What is your preference? 2 small in parallel or one larger generator? Champion 2500 Dual Fuel amzn.to/44t8ntU Parallel Kit. amzn.to/3WuTFQV Westinghouse 4500 amzn.to/4aj5BJ1 RV On board Propane Generator. th-cam.com/video/L3ozi5rgy-8/w-d-xo.html Check out the Camco Taste Pure Water Filter bit.ly/3WnhTN3 TH-cam.com/@CamcoManufacturing
Two in parallel, for all of the reasons you mentioned! Carrying one in each hand is perfectly balanced! I also agree, propane is best - you don't have to carry the fuel at the same time, either. But also - Two is one, one is none, and three makes a good rotation. Yes, I would like the big one also at home (a little much for an RV ;) thanks for the video!
Agreed that the parallel kit ground plug mod is a necessity - why have quick connects for two out of three connections???? That has always boggled my mind. We run two smaller ones and a parallel kit too - two is one and one is none. However, when both small units are running at 80% load vs a single larger one running at 80% the noise levels are significantly louder with the two smaller units as you experienced too. Definitely a game of compromises - weight, portability, backups, noise levels, etc I think with more and more battery banks being installed (solar disregarded) smaller generators will be more common place as a backup way to charge those- but onboard large inverters starting to come on pickup trucks changes that landscape significantly too Maybe we should do a collaboration video together with our Champion generators compared to the ever popular Predators from Harbor Freight now that they’re coming as a dual fuel option! Great video Jared- thanks for doing all that testing brother - I know how much goes into a video like this
I have two 2500 Champion and a Westinghouse 4500 . all are dual fuel, and I chose the Champions over the westing house for weight, portability and flexibility when camping with our trailer. over the Westinghouse. The Westinghouse is now the home backup power in case of a power outage. I also only use propane
Hello Jarad…… I have a Westinghouse 4500 watt generator! I’m on vacation with it right now! tried to use it two days ago?? It ran the air plus other thing in the RV….. the meter said it was supplying 3.75KW and it lasted for about 15 minutes then over loaded ! Next day just with the trailer no Air it worked fine! It was in the AM things were cooler! Going to experiment with it before I upgrade ! Something to note…. It has to have some voltage on the battery connection in order to pull start the unit! It has internal alternator, so not having a built in dc generator to charge the internal battery it doesn’t make its power to excite any winding. To make power to start when pull starting the unit! I have more on this unit but I don’t want to write a book here! Thx Steve
We went back and forth in this issues, one big genny or two small ones, but then we found the Pulsar Products GD400BN generator. It's the size of your champion and only weights 47lbs. It delivers 4000w peak on gas and 3600w peak on propane. We have used it to run one of our A/C's on our Brinkley without a soft start. Our Brinkley is a lower VIN number so it does not have the Chill Cube AC in it. I can't say anything about reliability since we haven't had it that long, and don't have much time on it. However, so far it's working like a champ. Honestly, I was very surprised to find a 4000w generator in this size and weight.
I'm on my second Pulsar, the first one quit working while it was under warranty. So far the replacement is holding up 4 times longer than the original.
I found the dual fule 2500 for 450 $ on amazon(where else) and added your RV port conversion . I love it not having to carry extra tanks. The single db reading was app 57 db no load and went up to around 65 plus as the load increased. Still not as bad as the 7k one I have for my house. The only other option I added was a 15 ft 3/8 cable and lock to keep it from walking away. Keep up the good videos live learned slot thanks
We choose to go with a single 4500W Champion. It is gas only. We only need it on camping trips about once a year, since there is not many area's to boondock in the Mid-Atlantic region. The generator is used more as emergency power for the house, thus it's a good size for our furnace and our needs in the winter.
Nice comprehensive comparison. Have you noticed that the Champion idles quite a bit higher on propane? We went from the Champion 2500s to the Westinghouse 4000. Take a look, smaller engine than the 4500 so it's lighter, smaller, more efficient , has a lithium battery with remote start and a 30A plug with the nice data center. IMO a great dual fuel RV genset. It's about 400watts down from the 4500 on propane but so far no issues starting a/c's or anything like that. Really enjoying the unit. Thanks again!
My experience in my monaco motorhome...two ryobi 2300 units for when were running the a/c and using tv and other stuff, but when its cooler out and we dont need a/c one ryobi is perfect and uses so little fuel and is almost silent.
