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...

[Oldfordman]

hmans3 wrote:
Checked the voltage at the 120 out let 186volts??

What did the Voltmeter on the Panel say?

[MrWizard]

sounds like the voltage regulator is out of adjustment, I belive somebody reported on this happening before (champion sent him one to replace the bad one and he put it in himself), the service center should be able to fix it, even IF they have to replace the regulator it will only take a couple days to get the part and put it in, and a few minutes to adjust it

I forgot to ask if you had flipped the voltage switch back & forth a couple of times and check the reading in each position

[hmans3]

just got a champion generator c46540 from advance auto $299 + $64.00 shipping. Received in three days ups great. It was double boxed but still had some damage. Took it out to try it . Put oil + gas in it ran 2nd pull!! Great,I thought. Tried to run my leave blower to check it out and it smoked it. Checked the voltage at the 120 out let 186volts?? Anybody else have that problem? Call champion on problem refered me to service center for warrenty repair. What do you do now? hmans3

[mkopy]

I have a WenPower Pro 3500 that had I'm guessing aroun 200hrs. on it when I believe it broke a connecting rod. Pull on starter and flywheel spins freely. Had plenty of oil, but I did think that the last 100 hrs it has been somewhat louder that when it was new. Anyone else have this happen. I've had it approx 1.5 yrs. Need to find the owners manual to see if still under warranty.

[mcmurphrjk]

I too had the same problem, with the engine losing compression and not running. Mine was out of warranty. I spoke with Paul as well, and was able to buy a new engine for a very reasonable price. Changed it myself. It took less than an hour, thanks to the tapered shaft separation tool that Champion graciously inclded with the new engine.
So, even out of warranty, I received what I would classify as excellent customer support.
I wonder if anyone else has had the lost compression problem? Anyone know the cause? For whatever reason, at the time I was not curious enough to disassemble my old engine and diagnose the root problem.

[Yoslick]

Outstanding!! Nice report!!

Slick!

[MrWizard]

Last week my 'RV ready' did a sudden death, It died a couple minutes after startup and refused to re-start. after checking the plug , gas, oil etc I called the champion service line, this was on a Saturday afternoon, the next afternoon Sunday paul cole of champion called me backed, we discussed what happen and what i had checked, he emailed me some service instructions, and i did some more checking, it didn't help, I called him back , he wanted to check the unit personally , if that was all right with me, so we made arrangements to meet.

he came out on this past Sunday morning (by motorcycle) spent some time over coffee then we went over the generator together, conclusion compression was low, reason unknown, he made arrangements with me for him to return one evening, ( i think he went to san deigo to check on another gnerator )

Last night he returned brought me a replacement ( factory refurbish ) and took mine with him, so he could could find out where the problem is,

SO in less than a 2 week period, i have had first person support and help and my generator replaced, and I didn't have to drive anywhere

NOW i realize most folks will be helped over the phone, and either shipped the parts OR directed to a service facility, Paul told me this ( and this has been the experience of members of this forum )But since i was only an hour or so away and the problem puzzled him when the usual remedies didn't work, he wanted to see first hand what 'was the problem' when he couldn't get it going, he became further intrigued and didn't want to wait for my unit to get back to him thru the usual return channels of Kragen auto ( about 3 weeks ) for it to get to him

he could have & would have authorized a replacement a Kragens ( just a couple miles away ) but was willing to deliver one his self, if I could wait a couple of days, so he didn't have too wait 3 weeks

Just say I'm happy, and the man comes across as genuinely interested in helping the customer and in making the best product possible

others on this forum have had good experiences when dealing with champions service dept, and I have to say mine was the best service experience I have ever received for any product

[MinnCamper]

Just bought the Champion RV-Ready Model.WOW this thing is good.Runs the A/C great last wed it was 73 here plugged it in and no problems at all.I little loud but the guy next store has a honda that is just as loud we thought.For the $$$$ a good buy thx.

[woodygjw]

Hello all, just wanted to thank everyone for all the great info in this thread. I just recently got a Homier unit, which is built by Jiang Dong. I decided to take it apart and check somethings out.

I have read that these units use a capacitor for voltage regulation, I think Jiang Dong has changed that now. Mine had a date of 8/06 on the engine, and I took the end off of the generator head, and there sat the AVR that I have seen in previous posts, no capacitor. I can post pics if necessary. Just thought this info may be useful to someone, and thanks to all that have posted here!

Greg

[MrWizard]

and kragens, avd in todays paper

[GatorFan]

Champion RV-Ready generators are currently on sale at Cabela's for $299.00.

[subcamper]

Thanks for the dimensions, bobandcat!

It turns out the dimensions are almost exactly the same as my now-nonfunctional ELM3000. I can use the transport box I built without any mods.

I'm going to order the Champion online today, $299 + $63 shipping.

Steve

[Oldfordman]

Now we need an extended fill tube with long dipstick so it is easier to check oil and don't need to find the long funnel when adding.

[MrWizard]

I want one

[Yoslick]

Found what I was looking for, the drain plug on these Chinese motors is 10mm Northern Tool has an extension plug to make changing the oil much easier

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/NTEProdinfo?productId=200311063&prnbr=7011545&... Costs about $15 so thats not too bad.....

Slick!