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...
โJun-02-2009 07:36 PM
โJun-02-2009 07:50 AM
Kenper wrote:
I am not sure where the regulator is. I have a black rectanguler box on the end of the Gen head that looks like it's not adjustable. It's in the gen Head picture on Flikr. Unfortunately I can only check this site from work at night then go look at the Gen the next day. I haven't noticed any other wiring so I'm sure that's it. I will have to unbolt it to see if there's any adjustment on it. My meter is accurate so I am apparently sending 140 volts to the TT. Luckily the weather has been pretty mild so I haven't run it much. I have solar panels for the day to day stuff like TV. I stay in the TT 4 days a week for work so I don't want to fry anything.
On a side note, I pretty much live in my trailer half the time. In the summer the solar panels keep me charged up. In the winter they can't keep up. Would it be worth it to buy one of the little 800 watt genny's for lights, TV, heater fan (propane) and battery charging in the winter? They should use a lot less gas.
โJun-01-2009 08:47 PM
โJun-01-2009 10:12 AM
lt_eggbeater wrote:madbare wrote:lt_eggbeater wrote:
Champion said that they are trying to make a carb compliant altitude kit. Hopefully it will happen soon. Until then I will try to make a couple of governor adjustments on the genset.
Glad to finally hear this. I have been bugging them for years about this. I live up at 9000 ft and this little thing is definitely on the rich side up here. Paul sent me an adjustable carb to help but it still needs a leaner main jet.
How many watts can you get on a stable sustained basis up there?
โJun-01-2009 09:47 AM
kenper wrote:
I'm beginning to think this is wired correctly after all. It is able to start the AC most times now. It bogs down for a second then once the compressor starts it runs great. Once it's running it has no trouble keeping the AC going as well as the Microwave, Fridge, etc.. I bought the trailer recently and it looks like it hasn't been used very much. I think the AC pump is just a little tight. The more I use it the easier it is to start. I was able to start it 5 times in a row using the Trailer 3 prong outlet. The built in meter reads 110 without a problem. My multi-meter may have a problem though. It reads 140, or is this an indicator of a Gen problem. Hot to hot = 0. Hot to common = 140. All the plugs read the same. Everything in the TT seems to work fine while running the Genny. I will test my multi-meter at home on my wall outlets. If this sounds like there is still a problem I can disconnect the wires and test them like you showed.
โJun-01-2009 08:09 AM
MrWizard wrote:
correct,
HIS windings are NOT isolated.
โJun-01-2009 01:43 AM
MrWizard wrote:
let me try:
lets say you have (4) wires A B C D
with the genny running but nothing plugged in
you measure the voltage on your wires by pairs and write it all down
A&B 120
A&C 120
A&D 240
B&C 0
B&D 120
C&D 120
โMay-31-2009 08:57 PM
madbare wrote:lt_eggbeater wrote:
Champion said that they are trying to make a carb compliant altitude kit. Hopefully it will happen soon. Until then I will try to make a couple of governor adjustments on the genset.
Glad to finally hear this. I have been bugging them for years about this. I live up at 9000 ft and this little thing is definitely on the rich side up here. Paul sent me an adjustable carb to help but it still needs a leaner main jet.
โMay-31-2009 08:51 PM
lt_eggbeater wrote:
Champion said that they are trying to make a carb compliant altitude kit. Hopefully it will happen soon. Until then I will try to make a couple of governor adjustments on the genset.
โMay-31-2009 08:46 PM
โMay-31-2009 03:24 PM
MrWizard wrote:
lets say you have (4) wires A B C D
with the genny running but nothing plugged in
you measure the voltage on your wires by pairs and write it all down
A&B 120
A&C 120
A&D 240
B&C 0
B&D 120
C&D 120
โMay-31-2009 11:34 AM
โMay-31-2009 09:59 AM
racefan1965 wrote:
Thank you very much MR. Wizard. You and the professor have helped me tremendously and most of the time you don't even know about it.lol I stopped posting on the 3000genset thread because it seemed to go to the LPG side and I have no desire to go that way. Plus most of it goes right over my challenged brain.lol
โMay-31-2009 09:49 AM
MrWizard wrote:
let me try:
lets say you have (4) wires A B C D
with the genny running but nothing plugged inthat without dis-assembling the generator head
โMay-31-2009 09:44 AM