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...

[PrivatePilot]

scottz wrote:
no longer states the C46540 as having a USDA Forest Service Approved Spark Arrester like it used to.

The Champion 3000 that I just bought last week did not come with one. It has the flange on the muffler designed for it, but it mentions it in the manual as being an "optional" piece of equipment, with directions on how to contact Champion to order it if necessary.

[racefan1965]

professor95 wrote:
I spoke with tech at CPE last week about their web page no longer showing parts and accessories as it once did. I believe I must have caught him by surprise because he did not know they were gone! I was told that they have hired a new web designer and the entire site would be revamped soon. I asked for a more comprehensive listing of commonly relpaced parts along with costs. I was told he would see what could be done.....

The wheel kit is pretty universal. I put a CPE wheel kit on my ELM3000. I did have to drill two new holes to make the axle fit. I don't know how CPE feels about selling their parts for other makes and models, but as far as the frame, engine, gas tank, and non-genhead related parts I know of nothing that will not interchange.

scottz wrote:
I noticed the Champion Website (or manual) no longer states the C46540 as having a USDA Forest Service Approved Spark Arrester like it used to.

Is this a correction or an oversight?

Parts America still indicates USDA Approved Spark Arrestor.

As quoted above...the professor stated that the web site for CPE is being revamped. It's possible the arrestor rating was left out by accident. The only way to know for sure and to avoid any confusion or rumors is to call CPE and ask them about it.

Rick

[scottz]

I noticed the Champion Website (or manual) no longer states the C46540 as having a USDA Forest Service Approved Spark Arrester like it used to.

Is this a correction or an oversight?

Parts America still indicates USDA Approved Spark Arrestor.

-ScottZ

[professor95]

Old & Slow wrote:
Prof95:

Sorry, for my making a wrong turn. I stand by my statement. From a old man's point of view, in today's world, this is about as good as it get's. My Champion C46540 and this thread has added to my life many happy hours. I will try to forget any worry and fret about any negative's from recent days. Hope I can be here as this thread continues to offer good things.

Floyd

Floyd,

While some of your views and comments recently have been of concern, life is just too darn short to dwell on them.

Welcome back. I look forward to a much longer and continually productive relationship.

[WaltinColo]

🙂

[Old___Slow]

Old & Slow wrote:

deshemar wrote:

professor95 wrote:
The DuroPower is a nice little unit. It is almost identical to the ELM3000 I purchased in March of 2005 when this thread began. Both the DuroPower and original ELM3000 are built by a large Chinese plant named JiangDong.

The major mechanical differences between the Champion and JD units are in the way the voltage is regulated and the amount of distortion that appears on the output sine wave. The Champion uses a very well designed solid state voltage regulator with a sense winding. The JD units use a simple AC capacitor. Voltage is much more stable with the Champion AVR and the distortion on the output is somewhere in the range of 4% - pretty low for this class of generator. The Champion does use slip rings and a brush set rather than a brushless design. Initially, I saw this as a negative but now that I have been able to disect and examine both units I believe the brushes will outlast most of the other components.

Another thing to consider is your warranty and after the sale support. JD makes generators for perhaps a hundred or more distributors who sell them under their label (like DuroPower). Champion owns their own manufacturing facility and makes only their own label. Their warrranty and service/parts department are currently very responsive to customer needs and have impressed many on this forum.

If it sounds like I am advertising for Champion - I am not. At least not any more than I would advertise for products from GM, Fleetwood, Camco, Acar, Dometic or a slew of others that I have been blessed to receive good service, support and some value for my dollar from. I think one of the things that these forums do that makes them valuable is allowing contributors to honestly express their experiences with products and problems relevant to our life style.

Professor 95,
thanks for the information - you and Mr. wizard are a great source of information for those of us without the depth of knowledge you both demonstrate. Thanks again - will be looking into the champion based on these comments.
on another note professor, I see by your profile you are here in Mechanicsville - hello neighbor - I live here too. Good to know you are close by.

To all the forums:

This was the post that helped me make the final decision to buy a Chinese made Genset. From this post I have been so blessed in my experience with the Champion C46540. It has exceeded my expectation. From a old man's point of view, in today's world, this is about as good as it gets. I have cancer and needed something special to come my way.

