I have this same Inverter/Generator and run it on propane exclusively as I don't like to carry fuel where it runs the risk of spilling in the bed of my truck.
A kind suggestion to UA-cam generator reviewers. It is very simple and effective to test noise better than a dB meter - is to hold our microphone/iPhone in a arm’s length and speak at it with generator running at 23 feet out. Your audience and yourself can review the video and be able to appreciate the relative noise.
Whenever connecting a battery, you always connect the positive terminal first then the negative terminal. As a Mechanic we were always taught: Positive Terminal = First on, Last Off
@@normnilsson7208 on cars - "The reason I would connect the positive cable first (in a negatively-earthed car) is that while tightening the positive connector with a spanner (wrench), if I were to touch the body of the car with the spanner at the same time, nothing would happen and I would be OK. However if the negative was already connected to the battery and I shorted the positive to the body with the spanner, there would now be a short circuit with a big spark and a possible fire. For the same reason I would disconnect the negative connector first too."
@@EverythingRVbyPat the biggest mistake generators owners do is to use synthetic oils. Keep in mind that generators are not high performance, which means, they won't rev up to 10k RPM and don't need synthetic oils which are useless and expensive. I sincerely would suggest you to use Diesel motor oils like the shell Rotella T4 15w40, it won't hurt your generator and you'll save more. 10w30 and 5w30 are good for performance cars but sincerely trash when it comes to water pumps, generators, pressure washer. Long story short, never use fully synthetic or 100% synthetic in air cooled petrol generators. If you want your generator to die before 2000 hours, then go ahead with synthetic based oils but if you want it to last over 4000 hours, then use w40 mineral oils. Don't make the same mistake I did, I nearly killed my generator with motul 100% synthetic that I had to switch back to motul mineral 15w40 and since then, no problems, only regular 80 hours oil change
When my wife and I owned our Class A Newmar with 2 AC units the coach was made to run on 50 amp but could in a pinch run on 30 amp. The system was designed to only run one ac unit in 30 amp mode & that ac was the rear unit in the bedroom.
You are very welcome. I hope they helped. Be sure and read the comments about the oil change tube below. I seem to have messed that up a bit. I'm about to do another video with my next oil change and I'm going to add the magnetic oil plug. Be sure to look for that in the next few weeks. Thanks again for the comments, Pat
Though the manufacturer test ran the unit , and then drained the fluids, it is a good practice, as you showed, to fill oil , battery, gasoline, and then crank motor for a bit to distribute lubricant, before switching engine to start ! This is also important to follow before starting any engine that has remained idle for a extended period ! Cheers.
Thank you for the comment!!! That's the advice given to me by my shop teacher in high school and it has served me well. That's great advice you gave as well... Thanks again, Pat
You see that rubber hose to the right of the oil fill cap? That is the drain hose for the oil. They replaced the 10mm oil plug in favor of the drain hose to make oil changes easir.
I feel champion generators are top of line. Also there customer service is amazing. I was under the impression that champion recommended to run the generator for 5 hours on economy mode before putting a load on it for a break in period.
i will say the old style battery terminal surprises me this thing is well thought out saves me almost 2 grans over an installed onan but hell that's the terminals i had on my old motorcycles honda, bultaco yamaha tm 400 I mean wtf!? just give us flat on top screw goes in but u know u gonna go fishing for that little metal block & yep dropped mine in the grass & leaves boom gone! like sands through the hour glass or ..beach
Nice video! Champion generators seem to be the best value overall. A bit noisy compared to Hondas but much cheaper! I decided I should probably go up one size to the 3800watt generator, even though its bigger and heavier. If a person has the money, its always good to get a slightly larger generator than necessary. Just in case! I used a window A/C unit to test mine and help break it in. No overload experienced so that's a good thing!! I hope people find my review helpful too! @k0ic Mine will be for cargo trailer camping / boondocking with my motorcycle.
You know I was seriously interested in buying one of them I did buy a predator 3500 and there is a night and day difference in the noise that that thing makes I think I'm going to look for a propane hookup for my predator because I don't want to hear that you can't even hear my predator on
Garage is a total mess. LOL!!! I finally cleaned it out and 5 days later my daughter dumped a load of her crap in it and now it looks worse. Too funny!!!
Good review thanks! I have the same model and the electric start suddenly quit working. Battery is charged and it will run if pull-started on Gasoline. I can shut-down the generator with the electric start button, just not start it anymore. Have you experienced this? I have a support call into Champion but wondering if someone has had this happen before. I have had it 3 years and love it, super reliable until now. Thanks
I have not had that problem myself. I did have to replace the carburetor due to me not emptying the gas and then letting it sit 6 months. I tried to clean out the carb and took it apart. I must have messed something up because I couldn't get it to run right. I purchased a new carb and went down to L.A. to pick it up. The Champion people treated me great. It was a good experience.
