Champion Power Equipment 200914 4250-Watt Open Frame Inverter Generator, Dual Fuel Technology

I bought this for a variety of reasons: - Dual fuel and the ability to run Propane. This generator will be used very rarely, perhaps every two or three years whenever local power goes down. It MUST start when needed. Propane, unlike gasoline, does not deteriorate during long term storage. Therefore I plan to run it with a couple of 100 lb propane tanks. - High ratings. - The Champion website seems well organized. - Complete and well organized user manual, parts list, and wiring diagram. - Competitive, innovative technology and fully featured product range. They offer dual fuel on their smallest generators. - Very reasonable price. - Light enough that I can lift it, should the need arise. - Lots of youtube vids. Comments: - I bought their wheel kit, it installed in about 10 minutes. - At first I was unable to start the generator. A shot of starter fluid got it going for about 5 seconds, then it stalled. I thought it was a spark problem. I called Champion service and got a knowledgeable person on the line in less than 2 minutes. I asked if the low oil shutoff could be stuck. They said it's very rare for that to be a problem. The solution was to pre-load the recoil starter. That's when you pull the cord until you get resistance (about half way), then release the cord, then do a full pull. I did that and it started instantaneously. - The fuel gauge was stuck on empty. Champion service is sending a free replacement. They said it's very easy to replace. - The overall impression is high quality, nothing feels cheap. I was a little skeptical about the EZ start dial, which is a combined gas/propane fuel valve and ignition switch. However, it feels robust and operates with a positive action. It's wonderful to be able to switch from gas to propane with just the flick of the wrist. The propane hose and fittings are top quality, and even include a snazzy removable bracket to hang it on the generator. - Noise is on par with other small generators. But the relatively large 224 cc engine doesn't sound buzzy, more of a subdued rumble. Conclusion: Yes, I recommend this generator.

I bought this for backup power and to use with my travel trailer, which it powers the AC and everything else with no issue. The ability to run on propane is a huge plus. Right out of the box and minimum prep it fired right up. Should be easy to maintain, being an open-frame model. After breaking it in the oil change was a snap. Does not seem much louder than my close-framed unit which has a lower power capacity. It's light enough to handle but would be better with a wheel kit. Oscilloscope measurements do not show readily visible distortion which is very desirable considering the electronic controls that most appliances and air conditioners have nowadays. Overall I'm very pleased.

I bought this for the purpose of power outages. I based the purchase on 1. the dual fuel aspect and 2. the reviews for Champion where by and large good. I did not want to pay a premium for a Honda and then add a propane conversion kit. I chose an inverter generator to be kind to things with chips in them. Almost everything has chips in them, from refrigerators to TVs. A regular generators output has the potential of being to dirty. Also, the idea of being able to have propane on hand for an indefinite period of time and not go stale was appealing. Note that using propane the running wattage is 3150 vs 3500 for gasoline on this inverter generator. I followed the instructions upon unpacking the inverter generator and filled it with the supplied oil. The next step was to give it the recommended 5hr break-in. The set up was on my back patio . Hooking it up to propane was a breeze. This model is a pull start. On my first attempt starting it I did not tension the pull cord first (as instructed) and thought something was wrong. Checking the manual and found the user error, tensioned the cord and it started right away. Be sure to set up in an area where exhaust gas will not build up i.e. near windows, doors or to near people etc. The load I used was my home refrigerator-720 watts (running wattage), a 1/4hp fan about 400 watts, and a hair drier upward to 1200 watts. I used the hair drier to alter the output as recommended in the manual to help seat the piston rings. Shutting it off was as easy as shutting off the propane supply. After the break-in I let it cool enough to change the oil, I used 10W-30. Cons: 1. There is a red LCD readout that is difficult to read in bright sunlight. 2. Does not come with a wheel kit. At the time of my purchase I didn't find one available so I used a moving dolly to get it around. 3. Do not know if this counts as a con. It has a 30A RV plug instead of three prong twist lock plug. I bought an RV plug made by Conntek on Amazon it gave me two more outlets. Conntek makes other plugs that will work too. 4. Though on the quiet side for a generator it is still noisy. I plan on making a shed with good venting, fan assist air movement and rockwool sound dampening. Please note that although I list these as "Cons" they would not have changed my mind in the least and may be common with other generators, just the nature of the beast. Pros: 1. Being able to use propane is a plus. Although the generator gives a lower output I don't have to worry about storing gasoline, going stale or whether it has to much ethanol for my use. Propane can be stored laterally for years. Also, the exhaust does not have an overwhelming obnoxious odor as it does with gasoline. Just a few ending notes. It is worth mentioning again about exhaust, placement is everything. Do not skimp on extension cords. Look at the wire gauge my guess is that my refrigerator at 720 watts (running) might pull 2160 when a compressor kicks on. I wouldn't run a 16 or 14 gauge extension cord for it. Think of it as if it where a water pipe. The higher number (gauge) of the wire, smaller the pipe. This is more restrictive to all of those electrons trying to move through the wire. The lower number (gauge) like 12 or 10, larger the pipe, easier flow, less restriction. If power cycles on what you plug in then account for it and have a cord that can handle it. Also, pay attention to the available Amps and what you are plugging in. I hope to update this in a year or so. A review on a brand new purchase doesn't really do justice.

I got this for using with my 30-amp travel trailer. It does the job. It runs the AC (and a few other things) in hot and humid Texas for about 12 hours on a 20# propane bottle or about 1/2 tank of gas. It's an "open frame" "inverter" so it's a combination of both. Louder than a full inverter, but quieter than a regular open frame. I added the wheel kit for maneuverability. At 75", it's a little heavy for me to lift into the truck, but I can usually find help. The dimensions are actually 20.9 x 18.3 x19.4". If you get a 32x24x24 cover, it will be WAY too big! The 30 amp outlet and regular outlets are recessed a bit and I had trouble with the RV plug vibrating out. Ended up using a ratchet strap to keep the plug solidly in place (or else the AC wouldn't run). Would be a better design if the outlets were flush with the side.

This is the Best value for small inverter propane generator available. I purchased this generator on sale last Oct for $399. It comes with a dual stage propane regulator, hose and demand regulator, this included part alone is $150 if purchased separately. An important thing to note is that this will not power 240v appliances like septic and well pumps, elect water heaters etc. It will power just about all your homes 120v needs, Within reason you may need to shut off something to run another temporarily. Champion engines are almost as good as Honda I have a friend that worked for Costco doing QC testing and told me to only buy champion, or Honda if I could afford Honda. This is an inverter generator so will produce demand power by changing the engine rpms, this saves a ton of fuel while also creating much cleaner sine wave power for sensitive electronics (I have had electronics not work on non inverter generators) For my purposes I took the gas tank off completely and made a piece of plywood with a hole so my propane tank would fit tightly on top. I also got an off brand wheel kit. Propane burns A LOT cleaner than gasoline, and will not gel, varnish and clog the carb like gas. Usually a small engines problem is due to carb or gas and get tossed because it’s too much trouble to install a new carb. This is why I got rid of gas all together. A bbq tank holds 4.5 gallons of propane and will run for 2x the time as the tank, propane never goes bad, and is consistently good unlike quality issues of ethanol gas, and short shelf lifespan of gasoline. I changed the oil at 5 hours like the manual stated and this generator runs quietly like a top. The only difficult thing to note is that there is not a primer button on the propane demand regulator so it takes about 5-10 starter pulls to draw vacuum and propane into the combustion chamber. It’s small enough for one person to use and move! If you’re on a budget this is the one!