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

[Old___Slow]

The flat out noise level is unknown to me. But for $270 the old fashion Champion C46540 gave me pure pleasure today when I started the beautiful little power house in my gen house. Previously, it was used for a short time to power a MH with a 13,500 A/C and all electric fridge. Are these Inverters going to prove to be good only for light duty service? What can be powered with 400w to keep them at a low noise level? And is Honda & Yamaha alone in the 2000w class? I hear the Honda 3000i is quiet with high output. Is this true? What dbA level?

[tvman44]

The same goes for noise. Flat out not much difference if any.

-=dwh=- wrote:

professor95 wrote:

-=dwh=- wrote:
Very nice test! Good job and thanks!

I'm very interested in run times.

-=dhw=-

Well, its like this: It is just me goofin' around. I have no business relationship with CPE. What I do I do because I like doing it. I also like sharing because I think it can help people make a more informed decision on what to buy.

If time allows and this old man can get motivated I will try to get some tangible info on fuel usage, but I seriously doubt that it will be 25%, 50%, etc. If I get anything together I will most likely fill the tank with a measured amount of gas, hook up the light bulbs (700 watts), and plug in a synchronous electric clock (the old kind with hands), set the clock to noon and let her run until the fuel is gone. When the clock stops I will know the run time for a 700 watt load.

Will that work for you? :@

Lemme see...700w would be almost 50% of rated continuous load. Could you maybe make it 3.5 lightbulbs? 😄

Actually, 400w would be 25%, so that might be better.

The point is that these things don't save any gas over a non-inverter gen when they are running flat out - the savings only happen when they throttle down for lesser loads - so the further it's throttled down, the more it should be saving.

[-_dwh_-]

professor95 wrote:

-=dwh=- wrote:
Very nice test! Good job and thanks!

I'm very interested in run times.

-=dhw=-

Well, its like this: It is just me goofin' around. I have no business relationship with CPE. What I do I do because I like doing it. I also like sharing because I think it can help people make a more informed decision on what to buy.

If time allows and this old man can get motivated I will try to get some tangible info on fuel usage, but I seriously doubt that it will be 25%, 50%, etc. If I get anything together I will most likely fill the tank with a measured amount of gas, hook up the light bulbs (700 watts), and plug in a synchronous electric clock (the old kind with hands), set the clock to noon and let her run until the fuel is gone. When the clock stops I will know the run time for a 700 watt load.

Will that work for you? :@

Lemme see...700w would be almost 50% of rated continuous load. Could you maybe make it 3.5 lightbulbs? 😄

Actually, 400w would be 25%, so that might be better.

The point is that these things don't save any gas over a non-inverter gen when they are running flat out - the savings only happen when they throttle down for lesser loads - so the further it's throttled down, the more it should be saving.

[vermilye]

I had the same problem with a 15K Generac standby generator. The dealer installed a kit (for free) designed to make the generator work with the new high efficiency furnaces & now it works OK with the APC.

[professor95]

We lost power last night after high winds dropped a tree limb across the utility lines up the road.

I have a synchronous 7,200 watt genny fueled by LPG. But, my APC 1,000 VA UPS that filters power to the 52" Plasma TV in the living room does not like the signal from this generator, thus it will not switch back to stand-by power mode.

I set one of the CPE2000i units outside the basement door and ran an extension cord to the UPS. It worked extremely well giving us TV and Dish for about 4 hours. Meanwhile, the 7200 gave us water from the well pump, kept the refrigerator and freezer on, lots of lights and the furnace/blower running as needed.

They made a nice pair - one for a clean sine wave, the other for plenty of brute force power. It sure beats sitting in a cold, dark room 🙂

[Old___Slow]

Glad to see the impartial testing continue. For the Champion 2000 Watt Inverter there are some unanswered questions. It has been stated that the Champ 2000i will not start a 6000 btu A/C nor operate the 1100 watt microwaves. If these two questions can be put to rest by further unquestionable testing with positive results, I do believe the Champion will give some real 'run for the money' to other brands. My hopes are up, we will have the mighty might 79cc engine powered 2000w Inverter "World Class"

[professor95]

-=dwh=- wrote:
Very nice test! Good job and thanks!

I'm very interested in run times.

-=dhw=-

Well, its like this: It is just me goofin' around. I have no business relationship with CPE. What I do I do because I like doing it. I also like sharing because I think it can help people make a more informed decision on what to buy.

If time allows and this old man can get motivated I will try to get some tangible info on fuel usage, but I seriously doubt that it will be 25%, 50%, etc. If I get anything together I will most likely fill the tank with a measured amount of gas, hook up the light bulbs (700 watts), and plug in a synchronous electric clock (the old kind with hands), set the clock to noon and let her run until the fuel is gone. When the clock stops I will know the run time for a 700 watt load.

Will that work for you? :@

[professor95]

RCCowboys wrote:
Hello Professor

I know you mentioned you were unable to take sound measurements at the time of your recent test comparing the CPE to the Kipor, but I was wondering if you could give me your opinion on if one was quieter than the other. I would aprreciate your response as I currently own 2 kipors but have been following this thread and am considering the CPE's. Any comparison opinions would be greatly welcomed.

Best regards, Ricky

Ricky,

You had the opportunity to hear the sound on the video. I know those little camera microphones aren't much!

