Even though I hate buying from China over the US, I will say that their imports are getting a lot better. .
Can you even tell me if there is a North American built portable generator?
Onan comes to mind, although some models use a Kubota (Japanese) engine. Generac also states theirs are also US made. Caveat: I wouldn't call the inbuilt Onan/Generac gensets really portable.
Inverters, you have two choices: Japan, or China.
CPE is an American company, but all their factory work is done out of a coastal Chinese province.
Ric Flair wrote: Champion 3500/4000. $300 bucks, runs 15,000 BTU AC and microwave.
Use it for NASCAR events and horse shows if we don't have hook ups.
In other words, I use it in places where the crotchety old coots usually don't camp.
That is a rude comment..........
There are folks on here that take it personally that anyone would consider purchasing a 4000 watt Champion gennerator, and they let it be known. If you've spent any time reading these generator threads you know what I'm talking about.
mlts22 wrote: I don't think I'm a crotchety old coot, but when I'm standing in my truck bed with my generator in it running full tilt (eco mode switch off + full A/C load) and I can't hear my generator at all (although can feel it) over a generator 75 feet away, I do think some generators are too loud for anything but construction or a NASCAR event...
Only you know if you are, or aren't, but I'll give you the benifit of the doubt .
First, the Champion isn't a contractor generator.
Second, you make my point, in that every generator has it's right application. I use mine at the appropriate venues, which would NOT include RV rallies populated by octogenarians who find grumbling about their neighbors to be the #1 pastime. If it wasn't my generator it would be the music, the dog, the kids, well....you know I'm right
I have run my 13500 a/c with a EU2000i, so has my brother on his Artic Fox. It will also run the microwave and this is actually more of a struggle than the ac. Just depends on if you have the soft start for your ac.
skip
05' Layton Lite 170LT Cascade edition
06' Chevy Silverado K1500
We-No-Nah Rendevous, a Ljutic, a Remington, a Hard Rock Pro, a Polaris 550XP & Raleigh the Hunter
My Honda 3000i doubles as backup power for my house. I put in a 6 circuit gen switch into the panel and selected the 6 most needed circuits in the house.
1. Kitchen for fridge and microwave
2. living room for light and television/cable/stereo
3. Family room for light and fish tank
4. Den for computer/internet modem
5. Bedroom for light and television
6. Garage for door opener and most important, the BEER FRIDGE!
I have a wood stove for heat. At night, I setup the same electric heater I use in the trailer in the bedroom.
It's not often we use it for camping, since we reserve our trips and get the pick of sites that have at least electric hookups. For the off times we might find ourselves without electric, the gen has been nice for that.
I have a hook rigged up in the garage and use a come-a-long to haul the #150+ Honda into the back of the truck. I just run it from there as needed. Works fine.
You would be surprised how 'loud' even a Honda is in the quiet of a forested camp ground... It was around 9am and I had it running because I wanted to get an early jump on charging the batteries and I went to the restroom which was a couple hundred yards away and I could hear it all the way to and from it. Sure, it was not obnoxiously loud, but you knew it was running... I was in the 'tent' section of the park, and I asked the neighboring camper if the gen was bothering them and they said they didn't even know it was running.... I still tried to keep the gen use to a minimum, because I was still sensitive to it..
That's my story!
Mitch
*Anything I post is for entertainment purposes only and what usually works for me.. Your Mileage May Vary..
mlts22 wrote: I don't think I'm a crotchety old coot, but when I'm standing in my truck bed with my generator in it running full tilt (eco mode switch off + full A/C load) and I can't hear my generator at all (although can feel it) over a generator 75 feet away, I do think some generators are too loud for anything but construction or a NASCAR event...
Only you know if you are, or aren't, but I'll give you the benifit of the doubt .
First, the Champion isn't a contractor generator.
Second, you make my point, in that every generator has it's right application. I use mine at the appropriate venues, which would NOT include RV rallies populated by octogenarians who find grumbling about their neighbors to be the #1 pastime. If it wasn't my generator it would be the music, the dog, the kids, well....you know I'm right
I'm not sure why people thing that NASCAR races are the place to run loud generators. They are just as irritating there as they are anywhere else. It does not matter if it is a contactors generator or what category you put it in, loud is not pleasant to be around.
A number of years ago some genius thought he would get a large gas generator to run two camping trailers. I think it was about 10000 watts. It sounded like a helicopter was landing there. He didn't make many friends with that thing. And, after a lot of input from neighbors he didn't run it very much thank goodness.
I'm not sure why people thing that NASCAR races are the place to run loud generators. They are just as irritating there as they are anywhere else. It does not matter if it is a contactors generator or what category you put it in, loud is not pleasant to be around.
A number of years ago some genius thought he would get a large gas generator to run two camping trailers. I think it was about 10000 watts. It sounded like a helicopter was landing there. He didn't make many friends with that thing. And, after a lot of input from neighbors he didn't run it very much thank goodness.
I heard some REALLY loud gennys at Talladega last year too so I understand what you're saying.
Can we also agree that the Champion 3500/4000 does not fit what you're describing?
It seems that some folks (not you) seem to lump every generator that's not a Honda/Yammy into the "obnoxious contractor" class.
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He didn't make many friends with that thing. 
