Yamaha: the name speaks for itself. Yamaha has been providing us with quality automotive products. Its sports bike, boats, and music instruments are top of the line. When it comes to generators, Yamaha provides you with one of the best portable power options. With Yamaha, you get quality, durability, reliability, and low running costs.
Yamaha has been around since 1955 and providing us with high-quality inverters and generators. Its generators are fairly priced and offer the best features. If quality and reliability are your main concerns, Yamaha is the right brand for you.
In this guide, we have reviewed the 5 best Yamaha generators and developed a buying guide to help you make a well-educated decision. Our FAQs section is aimed at solving all your queries related to Yamaha generators.
Yamaha Generator Reviews
Image | Product | Features | Ratings | Check Price |
 | Yamaha EF4500iSE Portable Inverter Generator |
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 | Yamaha EF1000iS Portable Inverter Generator |
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 | Yamaha EF5500DE Portable Generator |
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 | Yamaha EDL20000TE Generator |
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 | Yamaha EF6300iSDE Portable Inverter Generator |
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1. Yamaha EF4500iSE Portable Inverter Generator – Best Yamaha Inverter Generator
Type of Generator: Yamaha EF4500iSE is a portable inverter generator.
Useful For: You can use it during camping and tailgating. Also, homeowners and RV owners can use it to power their appliances.
Weight and Warranty: This generator weighs 194 pounds, but the wheels’ availability makes it easy to move around. Also, it includes a 3-year limited warranty.
Start System: It supports the electric start system. But you also have an option to operate your generator remotely from a distance of up to 66 feet.
Engine and Power Wattage: A 357cc Yamaha MZ360 4-stroke OHV engine gives 4500 starting watts and 4000 running watts. It is an air-cooled engine, which cools down the engine through the air.
If you want to run an air conditioner of 10,000 BTU, 4500 starting power is enough for it. But to run other home appliances simultaneously, you have to turn off your A/C.
THD Rating: THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) determines the distortion present in an electrical signal. Its THD rating is less than 3%, making it an ideal choice to power smartphones, tablets, TV, and other delicate electronics.
Tank Capacity and Runtime: A 4.5-gallon plastic tank allows the generator to run up to 15.2 hours at 25% load.
Eco-Throttle System: With the Eco-throttle System’s help, the generator senses the exact load applied and allows the engine to change its speed to meet that load. It results in fuel efficiency and quieter operation.
Power Receptacles: With two 120 Volt 20 Ampere (5-20R) receptacles, you can power home appliances and power tools. And you can use the 120 Volt 30 Ampere (L5-30R) outlet for connecting your generator with an RV.
Power Meter: It shows how much amount of power is being used and how much is available.
Indicator Lights: Yamaha EF4500iSE includes low-oil, output ready, and overload indicator lights.
The low-oil indicator indicates that the generator runs out of oil, whereas the output ready indicator tells your unit is ready to use. And the overload indicator warns your generator is being overloaded.
Safety: Low-oil shutdown and overload protection are its safety features.
Once the oil level goes down, the engine turns off automatically to avoid costly repairs.
Noise Rating: Its operational sound is 58 dB (A). It is higher than the noise rating of Westinghouse iGen4500.
My Opinion:
Pros: Yamaha EF4500iSE provides clean power with less than 3% THD rating. It offers a decent runtime and operates without making much noise. Also, it comes with low-oil and overload protection.
Cons: It is a heavyweight machine.
2. Yamaha EF1000iS Portable Inverter Generator – Lightest Yamaha Generator
Type of Generator: Yamaha EF1000iS is also a portable inverter generator.
Useful For: Users can use it for camping and tailgating or to power small tools.
Weight and Warranty: It has a 3-year limited warranty and weighs only 27.9 pounds.
Start System: The generator features a recoil start system.
Engine and Power Wattage: Yamaha EF1000iS is equipped with a 50cc MZ50 4-stroke OHV engine. It delivers 1000 starting watts and 900 running watts.
With this output power, you can easily power a Quartz Halogen Work Light of 300 watts and an electric drill of 4 Amperes. And during camping and tailgating, you can power a stereo system, CD/DVD player, and a smartphone or tablet with ease.
