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Old 09-25-2018, 04:25 AM   #1
wayni208
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Champion inverter generators

While researching for the appropriate size generator to get for our Passport I came across a bit of info I thought would save others some money.

According to Champion the 3400 Inverter generators found on Amazon are the same machines as the 3500 inverter generators sold by Cabelas and Camping world for $250-300 more. These would be the dual fuel ($967 at Amazon, $1150 and $1299 (on sale for $1199 this month) at Cabelas and Camping World respectively) and the remote start models which are priced similarly.

I bought the dual fuel model. I’ll let you all know how it goes!
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Old 09-28-2018, 09:29 AM   #2
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did you buy a sound meter?
but interting to here about life of unit and if even reliable.
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Old 09-28-2018, 10:21 AM   #3
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I bought the 3500 Dual Fuel from Sams for $299. Only ran it on propane so far, but it powers the AC, both fridges, and everything else except the microwave and water heater. Very quiet on propane.
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Old 09-28-2018, 10:48 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by Msmith2054 View Post
I bought the 3500 Dual Fuel from Sams for $299. Only ran it on propane so far, but it powers the AC, both fridges, and everything else except the microwave and water heater. Very quiet on propane.
This thread has been discussing "INVERTER" generators. For the sake of clarity, would you please confirm which model Champion generator you purchased and are using so we're all thinking along the same lines?

I believe the 3500 dual fuel generator you purchased from Sam's Club is not an inverter generator, but is the Champion Model # 100401 identified in this link: https://www.samsclub.com/sams/4375w-...lp_product_1_2 Could you please confirm whether the generator you purchased is an INVERTER generator or the older "construction style".
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Old 09-28-2018, 10:51 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
This thread has been discussing "INVERTER" generators. For the sake of clarity, would you please confirm which model Champion generator you purchased and are using so we're all thinking along the same lines?

I believe the 3500 dual fuel generator you purchased from Sam's Club is not an inverter generator, but is the Champion Model # 100401 identified in this link: https://www.samsclub.com/sams/4375w-...lp_product_1_2 Could you please confirm whether the generator you purchased is an INVERTER generator or the older "construction style".
I thought the same thing and went straight to the Sam's club website once I saw $299 price.
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Old 09-28-2018, 11:02 AM   #6
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I thought the same thing and went straight to the Sam's club website once I saw $299 price.
Me too !!! I saw the $299 price for a 3500 watt INVERTER generator, a dual fuel one at that and was ready to buy every one I could get my hands on. Next spring they will easily be worth $700 each. As for "construction generators" not so much....
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Old 09-28-2018, 11:33 AM   #7
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For anyone interested, Harbor Freight has their entire line of generators on sale including inverter type. Prices seem to be pretty good and they compare well as far as specs go. Probably made in the same sweatshop in China as the Champion. (I owner a dual fuel RV generator and it works fine... tad noisy).
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Old 09-28-2018, 09:21 PM   #8
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For anyone interested, Harbor Freight has their entire line of generators on sale including inverter type. Prices seem to be pretty good and they compare well as far as specs go. Probably made in the same sweatshop in China as the Champion. (I owner a dual fuel RV generator and it works fine... tad noisy).
I know quite a few people, from a different forum, that have used those following hurricanes and they seem to work well. Someone even tore one and a Honda down. Surprisingly the harbor freight one had a better cylinder and rocker arm. The electrical components appeared roughly the same. I gambled and bought the AI Power with the Yamaha engine. Two 2000 watts in conjunction power me just fine, 30AMP rig. They were even less at Costco than the harbor freight ones plus got an extra year of warranty by using the citi card.
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Old 09-29-2018, 07:11 AM   #9
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did you buy a sound meter?
but interting to here about life of unit and if even reliable.
No. There are some pretty comprehensive reviews of it on YouTube. It’s regarded to be slightly louder at idle than a Honda and Yamaha but quieter under load.
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Old 09-29-2018, 06:13 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
This thread has been discussing "INVERTER" generators. For the sake of clarity, would you please confirm which model Champion generator you purchased and are using so we're all thinking along the same lines?