But, here is the deal: The exhaust on the CPE was coming out the left facing side toward the brick retaining wall. The Kipor exhaust was aimed back toward the metal garage door and much larger brick wall.

My hearing is not the greatest in the world, but the TONE on the CPE seemed softer to me when it was at low speed. Once they get loaded down and reved up they both sounded pretty much the same.

That said, my take is they are for all piratical purposes equal in sound.

One thing that should be evaluated when selecting a CPE, Honda or Kipor is the placement of the controls and exhaust. As an example, my CPE will not fit in the space where I set a generator on my Volvo since the space is deep and narrow. Only the Kipor or CPE 1200 watt synchronous will fit.

Both the Honda and kipor have the outlets and controls on the narrow side (end) and the starter on the left side. The exhaust is on the opposite end.

The CPE has the starter and controls on the LONG side with the exhaust to the left.

I really wish they had designed it to fit like the Honda, but no such luck.

[RCCowboys]

Hello Professor

I know you mentioned you were unable to take sound measurements at the time of your recent test comparing the CPE to the Kipor, but I was wondering if you could give me your opinion on if one was quieter than the other. I would aprreciate your response as I currently own 2 kipors but have been following this thread and am considering the CPE's. Any comparison opinions would be greatly welcomed.

Best regards, Ricky

[-_dwh_-]

Very nice test! Good job and thanks!

I'm very interested in run times. I have had 3 Honeywell HW2000i inverter generators. Two failed and were replaced under warranty. The one I have now, is one of the newer 2010 "2nd Generation" units.

My first two ran a max of 10.5 hours on a 1.5g tank running only the 10a battery charger in my camper. The one I have now runs 13 hours on the same amount of fuel with the same load.

I would very much like to know the run times of the Champion under 0%, 25% and 50% load.

I know, I know...don't want much do I? But if you get a chance I think it's very useful information.


I expect the 80cc engine to use about the same fuel as a Honda or Yamaha under full load, but the no-load or partially loaded run times will give some useful data with which to compare against the H&Y.

These inverter generators don't save fuel under full load - under partial load is where these things save fuel. That's what I'm most curious to see - Watt*Hours per Gallon.

I think that's THE most useful baseline for comparison after the test you've just performed.

[professor95]

Using McZippie's words, I had an opportunity to "goof" around this morning.

I had hoped it might get warm enough to run the camper A/C - but no such luck. So, this is the only goofin' I managed to accomplish.

I do not own a Honda eu2000. I have borrowed one and compared it to my Kipor KGE2000i. The Honda and the Kipor performed equally from all of my observations at the time. In fact, they are so "equal" Honda sued Kipor over patent infringement when the inverters were first introduced and succeeded in gaining a healthy out-of-court settlement for Kipor's use of the Honda technology.

This morning I put the Kipor side-by-side with the Champion 2000i running the same test on both units that I did on just the CPE a few days ago.

The video is long. I did NOT go to make-up before my appearance.

Yes, the light bulbs get HOT and the second pair of lamps were not making consistent electrical contact.

You will note in the video during the test with the Kipor the voltage dropped quickly as load increased. Voltage remained stable on the CPE through the entire test.

The Kipor reached a point where engine speed started dropping from the added load. It is worth pointing out the Kipor has a 20 cc larger engine than the CPE.

The limiting factor on the CPE was the circuit breaker. The Kipor does not have a mechanical breaker.

The Kipor really got hot when it was fully loaded. There was smoke from burning oil. I do not know where it came from (second video).

The wattage drawn from the electric heater was 1,445 on the CPE and 1,421 on the Kipor (voltage difference).

On the Kipor the 1,421 watts from the electric heater plus seven 100W bulbs appears to be 2,121 watts. But, with the voltage drop to 102 volts the actual power was limited to about 1,700 watts (approximate - not measured.)

Since the the CPE did NOT experience a voltage drop lower than 115 VAC fully loaded, we were able to achieve a power level slightly in excess of 1,700 watts as the 14 amp circuit breaker tripped off.

To view the first video of the test on each inverter generator click here

The short video of the smoke coming out of the end of the Kipor at the end of the load test is here.

Draw your own conclusions. And, no I did not do a sound level test at the same time. Too much going on and too little help.

[professor95]

George - No, not yet. This was just a resistive test.

J - The circuit breaker is 14 amps (not 15). Today is suppose to be a really freak winter day. The cold (low pressure) in Chicago that stretches across the country is sucking tropical air out of the Florida Keys and Gulf up into Virginia. We are suppose to have a one day only high of 70 degrees F. If this holds true and it is not raining, I can actually hook the parallel units up to the Cedar Creek A/C. Tomorrow is back to the low 40's. Bummer!

[JConatser]

Prof, as I recall, you've got 2 of those Champ 2000i's, right?... I'd be interested in knowing if your 2nd one's circuit breaker is the limiting factor like the first one. No prob if you don't have time, I understand...

[MrWizard]

Prof have you tried a low power inductive load like your portable Ice maker ?
or some battery charging like the 5ver converter system
using only One of the Twins

[bowtiebill]

5akman wrote:
Has anyone found this unit in CA yet? I have a Honda that my boys use at one farmers market and I need another 2000w unit for the market I sell at. I'd love to try the Champ but haven't seen it here in CA. I've looked at Costco, Sams Club and the home improvement stores with no luck.

They are in the Sams Club in Oxnard and in Santa Clarita. At least the were a couple of weeks ago.