4. Smarter Tools 2000iQ – 2,000 Watts
If you’ve fallen in love with the Yamaha’s features, but you need to shave a couple hundred dollars off the price tag, then the Smarter Tools 2000iQ is your answer. In fact, this generator uses the very same, powerful and efficient 79cc Yamaha engine.
The Smarter Tools generator has a rated output of 1,600 watts and a maximum of 2,000 just like the Yamaha. It also has the same fuel capacity of 1.1 gallons. Even without the Yamaha’s smart throttle feature, this generator boasts a run time of 8.2 hours under a 50% load, pretty impressive.
In addition to matching features with the more expensive models, the Smarter Tools 2,000-Watt machine also scores top marks for noise control, matching the Yamaha at 51 decibels.
Once again, if you’re searching for where this generator is inferior to similar models offered by the most popular brands, there really aren’t any. Perhaps you could argue that the inverter isn’t as refined as the ones developed by Honda or Yamaha, but there’s no real evidence to support that. Smarter Tools assures that this generator is perfectly suitable for “sensitive equipment” like computers and high tech appliances.
Beyond that, all you can really say is that this generator doesn’t have the reputation for reliability like “top two” (even though it does share the same engine with the Yamaha 2000i). It basically comes down to thrift vs. reputation. When it comes to SHTF emergency equipment, reputation may mean an awful lot to you. Then again, maybe not…
Retail: $700