I believe the 3500 dual fuel generator you purchased from Sam's Club is not an inverter generator, but is the Champion Model # 100401 identified in this link: https://www.samsclub.com/sams/4375w-...lp_product_1_2 Could you please confirm whether the generator you purchased is an INVERTER generator or the older "construction style".
Yes, you are correct. Missed that “inverter” word entirely. Thought I had made a super great deal. My bad, but I do really like the one I have!
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Old 10-14-2018, 10:03 AM   #11
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If someone is looking for a good buy Tractor Supply has a champion 2000 inverter looks like the new model suitcase Style 399 order online and have it shipped free to the store
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Old 10-14-2018, 10:58 AM   #12
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The Champion "suitcase" style 2000 watt inverter generator is listed at Tractor Supply for $399. The "older square style" 2000 watt inverter generator is listed at $499.

From the specs, they both use the same engine, same inverter system and have the same noise levels. About the only thing I can see different (other than physical shape) is the suitcase style has a 1.1 gallon fuel tank and the square style has a 1.0 gallon tank. That affects the run time, but not significantly. Both are capable of parallel connections to obtain a greater wattage capacity, but they are not "interchangeable"... The parallel system for the suitcase is different than the square style and they do not have any ability to use one generator of each style. So, if you have one, you'll need to buy another of the same type if you want to parallel them....
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Old 11-20-2018, 03:49 PM   #13
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I live in a national forest and a generator is limited to 62 DB.
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Old 11-21-2018, 05:07 AM   #14
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Not sure what price they will go for, but I was in Home Depot the other day and they were setting up for the Black Friday sales, and I did notice they had a bunch of Champion Inverter Generators (2000w) stacked up as they were covering everything.
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Old 11-21-2018, 07:40 AM   #15
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Question here guys, what is the difference between an "inverter" generator and a regular generator?
They are both putting out ac current correct?
Both use an internal combustion engine to run?
I don't get it.
Thanks
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Old 11-21-2018, 07:53 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by German Shepherd Guy View Post
Question here guys, what is the difference between an "inverter" generator and a regular generator?
They are both putting out ac current correct?
Both use an internal combustion engine to run?
I don't get it.
Thanks
The short answer is the output power of the inverter type is "cleaner" than the regular genset.
Electrically, the inverter type takes the extra step of converting the 1st stage AC out put to DC via a rectifier circuit and storring that power in capacitors then inverts (using an inverter) that power to AC producing a much more refined AC sine wave.
Standard generators are fine for running power tools but the cleaner refined power of the inverter type is best for running electronics like TV's and computers.
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Old 11-22-2018, 05:52 AM   #17
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Thank you.


That is what I suspected but great explanation.


My personal experience with my two different champion generators is that their power is fairly clean anyway and I do not get interference on my electronics.




This forum is great.
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Old 11-22-2018, 08:51 AM   #18
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I bought a non-inverter Champion running watt (dual fuel) 3500W genny for RV use. It has been so handy for powering stuff in the house when power goes down (as it continually does) that I installed an outdoor plug leading to a switching box in the house where I can switch whole circuits between electric company line power and the generator power. Since this is a 3500W generator, I don't have the A/C, stove or microwave wired in but all else is so I can sit in my bedroom (window A/C) and have TV, internet and keep the fridge cool during power outages. Have the generator in one of our car ports with the plug for the house less than 10' away.


Our genny:
https://www.samsclub.com/sams/4375w-...10300002004543


The power coming into your home doesn't go through the inverter process... wonder if it cleaner than a non-inverter generator? I would like to get another and set it up for the RV as my parking slot on my property is quite away from the house. Would have to build some sort of enclosure to keep it out of the elements as rain is usually the culprit for the power outages OR some drunk runs into a pole along the single line coming out towards where we live. We have been dark for up to three days while Bandera Electric hauls in a new transformer (well, a big electric doo-hickey) when the one feeding out line dies...


And for folks camping in places where they have a 62dB noise limit... how the heck does a camp manager measure this? They walking around with a noise meter? How close do they have to get? Just curious on this thing.
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