Floyd,
IMHO, from five years of working with these toys, ANY generator under 5,500 watts will NOT be able to sustain a 15,000 BTU A/C with a locked-in compressor for 12-16 (or more) hours in 100 degree weather without some issue with overheating or damage -- Chinese, Japanese, inverter, synchronous, etc. The load is too great for the cooling design and rising oil temperatures along with temperatures inside the alternator itself. All will rise to dangerous levels -- this is even with the genny sitting outside in open air. Of course, a 5,500 watt open frame genny with a 13 HP engine is just too darn loud for a campground at 77 dBA. Out in the lonely desert, sure -- take a 5,500 if you like.
The Champion 3,500 will run a 15,000 BTU A/C in 85, maybe 90 degree heat for 3-4 hours at continuous compressor load. It is best to set your A/C thermostat a little warmer so the compressor will cycle on and off and give the genny occasional rest breaks.
Just like your MH or TV, going up a long 7% grade in 100 degree weather at WOT when pulling a loaded camper will cause an overheated engine and tranny UNLESS the rig is over sized for the purpose. BTW - this is a good reason to respect tow ratings just like wattage ratings.
As for the 29.5 amps -- the Champion will do it. I have run the test with the genny connected to an adjustable resistance 500 amp carbon pile load cranked down to show 29 plus amps (3,540 watts). But, as I noted, it will NOT sustain it. No matter what the labels say about wattage with a 6.5 HP and 200 or so CC GX style engine figure about 2,800 watts (23.3 amps) as your maximum continuous working load. In hot, hot weather drop it down to 2,400 watts (20 amps). Also, keep in mind inductive loads are more demanding of a generator's power than resistive loads.
Still no clue why your unit shut down with two 1,500 watt heaters (3,000 watt total). Mine will run two 1,500 watt heaters at the same time (resistive load) like a walk in the park. Of course, I'm not running heaters in 100 degree weather! As I ventured to say earlier, you were dealing with some other problem or issue that you are not aware of.
Professor Randy T. Agee & Nancy Agee. Also Oscar, the totally ruined Dachshund.
2009 Cedar Creek 5th Wheel - 2004 Volvo VNL670 class 8 MotorHome conversion as toter.
Turbocharged, 12L, 465 HP and 1,800 ft. Lbs. of torque.
professor95 wrote: Floyd,
IMHO, from five years of working with these toys, ANY generator under 5,500 watts will NOT be able to sustain a 15,000 BTU A/C with a locked-in compressor for 12-16 (or more) hours in 100 degree weather without some issue with overheating or damage -- Chinese, Japanese, inverter, synchronous, etc. The load is too great for the cooling design and rising oil temperatures along with temperatures inside the alternator itself. All will rise to dangerous levels -- this is even with the genny sitting outside in open air. Of course, a 5,500 watt open frame genny with a 13 HP engine is just too darn loud for a campground at 77 dBA. Out in the lonely desert, sure -- take a 5,500 if you like.
The Champion 3,500 will run a 15,000 BTU A/C in 85, maybe 90 degree heat for 3-4 hours at continuous compressor load. It is best to set your A/C thermostat a little warmer so the compressor will cycle on and off and give the genny occasional rest breaks.
Just like your MH or TV, going up a long 7% grade in 100 degree weather at WOT when pulling a loaded camper will cause an overheated engine and tranny UNLESS the rig is over sized for the purpose. BTW - this is a good reason to respect tow ratings just like wattage ratings.
As for the 29.5 amps -- the Champion will do it. I have run the test with the genny connected to an adjustable resistance 500 amp carbon pile load cranked down to show 29 plus amps (3,540 watts). But, as I noted, it will NOT sustain it. No matter what the labels say about wattage with a 6.5 HP and 200 or so CC GX style engine figure about 2,800 watts (23.3 amps) as your maximum continuous working load. In hot, hot weather drop it down to 2,400 watts (20 amps). Also, keep in mind inductive loads are more demanding of a generator's power than resistive loads.
Still no clue why your unit shut down with two 1,500 watt heaters (3,000 watt total). Mine will run two 1,500 watt heaters at the same time (resistive load) like a walk in the park. Of course, I'm not running heaters in 100 degree weather! As I ventured to say earlier, you were dealing with some other problem or issue that you are not aware of.
Prof,
Great post. Folks who want the 3000w Champion to cool with a 15,000 BTU A/C now know what to expect. My only experience has been with a 13,500 roof top A/C/3000w Champion combo and never on a 100 degree day in the old MH. The Champion C46540 is now in my little genhouse/shop. In that I am no longer able to move about without great pain, it is set up so that I can sit on a stool and due some trials and play with my little Yellow and Black toy, if you want to call it by that name. Having Electric start is sure nice. Yes, I do like to see and hear what it can and will do. As you suggested some time ago, I ordered from Ebay the dogbone for the 240v twist lock recp't that has two 120v pigtails. So I have full use of all the AC power the Champion can produce. The 2 1500w heaters were available so are used for a test load. With 2 1500w hearter in use the gen will shut down after a few minutes. However, if I turn one of them down to medium, all is well. So yes, I agree, with my testing, the Champion is good for 2600/2800watts with no problem. For whatever it's worth. What the Champion will do using LPG is another story.