THD Rating: Its THD rating (<2.5%) is better than the THD rating of EF4500iSE. It means it produces more stable power than Yamaha EF4500iSE.
Tank Capacity and Runtime: It has the smallest fuel tank of 0.66 gallons that gives up to 12 hours of runtime at quarter load.
Eco-Throttle System: The same Eco-Throttle system is part of this generator.
Power Receptacles: This smallest power machine has two 120 Volt 15 Ampere (5-15R) outlets and one 12 Volt 8 Ampere DC outlet.
Indicator Lights: Output ready, overload indicator, and low-oil warning system
Safety: Overload protection along with low-oil shutoff
Noise Rating: It operates at 47 dB (A) at a 25% load.
My Opinion:
Pros: Yamaha EF1000iS is the lightest inverter generator. It is a fuel-efficient unit that gives higher runtime. Also, it runs quietly and has a DC outlet.
Cons: No data center is available
3. Yamaha EF5500DE Portable Generator – Yamaha Generator for Home Use
Type of Generator: Yamaha EF5500DE is a gasoline-powered generator. It is a brushless generator that needs no maintenance.
A brushless generator creates electricity by using a motor without carbon brushes. It creates less operational sound, reduces the spark interference, and easier to maintain.
Useful For: During power outages, homeowners can use it to power home appliances. Also, it can be used for power supply to outdoor events. Moreover, to power your job site or RV, you can also use this generator.
Weight and Warranty: It weighs 243 pounds and offers a 3-year limited warranty.
Start System: The best thing about this generator is that it includes all three starting systems: Recoil, Electric, and Remote.
Engine and Power Wattage: Yamaha EF5500DE produces 5500 watts of peak power and 4500 watts of rated power. It has a 358cc Yamaha MZ360 4-stroke OHV engine.
This output power is enough to run two big home appliances. At job sites, you can easily power drills, an air compressor, and a circular saw.
Tank Capacity and Runtime: At 50% load, you can power your essentials up to 13.5 hours. It has a metal tank that can accommodate 6.9-gallon gasoline.
The generator consumes more gasoline than the Pulsar PG5250.
Power Receptacles: Its control panel has four 120 Volt 20 Ampere (5-20R) GFCI-protected outlets and one 120 Volt 30 Ampere (L5-30R) outlet. Also, it has a 120/240 Volt 30 Ampere (L14-30R) outlet.
GFCI is a circuit breaker that stops the supply of current when it detects any inequality between the incoming current and outgoing current.
On the other hand, the L5-30R receptacle allows the RV connection. And the 120/240 Volt outlet is perfect for Jobsite or can be used to link your generator with a transfer switch.
Digital Data Center: Yamaha EF5500DE also features a data center that shows the voltage output and lifetime running hours.
Low-oil Indicator: The low-oil indicator turns on when the oil level goes below the minimum level.
Safety: Its safety features include an oil watch warning system that shuts down the engine to prevent damages.
Noise Rating: It operates at 74.1 dB (A).
My Opinion:
Pros: Yamaha EF5500DE is a reliable generator that offers a 3-year limited warranty. It has a powerful engine that produces decent output power. Also, it features different power outlets and a digital data center.
Cons: It is quite a heavy unit.
4. Yamaha EDL20000TE Generator – Yamaha Generator for Job-sites
Type of Generator: Yamaha EDL20000TE is also a brushless portable conventional generator.
Useful For: It is used as a home backup power. Also, it is widely used in industries or at other job sites.
Weight and Warranty: With 782 pounds, it is the heaviest generator among all the Yamaha generators on the list.
Start System: It is powered by an electric start system that offers convenience.
Engine and Power Wattage: A 4-stroke diesel engine with liquid-cooled technology offers 17 KVA maximum output and 15.5 KVA rated output.
Automatic Voltage Regulation: Yamaha EDL20000TE provides constant voltage without any fluctuation.
Tank Capacity and Runtime: Its 21-gallon diesel fuel tank gives up to 17 hours of runtime. You can easily complete your projects or run your appliances at home for almost a day.
