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...

[RTompkins3]

Good grief! a day without a post! :B (couldn't resist)

[jlaustin]

I pulled the gas tank off the DuroPower 3500ES to get some room and visibility so I can determine where to mount the KN regulator. It looks like it's going to be "tight" getting it inside the original genset frame. I had envisioned replacing the gas tank with a piece of Hardiebacker to help cut down on sound emanating through the top, and perhaps cover the Hardibacker with a piece of aluminum diamond plate with turned-down edges for appearance and to shed rain.

I believe I have read in earlier posts (maybe a few thousand posts back?? HAHA!) that the KN regulator must be mounted vertically for the diaphragm to function properly.

Does the KN regulator just have to be in the vertical plane or does it have to also have the feed block valve at the 12 o'clock position? I could gain a lot of mounting room if I could mount the regulator vertically, but rotate the regulator so the feed block valve exits at about the 9 or 10 o'clock position. Will this work? Anyone done this?

Also, I note that there are two threaded holes at the 4 and 8 o'clock position (if you have the outlet at 12 o'clock) that appear to open inside the regulator. The holes are on the primer side of the casing and look to be about 3/8" in diameter. Are these vent holes? Would it impair any function if I "borrowed" one of these threaded holes and put a bolt in it for one of the mounts?

Regards,
John

[professor95]

waybo418 wrote:
Thanks to everyone who make this thread so interesting and informative.

......and you are one of those people. Thank You!

[professor95]

1mclovin wrote:
Hi



I have a few questions for the experts here.

Even though I ran it dry today am I correct to assume there is still some gas in the float bowel? There are two bolts on the float bowel, one dead center on the bottom and one angling out the side of the float bowl. Which should I remove to drain the float bowel if there is still gas in it?

Is the air filter supposed to be dry? It looks to me like it should be an oiled filter. I don't see me using this generator in dusty conditions but all small engines I have delt with that have this type of air cleaner have been the oiled type(foam sponge).

McLOVIN

The angled bolt will drain any remaining gas in the carb. The one dead center is the main jet. Removing it will allow you to remove the fuel bowl. Leave it be as the float bowl O ring can easily be damaged.

Unless you are running the generator in extremely dusty conditions, there is no need to oil the foam filter. If it is really dusty you can put most any type of oil on the filter and then squeeze out any excess. Personally, I run my gennys with dry filters.

You have a good product. With care it should last you years. You are wise to remove all gas when putting the unit in storage. Once the gas evaporates it leaves a sticky gum that really screws things up. You might want to spray a shot of carb cleaner into the float bowl thru the hole for the angled drain nut and then let it drain out as well.

[waybo418]

Sorry for the belated birthday wishes, but I was in Daytona for bike week. Thanks to everyone who make this thread so interesting and informative.














And now back to our regular programming.

[1mclovin]

Hi

I am not an RV person but someone who had been researching Champion 3500W generators and came upon this historical thread.

I bought a Champion model 46515 last week from Cabela's for $279.99.

This generator will be used to run the TV, computer, a few lights and refrig in cases of a power interruption at home(maybe once ever few years).

I can cook with out power and have city water so 220V was not needed and the wattage of this unit was fine and the price was VERY right.

So far I have run this unit for 5 hours to break it in and I changed the oil per the manual. I ran the unit until it was out of gas. My plan is to store it without any gas because it could be years before I will ever need it.

I have a few questions for the experts here.

Even though I ran it dry today am I correct to assume there is still some gas in the float bowel? There are two bolts on the float bowel, one dead center on the bottom and one angling out the side of the float bowl. Which should I remove to drain the float bowel if there is still gas in it?

Is the air filter supposed to be dry? It looks to me like it should be an oiled filter. I don't see me using this generator in dusty conditions but all small engines I have delt with that have this type of air cleaner have been the oiled type(foam sponge).

McLOVIN

[professor95]

The "Transition Diode" is the device on virtually all generators, including Chinese, Japanese and domestic, that latches when the kill switch is pressed so that the engine will not restart should the switch be released. The low oil shutdown switch also attaches to this device.

The picture below is the device used on virtually all Chinese generators.



Actually, the term "Transition Diode" is a misnomer. The device is far more than a simple diode.

The device is in a steel case and "potted", or sealed in a hard black plastic resin. Un-potting or removing the material is a time consuming process, but one that can be accomplished with the right technique. The two photos below are of a device I un-potted. I did do a little damage to a disc ceramic capacitor in the process :(. I drew a schematic from the circuit board when I completed the un-potting, but have no idea what I did with it. If I ever find it or decide to re-draw it I will share the circuit.

[Old___Slow]

One thing to be noticed is the 'push to reset' CB on the Champion. Good sale though. Jim (jlaustin) has shown his new DuroPower picture. I notice it has the heavy duty toggle circuit breakers. New panels to lower the noise and Electric Start. $349 to your door. Wonder how long these lower prices will be around?

Hey Jim,

Good going on the new remote control and also on to the LPG retro. Looking for new posts somewhere.

[kausin_komotion]

New Cabelas flyer came today.They have the 3500 watt champion/rv plug on sale for $279...sale is on until march 14th

[jlaustin]

professor95 wrote:

Who would ever have believed a Chinese Generator could draw so much interest...

It's just because ... it's there!:B

Regards,

John

[Old___Slow]

Yes, happy birthday from Texas. And all because of our Professor95.

[professor95]

March 2, 2005 - March 2, 2010

8,159 postings
644,631+ views
5 years of active function

Who would ever have believed a Chinese Generator could draw so much interest..........



Happy Birthday

[MrWizard]

X2.. well done

[professor95]

John,

Extremely neat and well built. It should give you many hours or years of reliable service.

[toprudder]

professor95 wrote:
It gets power from the coil and once internally grounded latches until power is removed.

Ahh, ok, I know what you are talking about now. Never heard it called that.