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...

[Old___Slow]

DaveVa78Chieftain wrote:
I installed my ELIM3000 in the generator compartment of my 78 Winnebago.
Closed in the sides with aluminum flashing.
Used a 12VDC radiator fan to push air through it for cooling. Air exhaust is routed down (using the aluminum flashing) through the original exhaust exit for regular RV generators. A 110VAC fan (connected to the 110VAC plug) could also be used.
Installed more insulation to help quiet the sound. Offensive noise is from the engine itself, not the exhaust.
Mounted generator on springs which virtually eliminates all vibration.
Connected a 12VDC fuel pump to pull gas from the aux tank (normal MH approach). Still have to reduce the clack-clack fuel pump noise. It is more annoying than the generator itself. Generator fuel tank is disconnected and empty.
Installed a switch on the front panel that operates both the pump and the fan.
Welded a short section of 1" elec conduit to the muffler. 3/4" Black pipe will thread into this which is what I used for joints and connections. Used victor muffler sealer to ensure tight joints. Exhaust exits out down through the air exhaust port then is routed back to the rear of the RV.
Direct wired the unit into the RV from the back of the 110VAC duplex plug. My rig uses a seperate plug swapped between shore power and generator.
I have an old RV converter (6 amp max battery charger) so I use an external battery charger running at 10 amps to maintain battery charge and run the fan/fuel pump.
Have been running it 4 days a week for 5-6 hours/day while boondocking. Doing great so far.
Will monitor heat issues during warmer summer months to ensure no problems.

Dave

It is truly amazing what info' can be found in this thread. I started today at Page 1. (again) Found this post that give me some learned knowledge of using a factory genset compartment by Dave. Most important is not to have a fuel tank in this compartment. That is number one NO-NO if you want to keep the compartment door closed. I relocated the muffler to the location of the old OEM genset. Found now by experience, that was a unnecessary move. Then I added a 1.5/4 psi fuel pump as a alternate to the relocated fuel tank from the genny. But the clack clack noise of the fuel pump is terrible. Glad to know some one else had the same experience. Also the info' from Dave is useful concerning cooling.

O&S

[alltenofus]

I have found a Champion 5500 C41155 new in the box for $399. It appears to have a 30 amp twist receptacle on a 120 V circuit with a breaker for either 20 amps or 25 amps. Which seems to depend on the website I look at. Champion site says 20 amp breaker. It also has a 30 amp 240 V receptacle. Noise is rated at 74dBA at 23 feet,so I'll have to do some noise suppression. Does anyone have this generator and if so, what is the breaker rating on the 120V 30A receptacle? Can you tell if the output to this receptacle is from both coils or just one side? Other comments on this genset?

[skyzoomer]

professor95 wrote:
With all the concern about lead in paint from products made in China, I decided to let a friend of mine who is in the business of testing materials for hazards return a favor.

The results of the test showed there is NO LEAD in the black, yellow or red paint used on the Chinese gensets in my collection (Champion and JD).

Thanks for "sacrificing" a chip of paint of each color from each of your generators for the tests and sharing the results with us ...:C

Skyzoomer

[Wgeorge11]

Ya mean it's safe for me to kiss mine in this short life?

[blkfe]

MrWizard wrote:
thats good, but i don't think any of us were going to let OUR grandKIDS or children teeth on OUR generators.

LOL..I have seen stranger things....

[MrWizard]

thats good, but i don't think any of us were going to let OUR grandKIDS or children teeth on OUR generators.

[professor95]

With all the concern about lead in paint from products made in China, I decided to let a friend of mine who is in the business of testing materials for hazards return a favor.

The results of the test showed there is NO LEAD in the black, yellow or red paint used on the Chinese gensets in my collection (Champion and JD).

Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly!
Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably ...
And never regret anything that made you smile!

[blkfe]

I called Champion Power Product about my lack of spark arrestor.
One is on it's way. No charge.
Wow! Wish all companies were this easy to work with.
Brad

[Wally_Gator]

I am in the minority here. I purchased a MaxTool Powermax 4400
generator. This thing has been excellent and flawless with one exception.
After running the gen for a little bit at a campsite. I shut it down and
came back a couple of hours later to fire it up again. Fired it up and no power.
Upon calling MaxTool, they offered to overnight the parts to the campground.
Apparently they have a problem with the brushes. I live close to the warehouse and did not need the generator for the rest of the trip so I picked up the parts on Monday at no charge on my way home from work.
I'll be ordering a spare set of brushes.

[blkfe]

Thanks,
I will call them tomorrow and see what happens.
I'm no tree hugger but I would feel better with it installed.

Brad

[Wgeorge11]

drfife wrote:

blkfe wrote:
...I have the unopened plastic bag and all the items are there except the arrestor.
Hmm......
Now what?

It will run without the spark arrestor.

That's a fact, but the Forest Service might not like it if you're boondocking.

[MrWizard]

call champion they will send you one, as long as your not out in the woods, you may not need it, but its required for use in National parks and forests, a fire saftey regulation

[drfife]

blkfe wrote:
...I have the unopened plastic bag and all the items are there except the arrestor.
Hmm......
Now what?

It will run without the spark arrestor.

[blkfe]

Wgeorge11 wrote:
Your gen should have included a plastic bag with a funnel, spark plug wrench, 12v cable, and the spark arrestor in a small bag. The spark arrestor is a screened tube 3" long x 3/4" with a mounting flange and two screws. Check with your seller who probably has the package stashed somewhere in his inventory.

I have the unopened plastic bag and all the items are there except the arrestor.
Hmm......
Now what?

[Wgeorge11]

Your gen should have included a plastic bag with a funnel, spark plug wrench, 12v cable, and the spark arrestor in a small bag. The spark arrestor is a screened tube 3" long x 3/4" with a mounting flange and two screws. Check with your seller who probably has the package stashed somewhere in his inventory.