โMar-02-2005 06:20 AM
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 โcloningโ 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 โrunningโ 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. โSupposedlyโ 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 โabove average qualityโ 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 โavailability listingโ.
The generator head itself is a brushless design. The only really significant wear parts in the generator are the bearings โ most likely universally available.
The published dB rating is 67 at 23 feet. This is โreasonablyโ 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 โlook alikeโ eng...
โMay-21-2008 05:16 PM
โMay-21-2008 01:01 PM
Another often noted characteristic was a red area directly across the top of the buttox. This occurred when one was bending over and the rear of the jeans would decline while the T-shirt inclined. Plumbers and brick masons were highly susceptible to this condition. Perhaps the ad flaps could be attached to the back of one's belt and referred to as "crack flaps".
โMay-21-2008 11:50 AM
professor95 wrote:Ol Bombero JC wrote:
Prof -
Ahhhh . . .another pearl of wisdom that nobody caught!
Rednecks "only from your part of the country".
Few understand or know the true origin of the term "Redneck" (or "Red Neck")-
(miners of WVA - and even before that).
The origin had nothing to do with "good ole boys" working in the sun in
the fields getting their necks sunburned and/or the Foxworthy stuff,
"You know you're a Redneck, if . . . "
JC
I'm once again walking on thin ice since this reply isn't really Chinese genny info - maybe I can tie it in before I finish?
Suttlies? Yes. Guess I have been watching "Lost" too long. It is beginning to have an influence on my thinking.
A popular term in these parts for folks of all colors is the "Farmer's Tan". This is what you achieve when you work outdoors in the fields, construction, etc. and constantly wear a T-shirt and long jeans. Your face, neck, and arms are darkened while the rest of your body remains a ghostly color. This becomes evident when you go to the lake or beach for a day in the water. It also ties in with the actual genre' of the "Red Neck" term since the initial result of such solar exposure results in a very cherry red neck. Red Necks are the guys of "worth" who know how to sweat for a living. By coincidence, many early Red Necks (especially in our Western Sister State) lived in trailers down dirt roads and drove old dusty pick-up trucks, liked their beer and relished on the songs of George Jones and Waylan Jennings.
Another often noted chacteristic was a red area directly across the top of the buttox. This occured when one was bending over and the rear of the jeans would decline while the T-shirt inclined. Plumbers and brick masons were highly suspectable to this condition. Perhaps the ad flaps could be attached to the back of one's belt and refered to as "crack flaps".
It is, indeed, a true part of the "color" of America.
While I live in a way too large energy hungry stick built house surrounded by over a hundred acres of wheat and corn fields, enjoy a paved road at the front of the house, prefer distilled spirits to beer and keep my truck washed, I currently have a Farmer's Tan as my red neck has aged into amber. Maybe after our RV trips to the lake and beach this summer I will take on a more consistent color?
Personally, I consider the title of "Red Neck" as one of honor.
Now, to tie all this into Chinese gennys so we keep on topic........ There is, as one might note, a diversity of colors used in the paint applied to these little jewels. I have one red and one yellow. I assume the red one was destined for Virginia and the yellow one perhaps was to remain in China? Perhaps the makers of these gennys should consider different paint schemes for the respective regions where their products are sold? Hey, what about major college or University colors and logos? Now, that could be a winner! I think I would opt for a Virginia Tech orange - but the UVA blue would be a big seller as well.
Guess I had best go buy a couple of spray cans of Krylon.....
โMay-21-2008 08:45 AM
โMay-21-2008 07:51 AM
Ol Bombero JC wrote:
Prof -
Ahhhh . . .another pearl of wisdom that nobody caught!
Rednecks "only from your part of the country".
Few understand or know the true origin of the term "Redneck" (or "Red Neck")-
(miners of WVA - and even before that).
The origin had nothing to do with "good ole boys" working in the sun in
the fields getting their necks sunburned and/or the Foxworthy stuff,
"You know you're a Redneck, if . . . "
JC
โMay-21-2008 04:48 AM
โMay-20-2008 10:09 PM
โMay-20-2008 05:34 PM
WaltinColo wrote:
Hey, did anyone else notice?
O&S didnt mention wanting a lower sounding unit in his last 2 posts!!!
2 whole posts without mentioning it!!! :E
Can you believe it?!!! WoW!!
After mentioning it 3 times a day for the last 6 months for a total of 482 times, maybe he's finally decided to actually talk about other subjects and not repeat himself over n over!! ๐
3 cheers for Floyd!!! ๐
...anyone taking side bets on how long itll last? :R
โMay-20-2008 03:57 PM
โMay-20-2008 11:56 AM
โMay-20-2008 08:00 AM
tvman44 wrote:
What is his E_Mail address?
โMay-20-2008 07:58 AM
Old & Slow wrote:
Posted: 05/20/08 08:21am Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator
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At the suggestion of Professor, I emailed Mr. Paul Cole some time back and I had also sent in my Warranty Card so my address was on file. In the mail this week was a item intended to kill all the RED NECKS in Texas.lol Well, sort of. lol. I had ask for a Champion Flag in that request of long ago. So here was the answer that came in the mail. It's a Ad-Flap extender for a cap to cover the neck. Champion no less, logo. He says the Caps may be available later. My thought is the beanie weenies (bean counters) @ Champion are way to slow. But it's a freebie and Mr. Cole states anyone can request one, to just email him! So folks get in on the action.
Floyd
โMay-20-2008 07:40 AM
โMay-20-2008 05:21 AM
โMay-19-2008 09:04 AM
denverhank wrote:
Has anyone seen their rebate yet? If so, how long did it take?