Voltmeter: Voltmeter allows you to keep an eye on the voltage drawing from a generator.
Oil Warning System: It gets activated when the engine oil level reaches below the minimum level.
Hour Meter: An hour meter helps track the running time of your generator.
Safety: The circuit breaker breaks the circuit when you apply excessive load on your generator. Also, the oil warning system shuts down the engine when the oil level goes down.
Noise Rating: It is the loudest unit with a 79 dB (A) noise rating.
My Opinion:
Pros: Yamaha EDL20000TE has a mighty engine that gives massive power output. It has a huge fuel tank that gives decent runtime. Also, it provides a constant voltage.
Cons: Its decibel rating is on the higher side.
Read more: 9 Best Generators for Construction Job Sites
5. Yamaha EF6300iSDE Portable Inverter Generator – Most Powerful
Type of Generator: Yamaha EF6300iSDE is an inverter generator.
Useful For: It can be used for a variety of purposes. Homeowners can use it to power home appliances. RV owners can power their essentials. Campers and tailgaters can enjoy outdoor gatherings, and food truck owners can use it to do their business effectively. Also, EF6300iSDE can be used to perform DIY projects.
Weight and Warranty: It weighs 200 pounds.
Start System: Yamaha EF6300iSDE features an electric start mechanism.
Engine and Power Wattage: It includes a powerful 357cc MZ360 4-stroke OHV engine, which delivers 5500 rated watts and 6300 surge watts.
THD Rating: It’s less than 4% THD is not the best, but still suitable for powering sensitive electronics.
Tank Capacity and Runtime: Your generator may run up to 13 hours on a 4.5-gallon fuel tank.
Eco-Throttle System: It also has an Eco-Throttle system that reduces the engine speed to meet the load requirement.
Power Receptacles: Yamaha EF6300iSDE has a total of four power outlets. One is a 120 Volt 30 Ampere (L5-30R) outlet, and the other one is a 120/240 Volt 30 Ampere (L14-30R) outlet. Also, there are two 120 Volt 20 Ampere (5-20R) GFCI-protected outlets.
Data Center: Digital data center is also a part of this generator. It displays the lifetime run hours of your generator.
Indicator Lights: Output ready and low-oil indicator lights along with an overload indicator
Safety: For the protection of your generator, there is a low-oil shutdown feature along with overload protection.
Noise Rating:58 dB (A) noise rating
My Opinion:
Pros: Yamaha EF6300iSDE is a portable inverter generator with a powerful engine. It gives decent runtime, has a variety of outlets, and operates quietly.
Cons: Its maintenance is not easy.
Buyer’s Guide
If you don’t know which of the factors you must consider when buying a Yamaha generator. Then, there is no need to worry. In this buying guide section, we are going to help you by discussing those factors.
Generator Type
Here generator type means either conventional or inverter.
Inverter machines give less power output, but they produce clean power. They convert AC power into DC, and then this DC power is reconverted into clean AC power. They have smaller fuel tanks but fuel-efficient engines that give excellent runtime. Also, they operate without making much sound. However, they are expensive and not made for users having a limited budget.
On the other side, most of the conventional generators don’t produce a pure sine wave, but they give higher output power. They have bigger fuel tanks but not highly fuel-efficient engines. Also, most of their models are louder, but they are quite affordable than inverter generators.
Tank Capacity and Runtime
Always try to buy a fuel-efficient generator with a higher fuel tank capacity. This will help you to get extended runtime. Yamaha EF6300iSDE has a 4.5-gallon fuel tank that offers up to 13 hours of runtime. It is a fuel-efficient generator, and that’s why it gives this excellent runtime. On the other hand, Yamaha EF5500DE has a 6.9-gallon tank, but it offers 13.5 hours runtime because it is not a fuel-efficient machine.