I like the Champion generators with he 30 amp RV plugs and remote start. Started out with a 3150, then upgraded to the 4650. The remote start is the way to go.
Good info. They both have their place. For lifting, the smaller ones, of course, are easier. With the wheels, the 4500 is easy to move. You mentioned about the battery on the 4500. I have had one for 4+ years and never had to charge the battery. It recently sat in the garage for well over 6 months and started with the push button. You just need to make sure the power button is off when not in use. One other thing, the 4500 has a remote start, which is nice at times.
Good info here. I have decided on the dual generators option for portability and ease. Did not know about the bonding plug thing. Do you explain the dual propane feeds from one tank somewhere? And for the connection to your RV tanks, do you use a quick connect? Very helpful - thanks!
There are some lighter 4500 watt units now. They use higher performance 150cc motors instead of the normal 212cc and are about the same size as those 2500 watt units and 50 to 60 pounds. I'm probably going to end up getting one because sams club has a 4600 watt efi unit for 800usd currently.
When we camp in the winter, early spring and late fall we don't need to run AC so having one small generator works best for us. We had a 3200watt Champion and it was a lot heavier than a single Honda 2200 watt. So thats what we went with was 2 Honda 2200's.
May want to check out Westinghouse’s 4000 watt generator duo fuel. Little heavier at 65lbs, but same size almost as Champion. Fit in pass through as well.
We chose the same route, however I am now downsizing to just one genny as we have never had to use the second one on the road. It ended up, at least for us, that one is done. We run our AC regularly off it along with lights, tv and such, just no micro. When in the mountains we don't have a problem, I think because it is cooler and we don't need it as frequently and haven't been above 10k feet an needed it. As for the bonded plug, I don't understand why you would even use a surge protector on a genny for various reasons; why is it that you are? Thanks for your vids.
I use 2 smaller generators in parallel on propane only for the portability and ethanol issue you cited I got tired of lifting the 100+ lb used to have. Using propane negates the need for carrying a gasoline can. I will carry extra propane tank as a general rule. I opted for 20lb propane tanks over 30 in the camper with spare tank in the truck. Always have an extra that way. if I am in a bind and can’t get a tank filled, I can always do the exchange at almost any store…my spare is always my oldest tank so if I have to exchange, I’m exchanging one that has expired or is about to expire. I recognize exchanging is the most expensive, so it is only done if absolutely necessary.
OK, I wish I could lift my Honda EU2200i up onto the tailgate of my truck....I'm too short though, and probably too weak. Thanks for showing the numbers in text in your video. I wish more TH-camrs would do that when comparing generators.
I have the Westinghouse. In hindsight I might have gotten the two Chamions (didn’t know about the parallel option). At 90lbs, it only comes out of the back of my truck if someone is around to help me lift it since the truck is sort of tall. The remote works sporadically, and the battery will die if I don’t run it for a while (RZR to the rescue). It is much quieter than the onboard Onan, which is now my backup.
Thanks for the video, I always appreciate the content you provide. Quick question; You mentioned changing the oil on both generators. So that I understand completely Oil is something you always have to maintain no matter which fuel source you are dealing with. I am exploring the option of getting a generator and wanted to get a better understanding of the maintenance required. If there is another video where you go more in depth on maintaining a generator please link in the reply. Thanks again for your dedication to making us smarter
Maybe I can help. If you run your gens on gas then stick to.a strict oil change maintenance schedule. Dino fuel puts carbon deposits in the oil and reduces its lifespan. If you use propane for your gens then "strict" is not much of an issue. Propane is a "clean burning" fuel and doesn't leave deposits in your engine or oil so changing your oil is a little less important when using propane. With that said... you still need to change the oil in any motor as oil will break down over time and you lose the lubrication qualities of oil so your bearings are going to fail if not done. Now (caveat), if you use synthetic oil, your oil changing schedule can double and dare say "triple" since synthetic does not break down like Dino oil. Synthetic oils have a (and I'm going to use a car reference here) 10,000 mile oil change rating so simple math says that's 3X on the oil life but I usually only go 2X on my equipment. Hope this helps and if you have more questions don't be afraid to ask. I'll be glad to pass on what I know from experience and if I don't know. I'll tell you that too, I think people who make stuff up are just silly.
