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...

[professor95]

i just bought the new rv champion generator and ran it yesterday for a few min to test it out. It started up really easy. It kind of loud to me though. I don't think I would run it at a campsite unless the guy next to me has a loud one as well. I'll be testing it out all day at willow springs this weekend and let you guys know how it goes

All of the Chinese generators with the 6.5 HP Honda clone engine have a noise level of about 68 dB at 7 meters. I have measured quite a few and find this reading to be consistent.

The Honda 3000EU, .... When we compare the Chinese units to them the Chinese units appear quite loud. But, when we comp...) than the Chinese units using the Honda GX160 or GX200 engine clone in the same power class (2,500 ...

[professor95]

Professor I was looking at the Champion RV model and saw your post. Would you recommend this generator now that you have one? I got to have something since I will be going to Lowe's motor speedway next week, I rented one last week for Darlington.

Based on what I have found so far, it appears to be a nice unit for the money. Further testing and evaluation still needs to be done to reach a final verdict. I will not be keeping the one I now have, it will eventually be passed onto our Church's Men's Group as a piece of equipment for our emergency response team.

Reading your posting does bring out one important consideration in any generator purchase...... what if something goes wrong?

The Champion has a one year warranty (if you remember to return the card to register it) and a very strong US distributor network behind their product. I have found them responsive and ready to help their customers. While I have not ordered any parts from Champion, I have been assured that they are quickly available for all Champion models.

I am sorry you have experienced the problems you quoted with ELIM International. I really wish you had shared your experiences and problems several months earlier on this forum, if for no other reason than to make ELIM International aware that they were not dealing with just a single customer but rather a group of thousands who are interested in their service and support for their products. I have seen the impact of negative reports on this forum - it is not good for sellers to have dissatisfied customers in the RV community!

To the best of my knowledge, the Champion RV model is currently only available through the CSK Autogroup store network (Checkers, Schucks, Kragen and Murray auto parts stores). Website ordering can also be done through Partsamerica.com or advanceauto.com.

I have also recently learned that Champion has just included Cabellas (www.cabelas.com ) an outdoor sportsmen company to their list of vendors as well as BJ's Wholesale and Sam's Club in some locations.

I hope whatever you buy works out better for you than the unit you have. Hopefully, ELIM will wake up and realize that if they want to continue to sell their products to the RV community they better be getting their act together.

P.S. - Send them an e-mail and tell them to look at the forum if they want to know how many people are watching their response.

[mco804]

i just bought the new rv champion generator and ran it yesterday for a few min to test it out. It started up really easy. It kind of loud to me though. I don't think I would run it at a campsite unless the guy next to me has a loud one as well. I'll be testing it out all day at willow springs this weekend and let you guys know how it goes

[Walrus127]

I know that when you start to read this post you are going to think I'm just bitter and to a degree you are right. Just let me tell you that if you are thinking about buying a generator from ELIM International beware!!! I purchased an Eliminator 3000 last July. In September it stopped making power. I contacted ELIM and they started sending me trouble shooting information by email. this went on for a couple months then the person I was dealing with left the company. I even sent email to the Professor asking for his advice, which he responded promptly. I then was referred to another person this time at a company called Regional Integrated Logistics they tried to help me with the problem. They send me over the next couple of months breakers, switches, capacitor's, stator assembly, and ignition coil. When I asked about sending in for replacement I was told that they did not make this unit any longer. Finally I was referred to the company president Mr. Reed who said send the generator back and they would fix or replace it promptly. I sent the generator back on April 17th and have talked to Reed a couple times since then and was promised results but nothing. Now they have my money and my generator and will not even return my phone calls. I know this was a long post but I don't want anyone else to have to go thru this. Professor I was looking at the Champion RV model and saw your post. Would you recommend this generator now that you have one? I got to have something since I will be going to Lowe's motor speedway next week, I rented one last week for Darlington.

[Tonka_Truck]

I just bought a Champion xxx40 from Checker Auto that has the RV plug and a switch to shunt the power over. Way back in this forum you'll see a note from a Champion service tech about the xxx35. I emailed him about a cold weather plug and he answered same day. I have a two year old Nikota (sic) from Pep Boys that I've used for two Elk Seasons and Dry camping with no problems. Hour wise I've ran the Nikota around 400 hours or more. All night during Elk season to run the heater at elevation 6000+ on the back side of Flagstaff. As far as good goes, it runs excellent, just wanted more amps when dry camping.

