PlanetGenerators.com / Generac / Generac 5939 GP5500 Review
Generac 5939 GP5500 Review
Last updated March, 2023
8.3
Editor's
Score
8
Portability
10
Power
5.5
Noise
9.5
Efficiency
Totally reliable, the Generac 5939 GP5500 is a gas powered portable generator that offers up an impressive 5,500 watt power on a continuous basis with the ability to support 6,875 watts at most. It uses an OHV engine protected in a steel tube sturdy cradle mounted on two large pneumatic wheels that never go flat.
The outlets are protected with circuit breakers to prevent overloads while the muffler is designed to reduce noise levels. This well thought out ergonomically designed portable generated is adept at running 24 hours in rugged working conditions without dropping its efficiency or damaging the environment too much. The foldable ergonomically designed handles make storage and transport easy.
About the Generac 5939 GP5500
Usually, I prefer Generac and other such well-known brands of portable generators simply because of the engine they use. The Generac GP5500, for instance, uses a powerful 389cc OHV engine that generates a good 6,875 peak wattage with a continuous rating of 5,500 watts. It delivers the power in both 120 and 240 volts with a constant frequency of 60 Hertz. This particular engine is tested to last over 10 hours at 50 percent load with a full gas tank. The steel tank, in turn, holds a total of 7.2 gallon, which speaks highly of its efficiency.
The very first time I pulled the starter cord, the engine fired up smoothly and never felt like dying down. The recoil handle is easy to yank and needs a few mock pulls before the resistance gets sufficiently strong enough to jerk the engine into life. The reason why this is easy to start is because of its electric start feature. As for the noise, it is a tad bit higher than normal although the company description suggests a new low-tone muffler design that ought to reduce ambient disturbances to a minimum. Honestly, I did not find the new muffler design to help that much. Thankfully, it is easily portable with 9.5 inches never flat solid wheels and a foldable handle design.
Thanks to a plethora of outlets designed specifically for 120 or 240 Volt operation you can take it along on camping trips, use it as a backup generator for your home or at a work site. The construction is durable and designed to handle heavy loads, so reliability should not be an issue. And as far as efficiency goes, you can monitor fuel levels with the fuel gauge. Moreover, at 50 percent load and a full gas tank, it lasts 10 hours so estimating the right time to stop the generator and add fuel was easy. My only qualm with the Generac 5939 GP5500 is that it is a two-year limited warranty covered appliance only by name, in reality, the company offers a good one-year warranty backing. Add to that Generac’s tendency to respond late to your queries and requests for servicing and maintenance, you may well have to at times fix it up yourself.
Pros
Cons
Features
Specifications
| Running watts | 5,500 |
| Starting watts | 6.875 |
| Engine HP/cc | 14HP/389cc |
| Starting method | Electric Start |
| Low oil shutdown | NO |
| Fuel tank size (gallons) | 7.2 Gallons (Metal) |
| Run time at 50% Load | 10 Hours |
| Outlets | (4) 5-20R 120V, (1) L14-30R Twist-Lock 120/240V |
| Handle style | Folding and Locking |
| Wheel type | 9.5″ Solid Wheels |
| Warranty | 2 Years |
