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

[MrWizard]

asking 3200 watts to power both the A/C and a MW at the same time is pushing it

the 15k BTU A/C will use about 14amps ( thats one genny) the MW power input is approx 40% more than the cooking power , at 1000 cooking watts it will use 1500 input watts

i just installed a NEW range top GE PROFILE MW, power is listed at 950 cooking watts, 1540 input watts

so depending on the particular needs of each device you are actually running at or above the MAX rating of the (2) generators

I think it speaks pretty good of the champ inverters, to handle both loads at the same time at 6500 ft above sea level

[johnjces]

Thought I'd pipe up again as I had put my two CPE 2000 inverter generators away for the winter back in October. Pulled them out today, put a bit of gas in and each one started with one pull! A couple quick tests to make certain all was good, then...

Paralleled them, with the CPE kit, fired them up with eco off, fired up the 15K BTU A/C on the new Aljo and turned on the microwave. The micro bulb dims, volts stay the same at 122, per my killawatt, and it heated a cup of water and this still at home and at 6400 feet. It was a 65 degree day here. Not certain why the microwave dims and really sounds like it is working harder on the generators vs on shore power. The trailer batteries were fully charged so the converter added little load.

Also, ordered two covers for them. Pretty nice. Fit snug and tight and have a zipper at the top above the center carry handle. I thought they were a bit spendy at $24.95 each, plus shipping, but better than a couple of black garbage bags.

Anyone have thoughts on why the microwave would seem to struggle so much. Even with the Air Conditioner off, there is quite a difference in sound from the microwave, the hum they make and the microwave inside light bulb brightness. Seems to dim pretty good.

Still think 2 CPEs for the price of (almost) one Honda or Yamaha is a good deal! Still happy.

So... time to head to the desert lakes for spring camping!

John

[tkrrox]

yes it wasn't pushed completely on the spark plug and it seems like that is what was causing the overload to come on...i will post if any other changes...i have had it on for 2hrs at 300watts on econ and no issues...i will pump it up soon.

[professor95]

tkrrox wrote:

Paul Cole is a really nice guy and helpful as can be. i am hopeful for this generator and am glad to know there are people like him behind their products.

That is the exact reason I am, as Old & Slow has said, a "Cheerleader" for Champion Power Equipment generators. Real people that are visible. Consistently strong tech support. A warranty that is honored without a dozen hoops to jump through, and parts if and when you need them.

I'm glad to know it is doing better. The spark plug wire thing is really freaky.

[Old___Slow]

tkrrox wrote:
well they came over and changed out the board...it did it again...then we noticed the spark plug wire was loose...all seems to be good so far...i will update...
Paul Cole is a really nice guy and helpful as can be. i am hopeful for this generator and am glad to know there are people like him behind their products.

That is really great news, Champion (CPE) will make house calls. And yes, Paul Cole is known to be a nice fellow from all reports. You say the board was changed out, could it be what we call the module?, rather large with what is known as a heat sink?

We have ask the question 'why does not Champion gens have a Champion Spark Plug' but no answer.

[tkrrox]

well they came over and changed out the board...it did it again...then we noticed the spark plug wire was loose...all seems to be good so far...i will update...
Paul Cole is a really nice guy and helpful as can be. i am hopeful for this generator and am glad to know there are people like him behind their products.

[tkrrox]

Good to know. Thankyou

[canadiankid]

tkrrox wrote:
If I plug in the shore power the heater turner on even if the switch inside the camper is turned off. If I turn off the switch inside the heater will the switch still turn it on using the 12v system?

You should have a switch inside for it to go onto gas and one outside on the heater to shut off the 120 (the heater cant run on 12V). If you turn the one off on the heater then it can only be used on Gas and not 120(It is also a good idea to turn that switch off if you are just charging your batteries or have the trailer plugged in for some other reason. If you plug in your camper and don't have enough water in the heater then you could have a fire or just destroy your heater).

