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]

CajunBuccaneer wrote:

professor95 wrote:
Just an added comment on the extended run fuel tank I fabricated that is quoted below. You need to have the 2000i fuel tank full to the brim before screwing the cap that goes to the AUX tank on tight. ANY air in the 2000i tank or fuel fine from the AUX tank and it may not work. I used the AUX tank as shown last summer after a bad storm and it worked great but all air had to be purged first. Also note when you connect up and prime the system you will most likely spill some gasoline down the side of the generator. NEVER do this with a hot engine and let any spilled fuel evaporate before starting the genny.

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions. Any comments on how to do this for a parallel unit. Should I dual feed from one tank or two separate tanks?

You know, the biggest problem with this set-up is the lack of significant vacuum being developed in the fuel tank to pull fuel from the aux tank. The ONLY thing you have that makes the vacuum is the gravitational fall of fuel for about 2" into the carburetor. I suspect you would encounter problems using a T or Y and trying to feed twins from one tank. My knee jerk is probably not what you want to hear - use two independent aux tanks and feed lines.

If there was a fuel pump on the CPE unit sucking fuel it would be a lot simpler - but there is not. Upside is not having a pump means one less part in the system to fail.

A small-engine vacuum operated fuel pump like this one connected to port vacuum on the 2000i engine between the tank and carb should do no harm and would improve the performance of an aux tank. But, I have not tested this and it might void your CPE warranty. Another issue is developing a way to get port vacuum sufficient to run the pump. As built, there is no port vacuum access on the 2000i. My thinking is a 3/8" thick spacer added between the engine and carb with at least a 1/8" tube drilled in the center of one side to supply ported vacuum. It gets complicated, doesn't it? :h

[CajunBuccaneer]

CajunBuccaneer wrote:

thejrod wrote:

CajunBuccaneer wrote:

MrRchitty wrote:

thejrod wrote:
Any tips for getting two inverters to sync via the parallel cables?

Mine just came in and it was a ***** to get them to sync. The second unit would never flash steady green.if I reversed the order of startup, the first unit would go into overload every time. Finally I put a load on the 30A receptacle with the one unit still flashing, then turned both off. Then fired up both of them at the exact same time, and they finally synced.

Seemed like a long and trying process to get them to sync...

Best explanation I could give you...

Parallel Operation

I am having the same issue on two brand new 2000w units. I have followed the instructions, the video and all. I can only get the two to sync about 1 out of 20 or so times starting them up. I will be calling them tomorrow.

That's my problem too. I called, and they said the parallel cable could be faulty, but it doesn't make sense since it does sync occasionally.

I spoke to Champion this morning and went through some testing. One thing he had me try was after I had them both connected and running was to put them in "Econ" mode, and that put the first one started in overload. When I told him that it went into overload with that he felt it was a bad communication cable. He had me call SuperGen where I purchased them from. I called the tech line and the gentlemen was very helpful. He said that sometimes there is a problem with the communication cable, but that it is rare. He is having a new parallel kit shipped to me with a return label.

I will report back after I receive my replacement unit.

I received my new parallel kit this morning and went and tested it. The two units sync'd immediately, on multiple attempts. The cables on the new kit seem like they are "stiffer" that one that was not working.

I will also say that SuperGen was great to work with on this, along with Champion.

[CajunBuccaneer]

professor95 wrote:
Just an added comment on the extended run fuel tank I fabricated that is quoted below. You need to have the 2000i fuel tank full to the brim before screwing the cap that goes to the AUX tank on tight. ANY air in the 2000i tank or fuel fine from the AUX tank and it may not work. I used the AUX tank as shown last summer after a bad storm and it worked great but all air had to be purged first. Also note when you connect up and prime the system you will most likely spill some gasoline down the side of the generator. NEVER do this with a hot engine and let any spilled fuel evaporate before starting the genny.

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions. Any comments on how to do this for a parallel unit. Should I dual feed from one tank or two separate tanks?

[CajunBuccaneer]

thejrod wrote:

CajunBuccaneer wrote:

MrRchitty wrote:

thejrod wrote:
Any tips for getting two inverters to sync via the parallel cables?

Mine just came in and it was a ***** to get them to sync. The second unit would never flash steady green.if I reversed the order of startup, the first unit would go into overload every time. Finally I put a load on the 30A receptacle with the one unit still flashing, then turned both off. Then fired up both of them at the exact same time, and they finally synced.

Seemed like a long and trying process to get them to sync...

Best explanation I could give you...

Parallel Operation

I am having the same issue on two brand new 2000w units. I have followed the instructions, the video and all. I can only get the two to sync about 1 out of 20 or so times starting them up. I will be calling them tomorrow.

That's my problem too. I called, and they said the parallel cable could be faulty, but it doesn't make sense since it does sync occasionally.

I spoke to Champion this morning and went through some testing. One thing he had me try was after I had them both connected and running was to put them in "Econ" mode, and that put the first one started in overload. When I told him that it went into overload with that he felt it was a bad communication cable. He had me call SuperGen where I purchased them from. I called the tech line and the gentlemen was very helpful. He said that sometimes there is a problem with the communication cable, but that it is rare. He is having a new parallel kit shipped to me with a return label.

I will report back after I receive my replacement unit.

[thejrod]

CajunBuccaneer wrote:

MrRchitty wrote:

thejrod wrote:
Any tips for getting two inverters to sync via the parallel cables?

Mine just came in and it was a ***** to get them to sync. The second unit would never flash steady green.if I reversed the order of startup, the first unit would go into overload every time. Finally I put a load on the 30A receptacle with the one unit still flashing, then turned both off. Then fired up both of them at the exact same time, and they finally synced.

Seemed like a long and trying process to get them to sync...

