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]

professor95 wrote:


BTW - I enjoy these discussions and trying to come up with answers to your questions. It is also a tremendous learning experience for me. I doubt I would have explored LPG & sound abatement on Chinese gensets if it were not for the folks on this forum. Guess that is the teacher gene in me ;). Thanks all!

We wait for class time.

[Old___Slow]

He missed one important use. Body wrap, so none of that STUFF or FLUFF will stick. No need for speed.

Me
O&S

[ol_Bombero-JC]

subcamper wrote:
Did anyone catch the writeup from the Professor in the latest issue of Trailer Life? I believe the subject was the many uses of teflon tape in an emergency.

Steve

Steve - you didn't say which issue. For me, no January yet.
(But his uses were so good, think I printed the post).
Think he topped uses for racer -100mph- tape!

Wiz - Hah! The Prof gotcha . . . kinda like when you took a class
(way back when) and had to buy the textbook
authored by the instructor - er . . . .by the professor, LOL!
JC

[MrWizard]

NOPE shame on me, i'll go buy the new issue, I quit subscribing to everything a few years back, a clutter reducing measure, no space to store all the back issues of all the MAG's i was collecting

[subcamper]

Did anyone catch the writeup from the Professor in the latest issue of Trailer Life? I believe the subject was the many uses of teflon tape in an emergency.

Steve

[Old___Slow]

Wgeorge11 wrote:

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

Wgeorge11 wrote:
(sic)speciality

~
George - You may a layman at "things electrical" - but certainly
make up for that with linguistical ability, (albeit a couple of
spelling errors) LOL!
JC

Mea culpa.
Sometimes I sing in the shower too just to hear my own voice.
Point being we all have a voice but sometimes can't communicate the message. Kudos to the Professor et. al. for their patience and clarity and willingness to tutor us.

Oh, Cut it out you guys, the hot air is so thick here, one would need a sharp knife to slice it. Mea my O.........next:B

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Hey George -no "mea culpas" needed . . .
nice comments - - just couldn't resist.
JC

[Wgeorge11]

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

Wgeorge11 wrote:
(sic)speciality

~
George - You may a layman at "things electrical" - but certainly
make up for that with linguistical ability, (albeit a couple of
spelling errors) LOL!
JC

Mea culpa.
Sometimes I sing in the shower too just to hear my own voice.
Point being we all have a voice but sometimes can't communicate the message. Kudos to the Professor et. al. for their patience and clarity and willingness to tutor us.

[trumptman88]

I have 150+ hours on mine. I think every single one of those hours has been in harsh environments.

[Old___Slow]

Ol' So'jer wrote:
For what's it's worth, I'm in the process of making a removable platform for my 40008 using the wheel kit. It is supposed to allow me to carry the generator in the bed of the truck, below the sidewalls. When I need the generator somewhere else, not in the truck, it can be mounted on the platform without fastening it down.

Been moving the wheels from place to place in the shop. Didn't want to install them because my shop genny sits on a bench. I do want to test it with the MH but need to move it considerable distance. Now I know what to do with the wheels. Make a platform. Thanks, OL' So' jer:B

[MrWizard]

I have OVER 600 HRS, on my current genny, the 40008 elect start model

[Ol__So_jer]

Oldfordman;
That they do, but I don't have a wagon and this little project is smaller, uses the stuff that came with the generator, is mostly free and gives me something to build.
Besides that, I just HAD to contribute something. 🙂

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Wgeorge11 wrote:
Reading the threads on these and other forums, I'm impressed with the depth of knowledge from so many sources. There are more hands on experts here at the touch of our keyboard than can be found in many universities. However, getting them to agree on several areas of discourse is another matter. They are often accomplished in their speciality, but some are unable to communicate their knowledge to the Joe layman's, like me. Presenting complex information to an interested, albeit conceptionally limited listener in an understandable format is a challenge; an art form few have achieved. I suspect the life of this thread is tantamount to the quality of instructive support we've found in this special community.
That said, I've been reading about the longevity of other RV gensets. Some are claiming over 20,000 hours on the Onan. Implicit in our quest for alternate power resources via these Chinese generators is value, including sound abatement and reliability.
Which brings me to a question; just how much time have our frequent users logged on their units?

~
George - You may a layman at "things electrical" - but certainly
make up for that with linguistical ability, (albeit a couple of
spelling errors) LOL!
JC

[Old___Slow]

professor95 wrote:

toprudder wrote:
If both "OFF" switches were momentary types, that would work as well. But you would have to hold the switch down until the engine comes to a stop. I think this is similar to how the built-in Onans work.

I am in complete agreement on the use of momentary contact switches. Two additional thoughts from this end, though.

I interpreted O&S's question as using the second key switch "as is". Thus, I did not provide details of another switch arrangement, only the problems he will encounter and how to work around them mentally/manually.

While the momentary contact kill switch audition would be a whole lot simpler than a relay, one would not be able to lock the ignition so that it could not be manually started by an unauthorized person. Perhaps that is not a major issue to O&S. Like you suggested, I would just use the momentary contact switch in two locations as a kill switch.

We do need to give him additional help for a safe circuit to run the add on electric fuel pump. When he wants to start the engine, the pump will need to cut on for a few seconds to prime the carburator, then cut off. Once the generator is running it can pull in a 110 VAC relay to once again run the fuel pump. If the engine dies, 110 is gone, the relay opens and the pump cuts off.

I am thinking a simple one shot timer with a 555 IC may be the best approach, but it certainly is not the only one. What do you think, Bob?

The above commentary had to do with a need for a remote start for the 40008 type gennys. I ordered what I thought would be a identical Start/Run/Stop switch from DuroPower as shown on their website, however when it arrived, it was no such animal. I am left with the need to add remote starting in some manner. This thread always produces answers to needs.

Floyd
O&S

[Rotton_Rob]

Prof.95 and all the others . I have been here since the start. Haven't said anything as most of my questions have been ans.
Still interested in a quiet cover.
The forum has been so good that two of my brothers and myself have the units.
So again thanks and don't quit, Merry Christmas, Rottonrob