Generator Question 30Amp to 20Amp issue?

Thanks everyone.

I will be heading out to get gennie tomorrow and it looks like it will be a Champion.

rcp123 wrote:
So would you recommend the Honda or Yamaha? I understand they seem to be the "gold" standard, but is the Champion really that bad?

Lots of people seem to use the Champion with no issues.

While I can afford the brand name gennies, I just don't see the need. That being said, if the brand name ones are much more reliable and have better longevity, then maybe I should reconsider what one I will buy.

I can get the Champion for $799, where the Yamaha is $950.

The Champion will run my TT fully, the Yamaha will only do MW, not A/C. I don't really need A/C, but it would be nice to have that option.

Any thoughts?

Based upon reviews and threads here on RV.NET, Champion inverter generators are a cost effective quality generator. I opted for the Yamaha 3000iseb (2800w rated, 3500w surge) which runs my AC. I don't have any reliability or longevity numbers, but I was willing to pay twice as much for the Yamaha. Are red or blue higher quality gensets? IMHO yes they are. Worth the premium price? Maybe not to some.
Whichever type and size you decide to get make sure it will power your needs. The 2000w (max) generators will likely not run the AC.

RJCorazza wrote:
I think what may help the OP is the understanding that appliances DRAW power that is needed, rather than a genset forcing power into an appliance.
Best to use the 30a 120v connection.
I understand your financial interest in the Champion, but to be fair you are not just paying for the name with a Honda or Yamaha.

I think he misunderstands how it works as well. Amps are not pushed they are pulled. Think about sucking on a hose full of water as an analogy. The larger the hose diameter the more you can easily get through. You need to add the ratings of all the appliances up and that should be the maximum of any adapters you put in the circuit. BTW never stuff any sort of adapter into the electrical cord storage when hooked up. I remember an incident where a dealer did that to protect the adapter connector from rain and burnt down an RV by drawing too much current through the adapter running the A/C.

rcp123 wrote:
So would you recommend the Honda or Yamaha? I understand they seem to be the "gold" standard, but is the Champion really that bad?

Any thoughts?

Anymore Honda, Yamaha and Champion are considered the big three of generators. Champion got there by providing dependable products and good customer service for a fraction of the cost. Many here use their products and you see few complaints.

Do you pay a premium for a name plate, sure you do. The Honda Handi is nearly identical to the Champion 3100i. Same shape, weight, size, output and even DB ratings. The red one offers nothing more for three times the price except red paint and a very expensive sticker.

Champion has been putting RV 30a outlets on their generators for years and it is nice not needing a adapter or dog bone to plug your RV in.

BTW With the money I saved NOT buying a pricy generator I was able to get the solar, extra battery and inverter you see in my signature. With it I can run anything but my air conditioner and I rarely need that. Since I don't need to actually run my generator, it is always the quietest around.

We use our Champion 3500 for lunch stops to run the AC and the microwave . The benefit of healthy food on the road has paid for it , IMHO.
Without the comfort of the AC in hot weather I doubt I'd stop long enough to rest and fix lunch often.
There are other benefit s to the Champion but that was the best one.
Good Luck, Mike

So would you recommend the Honda or Yamaha? I understand they seem to be the "gold" standard, but is the Champion really that bad?

Lots of people seem to use the Champion with no issues.

While I can afford the brand name gennies, I just don't see the need. That being said, if the brand name ones are much more reliable and have better longevity, then maybe I should reconsider what one I will buy.

I can get the Champion for $799, where the Yamaha is $950.

The Champion will run my TT fully, the Yamaha will only do MW, not A/C. I don't really need A/C, but it would be nice to have that option.

Any thoughts?

I think what may help the OP is the understanding that appliances DRAW power that is needed, rather than a genset forcing power into an appliance.
Best to use the 30a 120v connection.
I understand your financial interest in the Champion, but to be fair you are not just paying for the name with a Honda or Yamaha.

From Champions website for the 3100 Watt Inverter Generator, Model Number: 75531i
3100 Max Watts
2800 Rated Watts
RV Ready - TT-30 Outlet

Leeblev wrote:
See my post to 30 amp to 50 amp conversion. You do need 30 amps to run the AC and any other appliance.

Leeblev? Are you absolutly positive? I have repaired air conditioners for 30 years. I lived for 4 years on a ranch, parked 300' from the main electric meter, on a 20 amp circuit breaker, and ran my air conditioner on many 95F days, some reaching well over 100F.

While I did not run the A/C on less than 105 volts, it did run for 4 YEARS on a 20 amp circuit breaker. . .

To the OP, Yes it is better to use the 30 amp receptacle, as it has more brass in the contacts, and will conduct whatever power goes from the generator to the RV with the largest possible cord and contacts within the plug and receptacle.

Don't worry about the generator only putting out 20 amps maximum or whatever it can put out. If the generator is not rated for a 4,000 watt surge and 3,000 watts for more than 20 minutes, and more than 2,500 watts all day long, then the generator is to small to start and run a rooftop air conditioner.

If you are planning on using the 15 amp circuit breaker, then that is only 1,800 watt limit, and in theory, NEC says that we should only load a 15 amp rated circuit with a maximum of 80% of it's 15 amp rating or about 12 amps.

So better to use the 30 amp receptacle and plug. You can buy adapters from the 30 amp twist lock to 30 amp RV receptacle. Or you can build one of your own, like I did. CampingWorld.com sells a 30 amp RV receptacle with a 12" molded cord on it. To this, I installed a 30 amp 120/240 volt twistlock cord plug, so I could plug it into a 4,000 watt contractor generator that came with the class C motorhome that I used to have. It was loud, but because I had a solar system, I did not need to run it often.

Fred.

Use the 30 amp plug on the genny all will be well.
We have used our 3500 genny for years.
Good Luck, Mike