Generac Standby Generator - why not?

[luvrbus]

Dave, I have the Onan 3600 LP it (is actuality a 4000 de tuned for propane)  in the Trek it is a good generator only draw back is the air filter.If you don't run the Subaru engine a little low on oil it will plug the air filter with oil.Cummins is the only place you can buy it  for 15 bucks other than that they don't give much of a problem.

Ours has 2600 hrs and since I installed a new air filter again lol it runs great,propane units like mine the 3600LP will use a gal of propane a hour under a full load like running the AC.

Here I pay $1.69 to $1.99 a gal for propane so it not a big deal filling the 40 gal tank but if you start paying $3.00 to $4.00 a gal it would get expensive fast running the AC   

[Debo]

I use one of these for my generator needs, and absolutely love it. No need to over-complicate things if it's not necessary.

https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Power-Equipment-75531i-Generator/dp/B00BBDCE1S

I actually ended up with two of them after a shipping SNAFU with Amazon, but usually just run one and alternate their use. If I require a lot of power for something, then I run both. I use non-ethanol gas, and mine crank on the first pull and run very quietly. I just open the bay door when I'm using them. Going down the road, everything is powered by the Magnum inverter via the alternator and battery bank. If I'm boondocking, I can run one of them on low-speed economy mode and it will charge my battery bank. Super quiet and efficient.

[buswarrior]

wow, that Champion is a slightly adjusted rip off of my Yamaha!!

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Oonrahnjay]

wow, that Champion is a slightly adjusted rip off of my Yamaha!!

happy coaching!  buswarrior 

      There are a number of terrible-quality rip-offs out there.  Go to any Horrible-Freight outlet or similar (I forget what the equivalent in Kinnehhjah there, is, eh?) and check all the shiny, pretty things -- with leaky tanks, brittle-metal bearings, 5-hour spark plugs, inflexible seals, etc.
      It's easy to find a new-but-junk example.  (Not saying either the Yamaha or the Champion falls into that description, but there are plenty of others ...)

[luvrbus]

I don't have any idea who makes the Champion but they are not bad I bought one when working on the restaurant I got from Costo it came with a 1 year warranty.Ok when it craps out I will take it back and get a new one every couple of months.We ran it night and day for almost a year changing the oil every week it never missed a beat and is still running 2 years later when needed has around 3000 hrs the last time I checked it is starting to smoke a little now   

[Iceni John]

My understanding is that Champion has their own factory and makes what they sell, unlike other brands that are just names stuck on the cheapest crap available.   Apparently their Chonda engine is such a close clone of the Honda that parts interchange.   I've had a Champion 3500W for a few years now, and I've converted it to propane  -  it runs quieter and cleaner now, and still seems to have the same power as from gasoline.   However, with my solar I only need the generator for very occasional use and emergencies, typically only a few hours a year, so that's why I converted it to propane.

John   

[sledhead]

I have a 10 year old kipor 3500 inverter genne and a 3 year old Powerhorse Inverter Generator wow what a difference . the kipor uses about 60 % of the fuel and is a lot quieter

I have the new honda 7000 watt fuel injected genne as well the best genne I have ever used really good on fuel and the quietest genne I have ever had

in the featherlite there is a 12 k power tech in a hush box but the honda is quieter 

dave

[Jeremy]

I have a 10 year old kipor 3500 inverter genne and a 3 year old Powerhorse Inverter Generator wow what a difference . the kipor uses about 60 % of the fuel and is a lot quieter

I have a Kipor 3500 and love it as well, although so far it's probably got less than 50 hours on it total.

Jeremy

[Dave5Cs]

you will find most of the cheap ones have the same engine and the only difference is the name and stickers on the outside. Some even made and sold by the same company. I had a Harbor Freight one I bought with a business we bought years ago and it ran and ran. started right up and the engine was a Briggs and Straton. The rest was probably Chinese but the engine was just like all the rest. If it's not China it will be from India,Cuba or soon Afghanistan....

[DoubleEagle]

I don't have any idea who makes the Champion but they are not bad I bought one when working on the restaurant I got from Costo it came with a 1 year warranty.Ok when it craps out I will take it back and get a new one every couple of months.We ran it night and day for almost a year changing the oil every week it never missed a beat and is still running 2 years later when needed has around 3000 hrs the last time I checked it is starting to smoke a little now   

They are made in the Zehjiang district of China, but they have an office in the US for support. Not bad for the money, but they will not last as long as the Honda's, or be consistently dependable for everyone that uses them. Looks like 3000 hrs is about it for non-smoking running. I would be curious to see how long Scott's two Honda's go in comparison.

[luvrbus]

LOL I am looking at my Honda EU2000I it has made in Thailand all over it,Honda charged me 21 bucks + shipping for 4 o-ring on the carburetor bowl I would hate to buy a complete carburetor for the little guy   

[DoubleEagle]

LOL I am looking at my Honda EU2000I it has made in Thailand all over it,Honda charged me 21 bucks + shipping for 4 o-ring on the carburetor bowl I would hate to buy a complete carburetor for the little guy   

The best way to buy Honda parts is through third party sources, Honda dealers soak you. I've gotten whole carbs for mowers and snowblowers for twenty something, and they were Honda labeled parts.

[DubLloyd]

Can u advise as to the process of conversion from gasoline to LP gas.

My understanding is that Champion has their own factory and makes what they sell, unlike other brands that are just names stuck on the cheapest crap available.   Apparently their Chonda engine is such a close clone of the Honda that parts interchange.   I've had a Champion 3500W for a few years now, and I've converted it to propane  -  it runs quieter and cleaner now, and still seems to have the same power as from gasoline.   However, with my solar I only need the generator for very occasional use and emergencies, typically only a few hours a year, so that's why I converted it to propane.

John 

Sent from my SM-G920R7 using Tapatalk

[Dave5Cs]

any of these look familiar, Lol

http://lingben-generator.en.made-in-china.com/product/ZMcEaOJdXPkx/China-2kw-Astra-Korea-Power-Generator-Gasoline-Generator-with-CE-LB3700DXE-A-.html

[Iceni John]

Can u advise as to the process of conversion from gasoline to LP gas.

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I used one of the kits that consists of a Garretson KN demand regulator and a LPG feed piece that bolts between the carb and air cleaner.   Sorry, I can't remember its name brand right now!   Some kits require the carb's jet to be drilled out, but this makes the conversion irreversible.   My kit still allows me to use gasoline if I wanted, but why would I?   Like most kits it suggested that the generator's  frame tube be cut to make space for the air cleaner which sits an inch further out, but instead I made a 90-degree adapter from a copper plumbing elbow and some brass flanges to turn the air cleaner so it still clears the frame  -  much better than just hacking the frame apart.   On gasoline the gen would always start first pull every time without fail, but on propane it now takes three pulls to start it (never four or two!) in order to suck propane through the feed tube from the KN to the carb.   When running it seems quieter than before, and there's just a steady drip of water from the exhaust pipe and the exhaust is completely clean.

I've provided a dedicated propane supply from the propane distribution manifold to the generator, using Pro-Flex 1/2" CSST stainless flexible gas pipe inside 3/4" electrical conduit, and a quick-connect gas fitting and shut-off valve.   The gen is on a slide-out mount next to the front door for easy access, with a telescoping exhaust pipe running under the bus to the far side.   I'll be putting some emergency generator shut-down switches inside the bus so I can stop it from inside if needed.   So far, so good.

John