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
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
We spent 4-1/2 days without power in the aftermath of Irene. Actually, I was surprised we were restored so quickly. Living in a rural area at the end of a power line we expected at least a week โ maybe more.
One of my 2000i units did start burping during the recent power outage. Previously, I did not have the irritation.
After studying the symptom and why it was possibly occurring I came up with a fix that appears to work quite well with no negative effects.
Let me explain:
The throttle plate for the carburetor is positioned by a stepper motor. The stepper motor position is determined by the ECM based on data from the current sensing circuit and the engine RPM sensor. There is no Throttle Position Sensor on the carburetor to provide actual position โ everything is based on current being drawn and engine RPM.
With the side of the case off (oil change side) you can reach in and feel as small amount of play in the throttle valve plate. There is enough play there for the throttle plate to move from vibration.
If you turn the low speed stop screw between 1/4 and 1/2 turn you will slightly increase the engine idle speed. When I say slight I do mean slight โ maybe 100 rpm. The genset does not get louder.
What happens is this increased idle speed is just enough to keep the ECM from sensing a RPM drop that needs correction.
I know the engineers at CPE have approached the problem with reprogrammed ECM units, which apparently lower the โbumpโ thresholdโ. We also have user reports of different main jets being offered to increase the mixture richness under the assumption the burp is cause by inadequate fuel. These methods may indeed be the proper design approach, but for me a turn of a screw and a few more low speed rpmโs not only ridded the unit of โThe Burpโ but also allowed better pick-up from low speed to high speed when current increased.
You can access the carb idle stop screw easily if you are willing to drill a 3/8โ hole through the inner plastic piece. You can see from the photo where the hole is and how a #1 Phillips screwdriver will fit in and align perfectly with the head of the screw. Nothing is hurt and the setting is made in seconds.
My thumb is on the stepper motor. Straight down under my thumb (about 1") you can see the idle stop screw which sets the lowest idle speed. This photo was made on a unit with the entire case removed. Therefore, the plastic obstruction is not in the way as the below photos show with the case on.
The hole is drilled so you can poke a Phillips head screwdriver in at an angle that allows adjusting the idle stop screw without disassembling the case..
Screwdriver poked in with tip on screw head.
Another mod I have made is to leave the oil check side panel screws off and store them. In their place, I use four pieces of Velcro so that you can quickly zip the cover off without tools and check the oil (or adjust the idle screw)
Both 2000i units were run over 100 hours each during the recent power outage.
They ran RV battery chargers, small microwaves, 6,000 BTU window air conditioners, freezers, refrigerators, TVโs and lights, sump pumps and coffee pots. Not one Hiccup or complaint. My unit #1 powered a 6,000 BTU air conditioner from 10:00 p.m. until 6:30 a.m. on a full one-gallon tank of gas. That is a full 8-1/2 hours โ a number than impressed me.
We moved into the RV on day 2. This is one of the 2000i units running the camper through the main power connector.
The other 2000i provided additional power to a freezer so the 7500 could be dedicated to the well pump, sump pump,etc.
I know the guy at Samโs that manages sales of generators and tools. He knows how to contact me if needed. One unit he sold was returned for exchange with the customer saying it would not work. But, since inventory was sold out an exchange was not possible. Brad called me asking if I would talk to the gentleman. We started with gas, oil, fuel on, load disconnected, ECON off, use of choke, fuel cap vent set to on and the Power switch turned on. It was at that point where he stopped me askingโ, Power Switch turned on โ what power switch?โ
The power switch was off and he was so frustrated that he had overlooked it when racing through the manual. As soon as he turned on the power switch the genny ran fine, I often wonder how many returns are really defective? Anyway, they sold the three 2000i units that were in the store and a shipment of 50 received Friday before the storm and sold out in less than his two hour morning shift. There have been no more phone calls for help, so folks must be reading the manual.
I received a call from a guy that had purchased a 3,500 from Tractor Supply. He called me complaining that it was not running smoothly and the voltage was all over the place. We were only a few miles apart so he brought the genny to me. The first problem was one of his well intentioned buddies told him to put a quart of ATF in the first tank of gas to provide lubrication for break-in. I used my little portable electric fuel pump and hose to empty the ATF contaminated gas and replaced it with new gas. When I turned the petcock on he said, โWhatโs that thing?โ He never had the fuel flow completely turned on - it was in a position that only allowed a dribble of fuel to the carburetor.
I too have one of the little CPE 1200/1500 synchronous gensets. It is a tough little bugger and kept the refrigerator running at our oldest daughterโs house for four days and nights. I did measure the sound level on the unit a while back and it was 4-5 dba louder than the 2000i with the same load. As great as the little 1200/1500 is the output waveform is pretty nasty compared to the clean output of the 2000i. Fortunately, 99% of the stuff we plug into the 1200/1500 does not care that the waveform is not a pure, clean sine wave so it becomes an out of sight โ out of mind issue.
