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Re: 3000W Chinese Gensets Info.
lag1996 wrote: So if i brought the powerpro 3500 and just pluged my tralier into it i would only be getting 25 amps out of it? and i need at least 30amps for the ac? sorry im realy confused. My personal experience is that 20 amps is more than enough for [many models of] rooftop AC [including mine for sure]. Problems CAN arise when you try to operate anything else WITH the AC.338Views0likes0CommentsRe: 3000W Chinese Gensets Info.
GotLift wrote: I'm looking for a generator for a side business that I'm starting and the ELM3000 is in the price range that I'm looking for to start. As of 9/15/05 is this genset still available? I can't even find a generator on the Pep-Boys web site. Thanks I never found a generator on the Pep Boys website. But they are definitely in the stores. You have to visit or call to find out exactly which models are in your local store.307Views0likes0CommentsRe: 3000W Chinese Gensets Info.
I've had a few requests for more info on my adapter cord for the PowerPro 5500 from Pep Boys. I am not an electrician. I'm not sure of the precise page and author, but I read about the test I describe below somewhere in this thread. Remember: no generator mods required on the PP5500. Spec review: 23 amps available @ 240V or 46 amps @ 120V, but not both at the same time. At 120V, the 46 amps is divided between the two duplex outlets (23 amps each). All of this info is from the owner's manual. The key test (I read about in here) to determine if this generator was good-to-go was using a multimeter to check across the TWO SEPARATE duplex plug circuits. I checked black-black and white-white and got a reading of zero volts (good). Then I checked from white on the left outlet to black on the right outlet and got 120 volts (good). Then black left to white right...120 volts (good). I went to Harbor Freight and bought two 12 gauge tri-plug adapters on sale (this was waaaay cheaper than buying two male ends and a little bit of wire at Home Depot). I cut off the triple ends (saving enough wire in case I wanted to add them to an extension cord in the future). Then I picked up a 30 amp RV female plug and pigtail at my local RV supply (10 gauge). Solder or wire nut all the whites together, all the blacks together, all the greens together. Then I double super duper quadruple wrapped everything with electrical tape. [NOTE: you need BIG wire nuts to get all these fat wires to tie together] I now have access to 46 amps (23 amps from each leg) and can rely on the 30 amp breaker in my camper for safe regulation of power flow, with the system never nearing it's 43 amp max and me never having to worry about venturing outside to reset the breaker on the generator. This is not theoretical; it actually works. I ran the generator for 14 and 12 continuous hours Sat and Sun night last weekend, air conditioning running all night (compressor cycling on/off, fan continuous). My 40 amp converter was also on all night (not much load on it so I can't say how much it was pulling).455Views0likes0CommentsRe: 3000W Chinese Gensets Info.
My PP5500 does not idle down. I noticed the nearby Honda only idled down when it had zero load. If running AC, at least my fan would constantly be on, so even if the PP5500 had the idle-down feature, it wouldn't do it. If you ran out of propane and wanted to run the gen just to keep your frig cold, it would always have a load on it because the electric heat strip in the frig is always on in elec mode. So I'm saying, if you're generator is idling down a lot and for long periods, maybe you need to shut the gen off? No wiring mods are needed on the PP5500 generator to access full amps w/120 volts. Noise: This is the quietest generator I've ever owned. [I guess I should also mention this is the first generator I've owned] I don't have a lot of experience with generators to offer much in the way of "it's as loud as..." but I can say that it seemed no louder than the Honda 5k unit that was used near me this past weekend. Engine and generator unit on my PP looked identical to the Honda. If you expect to be using your generator around folks w/o gens (who might complain about the noise), the PowerPro 5500 is probably not your best choice. If performance/price are of higher importance than noise to you, the PP5500 is your generator.335Views0likes0CommentsRe: 3000W Chinese Gensets Info.
PowerPro 5500: Easy to get all the power you need for a 30-amp connection. The two duplex outlets are on one 46 amp breaker, but each outlet only pulls a max of 23 amps. I built my own two-into-one 30-amp adapter and it worked beautifully Labor Day weekend. AC, microwave, frig, 40 amp converter, and lights all at the same time (sometimes). Gen ran for a continuous 14 hours from Saturday night to Sunday morning and still had fuel in the tank.335Views0likes0CommentsRe: 3000W Chinese Gensets Info.
I am tickled to death with my Power Pro 5500 from Pep Boys. I'm pulling 30 amps for my camper with zero problems. Powered two different notebook computers with zero problems (I know I've read something about sine-wave something-or-other). It did not sound any louder than the Honda 5k-ish unit rented by the folks sharing the deer camp with me Labor Day weekend.301Views0likes0CommentsRe: 3000W Chinese Gensets Info.
Jesse's Dad wrote: This may have already been covered, but I've only read about 45 pages of this post. I hope it is not redundant. I bought one of the Pep Boys $319.00 Power Pro 3500 gensets. The first thing I noticed was the 3 pronged 20 amp and twist lock 30 amp plugs were powered by their own identical, but seperate winding in the generator, and they are out of phase 180 degrees, so you can't combine them externally. So I did some tests, I loaded each outlet, one at a time with 3500 watts of resistive load (space heaters) and measured the output voltage. (I know the 20amp socket isn't made for this, but it is only a test). On each socket, at 3500 watts the voltage dropped to 95 VAC, not good. At 3000 watts, voltage dropped to 101 VAC, kind of weak. So I opened it up and found the the wiring used from the generator head to the AC distribution panel is 14 gauge (weak), so I rewired the two windings in parallel and used 12 gauge wires. Now with the generator loaded with 3500 watts I have 111 VAC, and at 3000 watts I have 114 VAC, much better. Of course after this modification I don't have 240 VAC available out of the genset anymore, but I won't need it. Don't you dare ask me to tell you which page, but of the 20-odd pages I did manage to read here and there, yes, this was previously noted. BUT...it's good that you have confirmed what was previously written!393Views0likes0CommentsRe: 3000W Chinese Gensets Info.
New to rvnet -- first post. I landed here after googling for info on the Pep Boys Pwer Pro generators. Good info in this thread, but WOW is it a long thread. Very hard to track down specific information/responses. I bought the Power Pro 5500 today. Not sure if the specs were already posted somewhere in here, but here are the important items of note (from actual inspection or the manual): IT'S PRETTY LOUD IT'S PRETTY HEAVY 2 ea 120V duplex receptacles @ 23 amps each, 46 amps total available in 120V mode 1 twist lock 240V @ 23 amps. You either do 120V @ 23A x 2 (46 amps total) or 240V @ 23A (23 amps total), but not both at the same time One single 46 amp breaker for both 120V duplex 12V DC 8A always available 6.5 gallon tank, box read "10 hrs @ half load." The generator started on the very first pull. I let it go for about an hour with AC, frig, one 110v light bulb, and the microwave plugged in. I was using a 50ft 12ga extension cord and everything worked fine; the compressor cycled off/on numerous times. I could hear the gen "throttle up" so to speak when the compressor kicked in, but it never sounded like a strain. Inside my camper with AC running I couldn't hear the gen. First impressions: I can deal with the sound and will work on a 'keep the neighbors happy' abatement, I can overcome the weight, I love the $400 price tag, and I love having power to spare. I think I'll keep it! [NOTE: I'm going to start a new thread so that others can add input/questions on this particular model and I can ask about some things I couldn't track down in this thread]411Views0likes0Comments
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