@@thaddeustroyer Thanks, Yes, all this makes good sense. I use synthetic in my tow vehicle and completely understand your explanation of the differences. I am not a full timer so what I am taking from you tips. Add this to my start of season checklist and I should be fine throughout the camping season for that year. Assuming the Generator would be used a few times during the season
Do you weigh more or less with changes in temperature? Robertpanick is correct. There is a given amount of propane in a tank, it has a certain mass, that mass doesn’t disappear and reappear if the temperature changes. The pressure in the tank will fluctuate with temperature.
Toujours très intéressant de vous suivre... Probablement le meilleur site pour Le VR. Merci! Thanks, it's always very interesting to follow you. Probably the best RV site.
Nice comparison thanks for posting. I have a different philosophy on the generators and gasoline. I use the cheapest gasoline I can find from the pump lowest octane. The only thing that low quality gasoline does that I have noticed is possibly gum up the generator if you don’t use it very often and never leave the gasoline in the generator when storing it, but if it does happen, it’s easy to clean. The carburetor comes out and less than 10 minutes and you can clean it and have it in working again in less than an hour and that’s only once every few years.
I have the 3400 Champion dual fuel (90 Lbs) genny which resides in the back of my F350 all camping season. It does all I need to do, but I have to run it every month or else the battery will die and it is a royal bear to start by pulling. In retrospect, if I get rid of the 3400 I will definitely replace it with 2 smaller generators with a parallel kit. That way one generator stays on the truck (to air up tires at the beach with the pancake compressor) and the other stays on the rig.
I look at all these options and I Finally choose the Honda 3200 watts, expensive but very light, efficient and Quiet ; and can Run my A/C on the quiet mode. It is also made in Japan. There is a propane kit conversion on Amazon, but don’t know if it is approved by Honda. It also have the 30 amps RV Outlet.
The propane consumption difference was interesting. I honestly thought the two 2500’s would have used more. I recently came across a killer deal and bought two Powersmart gas 2500’s. However, my generators are more for home emergency use (SE Texas and hurricanes). For this reason, I felt 1 larger generator would be simpler so I picked up a Westinghouse 4500 DF. I went from no generators to 3 in a weeks time and will no longer be caught with my pants down in the next blackout.
One problem with propane is what is called the heavy ends that leave an oily black deposit in carburetor. The first time I took an LP forklift carb apart I was very surprised
I hand built a nema 1450 outlet with three standard 12 gauge extension cords. I can run three 2000 watt generators together so both my AC can run if need be, or just run two, or even one if I dont need alot of power.
heh…I’m watching this in the parking lot after just picking ip my 2nd westinghouse 4000 to run parallel, slightly less power (for one) than the 4500 but only 60 lbs. I can lift them into the truck bed no problem. Nice and quiet, lots of watts. When you have one gen and one gen dies you have zero. when you have two gens and one dies you still have one!
When running the two generators in parallel, do you need two neutral ground plugs for each generator? Thank you for all your good videos. I have learned a lot. I have two 2000-watt Honda's with a parallel kit. I have never plugged them into an RV. I have used them for home backup only.
just bought a 4500 champion dual fuel but havent used it yet. it gives the parallel option also. reviews showed the champion better than the Westinghouse. didnt see the vid on the connection to rv propane
Thanks for the informative video. You have a knack for simple explanations and clear communication - definitely appreciated! I bought a pair of Pulsar GD400BN units: duel fuel, each provide 3600 peak watts, 2800 running watts. Pretty quiet, start really easily, about 48 lb each. One of them can power BOTH A/C units on my rig (15kand 12k btu) - but only after I installed soft-starts on the A/C units. If I want to run both A/C's, and the microwave, coffee maker, electric kettle, etc., I need both generators with the parallel kit. Question: you bonded your ground and neutral with the "neutral/ground bond plug" (what I'll call a "plug shunt"), but is that on only a single generator? When using both generators with the parallel kit, you connected the parallel kit to the ground on BOTH generators, right? Would you then use the "plug shunt" on one of the generators? Since the parallel kit joins the 3 leads of the 2 generators (in parallel), I would think that you only need 1 plug shunt, or is t better to put it on both generators? I would actually consider mounting a heavy duty switch on each generator to optionally bond ground and neutral (when the switch is flipped on), so I don't waste an AC outlet on the generator ... but i guess when using the generators for my RV, I'll just be using the 30 amp receptacle (NEMA L5-30R)
We have several generators for different uses. 1600-5000. My preferred gen is the champion 4500. I have a hard time with pull start due to a bad shoulder. I upsized my truck from a F-150 to F-250 only to discover I downsized (height) the truck bed. None of our larger gens with electric start will fit in the 250 with the tonneau. I had to remove the wheels and feet to make it ‘just’ fit. What was Ford thinking?
