impressed with Champion 3100 inverter generator

[Nick M]

Originally Posted by Taranwanderer

Don't think we weren't considering it.

"If we started the generator, we could plug in an electric motor, and it could self propel," was, I believe how the discussion went. Then we ran out of beer.

I should have known a lack of beer brought an end to really creative thinking.

[retired firefighter]

Great picture next to the honda. Extra beer ask a friend or fellow camper to help lift, then have another beer with your friend. Looking into the champion, are they just as quite as the Honda?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by retired firefighter

Great picture next to the honda. Extra beer ask a friend or fellow camper to help lift, then have another beer with your friend. Looking into the champion, are they just as quite as the Honda?

they are close, in quietness.
some say that the noise is a different kind of sound, than from the Hondas.

[Krawler]

The nice thing about the inverter, is that it will ramp (rpm) up as needed and lower back down when the draw is gone.

I ended up getting mine on sale at Home Depot for around $780.00

[Nick M]

Ordered my 3100 W from Overstock.com yesterday, 10% discount, free shipping and no sales tax, should be here by 8/21.

OK, next idea. I have a 25' cable with 30amp RV connectors on both ends. I want to use the male end to plug into the generator and the female end will get changed to a 50amp twist/lock female to fit my fiver power receptacle.

I'm not electrically challenged but want to make sure I get the 50 amp female wired correctly. I haven't cut the 30 amp cable yet but pretty sure it's 3 wire: hot, neutral and ground.

Hot lead will connect to both hot lugs in the 50 amp receptacle, neutral to neutral and ground to ground?

I realize I could just use a 50 to 30 adapter but since I have all these parts on hand would rather make a generator cable. Hope to haul the genset in the TV bed and just pull out the cable, plug up the fiver and have power.

I have been accused of making simple things overly complex.....

[Taranwanderer]

Originally Posted by Nick M

I have been accused of making simple things overly complex.....

I agree. Get the adapter...

[abomb]

My 3100 has been great. Has all the power I need, runs the a/c, micro, it's perfect. Now under the gas cap is a screen, am I the only one that has slipped with those stupid spring loaded gas can nozzles and pushed the filter into the gas tank? It's one floating around inside the gas tank...lol

[Nick M]

When I fueled mine up yesterday for the first time I could see where that might be a issue so was careful when using the "press to pour" gas can nozzle. I hate those things, a royal pain in the butt. Hope you can get your strainer out, may have to crush it and insert a new one though.

My 3100 ran for 4 hours yesterday, started 15k a/c and microwave though at different times. Should be good to go for nights in Wally World parking lots.

[Muspelheim1]

Originally Posted by MOODMAN

So can I use a 50A plug on the Champion gen? My 5er is 50A

If you are only running one 3100 Watt, you are out of luck. The new models are able to daisy chain together and have a 50 amp plug in.

[timfromma]

Originally Posted by Muspelheim1

If you are only running one 3100 Watt, you are out of luck. The new models are able to daisy chain together and have a 50 amp plug in.

3100W equates to about 25A of current so with 2 running in parallel, you will still only be at about 1/2 power.

[hbillsmith]

Originally Posted by timfromma

3100W equates to about 25A of current so with 2 running in parallel, you will still only be at about 1/2 power.

I don't believe you have that correct. Each of the 3100's provide 25A and the parallel adapter puts 25A on each of the 50A legs (3100 #1 to one leg and 3100 #2 to the other leg).

Basically, A/C #1 and most all of the rest of the trailers power is on one leg and A/C #2 is on the other leg. With 2 3100s and the adapter you get 50A (but not 100A which is what a true 50A adapter spec is (50A each leg). Either way, dual 3100's will run everything in that trailer. On our Wildcat, the internal power converter seems to manage just fine with only 30A service, except as stated before you can't run a second A/C, the microwave or a hair dryer while using the first A/C (just choose at the moment, not really that difficult to turn A/C off to run Microwave or Hair dryer for a few minutes).

That said, I have a 50A fifth wheel and we use the 50 to 30 adapter to run off our single 3100. Only issue is we don't run both A/C at the same time (if its so hot that we need both simultaneous, you'll find us at a campground with full 50A power post). At night, we run the A/C in the bedroom. During the day we run the one in the living room. However, since*our FR trailer has*unified ducting, either A/C pumps everywhere.

[timfromma]

Originally Posted by hbillsmith

I don't believe you have that correct. Each of the 3100's provide 25A and the parallel adapter puts 25A on each of the 50A legs (3100 #1 to one leg and 3100 #2 to the other leg).

Right but a 50A RV plug has 50A available on EACH leg. Running (2) 3100W generators will only give you 25A on each leg.

[hbillsmith]

Originally Posted by timfromma

Right but a 50A RV plug has 50A available on EACH leg. Running (2) 3100W generators will only give you 25A on each leg.

Exactly. I think that's what I said. My point was that 25A on each leg is sufficient because the power setup in the trailer splits so that A/C #1 is on power leg #1 and A/C #2 is on power leg #2. At least that's the way my FR Wildcat is setup.

[timfromma]

Back to my original point that these 2 generators will only provide 1/2 the power you would get from a 50A hookup at a campground.

[Taranwanderer]

Still, this generator will do almost everything you need it to do using the 30A plug, except run your second AC. I can run my microwave, and everything else except the AC. Oh, and I may have to flip the HWH on propane for that short time I'm cooking with the micro. But I can have the HWH on electric and use the AC. It's a great unit for the price, weight, and fuel consumption, and I think they're on sale right now according to the Facebook ad I saw this morning.