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...

[gouldc]

Any idea if the Elm 3000 can be sourced in Canada?

[Emptyspaces]

jfs999 wrote:
I think the biggest pain will be draining the gas tank.

You really don't need to drain the tank since it has a fuel shutoff valve. Just disconnect the fuel line at the tank valve. I did notice on mine the fuel line seemed to be a little short, if is the same on yours might be a good time to replace it with another piece.

[jfs999]

I picked up one of the ELM 3000's last week and while testing it this weekend for a couple of hours, I noticed it getting louder. I shut it down and after it cooled off, I noticed that the intake bolts to the muffler had come loose, I tightened the one I could get to up (I have to take the gas tank off to tighten the other) and also noticed that it looked like either the gasket had cracked/broken or possibly the vibration had started to tear the area around the bolts from the muffler. In any event I e-mailed Elim International with the problem and got a quick response from Mark Krohn advising that he had spare mufflers on hand and he could get gaskets if needed. Talk about great customer service! In any event, now I just need to get a few minutes to get out there and find out exactly what it is - should be a relatively easy job - looks like maybe 6 or 7 bolts. I think the biggest pain will be draining the gas tank.

[therightlane]

Neuen wrote:
When I read this thread earlier, when it was "only" about 70 pages, I thought I remembered seeing which Honda model number the Juang Dong engine was a knockoff of. Now that I've read it again (84 pages-whew!) I can't find it. Does anyone know the equivalent Honda model number. I'd like to see if US Carburetion has a tri-fuel mod for it.

US Carb does have a carb for it or should I say a conversion kit (Gas/propane)

Kevin
The Right Lane

[n7bsn]

coyote345 wrote:
I am going to be in Wenachee washington the last week in july. can anybody tell me if there are any dealers selling the elim 3000 or a gen that has a Jian Dong engine in it in the Wenachee ore Spokane area.

I realize this is toooo late, but, to the best of my knowledge, there are no dealers anywhere in Washington state. Certainly none in Wenatchee (where I doubt they have anything other then a Honda or Yamaha dealer)

Spokane does have a Sinemaster/Kipor dealer.

-----Edit-------
I forgot about the local Schucks.. Which MIGHT have one. Some do, some don't

[77charger]

Gulfcoast wrote:
I have a Harbor Freight Tools/Chicago 2000-watt China generator that purrs like a kitten and works perfect. I could not ask for a better, small generator.

But, I now want a 3500-watt unit to run a rooftop A/C, etc.

I started to bid and buy on Ebay, but I ran across this website today.

Has anyone tried the Duropower China generators? Looks like a deal at $249.00, and includes a one-year warranty too.

http://www.duropower.com/item.asp?PID=1&FID=1&level=0


Thanks for your help.

I just bought one the 3500 and i am happy with it it is quiet also.A friend of mine has the powerwise(not the checker auto yellow one)but a chinese import.They use the jiang dong motor which is a honda clone.From earlier post on this topic it seems to be the same as the elim.I hooked up to my trailer to try out ran a/c and micro easily.

[77charger]

Gulfcoast wrote:
I have a Harbor Freight Tools/Chicago 2000-watt China generator that purrs like a kitten and works perfect. I could not ask for a better, small generator.

But, I now want a 3500-watt unit to run a rooftop A/C, etc.

I started to bid and buy on Ebay, but I ran across this website today.

Has anyone tried the Duropower China generators? Looks like a deal at $249.00, and includes a one-year warranty too.

http://www.duropower.com/item.asp?PID=1&FID=1&level=0


Thanks for your help.

I just bought one the 3500 and i am happy with it it is quiet also.A friend of mine has the powerwise(not the checker auto yellow one)but a chinese import.They use the jiang dong motor which is a honda clone.From earlier post on this topic it seems to be the same as the elim.I hooked up to my trailer to try out ran a/c and micro easily.

[Gulfcoast]

I have a Harbor Freight Tools/Chicago 2000-watt China generator that purrs like a kitten and works perfect. I could not ask for a better, small generator.

But, I now want a 3500-watt unit to run a rooftop A/C, etc.

I started to bid and buy on Ebay, but I ran across this website today.

Has anyone tried the Duropower China generators? Looks like a deal at $249.00, and includes a one-year warranty too.

http://www.duropower.com/item.asp?PID=1&FID=1&level=0


Thanks for your help.

[Walrus127]

Well after unpacking the ELM3000 and running it on the back porch I got out this morning and went to Lowe's. It took $21.00 worth of parts to make the Dog Bone Adapter that Professor95 posted here. After about 15 minuets putting everything together I fired the gen and took a meter reading 124 volts. plugged the Dog Bone in and again 124 volts. Plugged the TT in and walked in took a meter reading from one of the plugs 124 volts. Turned the AC on high and same reading again. Here in eastern north Carolina it was about 94 here today with the AC on high gen sound did not even change. Took a coffee cup with water and tried the microwave both ran just fine.

Just for record I was really surprised how quiet this gen ran. I had a friend over today that has a Honda 3500 and he says that the ELM 3000 is more quite than his Honda. With the Gen outside and the AC on I could hardly hear it running inside the TT. I can hardly wait for October to try this out at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Best thing is we won't have to fight the traffic!!! Thanks to Professor95, Wizard, and others here for all your help.

Keith

[coyote345]

I am going to be in Wenachee washington the last week in july. can anybody tell me if there are any dealers selling the elim 3000 or a gen that has a Jian Dong engine in it in the Wenachee ore Spokane area.

[sidst]

Neuen wrote:
When I read this thread earlier, when it was "only" about 70 pages, I thought I remembered seeing which Honda model number the Juang Dong engine was a knockoff of. Now that I've read it again (84 pages-whew!) I can't find it. Does anyone know the equivalent Honda model number. I'd like to see if US Carburetion has a tri-fuel mod for it.

US Carburetion has tri fuel kits for the Chinese engines(Pep Boys, Juang Dong, etc.) available at their website. They call them Chonda.

[Emptyspaces]

Neuen wrote:
When I read this thread earlier, when it was "only" about 70 pages, I thought I remembered seeing which Honda model number the Juang Dong engine was a knockoff of. Now that I've read it again (84 pages-whew!) I can't find it. Does anyone know the equivalent Honda model number. I'd like to see if US Carburetion has a tri-fuel mod for it.

I believe it's a knockoff of the Honda GX Series. The Model GX200TQX2 looks to be close. There are probably other GX200's as well.

[Damdifino]

When I read this thread earlier, when it was "only" about 70 pages, I thought I remembered seeing which Honda model number the Juang Dong engine was a knockoff of. Now that I've read it again (84 pages-whew!) I can't find it. Does anyone know the equivalent Honda model number. I'd like to see if US Carburetion has a tri-fuel mod for it.

[LittleBill]

Neuen wrote:
My ELM3000 arrived today, a day early. Fired up on the first try, and ran for a hour and a half before I shut it down. One thing surprised me...the two 110 VAC plugs have a sideways 'T' shaped slot on one side. I can't plug anything in until I swap out the receptacle.

its not a polarized plug, just line the neutral up correctly and "push" it will go in after some effort,

[Kenneth]

Neuen wrote:
My ELM3000 arrived today, a day early. Fired up on the first try, and ran for a hour and a half before I shut it down. One thing surprised me...the two 110 VAC plugs have a sideways 'T' shaped slot on one side. I can't plug anything in until I swap out the receptacle.

The T shaped slot identifies a 20 amp receptacle. It'll work fine with straight blade plugs and is heavier duty than a 15 amp receptacle with parallel slots.


Ken