I use a Pulsar 4500I because of the remote start. I if need to run 2 ACs I parallel the Pulsar to a Westinghouse 2500 pull start and I have more than 50 amps. The Westinghouse parallel plug in work on both. Pulsar, Westinghouse, and Cummins 4500I are all the same, except for price and some metering. The 2500 Westinghouse will and has run for 11 hours on a single gallon of gas, with no Airconditioning. The 2500 will run 1 AC with the extra Capacitor I put in my ACs, that is the old hard start setup. Also, all the generators fit into my 310GKR storage area.
Hey Jared. Do you have a link or description for the quick connect for the ground wire? That's the one thing I'd love to change on my Champion parallel set up. Thanks and I enjoy your channel.
i went champion 3500. it's right at the limit of what i can pick up (empty on gas) and has more than enough power on propane to run my entire camper (AC included)
I checked them out, not very much information, they seem just like every other generator on Amazon etc, they seemed to be a lot more expensive. What makes them so good?
Do the 2500 small generators have a 30 amp RV ready plug, or do you get that only when you use the parallel kit? So can you use only one 2500 without a convoluted series of dog bones? I know the 4500 Champion is 30 amp ready to plug in. I too use my RV propane supply with my 4500 Champion. Very easy to do, and the electric start is a breeze to use. My 4500 Champion tips the scales at right at 100 lbs, and is a little difficult to lift and store. Thanks for the content. Professional, concise and to the point. Your delivery is excellent without all of the stumbling and mumbling on some other TH-cam videos.
A huge factor that wasn't touched upon is the fact that with the two smaller generators, if one of them breaks (or isn't running for whatever reason) you still have a generator. If the big one goes on the fritz, you're SOL.
A great episode very informative. I enjoy your channel all your tips and information you make it easy to understand now the guy Todd from national RV training center. He says you don’t need a surge protector when using a generator. What are your thoughts? Thank you again for your help.
My experience & opinion - the surge protector helps save both the generator and the RV components if something goes amiss with the generator. Example - I forgot to open the gas tank vent on a generator so it couldn't spin up under load. Voltage dropped but the surge guard caught it and opened its relay. Saved the RV components and the generator from low voltage - high current condition.
Thanks! You don’t have to have one but like @henry17403 said it can still help you if you have an EMS or one like the Power Watchdog EPO for the exact reason he mentioned. It also can be the good reminder to use the bonding plug if you forgot.
When parallel and if 1 generator shuts down, is the running generator able to output power through the parallel kit with less power or does the output voltage goes to 0 on the running generator?
When I bought my grand design fifth wheel I had the dealer install a 5500 onan generator propane with starting switch inside. We can run both air-conditioning. I didn't want to deal with lugging around portable generators.
Hey Jared, I love your channel and always learn something from your episodes. I have a question about the bonded plug. We have 2 2000W Predator generators that can be linked together. We also have a hardwired 30amp Hughes power watchdog. My question is if my generators are linked together do I put a bonded plug into both generators or just one? I couldn’t see how yours was set up once you had everything connected. Thanks!
yes, if you use gasoline, then use ethanol free. I use all ethanol free gas in all my lawn mower equipment. I like the idea of 2 small generators for portability and separating them if needed for different uses. And I've heard Champion is one of the best invertor/generators to purchase.
By doing two 2500 Champion (dual fuel). am I only getting longer running time OR is it giving me more power to run my 15K A/C in my small Intech OVR Expedition camper? The best world is having two that are lighter weight, but I want to run A/C ( I have the soft start). Thank you so much for all your videos. (I thought parallel meant more running time and series is more power...please correct me if I'm wrong...little old retired lady school teacher...haha).
Yupp they are quieter at idel but tend to be louder under load - definitely a ratio of how much power you’re asking the generator to produce vs its max capacity - would be nice for companies to publish 100% capacity noise ratings
very good video. I also use a dual Champion 2500 generator setup running on RV propane, but haven’t tried both at the same time from the RV fuel source. Have you tried two generators off a T fitting setup from the RV source? Wondering if the propane flow rate would be sufficient from the RV source split to both generators.
Curious on the LP regulators? Are you already regulated from the front tanks? I thought I could plug in to our camper quick connect without a generator regulator since the front regulator is already in place.
