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]

To all

More help needed with 3000w Chinese genset info' O&S needed time out. That time has ended. Give it to me RVers the old man still stands ready to learn a thing or two. Thanks Professor95, these are good and kind folks who want to share there wealth of knowledge of gensets and related matter. Just try to get the drift, they like the old tricks too. I leave with this "all trappers don't wear fur caps" Lets have fun on the trap line.

O&S

Me, o&s

[professor95]

To Old & Slow,

I can't reply to the Private Messages you have sent me. You account has PM messages turned off. Select accept PM messages so I may reply.

[Oldfordman]

For those operating their Champion Generators over 5,000 feet and under medium to heavy load (like with A/C) it may well be necessary to find a smaller main jet for the Carburetor. The Carb uses a jet similar to a lot of motorcycle jets and it is also possible that Honda Jets may fit. The main jet is removable by removing the float bowl and with a straight blade screwdriver removing it from the tube that extends to the bottom of the bowl (the bowl retaining bolt also screws into this tube). You want to go SMALLER for altitude as there is less oxygen the higher you go.

I used to ride a Honda XR-500 in the mountains when I was younger and didn't mind the abuse. This bike made it simple as there was a needle in the carb that was moved up for altitude and down for sea-level. A simple c-clip adjustment. The fixed jet is not that hard to change, just remember to go back to stock when returning to lower altitudes (if you do). I lived in Parker, CO for 10 years and if I had this genset then, I would have left it with the leaner jet all the time.

A hotter plug will only help in keeping it from fouling. Won't keep the engine from "flubbering" when loaded while operating at high altitude.

[TKMJ]

TKMJ wrote:

professor95 wrote:

The gas gauge will leak on the Chinese gensets. So will the fuel cap. Since every model out there appears to use the identical tank, gas cap and fuel gauge, the problem is universal. The solution to this problem has been not to fill the tank to the brim. I keep mine about 1/2 full when traveling and only fill it full when stationary.

That sounds almost like a siphon problem because the genset is moving in the airstream. I also noticed that when full, the vibration on the genset will cause the fuel to splash and leak from the fuel gague.

Tell me if this idea will work: What if I were to tap my rear tank at the genset fuel point and add a fuel pump to the line just like the Onan genset (3psi) installed at the factory. Could the line be run to the carb on the Chinese genset without causing an over pressure situation and blow out the needle and seat? It sure would beat having to stop and fill the genset tank every few hours.

Ken

Never mind.

I missed a page on the thread.

Sorry!

Ken

[Old___Slow]

racefan1965 wrote:
Excuse me. I don't mean to sound stupid but what is the c20008 and what is the price range of it?
I myself will always be reading and learning from this thread. Well as long as others continue to post to it anyway.:) I don't have the ability to install a genset into my fiver. It is (the trailer) really old and the only storage I have is about 6inches deep. My lantern in it's plastic case barely fit into the space.:) I do have a cargo carrier and am tempted to do what the professor did with his genset. I worry about bounce effecting the generator too though so right now I store it in the bed of my truck. It's low enough to not affect my ability to turn. I have no desire to run off a fuel supwhat the tank up top supplies.

Rick

Wow, talk about a way to learn genset info', just hang out on this thread. Some will hang our hide out to dry others will put the genset on full 20/30a and power a spot light on your lack of smarts. That's ok I didn't get off a log raft yesterday, well maybe the day before. Should have considered the needs of the entire market. I assume the need for gensets to replace a Onan/Generac is quite small. After all I too may hang my C46540 on the rear, however, if a new genset comes to market with a low pressure fuel system and better cooling I'll be the first to buy. Just asking, please give the old man some time to get up to speed. Your great.

Thanks, O&S

[racefan1965]

Excuse me. I don't mean to sound stupid but what is the c20008 and what is the price range of it?
I myself will always be reading and learning from this thread. Well as long as others continue to post to it anyway.:) I don't have the ability to install a genset into my fiver. It is (the trailer) really old and the only storage I have is about 6inches deep. My lantern in it's plastic case barely fit into the space.:) I do have a cargo carrier and am tempted to do what the professor did with his genset. I worry about bounce effecting the generator too though so right now I store it in the bed of my truck. It's low enough to not affect my ability to turn. I have no desire to run off a fuel supply other than what the tank up top supplies.

Rick

[Old___Slow]

To all,

I've been thinking and asking, "what if some really smart mfg. were to come to market with a Propane or low pressure fuel pump, carb., setup- a 4000w/5000w genset with a better cooling system and electric start in the price range of the c20008.........no more fun here on this thread?????

[TKMJ]

professor95 wrote:

The gas gauge will leak on the Chinese gensets. So will the fuel cap. Since every model out there appears to use the identical tank, gas cap and fuel gauge, the problem is universal. The solution to this problem has been not to fill the tank to the brim. I keep mine about 1/2 full when traveling and only fill it full when stationary.

That sounds almost like a siphon problem because the genset is moving in the airstream. I also noticed that when full, the vibration on the genset will cause the fuel to splash and leak from the fuel gague.

Tell me if this idea will work: What if I were to tap my rear tank at the genset fuel point and add a fuel pump to the line just like the Onan genset (3psi) installed at the factory. Could the line be run to the carb on the Chinese genset without causing an over pressure situation and blow out the needle and seat? It sure would beat having to stop and fill the genset tank every few hours.

Ken

[lane_hog]

Don't worry about it. The dumbest question is the one never asked.

[Old___Slow]

lane hog

Re: RVIA

I wish I could withdraw the question, maybe o&s will learn a good lesson here. This old dog needs a smack in the chops. Thanks

[lane_hog]

O&S, the RVIA placard is more or less a useless piece of plastic the original purchaser has to pay for to certify that it met RVIA's code standards.

They're not a regulatory agency and the placard isn't required by any regulatory agency that I'm aware of, so if you're really concerned about the liability, remove it.

[bobandcat]

retento wrote:
Any of you running Mobil 10W30 in your generators? If so, how long between changes in this 90-100 degree heat?

For Arizona, Champion tech service advised me to use a 20W50 for 100 degree weather.

[Old___Slow]

professor95:

Low pressure electric fuel pumps, I should know by now the Doc. has been there and done that. Anyway, how interesting, I can take a lesson in the porfessor's class and save myself countless hours (I don't have many to spare) and move on with the idea of using the fuel supply line in my genset compartment. Yes, propane must be the way to go. Thanks

Ps; Mrwizard gave me good info' on the possible use of my new electric Onan pump I have on hand but I failed to pursue the subject further and ask about a mod.

[Wgeorge11]

"I need to revisit the myth of feathering the choke in days of old when truckers crossed the Rockies. I am sure I read that somewhere........"

To err is human; to forgive, devine. I forgive you!!!
You should see some of the stuff I've read.

[retento]

Any of you running Mobil 10W30 in your generators? If so, how long between changes in this 90-100 degree heat?