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...

[NYer]

I agree 100%. I'm ready to buy but I'm more confused than ever. I don't want to rewire anything, I just want to buy a generator that will operate my camper the way it comes. Just when I think one will work I start second guessing myself and I decide to wait.

[rgraham]

The more I read here about this and that gen sets the more confused I get, this one needs rewired that one don't, this brand that brand and all seem to be made in China by the same company, the price is OK for sure, it's just the information about them is a mess,I know you guys
aren't selling them just commenting on what you have found out, can some one put all this together and make a sales pitch on the best one
for the money that us laymen can understand,,, thanks

[ddguy20]

I have been pondering about buying one of theese I am not very good with electrical this is what I have I called my dealer they said I would need A 3500 watt Generator and need 27 amps to run my Ac I dont use the microwave so I need just enought to run ac. would one of these generators work there is another one at kragen that says 4450 peak watts I belive the brand is champion or would the 3500 elim be better any help would be greatly appreciated Thanks

[bassman1]

Barton family, I would not spend 1100.00 without trying it first the kipor is 64db at full load.I would not run at 64db in a public camp but I have my trailer on private land. I plan to sell the 4000xl for 300 to 400 $

[Barton_Family]

JPearcy wrote:
The ELM-3000 is a pretty good generator for being so cheap, but the new generators being made by Launtop are being made under the best quality control in all of China.

I feel very confident in pushing the quality of the generators being made by Launtop. They still need to improve too, but every business is always working on improving, even Handa and Yamaha. Launtop is growing to be the Chinese equivalent of Honda and Yamaha.

John,

I must have missed something here. It looks like you are referring to two different lines here. Is the ELM-3000 *not* made by Launtop? If that is the case, which models are you "pushing"? I recall in an earlier post you mentioned the more expensive units and you have referred to the Elm-3000 as "being so cheap".

Can you please expand on these statements? What specific units do you recommend and why? Noise rating any better?

Thanks!

[Barton_Family]

bassman1 wrote:
Owners manual says 67db instead of 65 but still better than my generac 4000xl.

In your opinion, is there enough reduction in noise to make it worth the $$$ as a replacement for the 4000XL? I have that unit and have used it twice because of the noise. I was considering a Kipor 3500 watt unit, but at $1100, that's a lot of dough for something I use not even once a year. Still, I don't want to be run out of the campground...and with the Generac, that could easily happen!

Thanks!

[Superfreak]

77charger, I went out tonight and fired up the generator thinking I would try to load the system and see if it would come on. I went inside the trailer and the micro clock was on. So I went back to the gen and shut the breakers off and then back on after a minute or so and the micro was off. Tried loading it and never had the micro come back on. I'm gonna figure something out here eventually.

[mavapa]

Let me repeat one more time for anyone with a new gasoline engine, not just the Elim3000:

CHECK THE OIL BEFORE YOU START THE ENGINE!

I found my oil level low because apparently the original oil had leaked out. I assume the unit was on its side or top at some point.

John, I appreciate your input. If Elim lives up to its original apparently high standards, I think it will be a good company to do business with.

[77charger]

Superfreak wrote:
Another newbie here, found this forum while trying to find info on my wildfire genset I purchased awhile back. Appears to be pretty close to the Elim models alot of you have here. My problem is it will run my ac unit but not the microwave. What I mean is even with the ac off I get nothing at the micro not even the clock comes on. If I plug the trailer into the house everything works including the micro. Any help would be appreciated. My TT is an 03 Layton with Dometic micro and 13.5 ac unit.

Rick

i thought i was the only one who had that prob.I could sometimes turn the a/c on or trip a breaker then the micro light would come on and work.seems if i loaded the electrical system it would get the micro started.

This was not with an elim gen but a coleman 3000watt unit but same prob

[Superfreak]

Thanks, I'll see what I can find reading the link. I didnt notice the problem but the wife had no problem pointing it out to me! Otherwise the unit seems to work quite well and not as loud as I thought for a cheap genset.

[presp]

Superfreak wrote:
Another newbie here, found this forum while trying to find info on my wildfire genset I purchased awhile back. Appears to be pretty close to the Elim models alot of you have here. My problem is it will run my ac unit but not the microwave. What I mean is even with the ac off I get nothing at the micro not even the clock comes on. If I plug the trailer into the house everything works including the micro. Any help would be appreciated. My TT is an 03 Layton with Dometic micro and 13.5 ac unit.

Rick

Interesting problem. Seems you are not alone.
Consider checking out the following link:
http://afnash.com/forum/view_topic.php?id=1050&forum_id=12

Good luck,
Presp

[Superfreak]

Another newbie here, found this forum while trying to find info on my wildfire genset I purchased awhile back. Appears to be pretty close to the Elim models alot of you have here. My problem is it will run my ac unit but not the microwave. What I mean is even with the ac off I get nothing at the micro not even the clock comes on. If I plug the trailer into the house everything works including the micro. Any help would be appreciated. My TT is an 03 Layton with Dometic micro and 13.5 ac unit.

Rick

[rustyed]

I also received my ELIM3000 in perfect condition. I did however, pull and pull to no avail. Then I thought about the low oil shut off. I added about half a quart and it fired on the first pull. I haven't had a chance to use it yet but for the money, I don't think anyone can go wrong.

[sidst]

bassman1 wrote:
BUMP

I tried to enlarge your drawing but was unable to do so. If you email me the schematic I'll see what I can do.

[bassman1]

BUMP