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...

[youth4him]

Sounds just like my kids...but, the wife won't let me get rid of them. 😉

[GOTTOYS]

youth4him wrote:
Maybe you could just get a trained monkey, then he can bring you your beer, AND start the generator for you...

;->

Good idea, except the Monkey requires food, water and shelter! Plus they poop!! :E

Sorry for the thread highjack!

[youth4him]

Maybe you could just get a trained monkey, then he can bring you your beer, AND start the generator for you...

;->

[Le_gosse_Creole]

The pull start is very easy and light, unlike my mower. One pull starts it. Electric start is nice if you can get it cheap. If not, it's not worth the extra $.

[Dubman]

GOTTOYS wrote:
BTW, when I am camping, kicking back in my chair with a beer in my hand, I am just too damn lazy to get up and pull on that silly string!!:B

Maybe you could figure out how to install a remote keyless start system on one of these, because you are at risk of spilling your beer when you get up!! :B

[GOTTOYS]

Dubman wrote:
Ultra tools & equipment makes model#JD3000E which looks identical to the ELM3000, but has electric start.. Maybe somehow get ahold of the parts breakdown for that model and go from there.. I assume you are mounting it inside a compartment where you cannot get to the pullstart, because these things start very easily as Curly2001 stated.. Here is the link to the JD series gensets..

Thanks for the info!

BTW, when I am camping, kicking back in my chair with a beer in my hand, I am just too damn lazy to get up and pull on that silly string!!:B

[Dubman]

Ultra tools & equipment makes model#JD3000E which looks identical to the ELM3000, but has electric start.. Maybe somehow get ahold of the parts breakdown for that model and go from there.. I assume you are mounting it inside a compartment where you cannot get to the pullstart, because these things start very easily as Curly2001 stated.. Here is the link to the JD series gensets..

[Curly2001]

With one or two pulls, why bother with an electric start? It just adds weight to the unit.

[GOTTOYS]

Forgive me for asking the same question if it has been asked before. 64 pages is a lot to read through.

Has anyone with these Honda "knock off" engine generators been able to install an electric start on them?? I am interested in doing so myself.

Thanks!

[LittleBill]

comes with oil shutdown, only difference is the 12v charging, which professor found out some of the 3000's had the 3000l head and could connect to the 12v section

[TubaPete]

Le gosse Creole wrote:

Dubman wrote:

Le gosse Creole wrote:
The ELM3000 doesn’t have the low oil shut down or 12v plug like the ELM3000L. It was just a few bucks more.

Mine does have low oil shutoff, but not 12V...

Hmmm? I didn't see that when I read about it, must have missed it.
It's good to have.

Yes, it's really good to have when you are a dang fool like me. I bought an ELM3000, brought it home and fired it up.

It died after 20 seconds and wouldn't start until I checked the oil and filled the crankcase. So much for believing the salesman that it came with oil.

Ir appears that the oil shutoff did what was intended and the generator is fine.

[Le_gosse_Creole]

Dubman wrote:

Le gosse Creole wrote:
The ELM3000 doesn’t have the low oil shut down or 12v plug like the ELM3000L. It was just a few bucks more.

Mine does have low oil shutoff, but not 12V...

Hmmm? I didn't see that when I read about it, must have missed it.
It's good to have.

[Dubman]

Le gosse Creole wrote:
The ELM3000 doesn’t have the low oil shut down or 12v plug like the ELM3000L. It was just a few bucks more.

Mine does have low oil shutoff, but not 12V...

[Le_gosse_Creole]

qtla9111 wrote:
What is the difference between the ELM3000 and the ELM3000L?

I just received my ELM3000L a few days ago. The ELM3000 doesn’t have the low oil shut down or 12v plug like the ELM3000L. It was just a few bucks more. Shipping for me was $62.00. I got it directly from Elm’s web site. They had one with wheels and handle that I had ordered at first but they phoned me telling me they were back ordered, I ordered the 3000L so I wouldn’t have to wait. People on ebay are selling pretty much the same gen set as the ELM3000 & 3000L but at very high shipping cost and at a higher price. Do some shopping it can save you money. The ELM3000L came “VERY” well packaged. And got here very fast.
I ran it with my A/C and ref, it’ll run also with the MW but bogs down. I put the ref on gas and it works fine. It’s no where near as loud as my B/S generator, it’s fairly quit for the money I spent (65 db).
I was going to mount it on back of my TT like I had with my old TT, but I’m just going to put it in the bed of my truck and run a power line to the front of the trailer. I had an SUV before so it had to go on the back of the trailer.
My truck also has a rolling bed cover so if it fits closed I’ll leave the tailgate open for air and that should knock some of the noise down, even if I can’t close the top it should help. I plan to add wheels to it also.

[Dubman]

It also a wheel kit, and appears to have a different muffler style...



Also, if you look at the label it says it is a DY3000L..