Unboxing and Setup: This was very straightforward. The included instructions are very easy to follow. Read the instructions before trying to operate this unit. It came with a tool kit including a funnel that is perfect for filling the oil. The weight of the is pretty hefty at 103 lbs so lifting it up to tailgate height by yourself might be a challenge or cause injury if done awkwardly. Two-person lift if highly suggested.
Running: The unit is fairly quiet for a 4500-watt genny. Once I fired it up, I verified that it would run my camper's AC and other systems and it performed flawlessly. Running the AC on a warm day with my 15K BTU air conditioner was only using about 20% capacity which truly surprised me. I put it through its paces and turned on every light in the camper and tried the microwave. No issues here either. This genny was running at only 80% load with everything turned on. The only thing I didn't turn on was the electric part of the water heater which may have pushed it over the limit, but I'm not too worried about this as I usually run it on propane and would never be running everything in the camper at the same time on generator power.
First Run: After going through all of the steps, removing the shipping nuts, and adding the included break-in oil, I hooked it up to propane and it fired up instantly. FYI. It would not start with the knob turned to "choke" but fired up instantly when in the run position. I'm not sure that propane would ever need to be choked to start. I also purchased a magnetic dipstick and installed this prior to starting it for the first time. See "Break-In" below.
Break-in Procedure: Get a few quarts of regular cheap motor oil either 5w-30 or 10w-30 AND one quart of high-quality fully synthetic oil. (I prefer 5w-30 as it can get quite cold where I live. 5W-30 flows better when cold but offers the same high temp protection as 10w-30. I installed a magnetic dipstick before starting it for the first time. I ran the engine in eco mode with no load for about 20 minutes and then bumped it up to full speed for another 10 minutes with no load and then drained the oil. It was pretty glittery when shining a flashlight into it. The magnetic dipstick was covered in fine metal shavings/dust. This is normal for a new engine! Don't panic. This is why a proper break-in procedure is important folks. Drain and refill with regular cheap oil (1/2 qt) and repeat this procedure but now add varying loads and RPMs on the generator. NOTE: One thing I like to do on each oil dump, is to pour a little new oil in after the oil has drained with the drain plug/hose still open. This will help to "rinse" out more particulate before closing the drain and adding oil. You'll see less particulate in the oil and on the magnetic dipstick (if you purchased one) every time. Repeat this procedure adding time and varying loads in between changes/flushes until you see clean oil coming out with little to no glitter in the oil. (This took me about 6.5 hours of run time with several oil changes.) Now that you are satisfied with the oil coming out, add your fully synthetic high-quality oil and run it for a few minutes before putting it away. Make sure to put a label on it showing how many hours are on the unit and/or when the next change is due so you know when to change the oil. The manual suggests 100 hours under normal use and 50 under heavy use. Personally, I would change this at no more than 50 hours no matter what. It's super easy to change the oil and it only holds 500ml or 1/2 of a quart.
Floating Ground: Like many generators, this one has a floating ground. If you plan on using this in an RV with an EMS (Electrical Management System), you'll likely need a ground/neutral bonding plug. If you don't use one of these, you'll likely get an error and you'll either have to bypass your EMS or you won't have power.
Ground: Make sure that you always ground your generator! You should have a copper grounding rod at a minimum of 4 feet in length driven into the ground or an acceptable connected ground source using 12 gauge wire.
Propane: Theoretically propane has an infinite shelf life assuming the tank doesn't rust through completely unlike gasoline with ethanol. This is one of the primary reasons I purchased a dual fuel generator. The last thing I want is to "need" the generator and it won't run because gasoline went bad and ruined the fuel system. The generator starts up instantly in the run position every time with propane and has a longer run time than gasoline.
Gasoline: I have not put gasoline in it yet as I don't plan on using gasoline. Today's gasoline doesn't have a very long shelf life now that the corn lobbyists and the government have forced 10% ethanol in most gasoline. We have to be careful how long we store it. Ethanol-blended gas only has a shelf life of up to three months because of the high speed at which ethanol oxidizes. Because ethanol is hydrophilic (a.k.a., water-loving), it will also readily absorb any water or humidity in a sealed container resulting from condensation, causing both moisture contamination of the fuel and the eventual separation of the fuel into distinct gas and ethanol layers. This will ruin a fuel system in short order and will also cause your fuel lines to rot. Varnish in your fuel system is a nightmare too and often requires the replacement of the carburetor and/or fuel lines.