Best explanation I could give you...

Parallel Operation

I am having the same issue on two brand new 2000w units. I have followed the instructions, the video and all. I can only get the two to sync about 1 out of 20 or so times starting them up. I will be calling them tomorrow.

That's my problem too. I called, and they said the parallel cable could be faulty, but it doesn't make sense since it does sync occasionally.

[CajunBuccaneer]

MrRchitty wrote:

thejrod wrote:
Any tips for getting two inverters to sync via the parallel cables?

Mine just came in and it was a ***** to get them to sync. The second unit would never flash steady green.if I reversed the order of startup, the first unit would go into overload every time. Finally I put a load on the 30A receptacle with the one unit still flashing, then turned both off. Then fired up both of them at the exact same time, and they finally synced.

Seemed like a long and trying process to get them to sync...

Best explanation I could give you...

Parallel Operation

I am having the same issue on two brand new 2000w units. I have followed the instructions, the video and all. I can only get the two to sync about 1 out of 20 or so times starting them up. I will be calling them tomorrow.

[MrRchitty]

thejrod wrote:
Any tips for getting two inverters to sync via the parallel cables?

Mine just came in and it was a ***** to get them to sync. The second unit would never flash steady green.if I reversed the order of startup, the first unit would go into overload every time. Finally I put a load on the 30A receptacle with the one unit still flashing, then turned both off. Then fired up both of them at the exact same time, and they finally synced.

Seemed like a long and trying process to get them to sync...

Best explanation I could give you...

Parallel Operation

[thejrod]

Any tips for getting two inverters to sync via the parallel cables?

Mine just came in and it was a ***** to get them to sync. The second unit would never flash steady green.if I reversed the order of startup, the first unit would go into overload every time. Finally I put a load on the 30A receptacle with the one unit still flashing, then turned both off. Then fired up both of them at the exact same time, and they finally synced.

Seemed like a long and trying process to get them to sync...

[sbronco68]

DSchmidt_2000 wrote:

sbronco68 wrote:
Thanks for the link, I will definitely be calling them on Monday I just fear a factory carb is going to be very expensive, I thought I read someone had replaced the carb with a non carb compliant one for around $25, but for the life of me I can’t find where I read that.

I think you'll be surprised how cheap it will be from Champion themselves.

Yup you were right. A new carburetor from CPE directly is $27+shipping. This does not include the sevo motor on top as the picture in the manual shows.

[professor95]

Just an added comment on the extended run fuel tank I fabricated that is quoted below. You need to have the 2000i fuel tank full to the brim before screwing the cap that goes to the AUX tank on tight. ANY air in the 2000i tank or fuel fine from the AUX tank and it may not work. I used the AUX tank as shown last summer after a bad storm and it worked great but all air had to be purged first. Also note when you connect up and prime the system you will most likely spill some gasoline down the side of the generator. NEVER do this with a hot engine and let any spilled fuel evaporate before starting the genny.

[DSchmidt_2000]

sbronco68 wrote:
Thanks for the link, I will definitely be calling them on Monday I just fear a factory carb is going to be very expensive, I thought I read someone had replaced the carb with a non carb compliant one for around $25, but for the life of me I can’t find where I read that.

I think you'll be surprised how cheap it will be from Champion themselves.

[sbronco68]

MrRchitty wrote:

sbronco68 wrote:
Hi guys I just picked up a CPE 2000i from a garage sale brand new, still had the "needs oil" sticker for $250. Problem is it looks like it got water or something in the gas tank at one point and now the carburetor is destroy. The inside of the bowl is rusted and the float and seat are seized sold. I have google'ing for hours and cant find a new carburetor for it. Any help on where to get a new carburetor (aftermarket non CARB is fine) would be very much appreciated.

Thanks
Shawn

Call them, http://www.championpowerequipment.com/

Thanks for the link, I will definitely be calling them on Monday I just fear a factory carb is going to be very expensive, I thought I read someone had replaced the carb with a non carb compliant one for around $25, but for the life of me I can’t find where I read that.

[MrRchitty]

sbronco68 wrote:
Hi guys I just picked up a CPE 2000i from a garage sale brand new, still had the "needs oil" sticker for $250. Problem is it looks like it got water or something in the gas tank at one point and now the carburetor is destroy. The inside of the bowl is rusted and the float and seat are seized sold. I have google'ing for hours and cant find a new carburetor for it. Any help on where to get a new carburetor (aftermarket non CARB is fine) would be very much appreciated.

Thanks
Shawn

Call them, http://www.championpowerequipment.com/

[sbronco68]

Hi guys I just picked up a CPE 2000i from a garage sale brand new, still had the "needs oil" sticker for $250. Problem is it looks like it got water or something in the gas tank at one point and now the carburetor is destroy. The inside of the bowl is rusted and the float and seat are seized sold. I have google'ing for hours and cant find a new carburetor for it. Any help on where to get a new carburetor (aftermarket non CARB is fine) would be very much appreciated.

Thanks
Shawn

[dewey02]

MX-RV wrote:
#dewey02. I would say the best place to start is a carb clean. There is lots of info out there refer to the manual to get at it. I did find last spring when I pulled mine out I had to turn off the breaker use full choke turn Eco off and pull it 10-12 times. I always pull slow (this pull doesn't count as a pull) untill I find the compression point near top dead center before giving it a starting pull I find its far more consistent that way. I would suggest running only premium 91 octaine fuel as it stores far better than bronze and it will take surges in power better.

Thanks to you and all the others for the suggestions. We just got about 12 inches of snow the last 3 days, so it may be a while before I work on the generator. It snowed for about 48 hours non-stop, and while the sun came out this morning, it is now snowing again...bleh!