This is our comprehensive review of the Durostar DS5500EH Generator.
I’ve been reviewing portable generators for a very long time. I’m well aware of technicalities and generator specifications to keep in mind. You can check the review of the Durostar DS5500EH generator here.
With the help of my vast experience, customer reviews, and recalls. I will help you decide whether the Durostar DS5500EH is the best choice for your backup power needs.
Durostar brand is well known and holds a strong place in the generator market. These generators have been around since the year 2003.
The Durostar DS5500EH is a fantastic generator for households. Also, it’s good for supplying power to many household appliances and air conditioners.
It can also power a few commercial power tools and high amperage power tools. This generator has plenty of power and comes with dual-fuel technology.
You may have questions in mind, such as
How long will this dual-fuel portable generator run on propane?
Is it cheaper to run a generator on gas or propane?
Where are Durostar generators built?
That’s why to make your decision easier. I’ve included features, alternatives, and our verdict for this Durostar DS5500EH Generator.
Keep Reading…
Durostar DS5500EH Portable Generator overview
Durostar headquarters are in Ontario, California. But, their generators are built overseas, mainly in China, based on Durstar’s specifications.
This Durostar DS5500EH Generator is powerful and has a 7.5HP, 225cc OHV Durostar Engine.
Around 80% of the buyers suggest using this generator because of its strong features. It’s a decent option for everyone looking for a generator that can produce 5,500 starting watts.
Power Output And Tank Size
You should know the exact backup power needs. So, you can easily choose a generator that fits your needs and requirements.
I suggest purchasing a generator with 20% more power than your needs. It’s because this will ensure that all the appliances can work properly. You can prepare yourself for power surges and even blackouts.
That way, you won’t run into any problems because of your generator. The extra power will further facilitate and put you at ease during power outages.
Thus, you can choose a suitable generator with a precise idea about your power needs. You can add or cut many generators from the list.
Durostar DS5500EH generator 5500 starting watts and 4500 running wattages. This provides ample power to run efficiently, even on job sites.
At first, I thought a large tank was much better than a smaller one.
However, I soon realized that large tanks indeed contribute to the runtime. But, it also becomes a hurdle in portability, affecting the weight and size of the generator.
This Durostar DS5500EH generator has a 4-gallon tank.
Efficiency And Fuel Type
Understanding the meaning of efficiency can be somewhat tricky. That’s why I’ll explain in layman’s terms.
Any generator with high power output and runtime hours for the least gallons of fuel has higher efficiency.
The Durostar DS5500EH generator has a runtime of 8 hours on a single tank of fuel at quarter load.
This is a dual-fuel generator, which means it can run on both liquid propane and gasoline. These two different fuel options further bring the user peace of mind.
Propane gas is a cheaper option in comparison to gasoline. That’s another reason why people love dual fuel generators.
Safety Features
Before buying a generator, you should know about all the safety measures. That way, you won’t face any accidents and minimize the risks of generators.
Almost all portable generators emit harmful gasses that are deadly to human beings.
One of the gas among them is Carbon Monoxide. You might know this gas by the nickname of the Silent Killer.
There are GFCI outlets, covered power outlets, and a spark arrestor for further safety. The oil shutoff and other additional features increase overall safety.
EPA and CARB provide specific sets of rules with strict guidelines for generator manufacturers.
All the generators have to be compliant with those terms. EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency. Meanwhile, CARB is the California Air Resource Board.
Durostar DS5500EH is EPA and CARB-compliant portable generator.
Quiet Operation
I can understand your ears’ pain when you have a noisy neighbor. Loud and noisy generators can cause tons of problems. One of them is endless complaints from neighbors.
But, we can’t blame them because no one likes noise. One noteworthy point is that there are still no generators that produce zero level of noise.
That’s why purchasing a generator that produces only minimal noise is wise. The silent generators are mainly those with noise levels less than 60 dB. They still make some noise, but it’s not that noticeable.
The spark arrestor can be a game changer in noise reduction. The Super quiet muffler further lessens the noise produced by Durostar DS5500EH.
This Durostar DS5500EH Generator produces a 69 DB noise level. This noise level is medium and won’t cause headaches.
Durability And Portability
The durability of a portable generator refers to its strength and power. It means how much it can endure even in extreme conditions.
A durable generator also has a longer lifespan. There are lots of features that collectively lead to increasing the generator’s durability.
These features include overload protection, low oil auto-shutoff feature, and many more.
Overload protection protects the generator from any overload conditions which might happen.
Whereas, the low oil level shutdown feature protects the generator from incurring damage by running on a low fuel level
This Durostar DS5500EH Generator is not too heavy. Moreover, with wheel kits, portability is much better.
As a result, you can move it easily between different places such as job sites, etc.
Weight: 129 lbs
Dimensions: 25 x 22 x 22 inches (L X W X H)
This portable generator has a 3-Year Limited Factory Warranty. It also offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee for all customers.
Other features
There are many other distinctive features of this generator that increase overall user convenience and generator performance.
I will list some of them below so you can truly understand the best features of this generator.
MX2 Power Boost Technology
With this technology, the generator can produce high power from each 120-volt receptacle. You can choose between 120 Volt and 240-Volt loads at a time or only one to get the maximum power from each of them.
Choose between operating the generator at both 120 V and 240 V or 120-volt power and get maximum power output.
Idle control
This control reduces engine RPM when the generator is running idle to increase the efficiency and lifespan of a portable generator.
It also saves fuel and contributes to lessening the generator’s noise level.
Electric Start
An electric start makes starting a portable generator easier. You won’t have to pull the recoil starter every time you want to start a generator.
Durostar DS5500EH does not have an electric start. However, this generator has a recoil rocker starter.
