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...

[tvman44]

What is lazy? :@

waybo418 wrote:

Teamjd wrote:
Does anybody have a repair manual or have taken down one of these generators?

I'm sorry, but that is just plain lazy.

[MrWizard]

if your looking for something like a chilton's the answer is No

if your looking for the parts diagram and list , yes thats online

this thread has pctures of engine parts and mods , carb starter exhaust etc...
but you will have to read thru it to find them

[JiminDenver]

Go to the Champion web site and you can download manuals.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

waybo418 wrote:

Teamjd wrote:
Does anybody have a repair manual or have taken down one of these generators?

I'm sorry, but that is just plain lazy.

Sure don't understand the above reply!.:h.:h

The repair manual - call Champion.

"Taken one down" -

Maybe someone here has . . . . also -
You might start a new thread asking that question.
Better chance for replies due to "visibility".

~

[waybo418]

Teamjd wrote:
Does anybody have a repair manual or have taken down one of these generators?

I'm sorry, but that is just plain lazy.

[Teamjd]

Does anybody have a repair manual or have taken down one of these generators?

[MrRchitty]

TeamSlacker wrote:
I looked around for a while trying to find the electric heads for my brothers Wen, and my PowerWise. Never did find anything reasonably priced to make it worth while. Let me know if you find anything.

Teamjd wrote:
I have been happily reading along here for years enjoying my WEN Pro 3500 Watt generator.
The generator head finally gave up the ghost and started spitting out plastic pieces and died Sunday night (midnight of course) froze my but off the rest of the night. I was using it to power an electric heater in the pop-up.

Is it worth replacing the generator head? Or keep the unit for spare parts and get another one. I am quite capable of doing the repair. The unit only has 250-300 hours on it in 6 years of use. Not complaining about the longevity, just if it's worth repairing.

Honda 5000 watt... $2100 for the whole thing, 800 for the rotor winding.

[TeamSlacker]

I looked around for a while trying to find the electric heads for my brothers Wen, and my PowerWise. Never did find anything reasonably priced to make it worth while. Let me know if you find anything.

Teamjd wrote:
I have been happily reading along here for years enjoying my WEN Pro 3500 Watt generator.
The generator head finally gave up the ghost and started spitting out plastic pieces and died Sunday night (midnight of course) froze my but off the rest of the night. I was using it to power an electric heater in the pop-up.

Is it worth replacing the generator head? Or keep the unit for spare parts and get another one. I am quite capable of doing the repair. The unit only has 250-300 hours on it in 6 years of use. Not complaining about the longevity, just if it's worth repairing.

[Teamjd]

I have been happily reading along here for years enjoying my WEN Pro 3500 Watt generator.
The generator head finally gave up the ghost and started spitting out plastic pieces and died Sunday night (midnight of course) froze my but off the rest of the night. I was using it to power an electric heater in the pop-up.

Is it worth replacing the generator head? Or keep the unit for spare parts and get another one. I am quite capable of doing the repair. The unit only has 250-300 hours on it in 6 years of use. Not complaining about the longevity, just if it's worth repairing.

[regal5575]

The Professor noted wrote:

FYI, both Sears and Lowes sell a drill adapter that is used to start their weedwackers. They sell for about $10.00 and are located near their weedwackers (string trimmers). These adapters allow for speed overrun when the motor starts. Here is a link to Lowe's webpage for this adapter Lowes link

JerryK

[professor95]

For those that may get the Highway's Magazine provided to Good Sam members, there is a very nice write up on pages 61-62 featuring Champion synchronous Generators. On page 63 there is a full color spread advertising the 1,500, 4,000 and 9,500 watt models. This was apparently done by Camping World which now sells Champion generators and is also owned by Good Sam Enterprises.

[daytona7]

Professor, I think I will have to pass on reading all of that while in the library. I will pick out some of the more interesting articles though.
I e-mailed Gen Tent this morning inquiring about air circulation around the generator and exhaust. Following is their reply.
"The gen tent has been designed to serve up to 100 degrees outside tempratures. Over 100F, we recommend not using the tent. We have not had anyone with damage from our Gen Tent.
The exhaust is relieved thru a rollup panel on the side for Lh or Rh exhaust muffler. Cooling is adequate with a 3in opening around the base."
I guess I'll order one tomorrow since I don't want to spend the rest of my life sitting in the library reading.
Will have to hook up a temp gauge on the top to get an idea of how good the cooling openings work.
THANKS for all your help!
Leon

[professor95]

daytona7 wrote:
I prefer Hagen-Dazh(sp) Pineapple-Coconut or Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia.
Now you will have to excuse me but I am only a HS Kickout so everything I wind up experimenting with is normally 5 times the work need.
I plan to call SuperGen tomorrow. Tried yesterday but got their answering machine.

Tell you what to do in the mean time......... go here for some bathroom reading. Be forewarned, you might need a double scoop of Cherry Garcia.

[daytona7]

I prefer Hagen-Dazh(sp) Pineapple-Coconut or Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia.
Now you will have to excuse me but I am only a HS Kickout so everything I wind up experimenting with is normally 5 times the work need.
I plan to call SuperGen tomorrow. Tried yesterday but got their answering machine.

[professor95]

Trimsters wrote:
daytona7
What you are describing is a Hermholtz Acoustic Trap/Resonator.
SNIP

Extremely well shared and right on the money. BTW - pegboard can be purchased as a UV resistant, waterproof plastic in addition to pressed fiberboard. Unless it is placed right against the exhaust pipe on the engine it should not soften or melt.