Old & Slow wrote: As has been said before on this thread. I'm no 'lectrican. I hope soon someone will open the control panel of a DuroPower. As I compare the Champion to the DuroPower, I am filled with amazement. First the DuroPower has more available air flow to the engine and the breather looks superior. Then when I open the control panel I notice quickly the difference in the quality of the wiring and how it is attached. I do believed the gage of the wiring is heavier and on and on. Please someone, give us a take on this. Has Champion cut us short?
Well the proof is in the performance. As long as the wiring doesn't fail or cause excessive voltage drop, there isn't a problem. And the Champion has NO such problems. As I said in my detailed review, even at a full load of 3300 watts, my Champion managed over 125 volts. So the wiring, even if a bit undersized, doesn't affect the real world performance.
There's no question a $300 generator is "price engineered" to keep the costs down. Different manufactures may cut in different areas. As I posted at the start of all this, I tried twice to buy a Duropower and was lied to both times and ultimately had to give up. They don't even like to answer their phone.
So apparently Duropower has chosen to save money by not properly supporting their US customers. If you can get one of their generators, and you never need parts, great. But I couldn't even get them to ship one. Many here have had similar problems and DuroPower has an "F" from the Better Business Bureau (their worst rating). Although some say they do build a nice product and they have a broader offering than Champion does.
As for cooling, my Champion ran plenty cool but it was in open air and 50 degree weather. I can't speak for the Duropower but I'd bet the engine cooling is virtually the same. As several people have pointed out here, all the 200cc Chinese generator engines are essentially identical clones of the Honda GX200. Duropower may use a different generator head.
I do agree with Professor95 ( Dr. Randy)... Let's identify the good, bad and ugly. You are helping us to know what we really have in our choice of the various Chinese 3000w gensets (Champion). We did question the total output. Your testing was needed to give us that answer. That's what this thread is all about. The professor has looked over the market and rests his case with the Champion. I have no problem with that decision. But and always there is the but, do we know what we have without some comparison? We always use apples and oranges as an analogy. We can all agree on the FACT that for $300 we have lot's of VALUE and CS with Champion.
That doesn't look like a terrible deal. An extra fifty gets you a starter, but no RV ready plug.
Nick
Yeah, Duropower has a lot of attractive looking options and many of their generators appear to have the same Jaing Dong "roots" as the Champions. But their business practices and lack of support in the USA seem to be the problem. They also only offer free shipping on certain models.
Most of us can walk in and buy a Champion locally with no shipping. With freight running $80 - $120 per unit, and many complaining of generators damaged in shipping, that makes a big difference. Champion also has all their manuals, parts lists, wiring diagrams, service info (including how to adjust the valves, the AVR, etc.) online. Those here who've needed their service have been impressed. They apparently send out parts for free without even requiring you to return the defective one. You just fax them your receipt and serial number.
But I agree, if one of the electric start DuroPowers meets your needs, and the price is right with free shipping, it's tempting. That's why I twice tried to buy one (but only got the run around and had to give up).
That doesn't look like a terrible deal. An extra fifty gets you a starter, but no RV ready plug.
Nick
Yeah, Duropower has a lot of attractive looking options and many of their generators appear to have the same Jaing Dong "roots" as the Champions. But their business practices and lack of support in the USA seem to be the problem. They also only offer free shipping on certain models.
Most of us can walk in and buy a Champion locally with no shipping. With freight running $80 - $120 per unit, and many complaining of generators damaged in shipping, that makes a big difference. Champion also has all their manuals, parts lists, wiring diagrams, service info (including how to adjust the valves, the AVR, etc.) online. Those here who've needed their service have been impressed. They apparently send out parts for free without even requiring you to return the defective one. You just fax them your receipt and serial number.
But I agree, if one of the electric start DuroPowers meets your needs, and the price is right with free shipping, it's tempting. That's why I twice tried to buy one (but only got the run around and had to give up).
