Original Post
Written by
Edited May 26, 2022
at 08:21 PM
by
Hi, I found this deal on Amazon:
Champion Power Equipment 100692 2000-Watt Portable Inverter Generator, Ultralight for $341.77. Other stores like ACME tools sell it for $449 or more.
Champion's 2000-watt inverter generator is ultra-lightweight, making portable power more convenient than ever. Rely on the 79cc engine and enjoy a quiet 53 dBA for up to 11.5 hours of run time. The clip-on Parallel Kit (sold separately) with RV Ready outlet and 30 amps of power doubles your output.
Starting Wattage: 2000W
Running Wattage: 1700W
Engine: 4-stroke 79cc OHV
Fuel Tank: 1.1 Gallon
Run Time: Up To 11.5 Hours
Assembly Required: No
Product Dimensions: 17.3" x 11.5" x 17.7"
Included Items: USB Adapter, Battery Charging Cables, Engine Oil, Oil Funnel
https://www.amazon.com/Champion-P...B0812PNK3X
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Either way I'd recommend a dual-fuel or propane generator over a gas model. Propane produces a little less power, but makes everything else about owning/operating a generator orders of magnitude easier and cleaner.
Edit: Yes, the one you linked is a very good option for light loads and probably worth the price difference for a first generator. Champion is an excellent brand with great build quality, being able to run it on propane will keep it running for a while, and it will be very quiet. It's not quite as good a deal, but it's a better generator.
Is this one a better deal and worth the price difference?
https://smile.amazon.co
That's an awful deal. Get the same thing (different color) on sale at Walmart for $539.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/361460031
https://www.walmart.com/ip/361460031
These are light duty air cooled engines which are already prone to damage from overheating especially in ambient >80F and when run continuously. The alloys are not of the same grade which is found in a vehicle engine. LP causes localized overheating which results in pitting or cavitation in the cylinder head and or block mating surface.
Importantly, as I posted above, increased valve guide wear and or damage to the exhaust valve can lead to catastrophic failure of the engine. The damage is typically progressive not revealing itself until extended use but there have been instances of valve failure surfacing quickly in these Chonda engines.
Not true: The assumption that oil change interval is less with LP. The oil must still be changed every 24 hours of use to remove suspended wear metals. These splash-lubricated engines have no oil filtration. Crankcase capacity of oil is only a few ounces. It's a very easy job btw.
You overate the benefits of LP. with a failure to understand the pros and cons of each fuel in this application. The consequence of perpetuating the internet hoax claiming that LP is a vastly superior fuel in this application is that people are persuaded to spend hundreds of dollars more on small inverter generators than they need to.
WEN 56235i Super Quiet 2350-Watt Portable Inverter Generator with Fuel Shut Off, CARB Compliant, Ultra Lightweight, Black
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B085828BQ6/?coliid=I16ZDTZGYOP3L5&colid=36K7N3X4SY1ZC&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_l... [amazon.com]
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Either way I'd recommend a dual-fuel or propane generator over a gas model. Propane produces a little less power, but makes everything else about owning/operating a generator orders of magnitude easier and cleaner.
Edit: Yes, the one you linked is a very good option for light loads and probably worth the price difference for a first generator. Champion is an excellent brand with great build quality, being able to run it on propane will keep it running for a while, and it will be very quiet. It's not quite as good a deal, but it's a better generator.
Inverters are touted for:
- cleaner power. This is the case however IMHO the whole "sensitive electronics" thing is totally overblown, even if just for the period of time people would be running such devices off the generator
- quieter (see below)
- more fuel efficient, since the quality of the electricity generated is decoupled from the engine speed, inverters can throttle to meet demand.
Multi fuel options are nice to have but note:
- they typically consume substitute fuels at a very high rate vs. gas (a 20lb propane tank isn't going to last as long as you think it will, and it becomes impractical to have so much propane laying around for longer usage times)
- running on propane and NG (especially) derate the power output of the machine, sometimes substantially (like 20-25%).