The Official unofficial CPE 2000i Generator Thread

[pritch272]

8/1/2010 edit: Thread renamed at the suggestion of the Professor.
Renamed from: Champion Inverter and Remote Gens Promo on CPE's web site)

3/22/2011 edit: Thread renamed ...
Renamed from: Official CPE 2000 Watt Inverter Generator Thread

3/23/2011 edit: Thread renamed at the suggestion of the Professor.
Renamed from: (Un)Official CPE 2000 Watt Inverter Generator Thread

Inverter Available August 2010



Remote Available July 2010

[professor95]

j.p.f. wrote:
so with both generators running at full speed the sound level really isn't that much less than one 5k open frame generator?

That was hard for me to estimate. You see, the RV is under a shelter with a metal roof. With the A/C running, the noise from the A/C is reflected and perhaps even amplified from the metal. So, I cannot say that all of the noise was from the generators. You will also note the generators were under the front of the fiver, not out in the open. All of this adds up. My knee jerk is that the actual noise level of the inverters is a couple of dba less - but I will have to wait for warmer weather to do any additional testing.





In any event, a 5K unit would be MUCH louder. Now, a 3,000 watt synchronous open frame (200cc engine) racks out around 69 dba under full load out in the open. Add a GenTent and it drops several dba. But, it has to run 3,600 rpm no matter what the load.

Wayne - All I have is a digital tach that has an antenna you hold close to the spark plug. The reading is not too stable, but 4,000 rpm seems to be about it. BTW - that's all the Kipor revs too. My tach could be in error. Again, all I can do is wait til warmer weather and run some more testing. Way too cold to be playing with genny's outside right now.

Pritch272 - The 3,500/4,000 that I have installed in the "cave" on my fifth wheel tops out at 62-63 dba. But, it is well insulated (and cooled). All of that is back on the grand-daddy Chinese Genny Info thread. The Champion inverters ARE NO LOUDER THAN THE HONDA or KIPOR units I previously tested as singles. What you see is what you get no matter what the make. Add two inverter gennys together working extremely hard and you will have more noise - it is like one bee or a swarm. The 2000 watt Yamaha was quieter that all of the others.

My PERSONAL experience was there ain't no way to get 4,000 watts or to trip the circuit breaker on the 2000i twins. The control module shuts down way before the breakers. You can plan on a pretty solid 3,000 watts from a pair - which ain't nothing' to turn your nose up at.

[Old___Slow]

Wow, me thinks from these tests/demo Champion being an Chinese K/O has over taken the 2000i Honda's perhaps to include Yamaha, both made in Japan, that have been the Gold Standard of Inverter generators.

One question. Can you set the Champion's on ECO to operate the 15,000 btu A/C? Are they variable speed? Or just high/low two speed?

It has been stated that most all 2000i's sound like they are screaming loaded up for full output. So now we have something much more pleasing to the ears?

[91kuhndog]

On the load test, I ran a 1500W space heater and a 150W quartz light plugged in for 40 minutes. BUT.... case in point, I flounder gig here along the coast with a few friends and to prove I have better toys than them, I used my Champion to run 6ea 300W (=1800W) lights while we were out (October 15). While we're running the lights for about an hour at a time while pushing through the flats, we had one point where we pushed for almost 2 hours, mine never overloaded. I cant speak for others.
Another test I did, with my Fleetwood, I ran my central air (compressor engaged) for 25-30 minutes), the microwave, and kicked all the lights on in the RV. Running watts on the AC should be around 2300W, microwave 900W, battery charger/inverter 400-500W, and my 20" LCD TV. I relaxed and let everything run.
On the topic of db levels, the Champions are much quieter and the open frame units. Of course, using the throttle control options, it's 53db at 21'. Turnn off the throttle control, let it run wide open, and it's running at 58db. That's using my own Scosche decible meter and testing in an open area with no obstructions to interfere with the meters reading. My open frame 4000W Champions are running 67db at 21'. I've seen where a few manufactures are building the inverts using open frames....havent worked on any of those yet.

[pritch272]

Prof, do you recall what the Champion 4000/3500 noise level was with the same load?

