3000W Chinese Gensets Info.

[professor95]

professor95 wrote:
EDIT ADDED 45/5/2013- When this thread started in March of 2005, I never expected to see it survive this long or amass the quantity of information that has been shared here.

In the eight year run of this thread we have amassed almost 10,000 postings and surpassed a million views. This creates somewhat of a dilemma for anyone who has just discovered the forum.

Since the amount of information is virtually overwhelming, I suggest you set your preferences for this thread to read "newest first" and then begin to page backwards.

What you will find in these pages is a wealth of info on virtually any make or model of Chinese manufactured synchronous (non-inverter) generator in the 3,000 watt performance class. Info will include how to rewire series coils to parallel to obtain maximum wattage from a single 120 volt outlet. Tips on further reducing sound levels, how to care for these generators, which ones are "RV ready" and provide the best overall performance for the dollar invested. Which companies NOT to deal with, where the best prices are, how to safely wire the generator into a home or RV, how to check your RV for electrical faults, sources for generator accessories, which 20/30 adapters are safe to use and which are not. How to convert a gasoline generator to propane or NG. This is only the beginning. The forum has a life of its own with the focus sub-topic switching frequently. Still, the main topic of utilizing the amazing, inexpensive Chinese gensets is always there. The amount of creativity and innovation presented in these pages is indicative of the talents shared in the diverse backgrounds of the folks who make up our combined RV community.

Many of the original brands and models of Chinese gensets mentioned in the introduction and early pages of the thread have since disappeared. New EPA and CARB emissions requirements, company bonds assuring the emissions warranty will be honored even if the company goes out of business, and fierce competition in the industry have changed the playing field. Champion Power Equipment has become the apparent "trophy team" providing an ever expanding retail outlet, an ample parts supply, a strong warranty and excellent customer service. CPE has continued to improve their product and now offers a new model (#46538) with exclusive convenience, safety and performance features aimed at the RV market. Big names like Cummins/Onan, Honda and Generac all now have Chinese built open frame synchronous gensets available. Ironically, the prices often found on these gensets has not significantly changed during the past eight years - even with the devaluation of the American Dollar and new EPA/CARB requirements.

I also encourage you to use the search function and even the advanced search options to find information. Key works such as "rewiring", "PowerPro", "Champion", "Onan Homesite", "Duropower", "ETQ", "Jiung Dong or JD", "Tractor Supply", "Costco", "Lowe's" and "Home Depot" are all examples of keywords that will give you specific information on different models being sold by retailers today.

Or, you can fill your glass with your favorite beverage (keep more close by - maybe some munchies as well :D, sit back at your computer, tell your wife (or significant other) that you will see her in the morning and spend the next 10 or so hours reading through the postings.

No one on the forum gets mad if you ask a question that is a repeat. Please do not hesitate to post to the forum. All questions are considered important and those active on the forum will do their best to respond with a valid answer.

Also note we are not out to knock the Honda, Yamaha, Kipor or other brands of high end digital gensets. We recognize the quality of these products and their suitability for quite, efficient RV use. But, there is a flood of reliable, inexpensive and comparatively lower cost gensets coming out of China that are excellent alternative choices for the RVer wanting power to run an air conditioner, microwave, etc. without excessive noise or breaking the budget.

Oh, one last thing. The folks on this forum are true gentlemen. We do not flame one another or the product discussed - period. Ugly contributors usually have their comments and remarks ignored by our masses. It is not a forum to start arguments to obtain a clear win. We do disagree on many issues, but we have all agreed to do that in a respectable manner.

We now have the introduction of more and more inverter gensets. There is a rather extensive thread named "The Official Unofficial Champion 2000i Generator" on this forum. Today, I added info on the new Champion 3100i inverter genset. Discussion on this product may get moved to its own thread at a later date.

Many have looked upon this thread with distain saying Chinese is cheap and doomed to failure. I remember saying exactly the same thing about Japanese products a few decades back. But, over the past eight years the track record for Chinese built generators has shown otherwise.

