Westinghouse WHXC8500E AS II Portable Generator 8.5kVA
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The Owner's Insights on the Westinghouse WHXC8500E AS II 8.5kVA Portable Generator
The AS in the name is auto start, and it's the whole reason this version costs more than the other WHXC8500E models. A two-wire contact closure starts and stops it, so your solar system, your battery bank or a transfer switch runs the generator without you being there.
Underneath it's 6,750W running and 8,500W on surge, off a 420cc Westinghouse OHV engine, with a low-THD copper-wound alternator and a digital AVR behind it.
The 25 litre tank is the other reason to like it: 13.1 hours at half load. That's an overnight outage covered without anyone getting out of bed to refuel.
Why You'll Love the Westinghouse WHXC8500E AS II 8.5kVA Portable Generator
- Two-wire automatic start and stop. Your solar or transfer switch runs it for you.
- 6,750W running, 8,500W starting. Your house, your shed or a full set of tools.
- 25 litre tank, 13.1 hours at 50%. An overnight outage without a refuel.
- Low THD copper-wound alternator. Digital AVR holding the voltage steady.
- 420cc Westinghouse OHV engine. A big engine that isn't straining at load.
- Dual 240V outlets plus 12V DC. Household gear and a battery charger.
- Never-Flat wheels on a steel frame. Roll it into position and forget about tyres.
- 2-year domestic warranty. Backed by Westinghouse Australia.
Why You Should Consider a Westinghouse Petrol Generator
Westinghouse have built power equipment for well over a century, and the WHXC8500E AS II is the automatic-start version of their 8.5kVA portable. It carries a 2-year domestic warranty.
Westinghouse WHXC8500E AS II 8.5kVA Portable Generator Specifications
| Model | WHXC8500E AS II |
| Starting watts | 8,500W |
| Running watts | 6,750W |
| Engine | 420cc Westinghouse 4-stroke OHV petrol |
| Alternator | Low THD copper-wound with digital AVR |
| Remote start | Two-wire automatic start and stop |
| Fuel type | Petrol |
| Fuel tank capacity | 25L |
| Run time at 50% load | 13.1 hours |
| Outlets | Dual 240V AC, 12V DC |
| Noise level | 80 dB(A) at 100% output |
| Compliance | Australian and US emissions standards |
| Mobility | Never-Flat wheels, steel frame |
| Warranty | 2 years domestic |
What the automatic start actually does for you
A two-wire contact closure starts your generator, and opening the contact stops it again. In practice that means your inverter, your battery management system or an automatic transfer switch runs it: your batteries drop below a set level, the generator starts, charges them, and shuts down. On an off-grid property or a house with proper backup wiring, that's the difference between a bad solar week you never notice and one where somebody walks out to a shed at 10pm. Wiring the contact to your system is a job for whoever installed it, and it isn't included.
Running watts and starting watts: use the smaller one
6,750W is what it holds for you continuously. 8,500W is the surge, and that only covers the moment your pump, compressor or air conditioner kicks in. Size your gear against 6,750 and leave yourself a margin on top. On a house that's the fridge, lights, pumps, hot water and a few tools comfortably. What it isn't is a whole house with air conditioning and an oven going at once.
13.1 hours at half load, and what that means working
The published figure is 13.1 hours at 50% load off the 25 litre tank, which is a genuinely useful number for you: it covers an overnight blackout, or a long day on a site with moderate draw. Working it hard is different, because fuel use tracks the load, so at full output expect to fill it well before your day is out. For an auto-start backup generator the long tank matters more than usual, since the whole point is that it runs when nobody's watching.
Is 80 dB going to be a problem where you put it?
Westinghouse quote 80 dB(A) at full output, and that's loud. It's an open frame generator and it sounds like one. On your rural property, your farm or a site nobody will care. If it's going to sit beside a house in a suburb and auto-start at 2am, think carefully about where it lives and how far it is from the bedrooms and the neighbours. A silenced canopy generator costs you more but it solves that problem properly.
Which WHXC8500E should you buy?
There are three versions of this machine on the site, and the difference decides which one you want. The standard WHXC8500E and the WHXC8500E Pro give you the same output without the automatic start. This AS II version adds the two-wire auto start and stop. If you'll be standing there to start it, buy one of the others and keep the difference. If a solar system or a transfer switch needs to run it for you, this is the only one that does the job.
What's Included
- Westinghouse WHXC8500E AS II generator
- Two-wire automatic start and stop
- Dual 240V AC and 12V DC outlets
- Never-Flat wheels and steel frame
- 2-year domestic warranty
What's Not Included
- Petrol
- Extension leads
- The wiring between your system and the auto start contact
- A changeover switch and the electrician to fit it
- A cover, if it is going to live outside
The auto start hardware is on the machine, but wiring it to your inverter, battery system or transfer switch is a separate job for whoever installed that gear. If you're backing up a house you also need a licensed electrician and a changeover switch: never backfeed through a wall socket.
Not Sure Which Petrol Generator Suits You?
The WHXC8500E AS II suits you if you want a backup generator that starts itself when your solar or your mains drops out, and you have somewhere it can run without upsetting anyone. It's the wrong pick if you'll be there to start it anyway, where the standard WHXC8500E gives you the same output for less, or if it has to live close to bedrooms, where 80 dB(A) will be a problem and a silenced diesel is the better answer. It carries a 2-year domestic warranty. Try the Generator Finder, or call the store on 03 7056 6732.