There is a load regulator and a pressure regulator. I had to split mine and take the pressure regulator off and put a disconnect on the load regulator.
I was talking to a whole home generator installer today, explaining that I was planning to connect my two inverter generators in parallel so that I can run both of my A/C units on my fifth wheel. He asked what happens if one runs out of gas? Is there a possibility for the still operating generator to back feed into the generator not running? He said if this happens it could damage the stator, making the generator unusable. Just wondering if this could happen.
I built a "cage" that mounts to my rear bumper. I lock my generator in the cage and never have to move it. It's always there to plug into if I need it.
Since we have the Victron Multiplus II inverter with power sharing, I only use a single Champion 2500 dual fuel generator. I tell the Multiplus not to draw more than 15 amps of power, and if our loads temporarily exceed that, the Multiplus takes the additional power from our batteries, inverts it to 120 volts AC, and sends it alongside the power from the generator. When the loads drop below 15 amps, the Multiplus charges the batteries back up. It works flawlessly. The only time our power needs exceed 15 amps is if we're trying to run the AC or heat pump while also running the toaster, microwave, or hair dryer, which isn't long. In truth, I don't see much need for the parallel kits anymore since soft/easy starts are available on air conditioners and dramatically reduce the surge load when the compressor starts up. Even a 15k BTU air conditioner with a soft/easy start can likely be run directly from a single 2500 watt generator. You would just need to turn it off before running the microwave or some other high power item.
Yes we love our Multiplus. It is amazing. We have heard of people without a Multiplus in the heat at higher elevation struggle/not run their 15k AC . We, like you, also find that majority of the time we only need the generator to recharge the batteries and only one is needed for us.
When was the last time you weighed your trailer I recently checked my tongue weight what I found unless my TV is at it’s max weight my tongue weight is way to much.
It depends on the inverter. Our Victron Multiplus handles it internally. It disconnects the bond when on shore power and connects it when just inverting. It’s best to test your inverter. Plug in your surge protector and see if you have an error.
The weight wouldn't change, the density of the propane and the pressure in the tank would. It might slightly affect how much fuel the generator burns but it wouldn't be much and the tank itself wouldn't change weights. The ratio or gas to liquid propane in the tank would change some as the temperature affected the pressure, but whether it was -10 or 100 out the cylinder's weight wouldn't change. To put it another way, if you measured out a gallon of LP at 2 different temperature they'd contain different amounts of propane because the density would be different. But once the propane is measured into the tank, that that. The amount of propane doesn't change so the weight (technically mass) doesn't change. What would change is the liquid level in the tank and the pressure. That's part of what a regulator is for, keeping a constant pressure out as the pressure in the tank varies.
Note there is a quite substantial power output loss as you increase altitude. At 8000’ the single Champion won’t even run my microwave. figure on losing 3% per 1000’
What is your preference? 2 small in parallel or one larger generator?
Champion 2500 Dual Fuel amzn.to/44t8ntU
Parallel Kit. amzn.to/3WuTFQV
Westinghouse 4500 amzn.to/4aj5BJ1
RV On board Propane Generator. th-cam.com/video/L3ozi5rgy-8/w-d-xo.html
Check out the Camco Taste Pure Water Filter bit.ly/3WnhTN3
TH-cam.com/@CamcoManufacturing
Two in parallel, for all of the reasons you mentioned! Carrying one in each hand is perfectly balanced!
I also agree, propane is best - you don't have to carry the fuel at the same time, either.
But also - Two is one, one is none, and three makes a good rotation.
Yes, I would like the big one also at home (a little much for an RV ;)
thanks for the video!
I would always take two over one.
Installing a soft start on our AC was a game changer when using a small generator.
good to remember!
We had set of two and one of them broke once. We had less power but didn't ruin our trip as we still had power. 😊
That’s right. If you have two, you have one. And if you have one, you have none.
flexibility: if i'm not rv'ing i can put only one in the truck for smaller needs. ie: hunt/fish camp
As an IT person, I like redundancy. One fails at night, oh well, run off the remaining until daylight when it can be repaired.
We went with the 2x2500 Champions for the ease of moving/storage. The fuel savings is a bonus. Great comparison!
Have the Champion.
Added soft start to the ac & made a big difference.
Agreed that the parallel kit ground plug mod is a necessity - why have quick connects for two out of three connections???? That has always boggled my mind.
