Gentrax GT3500 3.5kW Inverter Generator

Budget Unit that failed – I followed the manual, however I found the unit notoriously difficult to start from new. After only a few hours of use (from new) the inverter circuit board failed, which let me down whilst travelling. This left me without a working unit for more than a couple of weeks which stopped me from being able to free camp and subsequently cost me money as… Read more

I had to pay around $55 per night at a caravan park for a powered site whilst waiting for the part. The repair process was the distributor had me testing several things before they sent out a new circuit board which I had to dismantle the machineand install, alternatively I could have sent the generator back at my expense (from interstate which would have cost around $120 to $140), as it had to be returned to Sydney as they have no repair agents. If any supplier expects you to carry out repairs or freight it back to them instead of having service agents, then imo, I would not bother, so I got rid of it and bought a Honda. Yes, the Honda costs much more, but it starts first pull every time and is reliable. I Love my Honda.

Follow these instructions before use – Please everyone don't put fuel and oil in it and run it at full load as soon as you receive it. You need to break it in by running a fridge and freezer with the first 2 full tanks of fuel. The load should not exceed 75% of it's total power so 2250w maximum if it is a 3000w continuous power generator or you will hurt the engine. A very large… Read more ·  1

household fridge only uses 300w to 500w maximum so I recommend plugging in 2 fridges or freezers to run the engine in. Step 1 fill the sump with oil. Step 2 fill the tank full with petrol and start the generator, after the first tank of run in fuel has been used which will take 10 to 15 hour's, refill the generator with petrol and run it for another 10 hour's. You should now have a total of 24 hour's running time and your generator is now broken in. Drain all the oil out while it's still hot fill it with brand new oil and put a brand new spark plug in it. Now you can run it as hard as you like for up to 500 hour's continuosly at any load you like without any risk of damage to the engine. If you don't do this you will shorten the life of the generator considerably as metal shavings will break off the new engine part's inside and circulate through the entire engine oil assembly causing premature engine wear and damage to the bore, piston rings, valve's, piston and connecting rod causing it to burn oil very fast and needing frequent oil top ups or worse blow up and sieze completely. I see this time and time again because people do not run them in before first use then they say it's a poor quality generator. Another thing is do not store fuel in them after use. If you're not going to be using it run it out of fuel until it cut's out and dies and switch the fuel tap off. Then refuel it with fresh petrol next time you need to use it and it will start after it's primed with fuel again which will be 3 to 5 pulls of the chord guaranteed.

Very good, Outbax sent user’s manual early so controls were understood and oil purchased before delivery Filling the oil reservoir is a bit tricky as the supplied funnel works well but it is easy to overfill even when being careful Generator worked well to 3kw Show details ·  1

This is the second Gentrax we have bought. The first one is for myself and I purchased the second for my boss. Last summer we lost power for 4 days and it worked perfectly allowing us to use lights, fans and keeping two fridges going. I highly recommend having an electrician install a power point and change over switch in power box. We were also able to supply our two elderly neighbors with an extension lead to keep their fridges working. Show details ·  1

Works perfectly, setup was easy, simple step-by-step start up instructions numbered on generator are really handy. The only thing that has held off the 5th star is annoyingly, the pull cord does not retract properly, and if on the first pull does not fire, is hard to get the cord back to a restart position. Show details ·  1

The worst experience in a product I've ever experienced. Failed after running for 4 hours, had it proffessionally inspected by a third party with a written report of the failure. Gentrax tried every trick they could to delay living up to their warranty, the only action they took was after the issue was taken up by the NSW Depot of Fair Trading,… Read more

this took several months by which time the warranty expired and any costs for getting the generator to work including transport would be at our cost. The absolute worst after sales service and a worthless warranty, I cannot stress enough that Gentrax Generators are, in our experience, a piece of worthless junk. And the Gentrax organisation are completely disingenuous in their marketing. Do not purchase one.

OVERLOAD LIGHT AND WON'T RUN – ****PLEASE READ DREW L's REVIEW ON A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM**** I'll thank you now for your solution to my problem. You're a legend, and it's not even lunchtime. I tried his solution, and it worked! No need (so far) to replace any "damaged inverter" or anything else. I used silicon spray on the little black lever and the spring beneath it. Turned… Read more

the fuel c*ck to "ON" and left it for 5 or 6 minutes, then only took 4 pulls of the starter cord to operate. It seems that the contact surface areas of the spring and the little black lever are dry, and need the lubrication to move freely'

I will be heavily editing my earlier review if it continues to operate for a week or so.

Take note GENTRAX. Blame shifting, instead of seeking a solution to product issues, could have saved a lot of expense and annoyance from your existing customers, and possibly meant more sales of this generator.