It has been a long time coming, but now it is official. Champion Power Equipment is entering the digital inverter generator market.
The new unit should be available by August. It is a 2,000 watt genny. It looks like Sam's and Cabelas will be the first retail outlets to get the new digital unit.
This is a new from the ground up generator, not a re-branded clone made by some other Chinese company. It is built by CPE and will be exclusive to their brand.
I guess we will eventually need to create a new thread for 2,000 watt Chinese Inverter/Digital Generator Info.
Like the Honda digital, it can be mated with a second unit for 4,000 watts. What is neat is the second unit can be set on top of the first.
No info on price, engine size or dB ratings yet.
I have an 8 second video of the unit that I finally uploaded. Click on the image below. I hope it works! I am out camping and my connection is SLOW.
* This post was
edited 04/23/10 09:38pm by professor95 *
professor95
Nice that they are in the inverter style.
Do you know if the 3500 estart / remote is official as well even though NON inverter style?
If so, the price could be attractive.
DECISIONS !!
* This post was
edited 04/24/10 03:54am by jasult *
Jim & Georgeanne + Lucie the beagle
"excavator" on the DieselStop.Com
1996 F250 Powerstroke, Baby Swamp injectors, Tony Wildman Chip,210,000 miles,
1995 Fleetwood Wildness 30 ft 5ver
Well, well,well. What a great day this is ~ I had to endure, but with a happy faceall the nice (not) posts from years pasted, whenever I even mentioned Champion wanting to remain with Model T's in the digital age. To say the least, this is a happy day. Yes, there will remain a place for the open frame Champions (like mine) and glad to hear also that a NEW 'electric start' model is coming to market soon. Life is good. Wish I can live to see the day when the new 'Yellow and Black' beauties arrive on the market. Maybe a new toy for Old & Slow would be good. Now I gotta be nice to DW for sure.
Now I can look forward to flying my large Yellow and Black Champion flag over my little Yellow and Black genhouse. It may be a limited addition, however. It came as a surprise years ago. Can't keep a old man from doing a little crowing. Ever see a Yellow and Black rooster?
* This post was
edited 04/24/10 04:58am by Old & Slow *
The 3500ES/Remote is reported to be ready for shipment to COSTCO with over 3,000 units sitting in the warehouse ready to go. It was shown at the Las Vegas National Hardware Show last fall -- guess COSTCO saw it and liked it. The scuttlebutt is the "ball is in Costco's court" right now to get things moving along. Still no info on pricing. That part is up to Costco.
Just as soon as I can get hold of actual working specs and pricing on the new digital I'll share it here first .
But, you know if one of the initial outlets for public sale is going to be SAMs the price will be extremely attractive for a 2,000 watt digital. The sale through the "wholesale" clubs is a bittersweet proposition. You must be a member to buy there ($40 per year) but both clubs really test a product like this before committing to sale, so you have a better than average assurance it is not a piece of junk. They also have extremely liberal return policies for their products.
I currently have a 2,000 watt digital I am extremely happy with (Kipor 2,000Ti) but it does not provide enough power for all our RV needs. So, I don't plan on running out and buying a 2,000 watt Champion unless I can parallel both the Kipor and Champion together -- which is not improbable if they are designed like the Honda parallel kits. Now, that would be an interesting side-by-side test, wouldn't it?
I have learned that Champion is one of the more cautious companies about announcing a product in advance (know as Vaporware). You usually don't know about them until they are on the retailer's shelves.
I know Champion recently added a new product development team based in Arkansas! The two guys heading up this team are said to be really top notch engineers with a lot of experience in power equipment design. This product will be their first big test, so we should see just what this new team is capable of by year's end.
I was ready to buy the Champion 3500 and now I will wait for the EStart / remote 3500 as I need that much power. I curently have an old Coleman 1850 that I carry along just for coffee pot or what ever when boon-docking. The EStart / remote could be the cats meow and I am a member of both Costco and Sams so i will wait and see.
thanks
Jim
I have the model C46540 and I just took it out of the box 2 weeks ago. The plastic spark plug harness was broken and Champion shipped me a new one right away. I installed it today and put gas and oil in it and pulled several times on the cord and noticed gas leaking out. I looked underneath and it appears the tank has a rust hole in it. I haven't even fired it up yet! I will call tomorrow and see what they say. Also on the oil, it said 0.63 qts to fill it up. The tag on the side said it was shipped empty, but after a little over 0.5 qts, it was running out of the hole. I had it level, but it seemed like it was too much oil. Does it need to get to the engine so it doesn't just fill up the pan? Thanks for any advice.
As I ventured to say earlier, you were dealing with some other problem or issue that you are not aware of.
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