Udan, While I have used an oscilloscope in my science classroom, and know what one is and how to use it, I do not have one available to me at this time... I'm sorry I can't help you there.
Nice review. Have you ever ran it on Propane? I'm looking at getting the non-electric start version. Just so I don't have to worry about the battery being totally dead.
Hi there, I apologize for the delay in the reply. I run it on propane frequently. I would highly recommend the electric start and the battery. I replaced the battery once but they aren't that bad in price. Even with the battery it does have a pull start on it. I did jump start the generator with the truck battery once. That was funny... But it really doesn't require the battery but I hate pulling and pulling on it forever. Best of luck to you.
Congrats bro, looks awesome, thanks Pat! Is it almost as quiet as the Honda EU 2000i?? Wishing I got this Champion instead of the Honda EU 2000i four years ago. Now I'm stuck with that overpriced gas only Honda eu2000i. Maybe the only good thing about the Honda EU 2000i is that's it's a bit more compact and quieter? I'm gonna give my Honda eu2000i to my little brother and get this Champion. I don't think the Honda EU 2000i will run my roof AC, even if that's all it's running?? I am pretty certain it's a 13,500 standard sized roof AC. I got the Keystone 21 foot travels trailer with the rear slider. Actually my surge protector (a top brand 30 amp model) won't work with my Honda eu2000i. Apparently the Honda EU 2000i already has surge protection built in somehow. I wonder if it's the same thing with the Champion?? I'm real curious why you like running it inside you truck bed, the echo chamber? Safety first always and happy RVing, prost
Wow super close up shots of you hooking up the battery! Very nice. I’m considering this generator for my travel trailer. I’m wondering if it will start and run my 15K BTU AC without a hard start capacitor? What do you think? Thanks. 👍🏻. Great video.
AAV8R thanks for the compliments. Good luck with your purchase. It starts mine and I don’t have a hard start capacitor but I’m certainly considering getting one on both ac units because it’s close to being able to run both. But runs the main one with ease.
Hello, thanks for the question. I cannot confirm that as I haven't added a soft start to either of my AC units. But it certainly seems close to being able to do it based on my tests... I did recently add a 2000 watt champion generator and hooked it up in parallel with this one and I couldn't get both of them to work with that either. But I can do more with two of them than just the one. Good luck, Pat
@@normnilsson7208 I'm sorry. I can't explain it. All I know is that when running two the generator kicks off. I don't need two AC units running at the same time. The cost of the soft start is not worth it in my opinion.
We have used the ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
Honestly I don't know. I typically just run it until I run out of gas. I have never looked for a shutoff valve. If you find out the answer please post it here for everyone to see. Thanks for the question. Sorry I'm not the expert on it and don't know the answer. Pat
Amazon was great in delivering it. Showed up on the day it was supposed to be there in the early afternoon and was great. I used my Amazon Store Card and got 5% back on the purchase. I like cash back... but other than that I had no specific dealings with Amazon. The customer service we had was all with Champion and they were great.
I’m in my initial learning stages when it comes to Generators, so, what is the main purpose to the Battery on/off switch? Any/All advice appreciated. Thank you. Btw: do the instructions state to use Conventional Oil only or can Full or Semi Synthetic Oil be used? My guess is that it wouldn’t matter but I’m not sure what the mfg recommends. Pls advise, while heating the water in the MicroWave, you mentioned that the Slide was in; why is it relevant that the slide is either in or out? GREAT video, thanks again.
