Champion Generator not even close to rated output
Continued from here:
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29788443/gotomsg/29792553.cfm#29792553
I have a Champion Non-inverter 3500/4000W generator that isn't putting out it's rated output - I've tried running 2 1500W electric heaters on it, and it will bog down and die.
The Gen is model C46540
I did email Champion about the issue, and they had me run electrical checks on the generator side - everything seemed ok, so it appears to them (and me) that it's an engine/hp issue.
I'm at about 2500ft, and they say that the generator will be down about 300 watts at this altitude, so should sustain 3200 watts.
My testing was done with a kill-a-watt and various combos of hi/low settings on the heaters As BFL found, once you get a ways above 1500W, the kill-a-watt starts to complain. I think all the numbers in the table below were from the Kill-a-Watt.
I tested the output with a couple of electric heaters plugged into a power strip using the 5-20R receptacle (not the TT30).
This was at the end of a 40' 12Ga extension cord (it was raining a bit so I wanted to be under cover), using the Kill-a-Watt & combinations of 2 electric heaters with hi/lo settings.
Watts Volts Hz
21 119 64
750 117 61
1220 116 59
1370 116 59
1420 116 59
1930 115 58
2050 115 58
2330 113 56
At the 2300W range, the engine on the generator was working really hard, and starting to lug - you can see this in the frequency column. At one point, it was about to die, and the kill-a-watt actually reset. I turned off a heater before the engine died though.
I feel that this load shouldn't be a problem since it is only ~66% of the generator's rated output, and these are mostly resistive loads (both heaters have small fans of course).
The temp was ~60 degrees, and I am at 2700ft elevation.
I thought maybe it had something to do with using only the 5-20R, but the schematic in the manual shows that both 120V outlets are paralleled, so they should be able to provide the same power, limited by the receptacle specs. The engine/generator shouldn't care which one is being used.
From the engine side, the gas is not new, but has had stabilizer in it, and the oil only has about 2 hours on it. I think I adjusted the valves the spring before last, but I can’t remember for sure. The Spark arrester is clean.
I'm not sure what else to check at this point. Generally it does what I want it to do, but it's a little disappointing that it won't do at least 3KW.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29788443/gotomsg/29792553.cfm#29792553
I have a Champion Non-inverter 3500/4000W generator that isn't putting out it's rated output - I've tried running 2 1500W electric heaters on it, and it will bog down and die.
The Gen is model C46540
I did email Champion about the issue, and they had me run electrical checks on the generator side - everything seemed ok, so it appears to them (and me) that it's an engine/hp issue.
I'm at about 2500ft, and they say that the generator will be down about 300 watts at this altitude, so should sustain 3200 watts.
My testing was done with a kill-a-watt and various combos of hi/low settings on the heaters As BFL found, once you get a ways above 1500W, the kill-a-watt starts to complain. I think all the numbers in the table below were from the Kill-a-Watt.
I tested the output with a couple of electric heaters plugged into a power strip using the 5-20R receptacle (not the TT30).
This was at the end of a 40' 12Ga extension cord (it was raining a bit so I wanted to be under cover), using the Kill-a-Watt & combinations of 2 electric heaters with hi/lo settings.
Watts Volts Hz
21 119 64
750 117 61
1220 116 59
1370 116 59
1420 116 59
1930 115 58
2050 115 58
2330 113 56
At the 2300W range, the engine on the generator was working really hard, and starting to lug - you can see this in the frequency column. At one point, it was about to die, and the kill-a-watt actually reset. I turned off a heater before the engine died though.
I feel that this load shouldn't be a problem since it is only ~66% of the generator's rated output, and these are mostly resistive loads (both heaters have small fans of course).
The temp was ~60 degrees, and I am at 2700ft elevation.
I thought maybe it had something to do with using only the 5-20R, but the schematic in the manual shows that both 120V outlets are paralleled, so they should be able to provide the same power, limited by the receptacle specs. The engine/generator shouldn't care which one is being used.
From the engine side, the gas is not new, but has had stabilizer in it, and the oil only has about 2 hours on it. I think I adjusted the valves the spring before last, but I can’t remember for sure. The Spark arrester is clean.
I'm not sure what else to check at this point. Generally it does what I want it to do, but it's a little disappointing that it won't do at least 3KW.
