Portable Generator

[paj637]

Found a Champion 2Kw generator at my local Sam's Club for $449. Weighs 43 lbs. and is quieter than a Honda supposedly. I tested it on the boat sitting on the anchor locker on my running my 5000 btu companionway A/C. In eco mode, the noise and vibration are less than I expected. I always wanted a genset that I could use to run air conditioning but did not want to pay the money for a Honda. I think this champion could be a inexpensive substitute.

[nedmiller]

You will need to minimize the vibration transferred to the boat or it will seem noisy. I mount my generator on the outboard---got the idea from this board. I bought a kneeling board used by tile layers (has a 1" thick rubber sheet mounted in hard plastic--get them at Lowes, etc) and turned it upside down on the motor (rubber down)---then mount the generator to it (removable). Inside SILK, I can hardly hear the generator when the AC is running!
Safety is always a concern with a Generator:
1. We have a CO detector in the cabin.
2. Anchoring usually puts the engine downwind but we are careful in still air or if pulled up on shore or tied between trees, etc. Generator is downwind!!
3. We use a locking shorepower cord---no AC-hot wire popping loose in a wet boat or into the water next to the boat! I found a little portable GFI in my workshop the other day and will see if we can plug it in to run cord from it--it is AC current around water!
5. We have a polarity detector that we check when using generator to run shorepower--outlets are GFI protected, and no one swims while generator is hooked to shorepower.

Hope you enjoy your AC and new generator! It is great to be able to turn on the AC and go inside when the sun gets too intense!

SILK

[Catigale]

From Cuttyhunk harbor MA

Im anchored in the shallow pond away from the masses, but over on the mooring I heard a harbormaster/power boater altercation at midnight last night.

Guy had a 40 footer with a Honda genset running on the dive platform. He was furthest upwind..a good 10 boats behind him. No idea what he was running....certainly no need for AC. Maybe trying to save fuel not running his main engines?

Short altercation...Harbormaster...."turn it off"

[vkmaynard]

How much less is "less than expected" for noise and vibration? The Honda could be quieter if possible.

When I ran a Honda against a beater Chinese Northern Tool brand a few years back there was a BIG difference in noise and vibration. The Chinese generator took off across the floor. I was told the beater brands area all made by a couple of Chinese companies under different names.

Thanks,

Victor

[paj637]

The generator is the Champion Power Equipment Inverter Generator - 2000 Watt, Model# 73537i. It has a 53 dB noise level at 7 meters. It is a suitcase style with good vibration dampening. I noticed no vibration at all except the hasp on the anchor locker cover. I have seen and heard the Honda 2000i but have not seen the two side by side. It seems to me to be just as quite as the Honda. I have run it for a total of six hours so far and I am pleased so far. Easy to start and a good carrying handle.

[Russ]

My concern would be with CO blowing down wind from your anchor locker.

Get one or more CO detectors if you are going to do that.

Gensets at night have killed a lot of people. I'd keep the thing in a dinghy 100' away if possible.

[paj637]

I intend to place the generator aft in the cockpit somewhere or even on the ground if I were to beach the boat. Just placed it on the bow section for testing. I like the idea of mounting on top of the outboard, will investigate that option.

[u12fly]

I have seen a lot of generators, even looked at the specs. I don't think I'll ever change from my Honda 2000i. Side by side the Honda is just quiter. Also the AC out is much cleaner on the Honda. For me, I would spend the extra money for even 1 db. Here in the Northwest we don't need the generator for air conditioning, I primarily us it for runing the microwave. I place mine on the anchor locker with exhuast extensions running over the side of the boat just above the waterline. The CO detector has never gone off.

[Divecoz]

Much of my concern might be?? Service and Product support, from Champion Versus Honda or Yamaha.. That said you can actually buy two Champions for the price of either of the other two..
Better best.. Db Rating for Honda-59 Yamaha 58 and I'll be danged if I can find one fr Champion...
A little Reality check here gentlemen......
I carried with me for years ( for my job ) two meters.. Air Quality and Db.. I DEFY you to tell me the difference of only 1 to 3 Db's.. Maybe........side by side all three units running at the same time.. Maybe... But you wont tell me the difference if we turn them on one at a time.. BTDT Toooooo many times .