Thanks David for the comments. The battery in the generator will allow for you to use the starter. If you have the battery on it can run down. It may lose a charge even with it off but it will hopefully hold it's charge longer if you turn it off. I don't remember on the instructions and can't seem to find the manual right at the moment. But I used conventional oil. I don't see why you couldn't use synthetic but check with the manufacturer of your particular unit. Regarding the slide being in, I think I was just rambling... Shouldn't matter on electricity consumption one bit. Mostly stating that it was in because of the limited room to move around. But good question. Thanks again for watching. I'm coaching football at my school now so I won't be making new videos until after the season concludes. Look for more then... Pat
That's a great question. I believe that most small engine repair shops could service them but for warranty work I do not know. I think I would do a lot of the work myself so I never considered that. But a great place to start is with champion customer service. You will talk to a guy in southern California when you call their customer service number and he will speak English. His name might be Juan but you will not be speaking to anyone with an Asian accent. (Actually Juan spoke to me on the phone a couple of times and was Awesome at answering my questions.) Good luck in your search!!! Pat
Good Morning Jack, I have had the 3400 for a little over a year now. I love it. It starts up right away. A couple of things I have learned: 1. Never leave the battery on if you don't plan on starting it within a few hours or days. The light in the switch will run down the battery and you will have to jump start it. LOL. 2. Along those lines, I have not been able to get it to start with the pull cord. I don't know why, maybe that my old shoulders aren't strong enough or I'm not pulling hard enough but I just can't get it to start. 3. When you are running on propane you have to turn off the propane at the bottle and then let the engine shut off after all the line has cleared. If you then fill it with gasoline be sure to turn the switch over to cover the propane inlet. Otherwise it won't run. (LOL). I never claimed to be really smart. Just a little bit. Thanks for the question. Best regards, Pat
If your using your RV and not in a RV park, I would think you would have your fridge on propane, with the limited 3400 watts on gasoline, I would hope that you can run 1 AC unit, your microwave and charge your batteries. If it fails that. I wouldn't buy it. 2 AC units or 50 amp service. you had better buy a bigger generator. This is about the 4th review I have seen of this product. It seams to provide what I commented above. I believe this will be my generator of choice when I am ready to buy again. ( I already have 2 generators) 1 way to big and have ended up as a back up generator for my home, and the other just doesn't cut it to run my AC. for its size Its not an inverter Gen.
I can run the fridge, one AC and the microwave all at once. I think if I put a soft start on both of the AC units I should be able to run both. But I just don't want to get two of them. So I just run one AC at a time. Or I change my latitude or altitude...
Nice review, thank you for posting it. Did Champion follow through and send you the replacement propane regulator as promised? ... nevermind, I saw the link to part 2 and see you did receive it. :)
Mowcowbell, Champion most certainly did. Take a look at part 2 of my review to see more about the propane part. ua-cam.com/video/NuY7LROkv98/v-deo.html Champion had absolutely the best customer service phone experience I have had in ages. I called, talked to a real person from the beginning and the part arrived on Saturday morning with no questions asked about how the part was broken or any evidence. Just sent me a new one. I am thoroughly impressed by the company and very happy with my generator. Thank you for the question and comment. If you liked this video please give me a thumbs up... On another note I always need more cow bell!!!
My slides are on a 12 volt circuit. As long as the batteries are charged I don’t need the generator to operate them. But I did have a slide motor that needed to be replaced and the draw down was too much on the batteries so I did run the generator while I pulled the slide back in. Fortunately the motor was under warranty and I was able to have it replaced soon after by a local dealership.
Not sure I want to get one of these if they are that hard to start with the pull cord. Be impossible for most women to get it started. They would be SOL in an emergency. Also, why wouldn't Champion do something about the broken regular problems? What happens if you're without power and have to wait a couple weeks to get a replacement?
I'm fairly confident that I could start it if needed with the pull cord. I actually used jumper cables one time when I let the battery die and used my truck battery to start it. LOL... I'm also very certain that I'm about as lazy as anyone I know. I also don't think that the broken regulator is too common of a problem anymore. But I have had excellent interactions from the customer service department.
This may sound too simple but you have to turn the battery on (red lighted switch in the upper right). It has to be on while you run it to charge the battery and off when it isn't running otherwise you will run down the battery. Second thing to check for is the battery charged? I had to replace the battery. I think I had the battery turned on too long without running the generator and I ruined the battery. You can actually use jumper cables and your own truck and give it a jump start; I know from experience... Then of course your starter switch could be bad. If you've tried the simple fixes I mentioned you might try calling Champion and have them help you diagnose it. Their customer service is awesome. Good luck to you, Pat
@@EverythingRVbyPat As hour meters go, It sounds like you bought the wire wrapped around the spark plug cable type. I installed the 110 volt electro-mechanical type hour meter and have had no problems and don't expect to. It did take me almost four hours and a call to an expert to tear down the unit to the point where I could reach everything and attach 110 volt wiring from one of the AC outlets, fish that wire from the outlet side to the hatch cover side of the unit, cut a square hole and install the meter, attach the 110 to the meter and then re-attach the Choke cable to the carburetor and four other wires to the control panel re-install the control panel, re-install the gas tank, re-install the top cover and the handles and finally the gas cap. In other words, this is why a lot of people buy the EZ install meter like yours. THE GOOD NEWS IS... I could probably do the same job in under an hour if I had to do it again. lol and take care
@@tribulationprepper787 The one I got was based on vibration. I think it was designed more for an open frame gen set or a lawnmower. Based on what you are saying about yours I don't really want to worry about it and I will just continue to change the oil once every season like I have been doing. LOL...
