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...

[happykampr]

I sure am glad that somebody got use out of my post. I sure wish I could've ridden with you to pick one up, too!;)

[fishuntr]

Well happykamper's post sure made me a happy camper. I have been folowing this thread and had decided to maybe get one of the Champion RV models. I was sorta waiting to see if they went on sale. Last week I was at Kragens and aske them if these gensets ever go on sale, and he told me yes; about twice a year. Late yesterday afternoon I was catching up on the thread and found the post by happykamper. We droped everything and drove into town to get one. I was just hoping they had one left.

The clerk looked at the coupon and said this was the first one he saw. They had three or four of the Champion 4kw on the floor. He told me he had only sold a very few of these. This was in Apple Valley, CA. I gpt mine!!

The only negative was that one of my sons tried to access that ad and get one as well. He got the same error message that some others got and missed out.

[rob85546]

redrotor wrote:
I see the coupons on there right now... Same link, http://www.cskautoparts.com/SundaySavers.aspx

Thats weird I couldnt pull the coupons up... I called the 1800 # on the website and after looking he said ya its 279, but he couldnt get the coupons either, his computer said error, just like mine was saying.... He told me to tell the person at checker to call him to verify it. I felt kind of funny since I already bought it last week, but they said if it comes out cheaper they will give that price, so what the heck.. but after some calls and that I got the difference back, so got it for 279 bucks....

This is a really good website, I probably wouldnt have got it if I hadnt read all the post about it on here...

thanks

[CurtNLA]

First, I would like to congratulate those that were able to get their Champion generators at a reduced price. I now have mine set up exactly as I want it and I love it. Other than that, I have two reasons for replying to this post.

1. Several people have made statements about the generator leaking fuel at the fuel shut off valve. Some solved their problem by tightening the valve against the fuel tank and tightening the filter plug on the bottom. Mine was leaking some and tightening everything almost solved the leak problem. I placed a folded up paper towel under the valve and over a two day period, it leaked and created a spot about 3" wide by 6" long on the towel. I am sure that a lot of it was due to the fuel running on the towel. I pulled the filter plug and run my finger around the pointed edge where the washer and filter sit and it felt rough along about 1/3 of the circumference (like a rough finger nail). I took a very fine file and very gently stroked the file upward keeping with the slant of the plug and you could feel the file remove some very small burrs. I blew the plug out with an air compressor and replaced the filter, washer and plug. It has been three days now and not one drop of fuel has landed on a new folded up paper towel.






2. Prior to resolving my fuel leak problem, I called PartsAmerica where I purchased the generator, and they wanted to ship me a new one. Told them I didn't want a new one, just wanted a new fuel shut off valve. They suggested that I call Champion and gave me the number. I called Champion and they ask me what my Zip Code was. I told them, and they immediately came back with the fact that they had an authorized factory repair facility (small engine repair) in Midland City, AL. This is about 10 miles away from me. All this means is that I do not have to turn my generator in to one of those Auto Parts Stores or send it back to PartsAmerica. I solved my problem this time myself, but it is nice to know that I have a place to take it with out a lot of hassle. Those people that have them may want to check and see if they have an authorized repair facility nearby.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Scott - tried to send you to the posts
you wanted by P/M - but . . you don't accept P/M!
So, "Search"! [It's the box in the upper Left]

[scottmo5]

I've been following this thread off and on almost since it started. I bought the Champion at my local Kragen a couple of months ago, soon after they came out with the "RV ready" model. I paid $320-330, I forget exactly. They didn't have it in stock,but did have it at the nearest distribution center and delivered it to the store the next day. Finally got a chance to use it while campig over Labor Day weekend for 3 days. It worked flawlessly. Is it loud? A little. Too loud for dry camping during the middle of the day? Not at all. If you are considering it, my two cents is this: the Champion is the best deal I've come across in a long time judging by service delivered for the money; according to this thread, they seem to be pretty reliable too. Would I like to have a Yamaha inverter model with a remote control? Sure!! But I'm pretty darn proud of my Champion and certainly happy with my purchase. I know there have been several posts regarding different methods for deceasing effective noise, can anyone please help with directions to locate some of the more effective posts so I can some time trying to review 264 pages?
Thanks in advance for any help. I don't think I have anything new to contribute that hasn't already been covered by people more knowledgeable and experienced thanI, but I would be happy to answer any question I can about my Champion.

[P_J1]

rwjejits wrote:
I can't even find a local supplier of these (Champion RV Ready) where I'm at (Hou, Tx). When factoring in shippng costs, I'm looking at close to $400 (and having to worry about what shape it will be in when it arrives at my door).

If you use the 10% off code at checkout wamu10 you should be able to get it down to $360 shipped.

[P_J1]

momo44 wrote:
....I wanted to know when to do my maintenance, so I added an hour meter. This one works on AC or DC, so I wired to the 12V supply after the circuit breaker and it works like a charm!
I guess an enclosure will be next on the list!

Care to share what hour meter you went with, where you got it, how much? I will be adding one when mine gets here Tuesday, just didn't know which one, or where to get it.......... or how:?

Details and pictures of the enclosure project when applicable too.
(Hey, you can't mention these things!)

I'm thinking of making one of those detachable "venturi" exhaust stacks for mine, seems pretty simple.

[CountryGirl22]

I have been reading about this subject of which generator to buy,and if most people cannot buy the ELM 3000, what can we get that will be just as good,and we can all still buy before they are all gone as well?

[Oldfordman]

rwjejits wrote:
I can't even find a local supplier of these (Champion RV Ready) where I'm at (Hou, Tx). When factoring in shippng costs, I'm looking at close to $400 (and having to worry about what shape it will be in when it arrives at my door).

They are packaged in a fairly stout Cardboard carton with Foam inserts. Unless the package is speared by a forklift or dropped from the rear of the freight truck it will weather the trip well.

[redrotor]

I see the coupons on there right now... Same link, http://www.cskautoparts.com/SundaySavers.aspx

[rob85546]

Well the regualar price is 329 at my checker which is what I paid.. the sale says sunday only (279).... since I got it a week ago ,thought I would go in and get the 50 bucks back.. they have no clue what im talking about.. at work last night there was coupons on the checker web site, now they are not there but it list s the things on sale... I callled back the store and they are going to check on it.....

[rwjejits]

I can't even find a local supplier of these (Champion RV Ready) where I'm at (Hou, Tx). When factoring in shippng costs, I'm looking at close to $400 (and having to worry about what shape it will be in when it arrives at my door).

[Mr__Tommy]

Well, $20 off does not kill the fantastic deal these gens are even at the "everyday" price of $299 (which is what I paid for mine months ago). Just go ahead and buy it at the price gouging $299 and love the fact that you can now have air conditioning out in the middle of nowhere . :W

[rob85546]

just bought it last week from checker...figures...now its on sale