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]

TubaPete wrote:

I too have learned a lot. I still get a little envious when I hear about the Champion rebate. I got my genset way back when the main topic was the ELIM 3000. I still go to Pep Boys and walk the generator aisle just for nostalgia.

The ELM3000 was (is) still a great genset. I still have mine and use it as the moveable unit around the Ranch. Not sure what has prompted the rebates, but they usually come along when supply exceeds demand to reduce inventory. The market has really been flooded with Chinese gennys and they may be stacked to the ceiling in the warehouses.

Another factor is we have had some pretty mild winters (at least in the east) without any major power outage ice storms. That, along with a relatively light hurricane season last year probably reduced demand.

My son recently bought a Wen PowerPro at a yard sale for $75.00. He said it was "like new". Previous owners bought it after a storm hit Durham, NC, two years back and the wife got tired of tripping over it in the garage...... so out it goes! He may be able to sell it back to them this summer (if another storm hits) for a considerable profit!

I too have learned tremendously from the forum. It seems to run in cycles with a core group of "old timers" and a revolving door of newcombers. The info in the archives is so vast we often start over with the questions and answers. Most of the time, this is OK. Answers do change as knowledge expands!

[TubaPete]

5rFozz wrote:
Well, I learned a lot from this thread. I'm glad I held out for the rebate offer!

I too have learned a lot. I still get a little envious when I hear about the Champion rebate. I got my genset way back when the main topic was the ELIM 3000. I still go to Pep Boys and walk the generator aisle just for nostalgia. 🙂

[5rFozz]

Well, I learned a lot from this thread. I'm glad I held out for the rebate offer! Tested the lil Champ on the 15k a/c last week and ran great. It's no louder than my little Coleman Sport 1600 that I use to charge batteries. I might experiment with some sound dampening for fun though.

[racefan1965]

No posts for 4 days straight? Has the small portable chinese genset craze come to a end? lol

[AZJIM1]

Checker Auto in Phoenix has the Champion C46540 for $199 after rebate . . . can't beat that price!

[MrWizard]

yep...being things like this for several years, but this is the first verizon phone, I had that would allow this much 'PIMPIN' so i have been a very busy man.

[WaltinColo]

So Mr. Wizard, let me get this straight...you're pimping youre cell phone?



heh, a geek after my own heart...
:B

[professor95]

edited

[MrWizard]

professor95 wrote:

MrWizard wrote:
thanks, great Idea, i have similar parts in my 'parts & tools' drawer

I've been wondering where you went. I did a recent search of orbituaries in your local paper, but came up empty. Guess this means you're still kicking?

I check in every day, just haven't posted much in this thread lately, have made some over in 'technology' forum

I have been real busy in the cell phone forums, lately, modding the heck out of my new verizon voyager

with custom swf/flash animations for wallpaper, custom made swf digital animated clocks, and swf/flash PC game conversions for the phone

find me in the verizon & LG forums of HOFO www.howardforums.com

http://www.howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=397

[toprudder]

It is so simple, it is elegant.

I'm not sure just how the shutdown circuitry works on the generator, does it latch so that once the shutdown begins it does not let the generator continue to run if/when the shutdown signal returns to normal??

I would be tempted to add a large bypass capacitor between the variable resistor and zener, so that a momentary high-voltage fluctuation would not trigger a shutdown, but during a real shutdown event it would help keep the relay energized while the generator spins down.

Bob R.

[lotust]

professor95 I found your photobucket page. Whooooo you have been busy tinkering with the solar and generator power huh ? It looks like an excellent idea to use my trucks existing camper cover to house my generator. Duh....

thanks for the ideas.

[lotust]

FYI: I was at a local homedepot and saw a Champion gen for 199$ It was an introductory price the sign said. I think it was a 3000-4000 watt model just like the 3500 Power pro.


This was last week at the home depot here on Long Island Ny in the riverhead location.

[lotust]

Sorry if this has been asked before. Did anyone build a part enclosure for this generator? If so do you have some pics of info? thanks.

[racefan1965]

I must say...I'm 43 years old and cannot read schematics worth beans. It's all greek to me. But then again... considering very few AVR's fail I'm not too worried about it.
Still a great post and I want to tell you thanks for looking out for us on here professor.

Rick

[blkfe]

Another way cool post from the Professor.........
Thanks for all you do Randy,
Brad