Please, join us in a fascinating journey down the Chinese built genset road of knowledge.

This is the question I posted that got it all started back in March 2005.......

Randy

For a little over a month now, I have been somewhat intrigued by the availability of a 3000 watt, 6.5 HP generator at Pep Boys and Northern Tool for under $300.00. The engine on this generator looks identical to a Honda 6.5 HP OHV engine. Knowing that the Chinese have become very adept at “cloning” reputable technologies from other manufacturers, I was not surprised at the similarities. Neither store could give me any information on the generator nor did they have a “running” display model.

I have done a little research. This is what I have discovered:

Many of these generators are imported by ELIM International (www.eliminternational.com) out of Buffalo, New York from Jiung Manufacturing in China. (The unit at Northern is identical but carries the JIUNG name.)

The engines are indeed a Chinese knockoff of the popular 6.5 HP 196cc Honda Engine. “Supposedly” Honda has licensed the engine technology to the Chinese manufacturer of the product.

The Chinese company that makes the ELM3000 generators is a rather large, diverse, long-standing company with a reputation for “above average quality” Chinese made products (Jiung Manufacturing). There are many more Chinese companies making almost identical gensets.

The generators at PepBoys do have a six month limited warranty. But, it is only on the engine (not the generator) and requires paying for shipping to and from Buffalo. Probably not a very practical thing to do if you have warranty issues.

ELIM does supply replacement parts (a PDF parts manual is available on the ELIM web site). No prices are given for replacement parts nor is there an “availability listing”.

The generator head itself is a brushless design. The only really significant wear parts in the generator are the bearings – most likely universally available.

The published dB rating is 67 at 23 feet. This is “reasonably” quite for a generator of this size as most comparabl.... The 67 dB rating is the same as Honda gives their 3000 watt CycloInverter with a “look alike” eng...

[Clark_W__Griswo]

Well I took the plunge and bought a 3000 Elim today. $279 and a $20 rebate. I haven't tried it yet but I look forward to firing it up tommorrow. I will say I am happy with the size and weight.

[LittleBill]

thats pretty loud, much louder then the elim 3000, i know my coleman power mate is around 76 db, and my elim is much much quieter and more powerful then it

[Smokeman]

Here is a spec sheet Paul Cole from Champion Power Equipment emailed regarding the Champion unit. This generator uses brushes (not a big deal imho). Here is the spec sheet:

Specifications Sheet for Model C46535 CPE Generator 3500Watt


1. Wattage limits - Sustained load - 3500 watts
- Intermittent load (surge) - 4450 watts

2. 4 receptacles - 30 amp 120 volt twistlock - 1 - 20 amp breaker
30 amp 120/240 volt t/lock - 1 - 15/20 amp breaker
20 amp 120 volt Duplex (house type) -1- 20 A Brkr.
12 volt output with charging cord – 1 - 10 A Brkr

3. Engine - 6.5 HP OHV Champion Power Equipment

4. Dry weight – 106 lbs.

5. Fuel tank capacitiy – 4.0 gals. 10 – 12 hrs. (running time)

6. Oil capacity - .6 qt.

7. Sound levels - dBa scale at 22.75 ft. facing soundmeter@op. load
Engine – 76 dBa
Panel - 72 dBa
Muffler - 70 dBa
Backside – 72 dBa

8. Outside dimensions - 23.75 L x 16.75” W x 17.25 H

[Dubman]

Click here This is sort of primitive, but maybe going in the right direction using something like this soundproofing .

[LittleBill]

i don't know how the heck they are getting that kind of power from that genny, the honda clone in my elim,6.5 ohv is maxxed out around 3000 watts i mean i was bit over, but the engine couldn't go anymore the goveneor was wide open keeping the power up, i can't see u really getting over 3500 watts with the 6.5 hp motor

[CDK]

Camping World also carries those dog bones. About 6 bucks in Ca.

