the fuel types is very easy with the WEN DF1100T 11,000-watt power generator. With the help of the switch located on the control panel, you can easily select the preferred fuel type and run your generator.
Tank Capacity and Runtime
The full tank capacity is 6.6 gallons or 30 liters. This is quite a large number and proves the capabilities of the WEN DF1100T once more. The size of the tank ensures that the generator will be able to run for 8.5 hours with a 50% load. This means that your appliances will be provided with power for even a longer period than most power outages generally last.
However, please note that the runtime hugely depends on the maintenance as well. In the user manual, which we linked at the end of the article, you will find a detailed maintenance schedule for the generator, which is very important to keep. This will ensure a longer service life for the generator.
Dimensions and Portability
After fully assembling the generator, here are the full dimensions: 27.3 inches x 20.6 inches x 21.9 inches. This size is common among most of the generators available in the market. However, in addition to the many functions that the WEN DF1100T provides, this size is pretty proportionate.
The weight of the generator is 214 pounds, which is the same as approximately 97 kg. Even though the generator comes with a set of quite large wheels and a metallic handle, it is still very heavy to carry around alone. So, if you are planning on using the generator outside of your house, make sure to have a helping hand.
Durability
Generators are forbidden to be used inside the house, and as power outages mostly occur because of bad weather conditions, it means that your generator must be very durable to endure any kind of situation.
The WEN DF1100T 11,000-watt generator is the one. It is made from durable steel, which not only protects it from scratches or bumps but also makes sure that your generator endures severe weather conditions as well. Additionally, you can acquire a waterproof case for your DF1100 as well, which can be used while transporting your generator during the rain or storm as well.
Additionally, it is very important to note that the engine of the generator is very durable as well. No matter how careful you may be, there is still a risk of overheating the engine, especially if the generator runs for a long time. So, the protective shield around the engine of the DF1100T is very handy.
Engine Specs
The engine type installed on the WEN DF110T 11,000-watt generator is 457cc, with 4-stroke OHV. The form is a single cylinder. It has a natural air-cooling system installed, as well as an electric oil shutdown function.
These characteristics are very important to know to compare the WEN DF1100T with other generators in the market. However, they may not tell you enough information about the actual starting process of the engine. So, here are some of the most important warnings that you should pay very close attention to.
Firstly, never try to turn on the generator while it is placed inside. The emissions contain high levels of CO (carbon monoxide), which can kill the user in minutes. Even if you open windows or doors, the amount of fresh air will still not be enough. So, this is the first thing that you should avoid doing.
After turning on the generator, do not try to smoke or open a flame near it, as it is very flammable. Also, when you try to refuel the generator, always switch it off for several minutes before doing so. Another important mention regarding the fuel is that you should not overfill the tank, especially if you are planning on running the engine with gasoline. It has the characteristic of expanding, so you should avoid filling the tank to the top.
How to Prevent Starting Issues?
We realize that sometimes your generator may not start even if you did everything according to the user manual. This may be annoying particularly when there are bad weather conditions, the power is out, and it is dark outside. For these and so many other reasons, we highlighted some of the most common reasons responsible for the malfunctioning of the WEN DF1100T generator.
- Not enough oil in the tank: Always check the oil level on the control panel before trying to switch on the generator.
- Fuel selection dial is turned in the wrong direction: If you want to run the engine with gasoline, you should make sure that the fuel selection dial is pointed at the gasoline. Otherwise, the engine may not start running.
- No electrical devices should be plugged in: This is a very important step to overlook before you start the generator, as it will not only protect the appliances that you want to power but will also ensure a smooth and uninterrupted start for the WEN DF1100T.
- Choke lever is not in the right position: Make sure that it is pointed at the START position.
Outlets
We would like to present the control panel of the WEN DF1100T 11,000-watt generator as well. It has quite a lot of switches and options available, which are important to know about.
- Fuel selector dial: Indicates the type of fuel used for running the generator.
- Electric start switch
- Multi-meter: Displays information such as output voltage, frequency, total runtime, and session runtime.
- DC 12V receptacle
- DC circuit breaker: Protects the DC circuit from overheating.
- NEMA 5-20R GFCI duplex receptacle: Used to connect electrical devices that run on 120V, 60 Hz, single-phase, AC current.