Well, well well let's just it it all out in the open. You tried to buy a DurpPower and I wanted a Champion Electric Start at a fair price. I now understand there is now on the market or one is coming, a C46540E that perhaps will be sold through partsamerica.com....That is good news. I for one followed the Prof's direction and ask CSK/partsamerica.com for a quote on the Champion C46540E, with several replies the word is, not available at this time. I for one tried to buy a 40008 through the local ULTRA FAB dealer. Here in my city it is available at one of the local RV dealers. At The time (June or July) the price was $ 678.00 plus Tax for a total of $737.32
I do not want to help pay for the cost of operating a RV dealership to purchase a Genset. I caught a one day special on the DP3500EC for a total cost to my door of $329.99 I could not resist. These little buggers are pretty tough and I venture to say most of us will not need CS. If they are so poorly make a great number need parts or repair within the one year period, we should stay home in the safe and cool. If the genny is used for power backup at home, my thinking is, they will crank when needed. Your idea to retro to LPG is a good one. No need to worry about the carb. gum and stale gas. More dependable, period.
That doesn't look like a terrible deal. An extra fifty gets you a starter, but no RV ready plug.
Nick
Yeah, Duropower has a lot of attractive looking options and many of their generators appear to have the same Jaing Dong "roots" as the Champions. But their business practices and lack of support in the USA seem to be the problem. They also only offer free shipping on certain models.
Most of us can walk in and buy a Champion locally with no shipping. With freight running $80 - $120 per unit, and many complaining of generators damaged in shipping, that makes a big difference. Champion also has all their manuals, parts lists, wiring diagrams, service info (including how to adjust the valves, the AVR, etc.) online. Those here who've needed their service have been impressed. They apparently send out parts for free without even requiring you to return the defective one. You just fax them your receipt and serial number.
But I agree, if one of the electric start DuroPowers meets your needs, and the price is right with free shipping, it's tempting. That's why I twice tried to buy one (but only got the run around and had to give up).
Well, well well let's just get it all out in the open. You tried to buy a DurpPower and I wanted a Champion Electric Start at a fair price. I now understand there is now on the market or one is coming, a C46540E that perhaps will be sold through partsamerica.com....That is good news. I for one followed the Prof's direction and ask CSK/partsamerica.com for a quote on the Champion C46540E, with several replies the word is, not available at this time. I for one tried to buy a 40008 through the local ULTRA FAB dealer. Here in my city it is available at one of the local RV dealers. At The time (June or July) the price was $ 678.00 plus Tax for a total of $737.32
I do not want to help pay for the cost of operating a RV dealership to purchase a Genset. I caught a one day special on the DP3500EC for a total cost to my door of $329.99 I could not resist. These little buggers are pretty tough and I venture to say most of us will not need CS. If they are so poorly made that a great number need parts or repair within the one year period, we should stay home in the safe and cool. If the genny is used for power backup at home, my thinking is, they will crank when needed. Your idea to retro to LPG is a good one. No need to worry about the carb. gum and stale gas. More dependable, period.
Note that if you use this cord, it is recommended you ONLY USE the grey pair of recepticles at the end of the cord. The Yellow pair is the one connected to the un-regulated leg of the gen. DO not use the yellow pair!
In the end, this cord is no good in my opinion, because you are restricted to only 120V, 15 amp (one leg of the generator), for the reason explained earlier in the thread.
Best to try to use the RV30 plug, which has native 120V and 30 amp capacity. Still looking for a proper cord for that though....
madmike1 wrote: Gnolivos and Generator Guy.
What Coleman cable are you referring to? Do you have a link or part number? I think you are discussing what I have been pondering with my Champion for a few months.
That doesn't look like a terrible deal. An extra fifty gets you a starter, but no RV ready plug.
Nick
One thing about DuroPower it is shipped with a wheel kit and 3 Plugs worth about $40 I x NEMA 5 20P 1 x NEMA L5 30R 1 x L14-20P The 30 amp NEMA L5-30R is a full output Receptacle when the switch is set to 120v or like the generator guy says about 27.5a for the Champion. So with using the NENA L5 30R you have the same as the Champion RV plug, if I am correct. If anyone has the idea of my giving a endorsement to DuroPower, that is flat out wrong. Their CS has that certain smell to it. I know. I own one. The product is better than the Company that sells this brand in the US. It was well packed and arrived by FedEx without damage. The battery had a slight crack due to being strapped to tight from the factory.
gnolivos wrote: Because I need to be able to power regular 120V (3 prong) devices, like a sump pump...
Which is what you can do using my suggestion. Cut the female end off a cable like the one I linked to, then wire whatever 120V 3 prong receptacle(s) on it you want.
* This post was
edited 12/15/07 12:03am by JConatser *
, do we know what we have without some comparison? We always use apples and oranges as an analogy. We can all agree on the FACT that for $300 we have lot's of VALUE and CS with Champion.
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