We run two smaller ones and a parallel kit too - two is one and one is none. However, when both small units are running at 80% load vs a single larger one running at 80% the noise levels are significantly louder with the two smaller units as you experienced too.
Definitely a game of compromises - weight, portability, backups, noise levels, etc
I think with more and more battery banks being installed (solar disregarded) smaller generators will be more common place as a backup way to charge those- but onboard large inverters starting to come on pickup trucks changes that landscape significantly too
Maybe we should do a collaboration video together with our Champion generators compared to the ever popular Predators from Harbor Freight now that they’re coming as a dual fuel option!
Great video Jared- thanks for doing all that testing brother - I know how much goes into a video like this
Thanks! That would be fun to do a collaboration together.
Watch for deals on the Champion. I got mine for $449/$503 out the door.
Totally surprised- and thrilled- that a single 2500 will run my AC on propane!
What btu is your ac unit???
I have two 2500 Champion and a Westinghouse 4500 . all are dual fuel, and I chose the Champions over the westing house for weight, portability and flexibility when camping with our trailer. over the Westinghouse. The Westinghouse is now the home backup power in case of a power outage. I also only use propane
So good as always. This was exactly what I needed!
Hello Jarad…… I have a Westinghouse 4500 watt generator! I’m on vacation with it right now! tried to use it two days ago?? It ran the air plus other thing in the RV….. the meter said it was supplying 3.75KW and it lasted for about 15 minutes then over loaded ! Next day just with the trailer no Air it worked fine! It was in the AM things were cooler! Going to experiment with it before I upgrade ! Something to note…. It has to have some voltage on the battery connection in order to pull start the unit! It has internal alternator, so not having a built in dc generator to charge the internal battery it doesn’t make its power to excite any winding. To make power to start when pull starting the unit! I have more on this unit but I don’t want to write a book here! Thx Steve
We went back and forth in this issues, one big genny or two small ones, but then we found the Pulsar Products GD400BN generator. It's the size of your champion and only weights 47lbs. It delivers 4000w peak on gas and 3600w peak on propane. We have used it to run one of our A/C's on our Brinkley without a soft start. Our Brinkley is a lower VIN number so it does not have the Chill Cube AC in it. I can't say anything about reliability since we haven't had it that long, and don't have much time on it. However, so far it's working like a champ. Honestly, I was very surprised to find a 4000w generator in this size and weight.
I'm on my second Pulsar, the first one quit working while it was under warranty. So far the replacement is holding up 4 times longer than the original.
I found the dual fule 2500 for 450 $ on amazon(where else) and added your RV port conversion . I love it not having to carry extra tanks. The single db reading was app 57 db no load and went up to around 65 plus as the load increased. Still not as bad as the 7k one I have for my house. The only other option I added was a 15 ft 3/8 cable and lock to keep it from walking away. Keep up the good videos live learned slot thanks
We choose to go with a single 4500W Champion. It is gas only. We only need it on camping trips about once a year, since there is not many area's to boondock in the Mid-Atlantic region. The generator is used more as emergency power for the house, thus it's a good size for our furnace and our needs in the winter.
Nice comprehensive comparison. Have you noticed that the Champion idles quite a bit higher on propane? We went from the Champion 2500s to the Westinghouse 4000. Take a look, smaller engine than the 4500 so it's lighter, smaller, more efficient , has a lithium battery with remote start and a 30A plug with the nice data center. IMO a great dual fuel RV genset. It's about 400watts down from the 4500 on propane but so far no issues starting a/c's or anything like that. Really enjoying the unit. Thanks again!
My experience in my monaco motorhome...two ryobi 2300 units for when were running the a/c and using tv and other stuff, but when its cooler out and we dont need
a/c one ryobi is perfect and uses so little fuel and is almost silent.
I like the Champion generators with he 30 amp RV plugs and remote start. Started out with a 3150, then upgraded to the 4650. The remote start is the way to go.
Good info. They both have their place. For lifting, the smaller ones, of course, are easier. With the wheels, the 4500 is easy to move. You mentioned about the battery on the 4500. I have had one for 4+ years and never had to charge the battery. It recently sat in the garage for well over 6 months and started with the push button. You just need to make sure the power button is off when not in use. One other thing, the 4500 has a remote start, which is nice at times.
6:57 - " Note " the 30amp connection on the (yellow) genset - not often found on 2000 ish amp generators.