- AC 20A circuit breakers: Protect the 5-20 receptacles from overheating.
- AC 30A circuit breaker: Protects the L5-30 receptacle from overload.
- NEMA L5-30R 120V 30A twist lock receptacle: Used to connect electrical devices that run on 120V, 60 Hz, single-phase, AC current.
- NEMA L14-50R 120V/240V 50A receptacle: Used to connect electrical devices that run on 120V/240V, 60 Hz, single-phase, AC current.
- 35A main circuit breakers: Thermal circuits that protect the main circuit from overload.
- Grounding nut: Used to connect the grounding wire to properly ground the generator.
What Can You Power With WEN DF1100T 11000-Watt Dual-Fuel Portable Generator?
Due to quite a huge number of watts generated, you can easily run any appliance you would like with the WEN DF1100T. However, the most important benefit is that you can provide some sensitive devices with electricity as well. Such devices are TVs, computers, refrigerators, etc.
However, this does not mean that you can connect any device you want to the generator directly. As we mentioned above, the peak watts of the WEN DF1100T when operating with gasoline is 11,000, and 9500 watts, when run on propane. This means that the collective wattage of devices connected should not exceed these amounts.
In the user manual provided with the product, you can find a detailed description of the calculations. You can find the measure for both maximum running and peak watts according to each fuel type. If you do not calculate the wattage capacities of your devices and simply connect them to the generator, you will most definitely burn it out.
In addition to this, the user manual also lists several appliances and their respective running and peak watts. Even though these numbers may be true for your devices, it is your responsibility to calculate them once more.
Other Noteworthy Features of the WEN DF1100T Portable Generator
As we have already looked at the most important technical descriptions of the WEN 1100T, let’s list some of the noteworthy features as well that differentiate this generator from other market offerings.
- Voltage Versatility – This is a very important trait, as it allows power appliances with several voltage capacities and easily switches between them. For example, you can power your TV, refrigerator, and lights with the help of the WEN DF1100T.
- Oil Level Shutdown – Even though you must constantly check the control panel for the oil level, this generator automatically shuts down when the level is below the minimum, which protects the engine from overheating.
- Easy Storage – The generator is very easy to store when you don’t need to use it due to its pretty compact composition.
Users’ Opinion About the WEN DF1100T 11000-Watt Dual-Fuel Portable Generator
We have also looked at some of the reviews of the WEN DF1100T generator online. One of the most common positive feedback was regarding the abundance of power. The engine and tank capacities of the generator make it a really powerful source of electricity to run all the most important appliances. Another common positive review was about good customer support. With teams available in several cities of the US, customer support is quite quick, which is always an advantage.
However, like with everything else, this generator has some drawbacks that the customers encountered. Some of the customers had difficulty running the generator on gasoline. If you encounter the same issue as well, feel free to contact customer support right away.
SUMMARY
Below you can find some of the most important traits and the technical descriptions of the WEN DF1100T summarized.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 4-stroke, OHV |
| Engine Displacement | 457cc |
| Amperage | 70A @ 120V |
| Running Watts | 8,300 (Gas), 7,500 (Propane) |
| Peak Watts | 11,000 (Gas), 9,500 (Propane) |
| Fuel Type | Dual-Fuel |
| Tank Capacity | 6.6 gal. |
| Max. Runtime | 8.5 hours @ 50% load (Gas), 3 hours @ 50% load (Propane) |
| Dimensions | 27.3″ x 20.6″ x 21.9″ |
| Weight | 213.8 lbs. |
| Noise Level | 72 dBA |
| Certifications | CARB-Compliant |
| Warranty | 2-year |
Pros
- Easy to start
- Easy to move around
- Affordable
- Nationwide technical support
Cons
- 50A port doesn’t work well with right angle cables
- Does not support multiple starting mechanisms
Additional Resources:
Comparing WEN DF1100T 11000-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator With Similar Generators
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FAQs
Yes, WEN does make dual-fuel generators. One of the most famous ones is the DF1100T.
On average, the number of watts to power the whole house are 5000-7000. And the running watts of 9500 of the WEN DF1100T are more than enough to do that.
The DF1100T generator can run for 8.5 hours nonstop with a 50% load.
The generator will run for approximately 5 hours with a 20 lb. tank full of propane.