I purchased a Gentrax 3.5kW inverter generator in June 2023. It worked fine until November 2023. I'd been running a rooftop Aircommand Ibis 3 air-conditioner daily for about 2 months, when it suddenly stopped working. Unplugged everything, and tried to restart it. Ran for about 25 seconds at very high revs, the overload light came on, and it shut down. Fuel and oil replaced, filters and fuel lines checked. Despite many attempts to get it going again, it still starts at very high revs, the overload light still comes on, and it still shuts down after about 25 seconds. It seems, from the number of people with the same or similar issues with this generator over a number of years, that there could be a know design or manufacturing fault that has not been addressed. I couldn't find any detail or mention of this know fault in any of the advertisements or owner's manual, and if there had been then I wouldn't have bought this generator. I wish I'd read these reviews before I bought it.

Generator arrived quickly and with no problems, I have used it to charge batteries only lead acid and cordless batteries so far with no problems. It still requires a few more hours before I run anything with any substantial draw as per instructions but I can’t see any problems with the unit, I bought this unit as I already have a 2kw gentrac unit and have had it for 5 years and used regularly with no issues. Oh and it is quiet as they advertised. Show details ·  1

Purchased generator during our 3rd and longest blackout this year was delivered promptly in a couple of days Wife took the honours and started 2nd pull very impressed nice and quiet next time we have a blackout we’ll be ready . purchased due to positive awards about generator and pricing many thanks Scott & Kym Show details ·  1

I needed a generator quickly for ongoing power outages. Delivery was quick and the product was easy to operate. I’m very happy with both the purchase and operation. Show details ·  1

Generator arrived within days of ordering. Oil and fuel added and just 2 pulls on the rope it fired up flawlessly. Easy to use and understand unit seems robust and good quality . Will be using it to keep my house batteries on caravan charged as there is no 240v power where it’s stored.very happy with this purchase. Show details ·  1

Been a great unit . runs our new caravan with ease , even with the air con on it just idles aways without ramping up and down all the time . It starts easy and is fuel efficient , only real concern was the noise level …… Since buying one ive recommended it to friends who have also bought one ! Great unit Gentrax and also for the follow up phone call ,customer service like this is slowly dying good to see there is still some out there . Show details ·  1

Absolutely thrilled — keeps our caravan’s aircon running all night off-grid, I slept like a baby super quiet! and even powers the creature comforts like a barista-style coffee in the morning! Show details ·  1

Great and quite Genny, I've used it a couple of time to run the house appliance during Ergon schedule maintenance programs. I haven't used it for camping as yet but will be using it in the next few weeks. Show details ·  1

I recently purchased a 3.5kva Gentrax generator. First thing that drew me to it was Australian made. Where I live there are 5 units owned by other people. The generator itself runs great. The price was excellent compared with other 3.5kva generators and the manual that comes with it is very informative and detailed ie, how to store it for long periods without the seals and components deteriorating. Show details ·  1

Couldn't be happier with my Gentrax 3.5kw Camping inverter. Delivery was fast & came packaged really well. Took a few pulls to start at first but pretty much starts first go now. Very sturdy well built unit. Not to noisy. Would highly recommend. Thankyou for a great unit! Show details ·  2

Was very quick to get battery back up to 100% and used for friends who were down to 6% so it was a life saver on our Tassie trip. Not too noisy either we sat it under our slide out as it was raining and it worked perfectly. Thank you Gentrax. Show details ·  1

Bought the 3.5kW generator to use during power outages that seem to be happening often these days. We can plug it straight into a changeover point that we have had installed so we can choose which household circuits we run. Haven't had to use it yet but have run it a few times and it runs quieter than a generator we recently borrowed. Presale communication was excellent. Show details ·  1

Very impressed generator exactly as described. Only negative is the oil plug is underneath so a little messy to remove oil.The process of buying online from Outbax was very good. Show details ·  1

great price for a 3.5 kw. easy ordering direct with a PERSON. Great free gift power supply unit. Unit looks very well built. Starts after 2or3 pulls after sitting a while, otherwise, first pull. Good follow up to see if I am happy with the unit. I'd rate Gentrax as a very well managed Company with appreciation of person to person contact all the… Read more ·  1

way thru the purchase and after sales. Couldn,t be better, which is RARE. Well Done Gentrax. Regards Andrew Chapman

We are a business that runs roughly 15 Gentrax inverter generators and have been using them for about 4 years. We did by a lot of different brands but since buying our first we have had no reason to try any others. Show reply

Bought it because my 2k Honda wouldn't start the pressure pump with anything else like fridges running, not it's fault, just not big enough. This does it easily. It isn't light but it's not a small generator so not complaining, fairly quiet for what it is. Postage was cheap at $30 and very quick delivery to the door. Really good value for… Read more ·  1

money. With the price of food these days, every home should own one so you're not throwing away food after a blackout that may last several days...