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...

[toprudder]

Just a dusting down here in Raleigh, Prof. Was gone almost as soon as it started.

A few years back we had a never-heard-of 20" blizzard. I bought a snow blower after that. My neighbors laughed. At least, until the next snow happened and I had my drivway cleared in 10 minutes.

[professor95]

These nor'easters really have an impact on the locals. All the milk, eggs, bread and beer are gone from the grocery store shelves.

TSC sold out of generators and the stock at Lowe's is really low. You can look for the ones sold to be on Craig's List this Spring when it becomes garage cleaning time :). Nine inches where I live (east of Richmond), 15" to 17" on the west side. 24" or more in the valley. Nothing like this in December since 1908. More on the way Christmas Eve????

I'm too old for deep snows. Shoveling hurts my back. Now if I could only figure out how make this Chinese genny into a snow blower :h

[professor95]

Trimsters wrote:
So, when I pull apart the alternator on my Champion... where am I going to physically find the wire that ties both coils together?

Thanks
Bob & Lisa

You do not need to pull the alternator apart. Just take off the end cap. All of the wires will be right there in front of you on the studs of the terminal strip.

[Trimsters]

So, when I pull apart the alternator on my Champion... where am I going to physically find the wire that ties both coils together?

Thanks
Bob & Lisa

[blacksea]

quabillion wrote:

blacksea-7 wrote:
In the end, I'm ahead of every one of you who think purchasing brand names are better because they carry the infamous H or Y as I can buy three to your one and have equal reliability and economy. Yeah, I'm happy with them.. very happy.

What a perfect example of "Ignorance is bliss".

Spend more than you need to get the job done... Perfect example of useless stupidity,

[quabillion]

blacksea-7 wrote:
In the end, I'm ahead of every one of you who think purchasing brand names are better because they carry the infamous H or Y as I can buy three to your one and have equal reliability and economy. Yeah, I'm happy with them.. very happy.

What a perfect example of "Ignorance is bliss".

[TeamSlacker]

W8NONU wrote:


got anymore coupons or codes?

No sorry, it was a post card in the mail, the more you charge to your cabelas card = more $ off.
I thought I saw some coupon right on the home page the other day.

[Old___Slow]

Blacksea-7,

Your posts are a mystery. I don't know the percentage of PRO 3000w Chineses genset folks (we are like a family) (sometimes fued about small stuff) but it is truly a high number that are in agreement, the Chinese produce reasonably descent gensets that are a great value. We can not buy a US made genset in this class, so its a no brainer that we never bash what we own as being Chinese made. We try to share our best ideas on improvement and care of the gensets we own. As for the Champion brand, yes it is no doubt the most talked about of the many Chinese gensets. CPE has a proven record of CS which makes it a choice of many of us. I have a C46540 with some upgrades. LPG and electric start and some sound lowering panels. All ideas that are shared on this thread. Marry Chistmas to our beloved Professor95 the creator of this thread.

Floyd

[ol_Bombero-JC]

blacksea-7 wrote:
Oh perhaps...

:h :?

[W8NONU]

TeamSlacker wrote:

Gulfcoast wrote:
Just passing along free info...

Champion 3500-watt generators at Cabela's with a FREE wheel kit... $279.99

Offer expires 12/31/09

Picked one up last night, with coupon worked out to about $200.
Got it unboxed and put together tonight, second pull, away it went... brrrrrrrrrrr

got anymore coupons or codes?

[blacksea]

Oh perhaps...

[MrWizard]

blacksea-7, I agree with everything you said, but don't understand why you made the post in THIS thread, as this is the pro Chinese thread, not the pro honda-yammy thread.
almost everybody here has the same sentiment & thoughts that you posted.

[blacksea]

I've sold, rented and owned nearly every generator out there and I can assure you, honda, yamaha, etc aren't any better than the next... it's a name. The Chinese turned reverse engineering into an art... there's nothing wrong with it as why re-invent the wheel everytime someone wants a piece of the market? They've equal pattern makers, foundries, casting and CNC's equal to any other country or firm. That's the bottom line. Some are aluminum bore while others are iron... the latter no doubt preferred however the latter doesn't cool as well as the former. As for the generator end, they're usually cloned from someone such as Magnetti Marenelli, Lima, Brush, Crompton, etc.. this list is nearly endless.
We've a 1.5KW and a 4KW, both Champions which sit for months with stale gas yet they start in the first couple pulls... who can possibly complain? Also Champion has yet to have a recall... nor have I had issue one with their parts or service.
In the end, I'm ahead of every one of you who think purchasing brand names are better because they carry the infamous H or Y as I can buy three to your one and have equal reliability and economy. Yeah, I'm happy with them.. very happy.

[Trimsters]

Actually it's model number is C46535. Here's the unit on the Champion web site.
http://www.championpowerequipment.com/C46535.php

Thanks
Bob

[MrWizard]

Trimsters

yep, center tapped, 120v-240, 240 on the twist lock and 120v single winding on each of the (2) duplex outlets, so its 14amps per duplex

yep , need a rewire to get 120v paralleled windings..

this has been done, i'll look for the modified drawing, and post it , if Randy doesn't fine it first, i think he's a little better organized than I am