@@EverythingRVbyPat That sounds like the best bet. I didn't know what I was getting into when I bought the hour meter. I am thankful for some tools and a bit of mechanical aptitude! Take care bud and clean out that damn garage won't you? LOL
Damage from factory is just an indication of the inferior quality of the components of this piece of equipment. Just imagine under load that had broken of with PROPANE flowing. I have seen several comments elsewhere about this particular champion inverter generator exploding due to petrol leaks from faulty carburetor. And look at the what they retail for. Loud Expensive Possible explosion hazard
Wayne Novotny, no. It is typically shipped from the factory without oil. I ordered it on Amazon. I suppose it may have been full if I bought it at a store. It takes 600 mL of 10W30 so I wasn’t too worried about it.
Hey Wayne, That’s awesome that they sent you some oil; mine didn’t. I’m speculating that since I live in California I didn’t get oil shipped with my generator. We have some strange regulations out here. Or maybe Amazon won’t deliver it with the oil? I don’t know... not a big deal to me at all. Thanks again for the comments.
I can't disagree. I will say this, it is a bit louder in the video as the sound is reflected off the walls, truck and RV. When I take it camping I hardly notice it. But it is louder than the Honda. But you pay for the quiet of a Honda. I do like it enough to keep it.
Thanks for the comment Jose. I'm not trying to sell them and am not going to be defending the noise level. But please realize that I'm not doing it justice with regard to noise while filming it running in the back of a pickup truck and in my driveway. I am in an enclosed space with poor acoustics and filming from a cell phone. All of this contributes to the increased noise. I can tell you that when I'm out camping I really don't have a problem with the noise. You need to go hear one for yourself in person to judge the noise level.
Why is it that nobody can tighten a screw without a cordless drill?? No reason (other than laziness) do you need a drill to tighten battery cables FFS!
I have this same Inverter/Generator and run it on propane exclusively as I don't like to carry fuel where it runs the risk of spilling in the bed of my truck.
A kind suggestion to UA-cam generator reviewers. It is very simple and effective to test noise better than a dB meter - is to hold our microphone/iPhone in a arm’s length and speak at it with generator running at 23 feet out. Your audience and yourself can review the video and be able to appreciate the relative noise.
Whenever connecting a battery, you always connect the positive terminal first then the negative terminal.
As a Mechanic we were always taught: Positive Terminal = First on, Last Off
why is that ?
@@normnilsson7208 on cars - "The reason I would connect the positive cable first (in a negatively-earthed car) is that while tightening the positive connector with a spanner (wrench), if I were to touch the body of the car with the spanner at the same time, nothing would happen and I would be OK.
However if the negative was already connected to the battery and I shorted the positive to the body with the spanner, there would now be a short circuit with a big spark and a possible fire. For the same reason I would disconnect the negative connector first too."
Robert Tom thank you, that makes a lot of sense
You are correct. I do remember being taught that as well. I am not a mechanic. Thanks for the pointer!!
@@EverythingRVbyPat the biggest mistake generators owners do is to use synthetic oils. Keep in mind that generators are not high performance, which means, they won't rev up to 10k RPM and don't need synthetic oils which are useless and expensive. I sincerely would suggest you to use Diesel motor oils like the shell Rotella T4 15w40, it won't hurt your generator and you'll save more. 10w30 and 5w30 are good for performance cars but sincerely trash when it comes to water pumps, generators, pressure washer.
Long story short, never use fully synthetic or 100% synthetic in air cooled petrol generators. If you want your generator to die before 2000 hours, then go ahead with synthetic based oils but if you want it to last over 4000 hours, then use w40 mineral oils. Don't make the same mistake I did, I nearly killed my generator with motul 100% synthetic that I had to switch back to motul mineral 15w40 and since then, no problems, only regular 80 hours oil change
When my wife and I owned our Class A Newmar with 2 AC units the coach was made to run on 50 amp but could in a pinch run on 30 amp. The system was designed to only run one ac unit in 30 amp mode & that ac was the rear unit in the bedroom.
In my experience, Champion generators are top notch- and their customer service people are, too.
I’m a mechanic, never put ethanol blend fuel in generators. It gums up the carbs, and eats fuel lines.
Watched both of your unboxing/review videos for the Champion Duel Fuel 3400/3100Watt Generator and they were great. Thank you Pat!
You are very welcome. I hope they helped. Be sure and read the comments about the oil change tube below. I seem to have messed that up a bit. I'm about to do another video with my next oil change and I'm going to add the magnetic oil plug. Be sure to look for that in the next few weeks.