[professor95]

As someone noted a few pages back, Big Lots is now selling a Chinese Clone generator. I got a chance yesterday to give it a good looking over.

It is very similar to all the other Chinese gennys we have discussed, but the casting marks on the engine are different that the other brands I have seen. Thus, it is fair to conclude that this unit is being made by yet another Chinese manufacturer.

The part number on the Big Lots unit is UG3600 and it is imported and distributed by JWS Industries, Inc. The brand label is "Powersource" and it is rated at 3,000 watts with a Honda GX-200 engine clone. There is only one voltage available to a single duplex outlet, that being 120 volts. It appears that this would be an OK unit for an RV. The sound rating is 70dB, which is 3 dB higher than most other clones. In reality, it may have an identical sound level since it is made w...

[AZDesertRat]

Hopefully Champion will come out with a retrofit kit for the older models or someone here will post a step by step conversion. I bought mine in November and its been great so far, it would just be better with a 30A RV recepticle on it.

[camperdave]

professor95 wrote:
A brand spankin' new yellow Champion RV ready generator arrived via Fed-X and was deposited on the threshold of my garage Friday morning.

Awesome! I've been waiting for someone to buy one of these that would be willing to open it up and check out the wiring. I'm just curious how they have it wired, and what size breakers are being used it it, since I have an older Champion that I've rewired myself with a TT-30R plug.

[professor95]

A brand spankin' new yellow Champion RV ready generator arrived via Fed-X and was deposited on the threshold of my garage Friday morning.

Over the next few weeks I will be doing an in-depth testing and HONEST evaluation of this machine's performance. Since I also have a JD built ELM3000, I will put the two of them side-by-side for some comparison tests. I also plan on doing some minor disection of each to compare parts and construction.

I have already run the Champion for about 4 hours under the load of a 15K RV AC unit with nary a falter or flutter. Sound measurments have been compared with the ELM3000 under identical placement and environmental conditions (no difference in noise level).

Stay tuned!

[Icecutter]

Hello all. I must say that I am glad to have come across this site and this thread as it has been a godsend for me. (P)professor95, your distinct,knowledgeable, and well described responses have made this a very enjoyable journey for me as I trek across a generator learning landscape (200 pages plus) which is quite foreign to me to say the least. MANY others have also inputted in a similar and most positive way and eventhough the list is long and devoid of proper distinction, my admiration and appreciation to those is equally expressed and I thank you. Icecutter

[boucher1]

professor95

Thanks for your info

[professor95]

I have been following this topic in hopes of finding a lighter generator to replace the 5500 watt coleman I presently own. I just came across a Champion 4000 watt peak, 3500 watt running, that has a separate 30 amp camper type plug built into the unit. It is available from Advance Auto Parts (www.advanceautoparts.com). The part number is C46540 @ $329.00 plus shipping. I am still trying to find out if it is carried in any of the retail stores. This sure makes it easier than messing with adapters or re-wiring another generator.

The Champion you are refering to is new to the market and is just beginning to be shipped to retail outlets. From what I have been able find out, all CSK outlets (Checker, Shucker, Kragen)will soon have the RV model in stock. Also Sams Club and BJ's Wholesale should carry the RV model soon. I do not think PepBoys is going to carry the Champion line - but who knows for sure in this market?

[Toyota_Camper]

I got the Homier tools JD 3,500 watt unit for Christmas. Today it was finally warm enough to test if it would run my 13.5 btu AC on my motorhome. It put out nice cold air on high, then I turn my electric dorm style fridge on and my generator had no problems. Did notice generator rpms pick up when I turn AC from just fan to high AC.

Nate

[mokanmikey]

professor,
Congratulations! Page 200, over 2000 posts on this subject!

It has slowed down some but I sure haven't seen many posts with bad experiences with these gennys.

Thanks again! :B

[barkap]

I have been following this topic in hopes of finding a lighter generator to replace the 5500 watt coleman I presently own. I just came across a Champion 4000 watt peak, 3500 watt running, that has a separate 30 amp camper type plug built into the unit. It is available from Advance Auto Parts (www.advanceautoparts.com). The part number is C46540 @ $329.00 plus shipping. I am still trying to find out if it is carried in any of the retail stores. This sure makes it easier than messing with adapters or re-wiring another generator.