Never Again: I'll never go on another trip again without it. Last summer on the hottest day of the year (128F heat index), I was pulling my 5th wheel camper with my family and three dogs through the Mark Twain National Forest on the way to our destination. If you're familiar with the area, you'd know that there is zero cell coverage for any carrier, so breaking down is a bad thing. Well, as my luck would have it, my truck decided to break down on a narrow 2 lane twisty highway with tons of blind curves and hills. We were dead in the water with no help in sight or the ability to call anyone. The temperature started to rise immediately in my black truck. The actual temperature was 105 degrees, but the high humidity that day put the heat index at 128F which became unbearable in a short time. I was under a great deal of stress, and on top of that, laying on top of a hot engine in a black truck trying to get it running in those kinds of temperatures was extremely dangerous. I was on the verge of a heat stroke with no relief in sight. I was in bad shape. While I already had a small 2000 Watt portable inverter generator, it was not sufficient to power the AC unit on my rig as I didn't think of it as a priority and didn't think I would really "need" AC. I was wrong!. I'll never take a trip anywhere in my rig again without this 4500 Watt dual fuel unit which is capable of running my AC units.
Champion Power Equipment 4500-Watt Electric Start Dual Fuel RV Ready Portable Inverter Generator with Quiet Technology and CO
4.6 | 2,725 ratings
Price: 799.2
Last update: 07-15-2024
About this item
Dual Fuel: Operate your 4500-watt portable generator right out of the box on either gasoline or propane, plus features CO Shield carbon monoxide auto shutoff system
Quiet Technology and Extended Run Time: 61 dBA is great for RVs, tailgating, or camping with 4500 starting watts, 3500 running watts and up to 14 hours run time on gasoline, and 3150 running watts and up to 21 hours on propane
Parallel Ready: The optional parallel kit (sold separately) enables this inverter to connect with another Champion inverter to increase your power output
Intelligauge with Power Meter: Monitor voltage, frequency and operating hours with ease, plus the EZ Start Dial simplifies startup
Champion Support: Includes 3-year limited warranty with FREE lifetime technical support from dedicated experts
Quiet Technology and Extended Run Time: 61 dBA is great for RVs, tailgating, or camping with 4500 starting watts, 3500 running watts and up to 14 hours run time on gasoline, and 3150 running watts and up to 21 hours on propane
Parallel Ready: The optional parallel kit (sold separately) enables this inverter to connect with another Champion inverter to increase your power output
Intelligauge with Power Meter: Monitor voltage, frequency and operating hours with ease, plus the EZ Start Dial simplifies startup
Champion Support: Includes 3-year limited warranty with FREE lifetime technical support from dedicated experts
Product information
| Brand | Champion Power Equipment |
|---|---|
| Wattage | 4500 watts |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline |
| Power Source | Fuel Powered |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Residential, Camping |
| Item Weight | 99.2 Pounds |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Output Wattage | 4500 |
| Special Feature | Portable, Cold Start Technology, Dual Fuel, Extra-Long Run Time, CO Sensor |
| Included Components | Engine Oil, Propane Hose, Oil Funnel, Wrench, Spark Plug Wrench, Screwdriver |
| Color | Yellow |
| Product Dimensions | 23.2"L x 17.7"W x 20.1"H |
| Model Name | Champion Power Equipment |
| Engine Type | 4 Stroke |
| Ignition System Type | Electronic |
| Tank Volume | 2.25 Gallons |
| Engine Displacement | 212 Cubic Centimeters |
| Runtime | 14 hours |
| Total Power Outlets | 2 |
| Frequency | 50 Hz |
| Starting Wattage | 4500 Watts |
| Running Wattage | 3500 Watts |
| UPC | 817198027197 |
| Manufacturer | Champion Power Equipment |
| Item Weight | 99.2 pounds |
| ASIN | B0CPT83MTV |
| Country of Origin | Vietnam |
| Item model number | 201319 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars
2,725 ratings
4.6 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #7,004 in Patio, Lawn & Garden (See Top 100 in Patio, Lawn & Garden) #54 in Outdoor Generators |
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