Control Panel and Power Outlets
Durostar DS5500EH has a power panel with a wide selection of power outlets. It comes with an AC 120V 20A duplex outlet and an AC 120V/240V 30A outlet.
It also comes with a circuit breaker, low oil indicator, volt meter, etc.
Alternatives
The Durostar DS5500EH is an ideal generator for a lot of people. However, your power requirements for a generator might be somewhat different.
If you are not confident about purchasing the Durostar DS5500EH portable generator. Then you can check the alternatives. Each alternative is from a reputed brand and has additional features.
Let’s see some amazing alternatives!
DuroMax XP5500EH Portable Generator – dual start option
Duromax & Durostar are sister brands. Duromax products have years of experience and excellence.
So far, they have made their huge name and stand up to their reputation. The Duromax XP5500EH generator has almost the same features but added dual fuel technology.
The DuroMax XP5500EH Generator has a 4-stroke 224cc OHV engine. This generator has 5,500 starting watts and 4,500 running watts.
Dual-fuel technology gives you the flexibility of fuel choice. It can supply plenty of power for most home appliances and other high-power tools.
It has a 3.96-Gallon fuel tank. It has a runtime of 19 hours at 25 percent load with a gasoline tank. However, with propane, the runtime reduces, and it is 15 hours.
This Duromax generator produces a noise level of 69 decibels at a quarter load. This causes maximum convenience, and engine noise is also average.
It’s EPA and CARB-compliant portable generator.
Weight: 142 pounds
Dimensions: 22” x 25” x 22” (L X B X H)
DuroMax XP5500EH comes with an electric start that makes it easy to start. It also has a recoil start mode as a backup for emergencies.
This generator has a 3-Year Residential Warranty. Not only this, with the help of a 1-Year Commercial Warranty, you can get any technical help.
Champion Power Equipment 200986 – Quiet operation
Champion power equipment is widely popular among high power tool enthusiasts. This Champion Power 4500-Watt portable inverter generator has a 4-stroke 212cc Champion engine.
This generator has inverter technology, and it produces clean power. This also ensures smooth operation and is suitable for RV and camping as well.
Champion 200956 has household outlets that ensure clean delivery of power. Also, it comes with dual ports for the USB adapter. It is useful if you want to charge your mobile, cameras, etc.
This generator can produce 4500 starting watts and running wattages of 3500 watts. The size of the gasoline tank in this quiet generator is 2.3 gallons.
It has a runtime of 14 hours at 25% load on a single tank of gasoline. Additionally, this generator supports the parallel connection.
You will need a parallel connection kit to use this feature. It’s not sold with it, and you have to buy it separately.
With its help, you can connect this generator with other generators in a similar power range to get combined power output.
The noise produced by this generator is only 61 decibels. As I’ve mentioned above, that’s not a lot. This level of sound is similar to normal speech and talking.
Thus, with this generator, you don’t have to worry about endless noise complaints.
Weight: 95 lbs
Dimensions: 23.2” x 17.7” x 20.1” (L X B X H)
The Champion Power Equipment offers a 3-year limited warranty. Not only this, you get free lifetime technical support.
The company’s experts will assist you with technical problems related to the generator.
WEN DF475T Dual Fuel Portable generator – Reliable
WEN generators are among one the most durable and reliable generator brands. The WEN DF475T Dual Fuel generator has a 224cc 4-stroke OHV engine.
It also has a turn-off key that makes it even easier to use. This is a dual-fuel generator and uses gasoline and propane for running.
When it’s gasoline, it produces 4750 surge watts and 3800 running watts. The output is further lowered on propane. It is 4350 peak wattage and 3500 running watts of propane.
This 4750-watt portable generator has a fuel tank capacity of 4 gallons. It has a runtime of more than 11 hours at half load.
It has an intuitive control panel. It has two 120V GFCI outlets and a 30A twist lock. Another thing is the 12-Volt DC charging port.
Other than that, it allows selecting between 120V and 240V. However, the switching also depends on the task you will perform.
Weight: 105.8 lbs
Dimensions: 23.2” x 17.5” x 18.5” (L X B X H)
It has a warranty of two years. Also, you will be happy to know that all the WEN products have nationwide service centers.
Transportation is much easier mainly because of the wheels. The tires save a lot of space because they can fold easily.
Also, you can easily start this generator with either an electric start or a recoil pull system.
Conclusion
Durostar Power Equipment is good and durable. It has an affordable and reliable product line.
Most people are happy with the purchase of these generators and have given a 5-star review.
Durostar DS5500EH is overall a good portable generator. It also has dual-fuel capability. It means you can use it with two different types of fuel.
This generator produces plenty of power to run most of your household appliances including a refrigerator, air conditioner, etc. You can also run high-amperage power tools with this Durostar generator.
However, this generator doesn’t have inverter technology. There is a lack of a fuel gauge, power panel, and built-in volt meter.
All alternatives that are in this review are from trusted and reliable brands. So, choose any generator that suits your emergency power needs and it will be equally worth it.
For example, if you want a generator that is easy to operate. The DuroMax XP5500EH Portable Generator is a good choice with the electric starter and the same power output.
Check the current price of DuroMax XP5500EH on Amazon.
Also, Durostar DS5500EH can’t produce clear power. However, Champion Power Equipment 200986 in this list can. The inverter technology is another benefit on top of it.
Check the current price of Champion Power Equipment 200986 on Amazon.
Considering the power outages, a portable generator can easily be your best buddy. You don’t have to wait for electricity and melt away in the heat.
Instead, order this efficient generator right now. Make sure to check the proper date of the delivery and shipping information.
So that way, you can get your generator as soon as possible.