[skram]

A big thanks to the Professor and others who provide such iseful info here. I was very close to buying the Nikota unit at Costco until I found out here that it probably will not be helpful to run the power needs of a travel trailer with AC. Here in Bloomington MN, I could not find the ELM 3000 genset. We do have Checkers stores and they carry the PowerWise generator ($329) and the Champion 3500W unit , (model #c46535, also $329). This unit was discussed a few pages back in this thread.

I bought one of the Champion units yesterday. They have been selling alot of these. Here are the specs:
Running Watts 3500
Max Watts 4450
6.5 HP OHV
15L fuel tank, 10 hr run at 50%

Outlets
12V/10 Amp DC
120V/30Amp locking 3 prong
120/240V/20 Amp locking 4 prong
2 X 120V/20Amp standard 3 prong, each rated 120 v single pahse, 60 hz, up to 3500Watts.

I will try to post up some pages from the manual if it would be helpfull.

Comes with wheel kit too!

This unit should fulfill my needs: Back up power, small tools, and Travel trailer power. I can't wait to try it out.


1992 27" Mallard TT
Dodge Durango, 5.7L Hemi

[padgett]

Pep Boys can be very confused. For those that are interested, the $249 price and $20 rebate for the Eliminator 3000 with "through April 2nd" and NO limitations such as "supply on hand" is on a 8 1/2x11 "Grand ReOpening" placard with the notation in the bottom right corner of 10025-78 US.

The *other* Chinese genset they were carrying, Nikota, does appear to have gone out of business but Elim ( http://www.eliminternational.com - Generator section is down the page a bit and in Red) is still around.

Be that as it may, does anyone have experience with the Coleman Powermate 3750 ? Looks like all it has are two 110v outlets and it does not mention a db rating. Am also not sure how they can get a 3750 rating with a 5.5 hp motor.

Have been looking a bit further into the Coleman - user's manual says:
"A & B. 120 V, 20 Ampere Duplex Receptacle
This duplex is split so that 20 amps of current may be drawn from each half of the receptacle. However, total power drawn must be kept within nameplate ratings." - (3000 watts continuous ?). Motor appears to be a Tecumseh OHH55 5.5 hp OHV which seems a bit small for the rating. Should this be in a different thread of "American Generators" ?

[Red_Clay_Ramble]

Did anyone else notice on the fuzing website that some of the portable gens are encased on the sides similar to the quiet Hondas, etc.? Saw one rated at 61db, but I think it was only about 900w.

[jimraysr]

leadsled wrote:
Jim-

I feel lucky then. Can't even find it on the web for HD. I found them in the extension cord section.

Good find, The ones I found were in electrical bulk parts. Cord caps, bulk wire, boxes, conduit. etc.

Jim

[leadsled]

Jim-

I feel lucky then. Can't even find it on the web for HD. I found them in the extension cord section.

[Glenn_Cooper]

I was at COSTCO today, they have a nice 3500watt genset for $280.
It was a good looking unit, with a low oil cut off sw.,and a 110v
and 220v outlet. Lady at PEPBOYS said they are not handling the
3kw China genset anymore, something to the effect they had no parts
supplier, BUT she did not know of any that had been returned??????
COOPCOLT

[jimraysr]

leadsled wrote:
The small 30 to 15 adapters at wal-mart do get hot. I recommend the type adapter that home depot sells. It is a short piece 10gauge cord with 30amp female on one end and a 15amp male on the other.

Maybe in TX, but HD here has the round plastic ones, wt. 15 amp male on one side and 30amp RV female on the others. I think they also cary the reverse, but don't know why.

Jim

[leadsled]

The small 30 to 15 adapters at wal-mart do get hot. I recommend the type adapter that home depot sells. It is a short piece 10gauge cord with 30amp female on one end and a 15amp male on the other.

[Clark_W__Griswo]

Padgett,

Interesting information on that website. WOW. The Chinese are busy!
I wonder how this influx could affect Honda sales/prices etc.?
Things could get interesting. Nothing like a little competition!