[paj637]

From the champion product web pages:

Champion Portabler Inverter Generator 2000 Watts 73531i
This Champion Power Equipment Inverter Generator offers super- quiet operation and a lightweight, stackable design to make it ideal for on- the- go power. Start Type: Recoil, Engine Displacement (cc): 79, HP: 3. 5, Engine: CPE OHV, Run Time: 9. 5 hours @ 1 / 4 load, Receptacles (qty.): 3, Fuel Type: Gasoline, Fuel Capacity (gal.): 1. 0, Low Oil Shutdown: Yes, Dimensions L x W x H (in.): Noise Level (dB): 53,21 1 / 2 x 16 1 / 4 x 18 1 / 2 Safely runs sensitive electronics

Champion Power Equipment specializes in the development, manufacture and sale of quality, affordable portable generators. The Champion Inverter Generator in no exception. This lightweight inverter generator is super quiet, making it an ideal choice for tailgating. Better yet, it can be "stacked" on top of another unit to double the power! (Parallel kit sold separately)

Product Features
1600 Running Watts, 2000 Peak Watts
Quiet (only 53 dB at 23 feet; less than normal conversation)
Stackable and parallel ready (two units can be stacked to double the power)
Lightweight and portable

[paj637]

This generator will run my 5000 btu a/c in ecomode and will handle the compressor cycling as well. Have not started the unit cold in eco. I start in normal and shift to eco. I will probably put a hotshot start capacitor in my a/c unit just to reduce the transient time on the generator.

[u12fly]

Found a Champion 2Kw generator at my local Sam's Club for $449. Weighs 43 lbs. and is quieter than a Honda supposedly...

I looked up your generator on line and did some reading on it. I think it does compare well against the Honda. I look forward to seeing one in the future. Thanks for sharing what you found!

Chris.

[mallardjusted]

re:

paj637: Champion Portabler Inverter Generator 2000 Watts 73531i ... Noise Level (dB): 53,2
......... Quiet (only 53 dB at 23 feet; less than normal conversation)

and

u12fly: I looked up your generator on line and did some reading on it. I think it does compare well against the Honda

This might be an ok gen, but I would look at the specs a little more. From the mfgr's site:
http://championpowerequipment.com/doc/C ... 0Paper.pdf

Noise levels:
% of Full Load ....Noise Level (dBA)
0...............................53
25.............................54
50.............................59
75.............................65
100...........................65

The Honda 2000 is 53-59 db (1/4 load & Rated load). If noise isn't too much of a factor, then no big deal. But at 75% there is a 6 to 8 db difference. That is a lot.

I have 2 Honda 2000s and love them. I take 2 when RVing in case I need AC, but only take one on the boat.

[Catigale]

Talking about generators....I've been using the IPAD 2 with ATT all week here on Cuttyhunk. Left charger at home. I'm down to 15 percent battery doing about 2 hours of email and surfing each day.

[Hamin' X]

This might be an ok gen, but I would look at the specs a little more. From the mfgr's site:
http://championpowerequipment.com/doc/C ... 0Paper.pdf

Noise levels:
% of Full Load ....Noise Level (dBA)
0...............................53
25.............................54
50.............................59
75.............................65
100...........................65

The Honda 2000 is 53-59 db (1/4 load & Rated load). If noise isn't too much of a factor, then no big deal. But at 75% there is a 6 to 8 db difference. That is a lot.

I have 2 Honda 2000s and love them. I take 2 when RVing in case I need AC, but only take one on the boat.

Just from reading their "paper", I would not trust them. They seem to be very confused as to how a logarithmic dB scale works. Also, in some parts of their paper they include a reference for their dB and others they don't. Any scale is worthless without a reference. In Champion's case, they say it is dBA, with the "A" indicating that they are showing the dB increase over Ambient, or normal background noise. They define "A" as 45 dB.

If they are using 45 dB as their reference, then their 100% load figure of 65 dBA is very loud. 45 dB + 65 dB = 110 dB.

To be fair though, I have not studied Honda's hype and the above problems may be due to marketing writing the paper, instead of engineering.

~Rich