Thanks again for the comments,
Pat
@@EverythingRVbyPat
You're very welcome Pat. Again I appreciate all of the help and am looking forward to your next video!
Though the manufacturer test ran the unit , and then drained the fluids, it is a good practice, as you showed, to fill oil , battery, gasoline, and then crank motor for a bit to distribute lubricant, before switching engine to start !
This is also important to follow before starting any engine that has remained idle for a extended period !
Cheers.
Thank you for the comment!!! That's the advice given to me by my shop teacher in high school and it has served me well. That's great advice you gave as well... Thanks again,
Pat
You see that rubber hose to the right of the oil fill cap? That is the drain hose for the oil. They replaced the 10mm oil plug in favor of the drain hose to make oil changes easir.
That's one plus over the overpriced Honda eu2000i
I feel champion generators are top of line. Also there customer service is amazing. I was under the impression that champion recommended to run the generator for 5 hours on economy mode before putting a load on it for a break in period.
*their
You may be correct. I seem to remember that when I read the break in time I was following their directions. But I could be wrong.
Amazons $979 price doesn't include sales tax for a total of $1072. I paid a total of $1,003 by using my 10% military discount at Lowe's.
i will say the old style battery terminal surprises me this thing is well thought out saves me almost 2 grans over an installed onan but hell that's the terminals i had on my old motorcycles honda, bultaco yamaha tm 400 I mean wtf!? just give us flat on top screw goes in but u know u gonna go fishing for that little metal block & yep dropped mine in the grass & leaves boom gone! like sands through the hour glass or ..beach
The upside to that is that the batteries are not expensive. I replaced it recently and it was easy to find and didn't cost too much.
Thank you ....we got the same generator, and are setting it all up today, after watching your videos...much appreciated
Karen C hope you have a positive experience as well.
Nice video! Champion generators seem to be the best value overall. A bit noisy compared to Hondas but much cheaper! I decided I should probably go up one size to the 3800watt generator, even though its bigger and heavier. If a person has the money, its always good to get a slightly larger generator than necessary. Just in case! I used a window A/C unit to test mine and help break it in. No overload experienced so that's a good thing!! I hope people find my review helpful too! @k0ic Mine will be for cargo trailer camping / boondocking with my motorcycle.
The noise level in your review video seemed reasonable?
Hondas are for the rich LOL
checking it out..
yours is going into your travel / cargo trailer?
Here in Canada the cold would kill the battery in the winter. Take it out and store it.
Great suggestion. I keep mine charged at regular temps and run the generator frequently enough to keep the battery charged. But excellent idea.
Love it
You know I was seriously interested in buying one of them I did buy a predator 3500 and there is a night and day difference in the noise that that thing makes I think I'm going to look for a propane hookup for my predator because I don't want to hear that you can't even hear my predator on
are you saying the Predator is louder
I love this guy's garage! Reminds me of mine. ;)
Nice RV.
Nice pooch too. "Max"
Thanks for posting this for us!
Garage is a total mess. LOL!!! I finally cleaned it out and 5 days later my daughter dumped a load of her crap in it and now it looks worse. Too funny!!!
The LP regulators are ALWAYS broken. I have been waiting a replacement for a month. I am number 35 on the list of people waiting for regulators.
I’m sorry to hear that. I had a different experience. I hope you get your regulator soon.
Good review thanks! I have the same model and the electric start suddenly quit working. Battery is charged and it will run if pull-started on Gasoline. I can shut-down the generator with the electric start button, just not start it anymore. Have you experienced this? I have a support call into Champion but wondering if someone has had this happen before. I have had it 3 years and love it, super reliable until now. Thanks
I have not had that problem myself. I did have to replace the carburetor due to me not emptying the gas and then letting it sit 6 months. I tried to clean out the carb and took it apart. I must have messed something up because I couldn't get it to run right. I purchased a new carb and went down to L.A. to pick it up. The Champion people treated me great. It was a good experience.
ONLY USE E-FREE FUEL IN ALL YOUR SMALL ENGINES ! NO FUEL SYSTEM ISSUES ANYMORE !
Thanks for the video! Would you happen to have an oscilloscope to show this generators Sine wave?
Udan, While I have used an oscilloscope in my science classroom, and know what one is and how to use it, I do not have one available to me at this time... I'm sorry I can't help you there.
Recieved today..LP regulator is broken as well..bummer
Todd LeFever call the service department. They sent me a replacement immediately.
Mine was broken too(leaking)
@@SnikB - mine broken as well! Maybe a defected cheap regulator, Can this be replaced with a different one that will work and not easily break?
