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ctilsie242's avatar
ctilsie242
Explorer II
Mar 15, 2017

Champion generator oddities

Anyone notice that models can vary with what Champion puts out? For example, the 4000 watt open-frame generator sold at Lowe's has a wheel kit included and comes with a 0.6 liter container of oil, while a similar 4000 watt model from Tractor Supply or Home Depot will come with some different accessories, and the wheel kit would be optional.

I wonder if this is just "skin deep", but even the engine is different. The Lowe's one is 224 cc, while the one from HD is 194cc, for the exact same wattage.

Yes, these are open-frame models... and I have yet to put the oil in and let 'er rip, so I really, really dread how loud it is going to be... but until my Yamaha is in working order, I have to do something. (Thankfully, where I am camping has a "generator row", where it is expected that people will have loud generators.)
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Mar 16, 2017
    It is more common than you think..
    Ever see the appliance store ads: If you can find the same thing for less somewhere else we will refund twice the differece? (had it happen once, but the difference was only $1.00)

    Well.... on major appliances like a Refrigerator or Washing machine the store name is encoded in the model number so a Model AB1223334 is identical to an AC122334 but from a different store.. Or it may be one of the numbers, or a suffix,, That way the store NEVER has to pay off on the guarantee.

    in this case Lowes orders the unit with the included Accessories

    So does TSC

    So does ______

    They each order them that way.
  • ctilsie242's avatar
    ctilsie242
    Explorer II
    Mar 16, 2017
    People are right on one count. The sucker is loud. Thankfully, neighbors are far enough away (and have their own rock grinders), that I can stick the thing between my vehicle and RV. I don't know how clean/dirty the power it puts out, but even when it ran dry after I closed the fuel petcock, it stayed at 60 Hz and 120 volts from the built in meter. At least I can use the circuit breaker on the front as a switch to disconnect/connect loads.

    It is the best I can do on short notice, but I know that if the Yamaha can't be fixed, a 3400 watt dual-fuel Champion inverter generator (#100263) is definitely in my future, just because of the fact that I can run the fuel tank dry, run it from a propane cylinder for a few minutes to ensure there is nothing in the carb or lines, then put the thing away.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Mar 15, 2017
    Temporary? I would be asking a neighbor to share. Offer to pay all the fuel until the Yamaha is fixed.
  • ctilsie242's avatar
    ctilsie242
    Explorer II
    Mar 15, 2017
    Ugh. I just hope the voltage regulator on the open-framed Champion is up to spec. The nice thing about inverter generators is that they give you 120 volts at 60 Hz, or 0 volts, perhaps with a brief time where voltage may drop before the generator goes into overload. I can't tell if the AVR with the Lowe's model is different from other models, and really hope it won't trash the A/C, microwave, and other RV components with dirty power.
  • Chum_lee's avatar
    Chum_lee
    Explorer
    Mar 15, 2017
    Yes yes yes. Welcome to the world of big business, marketing and advertising! This happens all the time.

    Chum lee
  • pconroy328's avatar
    pconroy328
    Explorer
    Mar 15, 2017
    SaltiDawg wrote:

    Makes it sometimes a little more difficult to comparison shop if one searches by Model Number, for example.


    This sure sounds the same as what they do for appliances. Small changes will mean a new SKU, a new product number.

    Many moons ago, I was told this was to prevent Price Match - where Home Depot (for example) would have to match a Sears sales price. Different product number meant "different product" and no need to match a price.
  • Corkey05's avatar
    Corkey05
    Explorer
    Mar 15, 2017
    I have a Costco Coleman 4k watt generator.

    Finding parts is pretty tough even though it's a Honda engine. Coleman says my SN doesn't exist (Costco special), so no help there. The small engine repair service had trouble finding carburetor parts for the Honda engine. Honda couldn't help. I wound up with a new (different) carburetor.

    So, ... it's not as easy as just having a brand name, and I share the confusion with the OP.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Mar 15, 2017
    ctilsie242 wrote:
    .. I really, really dead (don't) how loud it is going to be...
    A lot louder than your (presumably inverter) Yamaha.
  • SaltiDawg's avatar
    SaltiDawg
    Explorer
    Mar 15, 2017
    Both Best Buy and Costco do this all the time... they bundle something with the base product slightly different than the rest of the world does.

    Makes it sometimes a little more difficult to comparison shop if one searches by Model Number, for example.
  • KD4UPL's avatar
    KD4UPL
    Explorer
    Mar 15, 2017
    This is a Lowes thing although I'm sure other stores do it. I've had a Kohler dealer and a Husqvarna dealer both tell me that those brands purchased at Lowes aren't the same as those brands purchased from one of their independent dealers. The serial number for a Kohler Gen. will have an L in it to designate it is the "Lowes version".

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