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...
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toprudder wrote:
On another note, I was just in the local Tractor Supply store, they have an RV model in stock again. Not the same as mine, it has the 120/240 switch and is rated 4000/3500 where mine is rated 3500/3000. Makes me wonder exactly what is different inside the gen head. Prof, do you know?
The 36540 is the last of the 2009 models. It has been around for about 3 years and is considered the tried and true Chinese RV workhorse. The 4,000/3,500 watt rating is overly optimistic, but since it puts two 15 amp circuit breakers in parallel when set to the 120 volt mode I guess they feel the 3,500 watt run rating is justified. The 4,000 watt rating is, of course, a peak rating that exceeds the over current protection rating of 3,600 watts and as such is not sustainable.
The 40026 is the 2010 model that replaces the 36540 (once inventory is depleted). The single circuit breaker over current protection rating of the 40026 is 25 amps at the RV outlet (3,000 watts), and 20 amps at the duplex outlet.
The 40026 is a 120 volt AC only model (no 240 VAC mode). It also features a new over voltage shut down module and the digital frequency, volts and hour meter.
I have noticed our local TSC store had the 36540, sold out and received a shipment of 40026 models, sold out again and now has the 36540 back in stock.
Of the two, I like the features of the newer 40026. It has the same genhead as my 40008 which has a lower THD rating than the 120/240 VAC genhead. The digital meter and over voltage shut down module are great features. If the AVR fails and voltage spikes over 140 VAC, the engine will immediately shut down - protecting anything plugged in from possibly being damaged.
The difference in wattage ratings are, IMHO, insignificant.