Nice review. Have you ever ran it on Propane?
I'm looking at getting the non-electric start version. Just so I don't have to worry about the battery being totally dead.
Hi there, I apologize for the delay in the reply. I run it on propane frequently. I would highly recommend the electric start and the battery. I replaced the battery once but they aren't that bad in price. Even with the battery it does have a pull start on it. I did jump start the generator with the truck battery once. That was funny... But it really doesn't require the battery but I hate pulling and pulling on it forever. Best of luck to you.
Congrats bro, looks awesome, thanks Pat! Is it almost as quiet as the Honda EU 2000i?? Wishing I got this Champion instead of the Honda EU 2000i four years ago. Now I'm stuck with that overpriced gas only Honda eu2000i. Maybe the only good thing about the Honda EU 2000i is that's it's a bit more compact and quieter? I'm gonna give my Honda eu2000i to my little brother and get this Champion. I don't think the Honda EU 2000i will run my roof AC, even if that's all it's running?? I am pretty certain it's a 13,500 standard sized roof AC. I got the Keystone 21 foot travels trailer with the rear slider. Actually my surge protector (a top brand 30 amp model) won't work with my Honda eu2000i. Apparently the Honda EU 2000i already has surge protection built in somehow. I wonder if it's the same thing with the Champion?? I'm real curious why you like running it inside you truck bed, the echo chamber? Safety first always and happy RVing, prost
Wow super close up shots of you hooking up the battery! Very nice. I’m considering this generator for my travel trailer. I’m wondering if it will start and run my 15K BTU AC without a hard start capacitor? What do you think? Thanks. 👍🏻. Great video.
AAV8R thanks for the compliments. Good luck with your purchase. It starts mine and I don’t have a hard start capacitor but I’m certainly considering getting one on both ac units because it’s close to being able to run both. But runs the main one with ease.
Yes
Sold! Thanks so much posting!
You're welcome. I am not selling these but hopefully you will find a whole lot of enjoyment in your generator.
Thanks for the comment,
Pat
Hi friend do you think this generator can run one a/c of 15.000 BTU....? Did you make the test?
Yes. I did test it. It runs one AC just fine. I think I will get a soft start so that it can run them both. But one runs easily.
Soft start will allow two ac’s on that model gen
Hello, thanks for the question. I cannot confirm that as I haven't added a soft start to either of my AC units. But it certainly seems close to being able to do it based on my tests... I did recently add a 2000 watt champion generator and hooked it up in parallel with this one and I couldn't get both of them to work with that either. But I can do more with two of them than just the one.
Good luck,
Pat
@@EverythingRVbyPat It should have worked, can you explain what happened
@@normnilsson7208 I'm sorry. I can't explain it. All I know is that when running two the generator kicks off. I don't need two AC units running at the same time. The cost of the soft start is not worth it in my opinion.
Where do you see the hours used ?
I run it when we are boon docking or in the forest. Have to watch Yellowstone during the summer you know.
We have used the ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
WHERE is the gasoline shutoff switch so you can run the carb out of gas ?
Honestly I don't know. I typically just run it until I run out of gas. I have never looked for a shutoff valve. If you find out the answer please post it here for everyone to see.
Thanks for the question. Sorry I'm not the expert on it and don't know the answer.
Pat
PS what do you think of Amazon service after you bought it. Are you happy. Jack
Amazon was great in delivering it. Showed up on the day it was supposed to be there in the early afternoon and was great. I used my Amazon Store Card and got 5% back on the purchase. I like cash back... but other than that I had no specific dealings with Amazon. The customer service we had was all with Champion and they were great.
I’m in my initial learning stages when it comes to Generators, so, what is the main purpose to the Battery on/off switch? Any/All advice appreciated. Thank you. Btw: do the instructions state to use Conventional Oil only or can Full or Semi Synthetic Oil be used? My guess is that it wouldn’t matter but I’m not sure what the mfg recommends. Pls advise, while heating the water in the MicroWave, you mentioned that the Slide was in; why is it relevant that the slide is either in or out? GREAT video, thanks again.
Thanks David for the comments.
The battery in the generator will allow for you to use the starter. If you have the battery on it can run down. It may lose a charge even with it off but it will hopefully hold it's charge longer if you turn it off.
I don't remember on the instructions and can't seem to find the manual right at the moment. But I used conventional oil. I don't see why you couldn't use synthetic but check with the manufacturer of your particular unit.
Regarding the slide being in, I think I was just rambling... Shouldn't matter on electricity consumption one bit. Mostly stating that it was in because of the limited room to move around. But good question.
