Which handles an RV air conditioner?

The Pulsar. At 4,500 running watts and 5,000 peak it is rated for 13,500 BTU RV air conditioners. The PowerSmart's 3,300 running watts is tight for that load.

Which is easier to carry?

The PowerSmart at 50.7 lbs, about 27 lbs lighter than the 78 lb Pulsar. That matters if you load it alone.

Is the Pulsar worth $729?

It buys about 1,200 more running watts, remote start, a 3 gal tank, and 5 dB less noise. If you only charge devices and run a fridge, the PowerSmart covers it.

The Pulsar is rated 65 dB versus 70 dB for the PowerSmart. Both figures are measured at about 23 feet.

Do both shut off on carbon monoxide?

Yes. The PowerSmart has CO Alert and the Pulsar has CO Sentry. Both shut the engine down when CO builds up.

How long does each run on a tank?

PowerSmart claims up to 13.8 hours on gas at light load, or about 4.5 hours at 50%. Pulsar lists 0.76 gal/hour at full load, roughly 4 hours on its 3 gal tank.

3800W Gas/Propane Dual Fuel Inverter Generator w/ CO Alert HB5040DC vs Pulsar 5000-Watt Dual Fuel RV Ready Inverter Generator with Remote Start and CO Sentry

Buy the Pulsar PG5000BiSRCO if you need more power, remote start, or a quieter unit for an RV or home backup. Buy the PowerSmart HB5040DC if weight and price matter more than output, since it is about 27 lbs lighter. The Pulsar's best new price is $729.00 at Walmart as of November 3, 2026; no price was given for the PowerSmart.

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