[Wayne_Dohnal]

Prof, are you sure the top engine speed is 4,000 RPM? I ask because the eu2000i tops out at 5,000 with a larger displacement engine, and at least on the surface 4,000 for the Champion doesn't make sense.

[j_p_f_]

so with both generators running at full speed the sound level really isn't that much less than one 5k open frame generator?

[professor95]

The twins off to set-up for testing


Two Champion 2000i's in parallel.


Two units running in eco mode at 7 meters.


First step-up in engine speed with camper plugged into twins. Battery charger, refrigerator on auto, a few lights and TV on, ceiling fan running. Each unit running 755 watts - total = 1510 watts or 12.5 amps.




Engine on both units stepped to full speed (4,000 rpm) and at 1,431 watts each - total = 2,862 watts or 24 amps. Air conditioner running in addition to above loads. Sound level "may" be higher than if the camper were in the open. A/C running under the metal roof of the RV port adds to sound level at the meter microphone.




I did this test last fall when it was still warm. Ran things with the A/C compressor locked in for about an hour.

[tvman44]

It is only rated for 1600 watts continuous and with 2 in parallel that is 3,200 watts continuous. Doubt they would run in parallel at 4,000 watts continuous. :?

[JConatser]

91kuhndog wrote:
... I completed a test last week to verify output and the two units together held 4000W without going into an overload condition. ...

Could you provide the details of the test?... i.e., what you used for a load, how long you had it running under the load, etc.

[Wayne_Dohnal]

I completed a test last week to verify output and the two units together held 4000W without going into an overload condition.

This means that the Champions are stronger than the Honda eu2000i. I've never seen a report of any of them producing 2,000 VA for any amount of time. Mine maxes out a bit under 1,900, and several others have reported the same.

[91kuhndog]

Gentleman, Sams sells the parallel kit for abt $62. And yes, you can parallel these together to make 4000W. I completed a test last week to verify output and the two units together held 4000W without going into an overload condition. I do know this, on one occation I had the curcuit braker on the front of the unit "pop" before the unit's overload light came on. I reset it...and all was good. I've also read others having the same thing happen.

[91kuhndog]

I agree with the price debate....the generators nice, but its not a Honda. Will the public pay $700 for an untested gen-set, probably not. I personally feel the prices on these, much like the Briggs & Straton inverts, will settle around $600. From my experience, I think the RV crowd will dictate the price of these as these units are aimed more toward that group of users . I do know the public support and feedback is good on these units, what's not certain is how they'll hold up long term. I use two of them, & love 'em. I do have a EU2000 that I used with my old Sunline 15, it's getting some age on it, but otherwise works well. I'm planning a week in Daytona for the races and will use these two Champions for the 6 days I'm down there, I'll let you all know how they do.

I apologize for the last post (the deleted one), I didnt mean to sound off as a vendor!

[shum02]

Old & Slow wrote:
Does the Canadian Champion 2000i have the ports to parallel? If so, that seems to be an advantage over Honda.

Since they also sell the parallel kit I'm just guessing that these units can be parallelled. Would seem silly to offer it and not be able to do it.

[Old___Slow]

DrBaker,

Great you were able to find a second 2000i Champion. I see from your profile you already have one. Now you have two? So a couple of questions.

Is the Champion 73573i two speed or variable speed like the Honda EU2000i? In other words is it more than just high and low speed?

Have you tried to carry a load of at least 1300/1400w's like a 120v AC 1500w heater for "more than 30 minutes?"

There have been posts, it's a no go.

And does it really scream running full bore as others have stated?

[DrBaker]

Old & Slow wrote:
All interesting posts and pricing. I live in Texas so decided in google Champion 2000w Inverter Generators. Has the 79cc engine. The cheapest price I can find, if I wanted to buy one today is through Amazon @ $679.00

I'm in Oklahoma and wasn't able to locate any locally. I emailed Champion with my zip code and they responded back with 2 local stores that had them in stock. On my lunch break I ran down the road and got a $499 generator. You might try emailing them too. Hopefully you will have the same success that I did.