Thanks again for watching. I'm coaching football at my school now so I won't be making new videos until after the season concludes. Look for more then...
Pat
good video but music/sound effects are 10x louder than your voice. I had to constantly turn volume up and down..
Tech Odyssey I apologize for that. I’m still learning about this stuff. Thanks for letting me know.
I was considering a Honda because there are many service centers. Where would a Champion be serviced?
That's a great question. I believe that most small engine repair shops could service them but for warranty work I do not know. I think I would do a lot of the work myself so I never considered that. But a great place to start is with champion customer service. You will talk to a guy in southern California when you call their customer service number and he will speak English. His name might be Juan but you will not be speaking to anyone with an Asian accent. (Actually Juan spoke to me on the phone a couple of times and was Awesome at answering my questions.)
Good luck in your search!!!
Pat
good Morning. So how long have you had the 3400 Inverter and how is it running now. are you happy with it. would you buy one again. Jack
Good Morning Jack,
I have had the 3400 for a little over a year now. I love it. It starts up right away. A couple of things I have learned: 1. Never leave the battery on if you don't plan on starting it within a few hours or days. The light in the switch will run down the battery and you will have to jump start it. LOL. 2. Along those lines, I have not been able to get it to start with the pull cord. I don't know why, maybe that my old shoulders aren't strong enough or I'm not pulling hard enough but I just can't get it to start. 3. When you are running on propane you have to turn off the propane at the bottle and then let the engine shut off after all the line has cleared. If you then fill it with gasoline be sure to turn the switch over to cover the propane inlet. Otherwise it won't run. (LOL). I never claimed to be really smart. Just a little bit. Thanks for the question.
Best regards,
Pat
If your using your RV and not in a RV park, I would think you would have your fridge on propane, with the limited 3400 watts on gasoline, I would hope that you can run 1 AC unit, your microwave and charge your batteries. If it fails that. I wouldn't buy it. 2 AC units or 50 amp service. you had better buy a bigger generator. This is about the 4th review I have seen of this product. It seams to provide what I commented above. I believe this will be my generator of choice when I am ready to buy again. ( I already have 2 generators) 1 way to big and have ended up as a back up generator for my home, and the other just doesn't cut it to run my AC. for its size Its not an inverter Gen.
*YOU'RE using *it SEEMS *way TOO big
@@QS-si3cq sorry, i do not understand your comment. Regards
I can run the fridge, one AC and the microwave all at once. I think if I put a soft start on both of the AC units I should be able to run both. But I just don't want to get two of them. So I just run one AC at a time. Or I change my latitude or altitude...
It's kind of scary what their quality control is if they can't even get that to you right what does that say about the way the rest of its put
Kenneth Reinard all I can say is that I have had zero problems with Champion customer service. Pieces were probably broken in transit.
I have portable Air conditioners
1260W
9000PTU
Can u. advise me what is the capacity of the generator that t have to buy...thanks
I really don’t know. Wish I could be of better help.
Nice review, thank you for posting it. Did Champion follow through and send you the replacement propane regulator as promised? ... nevermind, I saw the link to part 2 and see you did receive it. :)
Mowcowbell,
Champion most certainly did. Take a look at part 2 of my review to see more about the propane part. ua-cam.com/video/NuY7LROkv98/v-deo.html
Champion had absolutely the best customer service phone experience I have had in ages. I called, talked to a real person from the beginning and the part arrived on Saturday morning with no questions asked about how the part was broken or any evidence. Just sent me a new one. I am thoroughly impressed by the company and very happy with my generator. Thank you for the question and comment. If you liked this video please give me a thumbs up...
On another note I always need more cow bell!!!
Didn't it come with oil?? Mine did.
No it didn’t. Not sure if it was supposed to or not.
Will it operate your slide out?
My slides are on a 12 volt circuit. As long as the batteries are charged I don’t need the generator to operate them. But I did have a slide motor that needed to be replaced and the draw down was too much on the batteries so I did run the generator while I pulled the slide back in. Fortunately the motor was under warranty and I was able to have it replaced soon after by a local dealership.
Not sure I want to get one of these if they are that hard to start with the pull cord. Be impossible for most women to get it started. They would be SOL in an emergency. Also, why wouldn't Champion do something about the broken regular problems? What happens if you're without power and have to wait a couple weeks to get a replacement?
I'm fairly confident that I could start it if needed with the pull cord. I actually used jumper cables one time when I let the battery die and used my truck battery to start it. LOL... I'm also very certain that I'm about as lazy as anyone I know. I also don't think that the broken regulator is too common of a problem anymore. But I have had excellent interactions from the customer service department.
Imagine if they didn’t give you a dip stick!
