Generac 7117 Gp2200I Review

Generac is one of the most established brands on the market when it comes to portable generators. They have been a popular choice for many users and are most commonly seen on construction sites or around the home in case of an emergency.  

The Generac 7117 GP2200i generator is an environmentally-friendly model with an impressively low noise level and effective fuel consumption. If you’ve ever used a low-quality generator, you’ll know how valuable these features are.

Let’s take a look at the Generac 7117 GP2200i, noting the specifications, features, benefits, and drawbacks.

Generac 7117 GP2200i Features

Now that we’ve shown you the Generac 7117 GP2200i at a glance, let’s dive deeper into the features that you can expect to benefit from.

This generator is not without its impressive features, and for the price point, we’d expect nothing less. Below we’ve outlined the most stand out features that caught our attention when learning about the 7117 GP2200i.

Emissions

Generators run on fuel which makes them not the best piece of equipment for the environment. The exhausts expel thick smoke full of carbon monoxide which can be detrimental to our health.

Running a generator is like leaving your car running while parked. It’s not considered very friendly to mother nature. 

Having said that, generators are getting more eco-friendly every year. The Generac 7117 GP2200i is no different and is CARB-compliant.

This means that this generator meets the air pollution standards set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). 

So, you can use the Generac 7117 GP2200i freely and safely in all of the 50 states. If you wanted to take this generator with you on a camping trip or in a motorhome, you could do so without worrying that you’re breaking a law.

The 7117 GP2200i also features a spark arrestor which means that you can use it in forested areas without the risk of wildfire. 

Power and Run Time

The Generac 7117 GP2200i is powered by an 80cc OHV 4-stroke engine made by Generac. Delivering 120 volts by running only on gasoline, the 7117 GP2200i offers a peak wattage of 2200 watts and a running wattage of 1700 watts.

This might not be the most powerful generator that you’ve ever seen, but the manufacturer has offered you a solution for this. 

If you wanted to add more power to your generator you could use a parallel kit from Generac. This kit gives you the opportunity to connect another generator with your 7117 GP2200i to create a powerful system.

Just make sure that the other generator is parallel capable to avoid disappointment. 

To start the generator, all you need to do is pull a cord until the engine roars to life. Seasoned generator users will find this very simple and easy to do while beginners might take a few tries to get the generator working. 

Filling the tank to its maximum capacity of 1.2 gallons will allow you to run the generator for 10.75 hours. This shows that the generator has a fuel consumption of around 0.11 GPH.

Overall, the Generac 7117 GP2200i has an impressive run time and produces a reasonable amount of power that you can add to if you require more. 

Outlets

There are four outlets in total on this generator, which can be a struggle for people who want to plug lots of devices into their generator at once.

There are two AC outlets designed for appliances, one 12V 8A DC outlet suitable for plugging in batteries and other medium-sized devices, and one 5V USB. 

The USB can be used for smartphones and tablets to ensure that you’re never out of juice in case of an emergency.

The clean sine wave that the 7117 GP2200i produces ensures safe outlets for your delicate electronics, so you don’t have to worry about damaging any of your valuables. 

Light Indicators and Safety Features

The Generac 7117 GP2200i offers a number of safety features to ensure that you always know exactly what's going on with your generator.

If your generator is running low on oil it will automatically shut off to avoid damaging itself. There is also a circuit breaker to ensure that you are protected from an overload of surging power. 

The light indicators shine when the oil is too low in your generator so that you can fill it up to keep it running.

A light will also glow when the generator is ready to work and when it’s becoming overloaded. You’ll be up to date with everything that your generator wants you to know. 

Inverter Generator

The Generac 7117 GP2200i is an inverter generator which means that there is a hidden inverter inside of the model.

The inverter throttles the engine back and forth to ensure that you don’t have to fill the fuel tank up as often.

We liked this advantage because it meant that you didn’t have to worry about filling up the tank as many times throughout the use. 

Inverter generators are usually more efficient and therefore lower the running costs, and they make less noise than other generators.

One of the main drawbacks of generators is the noise that they make, so this is a great benefit in our eyes. 

What We Loved

We liked many things about the Generac 7117 GP2200i, but we won’t bore you by listing every single benefit.

Instead, we’ll keep it concise and talk about the three things we liked the most about this generator. The first thing we loved is the long run time. Even at a 50% load, the generator will still be able to run for 7 hours. 

We also liked the additional supplies that you also receive along with the generator. You’ll receive a funnel and oil along with the generator, so you won’t need to struggle to set your generator up. 

Finally, we love that you can attach two generators together to get twice the amount of power. Using a parallel kit will enable you to connect two generators together so that you can use double the power as one.

Instead of having to purchase a massive generator when you’re not going to use it to maximum load very often, you can connect two together. 

What We Didn’t Like

We only found one issue with the Generac 7117 GP2200i, and it is certainly not a deal breaker. We wish that it produced a little less noise than it does. It’s not the loudest generator that we’ve ever heard, but it’s not the quietest either. 

It produces around 60 to 70 decibels of noise while running, which is still much more impressive than most commercial generators that you can find on the market. The noise level is the only drawback that we found with this generator, and that was really scraping the barrel. 

Summary

Overall, we think that the Generac 7117 GP2200i is a great portable generator that has many uses. There are four outlets to support all of your devices, an impressive run time and 1.2-gallon fuel tank, and the ability to pair it with another generator. 

With a reasonable price point, we think that you cannot go wrong with this generator.

It’s not as quiet as you might want it to be, but it’s still quieter than many other generators on the market. The Generac 7117 GP2200i is energy efficient and incorporates safety features to ensure that you trust your generator completely.