[tkrrox]

Yes it is mr Cole I'm about 45 min from his house

[tkrrox]

If I plug in the shore power the heater turner on even if the switch inside the camper is turned off. If I turn off the switch inside the heater will the switch still turn it on using the 12v system?

[professor95]

tkrrox wrote:
I am wondering if my initial problems with plugging it into the shore power of my trailer to charge the batteries is due to the fact that my water heater turns on when there is shore power supplied. It might be why I am getting too much load

Yes. The water heater element is typically 900 watts - some more, some less.

I don't understand the "automatically coming on" part. On mine there is a small switch inside the water heater outer door for off-on. Inside the camper on the wall is another switch with a power light. I have a circuit breaker servicing only the electric portion of the water heater. The power cord to the water heater element has a standard 15A plug on the end that goes to a wired outlet. I can flip the inside switch, pull the plug, flip the breaker or the outside switch if needed. I know there are different arrangements for different makes and models of campers and yours may be totally different, but check out my suggestions to see if any apply.

Now I am having problems with mine going into overload without having anything plugged in after my first initial problems.

I talked with a customer service rep for mine and they were very helpful. Stayed on the phone with me for an hour. He is personally coming to my house to service it. I will see what he comes up with.

You must be near the CPE facility and I would bet you talked to Paul Cole, the Senior Service Engineer. Paul is collecting any and all data on problems related to the 2000i. If there is a manufacturing or design problem he will find it and see that it is corrected. If it is Paul, don't be surprised if he roars in on his Honda motorcycle. :C

[Old___Slow]

Prof,

To answer your question about 'what German Technology?'

We on the buying end only know what we read and folks tell us. Be it about the Champion2000i or something to compare to make a informed selection.

This is what the people that sell the 'Boliy Inverter Generator' say.
FWIW, Honda, Yahama and Kipor use analog transistor induced technology said to be simulated signal processing. The Boliy has the advanced DSP German make processor. Again, I am a lowly novice, no claim to the rank of EE. I wish, but it ain't a fact. And, I read slightly better than the way my spelling hits the keyboard. Sorry for that. I will try to do better.

If you have a better way to go about finding the proper information needed (than to ask questions of fellow threaders) to be somewhat of an informed buyer of the Champion 2000i, please let me know, I want to read and listen. Hopefully not to Old & Slow for the task.

Floyd

[tkrrox]

I am wondering if my initial problems with plugging it into the shore power of my trailer to charge the batteries is due to the fact that my water heater turns on when there is shore power supplied. It might be why I am getting too much load

Now I am having problems with mine going into overload without having anything plugged in after my first initial problems.

I talked with a customer service rep for mine and they were very helpful. Stayed on the phone with me for an hour. He is personally coming to my house to service it. I will see what he comes up with.

[-_dwh_-]

Old & Slow wrote:
Could it be just a problem of being under powered for the task?

They have built-in overload protection - both a breaker, as well as the computer shutting down the output when it senses an overload even if the breaker doesn't trip.

So, I think being too small for the task shouldn't be a reason why one burns up. Both protections would have to fail first.

[-_dwh_-]

MrRchitty wrote:
I still am debating whether to try plugging it into the camper again, run the microwave etc. like last time and see what happens to the little Champ.

What do you think.... next time, I'll tear it down if something happens.

It makes no sense to buy something and then not use it for its intended purpose simply because something might mysteriously go wrong. Running a camper is one of the specifically designed purposes of the Champion inverter gens - witness the RV receptacle on the paralleling kit.

I think if it's gonna blow, better it happens under warranty. I had two of the Honeywells go bad and get replaced under warranty before I got a good one. These things sometimes happen to us "early adopters".

I say run that bad boy and keep blowing them up until you get one that can do the job as advertised.

That's what I did. Honeywell HW2000i #1 failed at around 20 hours, #2 failed at around 50 hours. #3, which is a 2010 "second generation" model (no 12v service at all) is up around 200 hours now. Serviced it the other day. Still hasn't used a drop of oil, plug clean, air filter clean.