Chicago Pneumatic Portable Gas Generators
The CPPG line: four inverter units for clean, quiet power and three standard units for straight jobsite duty. 1.6 to 6.5 kVA, 120 V and 240/120 V, CARB and EPA3 compliant. Priced online — inverters from $1,108, standard units from $751 — with multi-unit pricing by phone.
The short version
Powering electronics, chargers, survey gear or anything voltage-sensitive? Take an inverter unit (iW) — engine speed follows the load, so fuel burn and noise drop when the draw drops. Powering lights, heaters, pumps and hand tools? Take a standard unit (W) for the longest runtime per gallon — up to 11 hours. Size on nominal kVA and leave the peak rating for motor inrush; the sizing section explains why. Every model now sells online: the inverter line from $1,108 and the standard line from $751. Multi-unit pricing is a call to 1-888-883-5144. Compare every brand we stock in portable gas generators. Need air instead of electricity? See CP towable air compressors.
The CPPG Inverter Line
Inverter generators vary engine speed to match the load instead of running flat out all day. The result is clean power safe for electronics, lower fuel burn at partial load, and 63 to 65 dB(A) at 23 ft — quiet enough to run near occupied buildings.
CPPG Inverter Generators
True copper windings and permanent magnet alternators, with engine speed that adapts to the load — clean power safe for electronics, lower fuel burn at partial load, and 63 to 65 dB(A) at 23 ft. The 2iW through 3iW are single-voltage 120 V; the 6iW adds 240 V and electric start.
1.6 to 6 kVA nominal · 63-65 dB(A) at 23 ft · 4 to 6 h at rated load · CARB + EPA3
The CPPG Standard Line
Straightforward gasoline generators with AVR voltage regulation and sturdy components, built for occasional and general jobsite use. All three are 240/120 V, and all three run longer per tank than any inverter in the line.
CPPG Standard Generators
Stable voltage from AVR regulation, long runtimes, and simple mechanical service — all three run 240/120 V and outlast any inverter in the line per tank. The trade for the runtime and lower cost per kVA is 70 to 76 dB(A) at 23 ft.
2.5 to 6.5 kVA nominal · 240/120 V · 8 to 11 h at rated load · CARB + EPA3
Outlets: the 2.5W has 2 x NEMA 120 V 20 A plus a 240/120 V twist lock. The 5.5W and 7W each carry 4 x 20 A plus a 240/120 V twist lock.
Inverter or Standard, and What Size
Size on nominal, not peak. Nominal kVA is what the generator will hold continuously. Peak is short-term surge headroom for motor inrush — a compressor, pump or saw pulling several times its running current for a second or two at startup. Sizing a continuous load against the peak number is the single most common way to buy a generator that overheats or trips.
Take an inverter (iW) when
You are running laptops, survey instruments, battery chargers, test equipment, cameras or site trailers. Inverter output is clean enough for sensitive electronics, and the engine throttles down at partial load so it is quieter and burns less.
Take a standard (W) when
You are running work lights, heaters, pumps, compressors and hand tools. Nothing there cares about waveform, and you get 8 to 11 hours a tank against the inverters’ 4 to 6.
Watch the weight
The 2iW and 2.5iW at 46 to 60 lb are genuinely one-person portable. The 6iW at 287 lb is not — it is a two-person lift or a tailgate machine, despite being an inverter.
Quick comparison across both lines
| Model | Line | Nominal | Voltage | Runtime | Weight | Noise at 23 ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPPG2iW | Inverter | 1.6 kVA | 120 V | 4 h | 46.3 lb | 65 dB(A) |
| CPPG2.5iW | Inverter | 2.3 kVA | 120 V | 4 h | 59.5 lb | 63 dB(A) |
| CPPG2.5W | Standard | 2.5 kVA | 240/120 V | 11 h | 114.6 lb | 70 dB(A) |
| CPPG3iW | Inverter | 3 kVA | 120 V | 5.5 h | 99.2 lb | 63 dB(A) |
| CPPG5.5W | Standard | 5 kVA | 240/120 V | 10 h | 174.2 lb | 72 dB(A) |
| CPPG6iW | Inverter | 6 kVA | 240/120 V | 6 h | 287 lb | 63 dB(A) |
| CPPG7W | Standard | 6.5 kVA | 240/120 V | 8 h | 183 lb | 76 dB(A) |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Chicago Pneumatic Generator FAQ
What is the difference between an inverter generator and a standard generator?