Power Wattage
One of the most important factors to consider while selecting a generator is its power output. To make sure that you don’t buy a wrongly sized generator, make a list of all the appliances you need to power during an outage. Mention the starting and running wattage of each appliance and calculate the total. To help you out, we have given an example below.
| Appliances | Starting Wattage | Running Wattage |
| Refrigerator | 1400 | 300 |
| TV | 400 | 400 |
| Lights | 300 | 300 |
| AC | 1800 | 1200 |
| Total | 3900 | 2200 |
If your power needs are somewhat similar to the example given above, you will need 3900 watts to start all the appliances at one time and 2200 watts to keep them running. In such a situation, a generator with 2500 running watts will be perfect. Don’t worry about the high starting wattage requirement; you can accommodate it by starting the motorized appliances one by one. A smaller generator is cheaper to buy and has a low running cost.
Control Panel
Yamaha offers one of the best and advanced control panels in the market. Its generators come loaded with an odometer, on/off buttons, low oil warning lights, power outlets, choke, and other features.
Power Outlets
Make sure that the unit you plan to buy has all the power outlets. It will be a hassle to connect extensions every time you run your appliances on the generator. A generator must come with at least two 120V outlets, USB ports for connecting mobile chargers and other sensitive devices, RV plugs, and it must be transfer switch ready.
Eco Mode
Eco model or throttle control allows the generator to adjust the engine speed according to the load applied to it. It helps in reducing the running cost of the generator.
Portability
Apart from the heavier and powerful units, all Yamaha generators are highly portable. You get heavy-duty wheels and carry handles in smaller units. Yamaha aces the portability features and manufactures lightweight inverters, which are best for outdoor use.
Paralleling Capabilities
Paralleling your generators mean connecting two same models with each other and increasing the power output. It helps in running heavy machines and also provides you with more power outlets.
Safety
All Yamaha generators come with essential safety features. You get surge voltage protection, low oil, and overload shutdown protection. Yamaha strives to make sure that you get a safe working experience with its generators.
Noise Rating
Generators do make noise; there is no doubt about that. But some machines create a less operational sound as compared to others. Inverter generators operate at lower decibel ratings than conventional generators. But there are also many portable conventional or home standby generators that don’t make much sound during operation.
In a nutshell, always buy a generator with a lower decibel rating to keep you and your neighbors stress-free.
Warranty and Certifications
Just like the other leading brands, Yamaha also offers warranty and excellent customer service. When you buy a Yamaha generator, you not only get an outstanding generator, you also get excellent after-sale and customer service. All Yamaha models are EPA and CARB compliant. You can use them in all the States without any worries.
Price
Yamaha generators don’t come cheap. You get excellent features, durability, reliability, and excellent customer service. For all such things, you will have to pay more.
FAQ
Which is the best Yamaha generator?
All Yamaha generators are high-quality units. However, Yamaha EF1000iS is an excellent unit for low power needs. It is a perfect option for outdoor use and small homes/apartments with 1-2 residents.
Can I use a Yamaha generator for my whole house?
Yamaha generators are best known for individual/outdoor use. Their power output is not that high. Hence, it is best to use Yamaha generators for outdoors and RVs or powering only essentials during a power outage.
What are the maintenance and safety needs of Yamaha generators?
Always place your generator on flat ground and maintain a safe distance of 15 feet from your sitting area. Never operate, refuel, or move a hot generator and always use fresh gas. Make sure that the unit is not overloaded. Always cover your generator with a canopy while it is running in rain or snow. For maintenance, replace engine oil timely, inspect spark plugs and use fresh gas. Never store your generator with fuel in the tank. However, you may sometimes store a generator with fuel in the tank; make sure you add some fuel stabilizer in the tank.
How to avoid generator theft?
You can use cable locks and chains to keep your generator safe while it is running outside.
Is it better to one large generator or two small inverters?
If you need more power at one time and place, then go for a large conventional generator. However, if your power needs are less and you occasionally run heavy machines on the generator, go for two smaller inverters. You can connect them together to double the power output and outlets.
What are the limitations of Yamaha Generators?
Yamaha generators are costly. Secondly, Yamaha is not providing variety in mid-range generators. There is no doubt that Yamaha generators are of high quality, but there is a lack of variety in their product line.
Conclusion
We have explained everything you need to know about Yamaha generators. If the price is not an issue and you need reliability along with durability, then go for a Yamaha generator. Yamaha generators will last for 10-15 years without any issues.