In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

My little generator showed up today

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by Beetle-Kill, Dec 4, 2013.

  1. Beetle-Kill

    Beetle-Kill

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2013
    Messages:
    4,102
    Likes Received:
    19,559
    Location:
    Near the Divide, Colorado
    Champion 4000/3500. Anyone have one? Tips on usage? Thanks, JB
     
    IHATEPROPANE and raybonz like this.
  2. bogydave

    bogydave

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2013
    Messages:
    10,313
    Likes Received:
    37,218
    Location:
    Alaska, North of Anchorage & South of Fairbanks
    Not familiar with that one.

    Little gas, check the oil
    Make sure the main to the commercial power is off before connecting to your system
    220/ 230 volts ?

    Mine, I plug into the garage panel that feeds back to the house power.
    Always make sure you isolate from the commercial/meter side.
     
  3. Beetle-Kill

    Beetle-Kill

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2013
    Messages:
    4,102
    Likes Received:
    19,559
    Location:
    Near the Divide, Colorado
    Dave, this little bugger will be a stand-alone unit. No plans at this time to have it hook up to the house, directly.
     
  4. bogydave

    bogydave

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2013
    Messages:
    10,313
    Likes Received:
    37,218
    Location:
    Alaska, North of Anchorage & South of Fairbanks
    Should be good for 30 amp or so.
    Should run the whole house except no dryer, range , hotwater tank though.
    Operate lights, fridge, microwave, tv - all together .


    I run it for water off & on as needed
    Lights, fridge freezers enough to keep them good.

    Power companies have been hitting the ROWs hard, cutting lots of trees.
    Power has been a lot more reliable the past few years. :)
    (got a little birch, mostly cottonwood though)
     
  5. Beetle-Kill

    Beetle-Kill

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2013
    Messages:
    4,102
    Likes Received:
    19,559
    Location:
    Near the Divide, Colorado
    Yup, a few extra power cords through the garage, keep some lights on and the stove blower. Alternate the fridge/freezer if required.
    Luckily, I don't suffer from frequent power outages. They happen, but not for any duration. I looked at this thing for portability also. With the wheel kit, I can move it where I need to and run a grinder, saw, drill, what-have-you off of it. Now, if it will run my 110v MIG off of it, I'll be style'n!
    Just looking for input at this point. Thanks, JB
     
  6. bogydave

    bogydave

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2013
    Messages:
    10,313
    Likes Received:
    37,218
    Location:
    Alaska, North of Anchorage & South of Fairbanks
    Almost want one of the little suit case ones for moose camp now.
    But then it would wipe out the quiet :zip:
     
  7. Beetle-Kill

    Beetle-Kill

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2013
    Messages:
    4,102
    Likes Received:
    19,559
    Location:
    Near the Divide, Colorado
    It claims 68 dBA @ 23'. I'll bet that hooking it up to one of those "quiet" ATV mufflers would knock the noise down quite a bit. When I get the High Altitude jet for it, I'll let you know how loud it is.
     
  8. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    9,648
    Likes Received:
    26,024
    Location:
    Greenville County SC
    I have a 3500 watt that will run my 110V MIG just fine.
     
    concretegrazer and Beetle-Kill like this.
  9. mywaynow

    mywaynow

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    719
    Likes Received:
    1,955
    Location:
    NJ
    Depending on what your state does to the gasoline, you will want to do some preventive planning. I am currently without my 7500 watt Generac due to a carb problem. Cost me $1000 bucks and in 6 months the carb was puking fuel out of the air filter. I stored it dry after using it for only 20 hours over 6 weeks. Now the manufacturer is claiming I did something to cause the problem. No warranty coverage.

    Bottom line is find the highest octane you can and treat it if there is ethanol in it. Don't use fuel that is older than 6 months or so. I stored mine dry, but the repair shop said to store it with fuel in it. Apparently that accelerates the breakdown of the seals.
     
    Beetle-Kill likes this.
  10. OhioStihl

    OhioStihl

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2013
    Messages:
    1,562
    Likes Received:
    9,207
    Location:
    Southern Ohio
    I have a Yamaha 2000, it is one of the little suitcase style generators. It has an idle control to idle down till more is needed. It is really quite which makes it bearable to use when I am outside. My bro in law has a 6500 watt hernia maker. It has the juice but you will not load it in the truck without issues by yourself.

    All I need is the 2000 watt Yami. I do put stabilizer in the fuel and once in a while I put in some sea foam. I have heard the good and bad of which additive and came to the conclusion that I still don't know which one to use.

    Even though it is a stand alone unit, I had a rv style plug made so I can leave it outside and plug into the outlet on the outside wall of the garage. On the inside of the garage is a junction box that I can plug extension cords into as needed. The outlet box is a stand alone outlet that is not connected to anything else.
     
    Beetle-Kill likes this.
  11. Gasifier

    Gasifier

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    20,435
    Likes Received:
    103,383
    Location:
    St. Lawrence River Valley, NY
    Glad to hear you got it. Buuuuut, pics or your makin that chit up.
     
    raybonz and Beetle-Kill like this.
  12. Beetle-Kill

    Beetle-Kill

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2013
    Messages:
    4,102
    Likes Received:
    19,559
    Location:
    Near the Divide, Colorado
    <------- has never posted pictures, anywhere. Backwoods Savage was kind enough to post some of mine a few years ago, but he's much more tech savvy than I am. I'm a dumptruck.
     
    raybonz and Gasifier like this.
  13. Gasifier

    Gasifier

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    20,435
    Likes Received:
    103,383
    Location:
    St. Lawrence River Valley, NY
    LOFL. That is good Beetle-Kill. I will take your word about the generator then. :thumbs:
     
    Beetle-Kill likes this.
  14. IHATEPROPANE

    IHATEPROPANE

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2013
    Messages:
    4,671
    Likes Received:
    19,077

    I bought one recently after reading all the good reviews in the rv forum. By all acounts a pretty solid unit....especially for the price.

    I have only used mine sparingly for yard work.

    As for tips, change the oil when you are supposed to and run them periodically.

    I did hook it up to a UPS at half load and got a very respectable 118 volts and 60.3 hertz
     
    Beetle-Kill likes this.
  15. reckless

    reckless

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    428
    Likes Received:
    682
    I believe Ray told me to make sure when you do run them its under load so the coils get a good work out and knock out any junk thats in there. I have done so since.
     
    Beetle-Kill likes this.
  16. IHATEPROPANE

    IHATEPROPANE

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2013
    Messages:
    4,671
    Likes Received:
    19,077
    Yes this is correct
     
    Beetle-Kill likes this.
  17. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2013
    Messages:
    9,648
    Likes Received:
    26,024
    Location:
    Greenville County SC
    The idea is to "recharge" the residual magnetic field in the armature. Generators that sit for a LONG time can lose that residual charge and may need to be "flashed" to begin generating current again.
     
    Beetle-Kill likes this.
  18. raybonz

    raybonz Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2013
    Messages:
    4,225
    Likes Received:
    9,758
    Location:
    Carver, Mass.
    The idea is to run around 15 minutes under load to also drive out moisture too.. Good to know that it will work when you need it most..

    Ray
     
    MasterMech and Beetle-Kill like this.
  19. Beetle-Kill

    Beetle-Kill

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2013
    Messages:
    4,102
    Likes Received:
    19,559
    Location:
    Near the Divide, Colorado
    Good info., I'll note that for the future. Thanks, JB
     
  20. raybonz

    raybonz Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2013
    Messages:
    4,225
    Likes Received:
    9,758
    Location:
    Carver, Mass.