Anyone have trouble with the push start button not working only starts with pull cord???
This may sound too simple but you have to turn the battery on (red lighted switch in the upper right). It has to be on while you run it to charge the battery and off when it isn't running otherwise you will run down the battery. Second thing to check for is the battery charged? I had to replace the battery. I think I had the battery turned on too long without running the generator and I ruined the battery. You can actually use jumper cables and your own truck and give it a jump start; I know from experience... Then of course your starter switch could be bad. If you've tried the simple fixes I mentioned you might try calling Champion and have them help you diagnose it. Their customer service is awesome.
Good luck to you,
Pat
I am disappointed that there is no fuel gauge, no hour meter and no dust covers on the three AC outlets.
I agree. I did add the hour gage but that turned out to be garbage. I haven't had any issues with the AC outlets.
@@EverythingRVbyPat As hour meters go, It sounds like you bought the wire wrapped around the spark plug cable type. I installed the 110 volt electro-mechanical type hour meter and have had no problems and don't expect to. It did take me almost four hours and a call to an expert to tear down the unit to the point where I could reach everything and attach 110 volt wiring from one of the AC outlets, fish that wire from the outlet side to the hatch cover side of the unit, cut a square hole and install the meter, attach the 110 to the meter and then re-attach the Choke cable to the carburetor and four other wires to the control panel re-install the control panel, re-install the gas tank, re-install the top cover and the handles and finally the gas cap. In other words, this is why a lot of people buy the EZ install meter like yours. THE GOOD NEWS IS... I could probably do the same job in under an hour if I had to do it again. lol and take care
@@tribulationprepper787 The one I got was based on vibration. I think it was designed more for an open frame gen set or a lawnmower. Based on what you are saying about yours I don't really want to worry about it and I will just continue to change the oil once every season like I have been doing. LOL...
@@EverythingRVbyPat That sounds like the best bet. I didn't know what I was getting into when I bought the hour meter. I am thankful for some tools and a bit of mechanical aptitude!
Take care bud and clean out that damn garage won't you? LOL
Where is the spark plug, I want to install rpm gauge
Under the plastic on the side.
Damage from factory is just an indication of the inferior quality of the components of this piece of equipment. Just imagine under load that had broken of with PROPANE flowing. I have seen several comments elsewhere about this particular champion inverter generator exploding due to petrol leaks from faulty carburetor. And look at the what they retail for.
Loud
Expensive
Possible explosion hazard
You are fake news it's actually quieter under load than the Honda 2000. And the customer service is phenomenal stop being fake news
How many BTUs is your ac?
Damon Dye it is a typical 15 I believe.
What price
Got mine originally for just under $900
Yours didn't come with oil? Mine did. ????
Wayne Novotny, no. It is typically shipped from the factory without oil. I ordered it on Amazon. I suppose it may have been full if I bought it at a store. It takes 600 mL of 10W30 so I wasn’t too worried about it.
I know they don't come with oil IN them but included with mine in the box was a .6 quart bottle of 10W30.
Hey Wayne,
That’s awesome that they sent you some oil; mine didn’t. I’m speculating that since I live in California I didn’t get oil shipped with my generator. We have some strange regulations out here. Or maybe Amazon won’t deliver it with the oil? I don’t know... not a big deal to me at all. Thanks again for the comments.
Everything RV by Pat lax
U
Loud!
I can't disagree. I will say this, it is a bit louder in the video as the sound is reflected off the walls, truck and RV. When I take it camping I hardly notice it. But it is louder than the Honda. But you pay for the quiet of a Honda. I do like it enough to keep it.
Should have bought a predator.
that's loud for a grand
Thanks for the comment Jose. I'm not trying to sell them and am not going to be defending the noise level. But please realize that I'm not doing it justice with regard to noise while filming it running in the back of a pickup truck and in my driveway. I am in an enclosed space with poor acoustics and filming from a cell phone. All of this contributes to the increased noise. I can tell you that when I'm out camping I really don't have a problem with the noise. You need to go hear one for yourself in person to judge the noise level.
Unboxing? Pointless...
It's not like you are required to watch this... Thanks for the comment.
Why is it that nobody can tighten a screw without a cordless drill?? No reason (other than laziness) do you need a drill to tighten battery cables FFS!
why is it that lonely people troll the internet for negative things to say to people. so what if he used a drill. good lord you have issues..
I suggest you buy the drill from him at twice the cost since it bothers you and he promises to never use a power tool again.
Matt Capistrant I happened to have a drill at the moment. I didn’t think to go find my screwdriver, mostly because I had the drill right there.
@Calamity Joe *too