One of my 2000i units did start burping during the recent power outage. Previously, I did not have the irritation.
After studying the symptom and why it was possibly occurring I came up with a fix that appears to work quite well with no negative effects.
Let me explain:
The throttle plate for the carburetor is positioned by a stepper motor. The stepper motor position is determined by the ECM based on data from the current sensing circuit and the engine RPM sensor. There is no Throttle Position Sensor on the carburetor to provide actual position โ everything is based on current being drawn and engine RPM.
With the side of the case off (oil change side) you can reach in and feel as small amount of play in the throttle valve plate. There is enough play there for the throttle plate to move from vibration.
If you turn the low speed stop screw between 1/4 and 1/2 turn you will slightly increase the engine idle speed. When I say slight I do mean slight โ maybe 100 rpm. The genset does not get louder.
What happens is this increased idle speed is just enough to keep the ECM from sensing a RPM drop that needs correction.
I know the engineers at CPE have approached the problem with reprogrammed ECM units, which apparently lower the โbumpโ thresholdโ. We also have user reports of different main jets being offered to increase the mixture richness under the assumption the burp is cause by inadequate fuel. These methods may indeed be the proper design approach, but for me a turn of a screw and a few more low speed rpmโs not only ridded the unit of โThe Burpโ but also allowed better pick-up from low speed to high speed when current increased.
You can access the carb idle stop screw easily if you are willing to drill a 3/8โ hole through the inner plastic piece. You can see from the photo where the hole is and how a #1 Phillips screwdriver will fit in and align perfectly with the head of the screw. Nothing is hurt and the setting is made in seconds.
My thumb is on the stepper motor. Straight down under my thumb (about 1") you can see the idle stop screw which sets the lowest idle speed. This photo was made on a unit with the entire case removed. Therefore, the plastic obstruction is not in the way as the below photos show with the case on.
The hole is drilled so you can poke a Phillips head screwdriver in at an angle that allows adjusting the idle stop screw without disassembling the case..
Screwdriver poked in with tip on screw head.
Another mod I have made is to leave the oil check side panel screws off and store them. In their place, I use four pieces of Velcro so that you can quickly zip the cover off without tools and check the oil (or adjust the idle screw)
Both 2000i units were run over 100 hours each during the recent power outage.
They ran RV battery chargers, small microwaves, 6,000 BTU window air conditioners, freezers, refrigerators, TVโs and lights, sump pumps and coffee pots. Not one Hiccup or complaint. My unit #1 powered a 6,000 BTU air conditioner from 10:00 p.m. until 6:30 a.m. on a full one-gallon tank of gas. That is a full 8-1/2 hours โ a number than impressed me.
We moved into the RV on day 2. This is one of the 2000i units running the camper through the main power connector.
The other 2000i provided additional power to a freezer so the 7500 could be dedicated to the well pump, sump pump,etc.
I know the guy at Samโs that manages sales of generators and tools. He knows how to contact me if needed. One unit he sold was returned for exchange with the customer saying it would not work. But, since inventory was sold out an exchange was not possible. Brad called me asking if I would talk to the gentleman. We started with gas, oil, fuel on, load disconnected, ECON off, use of choke, fuel cap vent set to on and the Power switch turned on. It was at that point where he stopped me askingโ, Power Switch turned on โ what power switch?โ
The power switch was off and he was so frustrated that he had overlooked it when racing through the manual. As soon as he turned on the power switch the genny ran fine, I often wonder how many returns are really defective? Anyway, they sold the three 2000i units that were in the store and a shipment of 50 received Friday before the storm and sold out in less than his two hour morning shift. There have been no more phone calls for help, so folks must be reading the manual.
I received a call from a guy that had purchased a 3,500 from Tractor Supply. He called me complaining that it was not running smoothly and the voltage was all over the place. We were only a few miles apart so he brought the genny to me. The first problem was one of his well intentioned buddies told him to put a quart of ATF in the first tank of gas to provide lubrication for break-in. I used my little portable electric fuel pump and hose to empty the ATF contaminated gas and replaced it with new gas. When I turned the petcock on he said, โWhatโs that thing?โ He never had the fuel flow completely turned on - it was in a position that only allowed a dribble of fuel to the carburetor.
I too have one of the little CPE 1200/1500 synchronous gensets. It is a tough little bugger and kept the refrigerator running at our oldest daughterโs house for four days and nights. I did measure the sound level on the unit a while back and it was 4-5 dba louder than the 2000i with the same load. As great as the little 1200/1500 is the output waveform is pretty nasty compared to the clean output of the 2000i. Fortunately, 99% of the stuff we plug into the 1200/1500 does not care that the waveform is not a pure, clean sine wave so it becomes an out of sight โ out of mind issue.
