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...

[Old___Slow]

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

professor95 wrote:
James and Bob,

Sounds logical to me. I'll throw the question to Paul and see what his response is.

Champion's "brick & mortar" in CA is only slightly above sea level.

~

No, no, no. Geezeee guys,

"brick & morter" mentioned above I do believe is in wrong location. LA CA? needs to be LA,NM (Los)-Alamos)~ Higher elv'. and Nuke power for the 'steam silent gen'. Just going forward. I now bow to better minds.

Floyd

[ol_Bombero-JC]

professor95 wrote:

ol Bombero-JC wrote:


Champion's "brick & mortar" in CA is only slightly above sea level.

~

Let's see..... They tell us the polar ice caps are melting. The resultant fresh water released is raising the normal sea level. At the rate we are going, I hear something like a 2 to 3 foot increase by the end of the century. Of course, I probably won't live to be 152 years old to know for sure if they are right or not.

But, it does pose an interesting question - or group of questions.

1) Provided the area of China where these generators are made is still on dry land, will this require a change in standard jetting as sea level increases? Will Champion's Brick and Mortar facility become the new Pacific Ocean Front?

2) Will internal combustion engines that power generators - or the like - even exist? Will fossil fuels to run what ever is left over from our generation still be available?

3) Will we still have RV's, campgrounds and vehicles with sufficient power to pull them? Perhaps the loss of land mass from the rising sea level and expected increase in population will overtake the available land for campgrounds?

4) Why am I even asking these questions? :@ :h :? :B

#4) Answer a Q with a Q.
Prof . . . have you been hittin' the bubbly again?

#1. Negative.
When we finally have the "big one" in CA, the beachfront property will be in Phoenix - and the Champ facility will be at same elevation as Death Valley.

Also, The Wiz will need to convert his MH to a low bucks (Chinese?) version of the Terra Wind Amphibious -
Terra . . . Wizard (?)

~
JC

[pritch272]

The Champ uses the F124N Fumoto valve, thread size 10mm x 1.25



I had to get it up from the rubber mount in order to install it though. With the way the oil drain hole is so close to the brace underneath, it's hard not to get oil all over the place, so this will make it really easy, just stick a hose over the nipple and turn the valve.

[saycheese]

kausin komotion wrote:
Saycheese

I put a drain hose on my champion from Northern tool.com part # HON1010.It is a 10mm drain hose and works great I get less of a mess now when I drain tne dirty oil.

Looks good, I'll have to try that. Thanks.

[saycheese]

MrWizard wrote:
we do NOT need to use the oil fill for draining. it has a real drain plug

OK, this is what I thought I needed to do. Didn't realize it had a separate drain plug. Thanks.

[kausin_komotion]

Saycheese

I put a drain hose on my champion from Northern tool.com part # HON1010.It is a 10mm drain hose and works great I get less of a mess now when I drain tne dirty oil.

[MrWizard]

NO, not unless your the type who has to get every last drop out.

the drain plug is in the bottom of the engine casing sticking straight forward.

we do NOT need to use the oil fill for draining. it has a real drain plug

some people have bought fumoto valves with the hose kit and replaced the drain plug with the valve.

[saycheese]

MrWizard wrote:
sit on the work bench or milk grates, put pan/funnel/bottle under the engine crankcase plug

remove plug,

So, I take it, no "tilting" of the unit itself is needed?

[MrWizard]

sit on the work bench or milk grates, put pan/funnel/bottle under the engine crankcase plug

remove plug,

[saycheese]

Can someone tell me their procedure for changing oil on the Champion 3500w? Do I need to turn this thing up-side-down to drain it?

[professor95]

ol Bombero-JC wrote:


Champion's "brick & mortar" in CA is only slightly above sea level.

~

Let's see..... They tell us the polar ice caps are melting. The resultant fresh water released is raising the normal sea level. At the rate we are going, I hear something like a 2 to 3 foot increase by the end of the century. Of course, I probably won't live to be 152 years old to know for sure if they are right or not.

But, it does pose an interesting question - or group of questions.

1) Provided the area of China where these generators are made is still on dry land, will this require a change in standard jetting as sea level increases? Will Champion's Brick and Mortar facility become the new Pacific Ocean Front?

2) Will internal combustion engines that power generators - or the like - even exist? Will fossil fuels to run what ever is left over from our generation still be available?

3) Will we still have RV's, campgrounds and vehicles with sufficient power to pull them? Perhaps the loss of land mass from the rising sea level and expected increase in population will overtake the available land for campgrounds?

4) Why am I even asking these questions? :@ :h :? :B

[Wrace]

Hello,

Is there a way to search this specific thread for subjects addressed within the thread? I have tried the external rvnet search but I can't seem to find what I'm looking for, and I suspect my questions have already been addressed somewhere in this thread. Is it possible to search from google and search inside this thread somehow?

For example, three things I want to ask about that may very well have already been addressed.

1. I'd like to put a drain valve with hose on my champion 3500 RV gen to make oil changes easier and was wondering if anyone would have source from which I could purchase said valve.

2. I'd like to put a stick-on hour meter on the engine and was wondering if anyone has done this. I have one on one of the riding mowers and it's handy to track engines hours, however, it is so old I can't get the manufacturer off of it.

3. This gen is too heavy for me to lift in and out of my truck so I need to set up some sort of sling system. I have several lifting options such as the shop crane or my car lift, but was wondering if anybody has used straps to sling this gen? I've got several lifting straps around here but they are way too big for this application and I can't recall seeing any "mini lifting straps" of any kind?

Thanks
Wayne

[ol_Bombero-JC]

professor95 wrote:
James and Bob,

Sounds logical to me. I'll throw the question to Paul and see what his response is.

Champion's "brick & mortar" in CA is only slightly above sea level.

~

[tvman44]

Logical to me also.

[professor95]

James and Bob,

Sounds logical to me. I'll throw the question to Paul and see what his response is.