The specs on the one I ordered is 5%, I don't have a clue what it is on my older Champion, that's the reason I bought a new one.
Looking for a decent generator.. 5000 watts
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The specs on the one I ordered is 5%, I don't have a clue what it is on my older Champion, that's the reason I bought a new one.
IslandTractor
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Is Champion an actual manufacturer like Honda, Yamaha, Subaru, or is it just a marketing name like RCA, Zenith, or Kirkland? Costco does a great job IMO of offering products with great bang for the buck but one way they do that is to bypass name brand manufacturers and make marketing deals with very competent second tier manufacturers. Only problem with the Costco strategy is long term product support.
THD matters, esp. in the extreme. You'll see staff electricians occasionally going on inspections in large facilities, and re-distributing specific loads onto different feeds.... a bit more on that below..... (the issue is Neutral current)
If I was really concerned about my own location, I'm not sure I'd start by spending my money on a new generator. For a couple of reasons......
1) THD is a problem in general, not just when you are on-generator. A basic outline here, but the most important point is the last sentence.... (Problem sources for THD are non-linear loads.......)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonics_%28electrical_power%29
"Other examples of nonlinear loads are battery chargers, electronic ballasts, variable frequency drives, and switching mode power supplies."
AKA pretty much every consumer product sold in the last 25 years..... and that's w/o even going into what kind of welder you have at home........
2) Generators can and do run out of fuel.
3) Generators can and do run low or out of oil.
Obviously, 2) and 3) are more than just a THD issue....
If I had data or systems that I were particularly concerned about, I'd want a 24x7 solution. Numerous ways to go.... one example attached from Xantrex...... quotes THD < 3%, and meets spec for ambulance applications.
View attachment DS20120912_PROsine1000-1800.pdf
As time goes on, I've become more interested in DC systems.... noise isolation is just one factor.....
Turns out, the whole of Fairbanks is on a UPS..... I've now revised what I consider a large UPS to be......
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninterruptible_power_supply
As they are a significant non-linear load themselves, a UPS can introduce THD locally to non-protected loads - something to keep in mind when deciding what goes onto a UPS, and what doesn't.
The other key point in the above wiki link concerns generators driving UPSes........ a low cost UPS needs to be driven by a higher wattage generator than a state-of-the-art UPS.......... something to be mindful of, esp. with small generators.
Rgds, D.
If I was really concerned about my own location, I'm not sure I'd start by spending my money on a new generator. For a couple of reasons......
1) THD is a problem in general, not just when you are on-generator. A basic outline here, but the most important point is the last sentence.... (Problem sources for THD are non-linear loads.......)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonics_%28electrical_power%29
"Other examples of nonlinear loads are battery chargers, electronic ballasts, variable frequency drives, and switching mode power supplies."
AKA pretty much every consumer product sold in the last 25 years..... and that's w/o even going into what kind of welder you have at home........
2) Generators can and do run out of fuel.
3) Generators can and do run low or out of oil.
Obviously, 2) and 3) are more than just a THD issue....
If I had data or systems that I were particularly concerned about, I'd want a 24x7 solution. Numerous ways to go.... one example attached from Xantrex...... quotes THD < 3%, and meets spec for ambulance applications.
View attachment DS20120912_PROsine1000-1800.pdf
As time goes on, I've become more interested in DC systems.... noise isolation is just one factor.....
Turns out, the whole of Fairbanks is on a UPS..... I've now revised what I consider a large UPS to be......
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uninterruptible_power_supply
As they are a significant non-linear load themselves, a UPS can introduce THD locally to non-protected loads - something to keep in mind when deciding what goes onto a UPS, and what doesn't.
The other key point in the above wiki link concerns generators driving UPSes........ a low cost UPS needs to be driven by a higher wattage generator than a state-of-the-art UPS.......... something to be mindful of, esp. with small generators.
Rgds, D.
Champion is a US company that is supposed to own the manufacturing plant(s) in China (suprise!), They do have two locations in the US, but I suspect they're support wings, not manufacturing.
I think they've been in business for 10-12 years and I've heard they're pretty good on the support end, I personally don't know because I've never had to use their support.
Their engines are the Honda clones so prevalent today and other than the paint job, the generators looks exactly like the other Chinese generators out on the market, or at least the Sportsman line of generators.
I think they've been in business for 10-12 years and I've heard they're pretty good on the support end, I personally don't know because I've never had to use their support.
Their engines are the Honda clones so prevalent today and other than the paint job, the generators looks exactly like the other Chinese generators out on the market, or at least the Sportsman line of generators.
Garandman
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Why Champion? - Champion Power Equipment
They now have Inverter styles. Their 2000 W inverter is around $500. Says they have parallel capability.
They now have Inverter styles. Their 2000 W inverter is around $500. Says they have parallel capability.
This is a great idea. better than using the coffee filter I've resorted to at times....
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Those Champion inverters have been available up here for a little while (1 yr+). At that price point, if I was in the market for an inverter gen of that wattage level, they would be on my short-list to consider. Doubling up is a nice option.
The people I know who have conventional Champion generators have had good service from them.
Rgds, D.
IslandTractor
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The Champion 3100 watt inverter unit looks very nice too. At less than $900 is would be cheaper than two of the smaller units.
kenmac
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I called Generac about the THD.. They said that all of their generators are between 3-6 %..Said they still recommend the use of a line cleaner / surge protector for any generator
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Garandman
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In this thread a gent bought a lower-cost [than Honda] inverter generator and burned out a board in the furnace he was trying to run. I was willing to pay the extra money for a Honda for an emergency backup after seeing what people went through during Hurricane Sandy.