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Old 09-27-2016, 02:32 PM   #1
Pickin', Campin', Mason
 
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Champion inverter differences?

Dose anyone know for certain... whether the Champion 3500 inverter genny that Cabela's & CW sells is really 100 watts more than the 3400 inverter genny sold everywhere else?

I'd have to seriously doubt that the actual gennys are different, just branded differently. I sent an email to Champion and received no response.
I'm looking for more than a guess.
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Old 09-27-2016, 03:06 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by 5picker View Post
Dose anyone know for certain... whether the Champion 3500 inverter genny that Cabela's & CW sells is really 100 watts more than the 3400 inverter genny sold everywhere else?

I'd have to seriously doubt that the actual gennys are different, just branded differently. I sent an email to Champion and received no response.
I'm looking for more than a guess.
I got the 3400w 100261i just a few weeks ago, from Champion Inverter Generators
$997.77 total, free shipping, no tax,.... in my searching I saw that same question asked on the Champion website, the Champion techs answer is this.... "The only difference between these two units is one model has a slightly more conservative, under-rated wattage output displayed on the unit and packaging."..... you can see his answer at the link below,.... its below the three reviews, the 5th question down, asked by BillJ,..... so they are the same machine, just a little different labeling, his answer says the 3400 is a conservative and UNDER-RATED figure, so it must be closer to or actually a real 3500,.... the link above has the best price I could find anywhere,...

3400W Wireless Remote Start Inverter Generator - Champion Power Equipment
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Old 09-27-2016, 03:36 PM   #3
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Thanks fella10,
I kind of figured. Glad to see them claim the 3400 is slightly under-rated on the packaging only. I agree with your assessment that the 3400 must be close/actually a 3500 watt model.
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Old 09-28-2016, 06:37 AM   #4
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Just remember that the noise db scale is logarithmic and not linear.

For every 3db of sound difference means twice as loud as the lower number.
A generator that has a 70db sound rating is 10 times louder than one with a 60db rating, for example.

Worse yet, a 20db difference is 100 times louder.
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Old 09-28-2016, 07:44 AM   #5
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Just remember that the noise db scale is logarithmic and not linear.

For every 3db of sound difference means twice as loud as the lower number.
A generator that has a 70db sound rating is 10 times louder than one with a 60db rating, for example.

Worse yet, a 20db difference is 100 times louder.
I don't get your point,
you appear to be warning that those Champions are too loud,
those big 3400w&3500w Champions are rated 59dB
the little 2000w Honda is rated 59dB,
have you ever warned anyone that a small Honda is too loud?

Quiet Generators - What is the Quietest Portable Generator?
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Old 09-28-2016, 07:53 AM   #6
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3 db when referring to sound is not twice as loud, when referring to "power" then it is twice the power. 3 db is about 1.6 times louder. Another consideration is the distance from the generator when the sound measurement was taken. Obviously being 15 feet away is going to make a big difference.
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Old 09-28-2016, 08:00 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by Herk7769 View Post
Just remember that the noise db scale is logarithmic and not linear.

For every 3db of sound difference means twice as loud as the lower number.
A generator that has a 70db sound rating is 10 times louder than one with a 60db rating, for example.

Worse yet, a 20db difference is 100 times louder.
Lou, thanks for your information. You always have good advice and your comments about logarithmic -vs- linear are spot on.

However...
This thread is about nothing more than whether the two generators (3400/3500 both built by Champion) are the exact, same generator... just with different branding.

I believe we've established they are and that both are actually 3500 watt.

Which brings me to the point I was aiming for...
No need to spend extra dollars for the specially (or specifically) branded 3500 watt model at Cabela's or Campers World when the less expensive 3400 watt branded generator is exactly the same machine.
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Old 09-28-2016, 10:59 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by Herk7769 View Post
Just remember that the noise db scale is logarithmic and not linear.

For every 3db of sound difference means twice as loud as the lower number.
A generator that has a 70db sound rating is 10 times louder than one with a 60db rating, for example.

Worse yet, a 20db difference is 100 times louder.
I think my previous post(#5) may have come across more harsh than intended,....... its become a regular thing here, that whenever any generator is mentioned, the Honda choir comes out of the woodwork to demean anything that isn't a Honda,... I know you never mentioned a brand, but your photo is a Honda graph, so I assumed you had it in mind and weren't aware of the dB rating of the Champions and that its the very same as the small Honda,..... which of course, is the gold standard of all generators and no one would ever say its too loud,..... so, if my post #5 seems rude or disrespectful, I do apologize, that was not my intent,......
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Old 09-28-2016, 11:42 AM   #9
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They both have the same power output. The difference is the 3400 is a pull start and the 3500 is a remote start.
Not true on the remote start.

