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...

[ol_Bombero-JC]

C-Leigh Racing wrote:
What would happen to this thread, if someone was to mention how good Red Max floor wax was on the outside of a faided out motorhome body.
Neil

Probably hear from folks who used their gens to power all sorts of "stuff" while applying Red Max Pro #3 in a campground without disturbing their neighbors . . . .

then were asked if the quiet gen is a Honda or Yamaha.:@
. . . and nothing about the wax job!.:W

~

Prof:
Have you heard who is the replacement for Paul Cole at Champion?

~

[MrWizard]

Red Max Pro 3 is not wax

does not turn milky white

you have to buy the correct product

the Red Max brand has more than one product

[professor95]

C-Leigh Racing wrote:
What would happen to this thread, if someone was to mention how good Red Max floor wax was on the outside of a faided out motorhome body.
Neil

I would not worry about what would happen to the thread - just about every possible subject has been broached here at one time or another. Still, we do try extremely hard to keep the topics on subject to the 3,000 watt class Chinese generator.

But your camper will look like it has milky white wax paper on it in a few weeks of weather exposure with acrylic floor wax on the outside. Best to use a water based polyurethane hardwood floor finish than acrylic wax - it will last about a year before it cracks and looks like poo.

[professor95]

2bnb driver wrote:
proff95,

question...concerning the champion 3000/3500 generator. If used in a moving vehicle would propane trump liqid? Would you seperate fuel from machine in this case? Not sure what VDOT laws are reguarding this inquiry. I do know the answer to "whats orange and sleeps six"? A VDOT truck.

You can haul an 80,000 pound gasoline tanker through several of the restricted tunnels in our area without a problem or fuss - but try to travel the same route with a 5 gallon LPG tank and you are closed out and must take a different route. Traveling the DC beltway area is a good example.

But, your camper carries propane in tanks anyway - so what's the new issue :h

VDOT (Virginia Department of Transportation)? Don't think they have any specific rules - at least none that I have found - on LPG over gasoline.

[C-Leigh_Racing]

What would happen to this thread, if someone was to mention how good Red Max floor wax was on the outside of a faided out motorhome body.
Neil

[Ric_Flair]

Homage to "The Champions"

Happy New Year!

[2bnb_driver]

proff95,

question...concerning the champion 3000/3500 generator. If used in a moving vehicle would propane trump liqid? Would you seperate fuel from machine in this case? Not sure what VDOT laws are reguarding this inquiry. I do know the answer to "whats orange and sleeps six"? A VDOT truck.

[Old___Slow]

Wgeorge11 wrote:
Ah, those were the days my friends.
Many of us are still out here faithfully lurking, reading and marvelling at the endurance of "our" thread and that little yellow champion companion many of us proudly tote around. Mine still runs inspite of being dropped and drug along I-10 in Florida, and again on the Trace in Mississippi. My TT rear carrier bounced itself to death killing $1500 of bikes. BUT luck was with me. Battered, brused and bent, the Champion lives on to light up other nights. So, I have new bikes, a better carrier, and the same old gen set that has seen the Keys, Brownsville, Arizona, Mexico and points between. Life is good.
This thread has been a special place for me these past six years, kept alive by our mentor, the Professor, and Mr Wizard, etal. I could not imagine trying to reread all that has gone before. But then I have had the privilege of living it. Growing old gracefully has its advantages especially if you can run without smoking. HAPPY BIRTHDAY

My vote goes to this post. as: "Post of the year.

[professor95]

Wgeorge11 wrote:

Don't ya just love mechanical engineers.
Oh, and Seasons Greetings to this aging generation going on six years.

It all started in March 2005 :B March 2012 will be the thread's seventh birthday. Lots of water under the bridge since then......

Merry Christmas guys!

[ol_Bombero-JC]

~

Ditto what "Wgeorge11" said!
Very nice - thanx for the pics!

~

[Wgeorge11]

What a nice way to break a months silence.
Impressive and creative Beach-Rat. It's a good compromise between a basement location and/or cutting holes in the pickup cap. Best of all is not having to worry about exhaust or weight distribution. Of course there's always sound and weather to consider.
Don't ya just love mechanical engineers.
Oh, and Seasons Greetings to this aging generation going on six years.

[Beach-Rat]

The Generator is mounted.. almost
The beginning..



Welded, drilled and painted.. assembly begins




Waiting for the "kid" across the street to help me lift the Genny..



Genny hoisted into place..



It fits!





A said almost.. the generator is still not bolted to the mount.

but soon..

[ol_Bombero-JC]

JiminDenver wrote:
Gander mountain also has the Champion 3500/4000 for $279 on Saturday.

Sorry saw ad in paper, no link

JinD

~

Just Google: "Gander Mountain Champion Fulfillment"

$279.99 - EPA & CARB certified = 50 state version.

Looks like free standard shipping also.

~

[professor95]

DrBaker wrote:

mdconvert wrote:
Nice price ($200)for a 3500W (peak) generator at Home Depot and includes free shipping. I tried to create link - didn't work. Internet item is 203064219

Here ya go....

The photo shows only a single 20 amp duplex outlet - no twist lock or 30 amp TT connection. My guess is you have a 20 amp thermal breaker that will limit you to 2,400 watts in actual use. Again, just guessing, it is probably capacitor regulated rather than an AVR. That's not necessarily bad, but the output would be a little more ragged.

Still, for $200 and no shipping it is a steal if you need a spare for home power outages. Sort of reminds me of my old ELM 3000.:)

I noticed in today's paper that Northern has one for $199 as a "Black Friday" special.

[JiminDenver]

Gander mountain also has the Champion 3500/4000 for $279 on Saturday.

Sorry saw ad in paper, no link

JinD