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...

[rwjejits]

Shoot, I just hate it when I miss out on a deal like this. Now I'm depressed. Thanks...

[johnnyb226]

just bought the champion runs everything fine. but when a/c cycles it shuts down
dont know what the heck is wrong?

[redrotor]

Ha! Beat me to it. I was going to share the news as well. Those Champion generators are on that sale price ONLY tomorrow, Sunday September 10. The details and coupons are online but the sale is only in the stores. Here's the page with the details... happy camping! 🙂
http://www.cskautoparts.com/SundaySavers.aspx

[happykampr]

It won't do me any good, but you folks near a Checker, Schucks or Kragen store, you can get that Champion 4000 watt RV ready generator tomorrow only for $279! HERE is the link for the one day only coupon. Scroll to near the bottom, it's there. Better hurry! They'll go quickly. Dang... wish I were near one of those stores!

[momo44]

New Generator Mod (hour meter)

Just bought the Champion RV Ready model and made my first modification. I wanted to know when to do my maintenance, so I added an hour meter. This one works on AC or DC, so I wired to the 12V supply after the circuit breaker and it works like a charm!

I guess an enclosure will be next on the list!

[MrWizard]

in other words with a 50FT 12ga cord your are going to drop voltage if you are trying to draw 20 amps, and if you are trying to draw 30 amps you are going to damage the 20 amp outlet and the ends of the extension cord and you are going to have a significant voltage drop, it will NOT be 120 at the RV

[professor95]

cdre wrote:
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I am going to purchase the Champion Genset, but have an issue regarding power cords. I am going to place the generator in a shed that will require an approximately 50' run of power cord. While I know the genset is "rv ready", I would prefer to purchase a high quality standard extention cord as opposed to an "RV" extention cord which I am sure would be more expensive and less functional. In using a standard extention cord, am I losing anything by not using the RV outlet? Will I still be able to get the full power of the generator through one standard outlet on the Champion? Thanks!

The same power is available to the NEMA #5-20 outlet as the TT outlet. Only difference is the standard outlet is only rated for a maximum of 20 amps. If you are drawing higher current, it could get warm or even hot enough to damage the outlet.

On extension cords. Keep in mind that if you run 50' and follow the 2% voltage drop maximum rule at 120 volts you will need to address the following:

30 amps - max length for #8 gauge wire is 60 feet

30 amps - max length for #10 gauge wire is 38 feet

20 amps - max length for #12 gauge wire is 36 feet

20 amps - max length for #10 gauge wire is 57 feet

All of the above ratings are for copper cable.

[cdre]

I am going to purchase the Champion Genset, but have an issue regarding power cords. I am going to place the generator in a shed that will require an approximately 50' run of power cord. While I know the genset is "rv ready", I would prefer to purchase a high quality standard extention cord as opposed to an "RV" extention cord which I am sure would be more expensive and less functional. In using a standard extention cord, am I losing anything by not using the RV outlet? Will I still be able to get the full power of the generator through one standard outlet on the Champion? Thanks!

[coachk34]

I think I will hold out for the next edition of the champion, that sounds like a winner. Thanks for the heads up professor.

[parrothead71]

To change the oil in my boat I bought a vacuum pump that has a tube that goes down the dipstick.Works great. You could prob try to vacuum it out like this. You'll never hear a redneck say "that will never fit." Chad whats up. I'll be PCS'ing to FT Polk by Jan 1. Should be back down before xmas
later

[cmg3500]

Hey Parrothead-I got a PowerPro 3500.Got it right after Katrina.Works like a charm.A very good investment.(goes good along with my 5 KW unit,& the 1200 watt one I built).
I'll show it to ya next time you come down here to Laplace.
I'll PM you

[MrWizard]

I bolted mine to the slide out tray, in the genny compartment,

to change the oil I have to unbolt it and lift it onto the front lip of the tray and slip a board under the back of it

a valve where the front drain plug is , would eliminate this minor inconvenice, make the job easier and save a few more minutes,

of these days, one of our famous calif quakes is going to strike at the wrong time and i'm going to be wearing that generator on my lap or chest while I gasp for air

[berniealvey]

I did not have any problem changing the oil on my Champion I set it on a wagon and used the funnel that came with it and drain it into a coffee can didn't even get a drip on the floor. But I would like electric start even though mine starts every time easily. I have some problems with my shoulders and if I pull the wrong way I am in pain. but I love mine and recommend it to all of my camping friends.

[MrWizard]

professor95 wrote:

Gulfcoast wrote:
Here's the only one of these gens that I've seen with an electric starter:

3500 Watt Electric-start

By the way...a third-grader could start my gen on the first pull (every time), simply, no electric start is needed on these generators.

The DuroPower is also a JD built generator.

As someone who has had rotator cuff repair, pulling any rope is a risk - even if a 3rd grader can do it.

I do not know all the specifics, but I do know that the new 62 dBA sound rated, RV Ready Champion that is "suppose" to be ready for shipment this Janurary will have electric start - not sure if it is optional or standard. Projected cost is "under $400.00". We should know for sure by mid October if it will make the projected release date. Personally, I am anxious and excited to see what it will be. I am told that this model will reflect many of the "wants" that we have expressed on this forum! It is nice to know that at least one company is listening to us and trying to produce a quality, inexpensive product as a response.

an RV ready Champion with electric start and maybe some sound proofing, I hope they had and esay change oil drain valve with a nipple on it for small hose like 1/4 vynal

that would be realy nice

[parrothead71]

I think I will pick one of the champion 4k with the RV plug when I get back. My wife and Kids moved back to New Orleans to stay with her dad. So instead of paying for a second household I'm hoping to stay in the camper until I get out of FT Drum. That is if I don't freeze to death trying it. Also I have a larger genset that was complements of the Iraqi Republican Guard. 13HP B&S with a 8K 220v 50hz head on it. I raised the rpm to 3600 to try to get it to run at 60hz without cooking something but was never able to wire it correctly to get 110 out of it. I know enough about electricity to have never been electrocuted by anything higher than 110v @ 15amps and I intend on keeping it that way. I plan on pulling the head off and replacing it with a 6k or similar in size that already has the plugs built into it. If anyone is interested in the original 8K head I would be more than willing to give it to someone if they pay the exact shipping for it.