A standard generator runs its engine at a fixed 3,600 rpm and regulates voltage electrically, in the CPPG line with AVR. An inverter generator produces AC, rectifies it to DC and re-synthesises a clean waveform, which lets the engine vary speed with the load. In practice that means the inverter units are safe for sensitive electronics and noticeably quieter at partial load, while the standard units are cheaper per kVA and run far longer on a tank.
What size CP generator do I need?
Add up the continuous running watts of everything you will have on at once and size against the generator’s NOMINAL kVA, not its peak. Leave the peak rating as headroom for motor inrush at startup. As a rough guide, the 1.6 to 2.5 kVA units cover hand tools, chargers and a light string; 3 kVA covers a small trailer or a couple of heaters; and 5 to 6.5 kVA covers a small crew or a 240 V load.
Which CPPG models have electric start?
The CPPG3iW, CPPG6iW, CPPG5.5W and CPPG7W all offer electric start with recoil backup. The CPPG2iW, CPPG2.5iW and CPPG2.5W are recoil only. If the generator lives in a truck bed and gets started cold every morning, the electric start is worth the step up.
How long will a CP generator run on a tank?
At rated load: the inverter units run 4 hours (2iW and 2.5iW), 5.5 hours (3iW) and 6 hours (6iW). The standard units run longer — 11 hours for the 2.5W, 10 for the 5.5W and 8 for the 7W. Below rated load the inverter units stretch considerably further, because the engine throttles down; the standard units do not gain nearly as much.
Are these generators CARB compliant?
Yes. All seven CPPG models are CARB and EPA3 compliant, so they are legal for sale and use in California and every other state.
How quiet are they?
The inverter line runs 63 to 65 dB(A) measured at 23 ft. The standard line runs 70 to 76 dB(A) at the same distance, with the 7W the loudest. For context, every 10 dB is roughly a doubling of perceived loudness, so a CPPG7W sounds close to twice as loud as a CPPG3iW.
Can I buy a CP generator online?
Yes. The whole CPPG line sells online — inverter models from $1,108 and standard models from $751, each with a model selector on the product page. Multi-unit pricing is still worth a call to 1-888-883-5144: tell us the quantity and it changes the number.
Do you sell CP air compressors and light towers too?
Yes. The same Chicago Pneumatic site-power range includes CPS air compressors from 95 to 1,600 CFM and CPLT LED light towers, both priced and buyable online, plus CPD desiccant air dryers on a quote basis.
Who makes Chicago Pneumatic generators?
Chicago Pneumatic was founded in 1901 and has been part of the Atlas Copco Group since 1987 — one of the longest-running pneumatic-tool and site-power lineages in the industry. Every CPPG generator is a CARB and EPA3 compliant 60 Hz unit built to CP’s factory specification.
Which CPPG generators does Crowder Supply stock?
All seven models: the CPPG2iW, 2.5iW, 3iW and 6iW inverters and the CPPG2.5W, 5.5W and 7W standard units. Each is priced and buyable from the inverter and standard product pages, with multi-unit pricing by phone.
How fast does Crowder Supply ship CP generators?
Orders placed by 4 PM Eastern ship same day, by UPS Ground or Freight depending on the model’s weight, with the rate shown at checkout.
Get CPPG pricing today
Tell us the model and the quantity. Multi-unit pricing is available on the generator line, and we will quote freight alongside the machines.