3000W Chinese Gensets Info.

professor95 wrote:
Quote > ....bottom line, are these generators any good? <

They are not Onans, Hondas or Yamahas. But, I now believe they are a fair choice for the TT or 5er owner who wants “occasional” generator power to run an air conditioner when no shore power is available. They would also serve someone well as a home backup generator to keep a freezer and frig running in a power outage.

I did buy one yesterday, and these are my findings:

The genset cost $249.00 at Pep-Boys in Richmond, VA (ELIM/ELM3000)

You are able to dedicate all available power to a single 110 volt circuit/outlet, giving you the ability to run your 13,500 BTU AC and a few other devices up to about 22 amps. I did some test and verified this. You will, of course, need to use a "dogbone" adapter to mate your 30 amp RV plut to the 20 amp generator plug.

The generator has an “acceptable” noise level when compared to other available gensets. It is certainly quieter than the so called consumer and commercial models out there. But again, it isn’t as quite as a Honda EU2000 or 3000. I do believe further noise reduction is possible by strategic placement of some sound absorbing panels close to the generator. (2x4 foot fiberglass drop in ceiling pannels work great for this - just tack them together with duct tape but be sure to leave enough space for engine cooling.)

I measured voltage under varied operating conditions and it was stable at 112.8 volts.

I measured frequency with a frequency counter – When put under load, it would drop to 55 Hz for 2-3 seconds and then return to a stable 62 Hz.

I observed the output, both under load and without load, on an oscilloscope. The wave form is NOT a perfectly clean sine wave. It actually looks more like a “dull” saw tooth wave with an obvious dip at about 30 degrees and again at 210 degrees (180 degrees represents the upper or positive part of the sine wave, the remaining 180 degrees represents the negative part of the sine wave cycle.) It would not be a good generator for running sensitive electronic equipment (like in a hospital or lab environment). But, few RVs carry such equipment. There should be no problem with TV sets, computers or conventional induction motors.

Repair parts are available from ELIM out of Buffalo NY. ELIM claims the engine is identical to the Honda engine, supposedly made legally under a license from Honda. Thus, engine parts should be available at most power equipment suppliers.

The only real negative I stumbled across is the 110 volt duplex outlet supplied on the generator front panel will not accept a conventional 2 prong polarized plug (It will accept non-polarized and 3 prong grounded plugs). I swapped out the supplied outlet with a commercial grade 20 amp duplex from Home Depot..

A plus is the genset comes with two 110 volt caps (plugs) and a twist lock 220 volt cap as well. This saves about $25 bucks in additional cost.

Pep Boys will replace the unit with another if it proves to be defective within 90 days. You can’t return it for money back if you have put gas and oil in the unit.

IMHO, DO NOT consider the 3,500 watt NIKOTA generator Pep-Boys sells for $299.00. It will only handle 1,200 watts on an individual circuit, which is not enough to sustain an RV air conditioner.

One thing for sure, if the ELM3000 it flops out in a few years you won’t feel obligated to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars to fix it like you would a Honda or Onan. Just give it to Goodwill and take a tax write-off!

Hope this helps.

This is what old bored folks at home due. Read old posts from 3000w Chinese Gensets info:h Anywho, it's seems little has changed with this class of genset. My Champion C46540 has the 30a RV Rec'pt 120/240 switch and AVR. Must be clean enough power as I have not ruined any equipment in years of service. Several comments. At first the Champ was used to power the RV. It would operate the 13,500 btu A/C along with other items up to it's limit. It is now used in the genhouse not serviced by the grid and with a long extention cord serves as power to the stick house for the fridge and a light or two if needed.

Champion C46540:

Sound level? Panels built for about $30 for material from HD and Lowes (the black 1/2" x4'x8' sheet sound board) knocks off 6/8 dBA.

Longevity? 4 years with plenty of loaded hours.

So here is the deal. Pretty quiet, powers up to 2600/2800w and not a throw-away. And I paid $279.00 So far a real value buy.

Would like to have a light weight gen but most new Inverters, for me, the old & slow, don't do the trick. Straighten me out, perhaps.