3000W Chinese Gensets Info.
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...
Forum Discussion
HedoTravelers wrote:
So the C46540 is of the old design? For the money, I don't think I can find a better value. On a disheartening note, when I called my local Tractor Supply (more home & garden really), they first said the computer showed one in stock. I kindly asked the clerk to physically check to see if it was there. Turns out that the one there was actually a return for a defect. Hearing this didn't build my confidence any I'll tell ya. They are going to call me when the next available unit comes in.
I hate to call it the "old" design. Actually, it is more of a "different" design. The C46540 will deliver 240 volts for those who need such - like to run a well pump in a power outage. In the 240 volt mode all of the windings are in series. In the 120 volt mode, the windings are switched to parallel and the current capacity of each winding is added - thus full current can be obtained from a single outlet.
The 3500, 3500E, 40008, 40008E and CSA models of similar design will NOT produce 240 volts. These units are 120 volt out only. Thus, the windings in the genhead can be arranged differently. This "different" arrangement provides a cleaner waveform with less harmonic distortion than the dual voltage genheads. Of course, the trade off is the loss of 240, which is useless for a RV with a 30 amp connection.
Again, do not hesitate to purchase a C46540 just because there is a different design. I doubt that you will ever note the difference between the two models for RV use.
As for the defect in the one at Tractor Supply, at least they took the genset back. "Defects" could be most anything. My 40008 arrived with a "defect". The fuel petcock had been bent (in transit?) and cracked the fuel tank. Champion promptly replaced both via Fed-X 2nd day air with just a phone call. This is what builds confidence with me - service after the sale that is prompt and comprehensive. Now, I wonder who I would call for service support for my JD built ELM3000? It is similar to my Champ, but sits in the barn as a spare/loaner genset.