Both have it available and if you look closely at the photos it shows remote start capability on the side of both.

My photos were a little misleading, in that they were simply internet snags and the web site where I grabbed the 3400 photo shows a remote start button separately where the 3500 doesn't. But even that is bass ackwards from what you said.
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Old 09-28-2016, 11:46 AM   #10
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Not true on the remote start.

Both have it available and if you look closely at the photos it shows remote start capability on the side of both.

My photos were a little misleading, in that they were simply internet snags and the web site where I grabbed the 3400 photo shows a remote start button separately where the 3500 doesn't. But even that is bass ackwards from what you said.
This page from the Champion website says different.
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Old 09-28-2016, 12:03 PM   #11
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Upon further investigation.

3400 watt Model # 100233 is pull start with USB outlet
3400 watt Model # 100269 is pull start with no USB outlet
3400 watt Model # 100261 is remote start
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Old 09-28-2016, 12:04 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by boondocking View Post
This page from the Champion website says different.
that link is the #100233, and it is the 3400 WITHOUT remote/elect. start,
but the two asked about and pictured in post #1, are the #100261(3400w)and #100262(3500w),
they both DO HAVE remote/elect. start and their differences, or lack off, are explained in post #2,
I own the #100261, and love it, the remote is a great feature
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Old 09-28-2016, 12:22 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by boondocking View Post
This page from the Champion website says different.
Yep... but *THIS* page (from the Champion web site) shows the 3400w remote start model.
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Old 09-28-2016, 12:29 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by boondocking View Post
Upon further investigation.

3400 watt Model # 100233 is pull start with USB outlet
3400 watt Model # 100269 is pull start with no USB outlet
3400 watt Model # 100261 is remote start
Yep.
Also the # 100269 seems to have some sort of Canadian endorsement.
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Old 09-28-2016, 12:51 PM   #15
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The 3400 and 3500 also have dual fuel models.
Way to many 3400 & 3500 models to confuse a person.
But Champion sure does make great generators.
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Old 09-28-2016, 12:56 PM   #16
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The 3400 and 3500 also have dual fuel models.
Way to many 3400 & 3500 models to confuse a person.
But Champion sure does make great generators.
Yep.
Just keep in mind on the dual fuel models... the 3400 model rated output on propane (3060w) is LESS than when running on gasoline (3400w)

The 3500 model is 3150w propane and 3500w gasoline.
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Old 09-28-2016, 01:48 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by boondocking
But Champion sure does make great generators.

X2

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Originally Posted by 5picker View Post
Yep.
the 3400 model rated output on propane (3060w) is LESS than when running on gasoline (3400w)
The 3500 model is 3150w propane and 3500w gasoline.
plus, the dual fuel models don't have remote start capability,.....
I called Bottom Line Trading (BLT) for info before ordering from them and one of the four owners answered the phone, (the one on the youtube video showing how to install the "increased run kit" that they (BLT) designed and sell),.... he said no remote for the dual fuel models yet because Champion hasn't engineered how to do that with the gas/propane system,.... on the Champion site also, someone asked about an "increased run kit" from Champion, the Champion answer is that they are aware of the demand for that and are considering it,....

I thought a BLT was a sandwich.........
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Old 09-28-2016, 02:06 PM   #18
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They do have electric start though, just not remote.
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Old 09-28-2016, 03:06 PM   #19
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They do have electric start though, just not remote.
yes that's right,......

5picker,... since you're interested in this gen., you may be interested in this,,....
last week I did the 5hr. break-in run under light load, ... today I wanted to know how long a run to expect under regular load with a full tank of gas,.. so its running right now under load of the ac, fridge and lights, but I wanted to know if I could add the water heater to that load,...... water tank was completely "room temp", the gen. had been running about 90min. and I clicked on the water heater switch, it revved up of course, but it handled that increased load with out any problem, ..... in about 30 min. the water was hot and I shut it off, ..... the ac never cycled off during that 30min. either,..... just a little FYI that you might find interesting,.......
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Old 09-28-2016, 03:27 PM   #20
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Lou, thanks for your information. You always have good advice and your comments about logarithmic -vs- linear are spot on.

However...
This thread is about nothing more than whether the two generators (3400/3500 both built by Champion) are the exact, same generator... just with different branding.
............::.:
Thread hijacking is a tradition around here.
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