Floyd

Prof95:

Sorry, for my making a wrong turn. I stand by my statement. From a old man's point of view, in today's world, this is about as good as it get's. My Champion C46540 and this thread has added to my life many happy hours. I will try to forget any worry and fret about any negative's from recent days. Hope I can be here as this thread continues to offer good things.

Floyd

[bobandcat]

Acampingwewillgo wrote:

Hemiallen wrote:
The $299 advertised price at the store is WITH the $150 rebate, according to both their website, and my mail insert flier I got this morning.

Nowhere do I see it advertised for $299 from the store, just online sales which does not allow the $150 rebate.....

Allen

Hi
Just so there is no misunderstanding of what I was told Via E-mail I will Quote.
"Here is the deal, you can get the price match(299.00)of the on line price and rebate OR regular price(349.00) plus the 25% discount and rebate. You cannot have both discount and price match with rebate."

If you want the actual E-mail I received, send me your E-mail address and Ill forward it to you.
Hope this helps.
Dwight

I went out and bought the C46540 today at Checker Auto as a spare parts unit or backup generator if I never need any parts. It was $349 minus $87.25 (25% off survey coupon) minus $150 rebate equals $111.75 final cost after the rebate.

To get the coupon, you need to have a recent receipt from Checker or other affiliated store. If you don’t have one, buy something like a roll of shop towels for a buck. Then go to http://www.partsamerica.com/surveystart.aspx?surveyKey=4H7R. Fill in your personal and receipt info, then take the 10-question survey. When you are done, you will receive an e-mail with a 25% off coupon for one item in the store.

You cannot get the website price match ($299) and use the 25% off survey coupon. It’s one or the other. The coupon is worth more than the price match.

I really didn’t need this generator but I just couldn’t pass up the deal.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

~

[gotagetaway]

Your local store will match the on line 299.00 price if you print it and bring it to them,(its their policy).Then send in the rebate for another 150 off (does not matter what the sale price was).

[professor95]

ol-Bombero-JC wrote:
What say you prof or Wiz? Any "inside" scoop?

Nope.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

~

[tvman44]

LittleBill wrote:

HedoTravelers wrote:

notice they say to run 2 plates for durability i only have 1 plate maybe i will get another

I've been scratching my head over that too. :h

Read the bulletin i posted. the plate im taking about is the guides for the valve lifters. it is made of plastic. they say to run 2 for extra durability

That bulletin does not mention the C46540 thou it is probably the same engine.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

~
Sounds better than fair to me!
~

[Acampingwewillg]

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

Hemiallen wrote:
The $299 advertised price at the store is WITH the $150 rebate, according to both their website, and my mail insert flier I got this morning.

Nowhere do I see it advertised for $299 from the store, just online sales which does not allow the $150 rebate.....

Allen

Allen-
I still have my Sunday (L.A. Times) Kragen ad from March 2, 08.
Looking at it (pic in upper right hand corner) as I enter this.
~
The advertised price for the Champion #C46540, with "RV Ready Outlet"
is $299 . . . .BUT - I missed the very small print under that price,
it states "after $50 Mail In Rebate". (Note: $50. not $150.)
~
The bottom of that page indicates "Prices guaranteed
March 2 through March 29, 2008."
~
So, it would appear the regular "in store" price before the $50
rebate is $349. With the $150 mail in rebate, the price should
be $199. (before tax).
~
The "not valid with any other offer", IMO means the $150 rebate
can't be combined with the $50 rebate. (for $200 off the reg price).
~
Also - the mail-in $150 rebate says to purchase at a - "Checker Auto
Parts, Schuck's Auto Supply, Kragen Auto Parts or Murray's Discount
Auto STORES between 03/10/08 and 03/29/08."
Note: "Stores" - not on-line.
JC

OK all....once again, I was told as I have quoted, That if you walk into one of their stores, bring a printed copy of the on line price, the store should match this price AND the 150.00 dollar mail in rebate is still valid. Thus making the most you should have to pay is 149.00+ after the rebate.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

.