Oh...that little edit went to blue ...😮
Good info here. I have decided on the dual generators option for portability and ease. Did not know about the bonding plug thing. Do you explain the dual propane feeds from one tank somewhere? And for the connection to your RV tanks, do you use a quick connect? Very helpful - thanks!
Excellent thank you!! I like the 2 small instead of one big boy. I never would have thought of that. Aurye!
You are so welcome!
There are some lighter 4500 watt units now. They use higher performance 150cc motors instead of the normal 212cc and are about the same size as those 2500 watt units and 50 to 60 pounds. I'm probably going to end up getting one because sams club has a 4600 watt efi unit for 800usd currently.
When we camp in the winter, early spring and late fall we don't need to run AC so having one small generator works best for us. We had a 3200watt Champion and it was a lot heavier than a single Honda 2200 watt. So thats what we went with was 2 Honda 2200's.
May want to check out Westinghouse’s 4000 watt generator duo fuel. Little heavier at 65lbs, but same size almost as Champion. Fit in pass through as well.
We chose the same route, however I am now downsizing to just one genny as we have never had to use the second one on the road. It ended up, at least for us, that one is done. We run our AC regularly off it along with lights, tv and such, just no micro. When in the mountains we don't have a problem, I think because it is cooler and we don't need it as frequently and haven't been above 10k feet an needed it. As for the bonded plug, I don't understand why you would even use a surge protector on a genny for various reasons; why is it that you are? Thanks for your vids.
I would use one gen to charge a battery power station like ecoflow. Use the power station to run the RV
yes, if the power station charges quickly, this is a very good approach.
I use 2 smaller generators in parallel on propane only for the portability and ethanol issue you cited I got tired of lifting the 100+ lb used to have. Using propane negates the need for carrying a gasoline can. I will carry extra propane tank as a general rule. I opted for 20lb propane tanks over 30 in the camper with spare tank in the truck. Always have an extra that way. if I am in a bind and can’t get a tank filled, I can always do the exchange at almost any store…my spare is always my oldest tank so if I have to exchange, I’m exchanging one that has expired or is about to expire. I recognize exchanging is the most expensive, so it is only done if absolutely necessary.
OK, I wish I could lift my Honda EU2200i up onto the tailgate of my truck....I'm too short though, and probably too weak.
Thanks for showing the numbers in text in your video. I wish more TH-camrs would do that when comparing generators.
Thanks!
I have the Westinghouse. In hindsight I might have gotten the two Chamions (didn’t know about the parallel option). At 90lbs, it only comes out of the back of my truck if someone is around to help me lift it since the truck is sort of tall. The remote works sporadically, and the battery will die if I don’t run it for a while (RZR to the rescue). It is much quieter than the onboard Onan, which is now my backup.
Thanks for the video, I always appreciate the content you provide. Quick question; You mentioned changing the oil on both generators. So that I understand completely Oil is something you always have to maintain no matter which fuel source you are dealing with. I am exploring the option of getting a generator and wanted to get a better understanding of the maintenance required. If there is another video where you go more in depth on maintaining a generator please link in the reply. Thanks again for your dedication to making us smarter
Maybe I can help. If you run your gens on gas then stick to.a strict oil change maintenance schedule. Dino fuel puts carbon deposits in the oil and reduces its lifespan.
If you use propane for your gens then "strict" is not much of an issue. Propane is a "clean burning" fuel and doesn't leave deposits in your engine or oil so changing your oil is a little less important when using propane.
With that said... you still need to change the oil in any motor as oil will break down over time and you lose the lubrication qualities of oil so your bearings are going to fail if not done.
Now (caveat), if you use synthetic oil, your oil changing schedule can double and dare say "triple" since synthetic does not break down like Dino oil. Synthetic oils have a (and I'm going to use a car reference here) 10,000 mile oil change rating so simple math says that's 3X on the oil life but I usually only go 2X on my equipment.
Hope this helps and if you have more questions don't be afraid to ask. I'll be glad to pass on what I know from experience and if I don't know. I'll tell you that too, I think people who make stuff up are just silly.
@@thaddeustroyer Thanks, Yes, all this makes good sense. I use synthetic in my tow vehicle and completely understand your explanation of the differences. I am not a full timer so what I am taking from you tips. Add this to my start of season checklist and I should be fine throughout the camping season for that year. Assuming the Generator would be used a few times during the season
Do you weigh more or less with changes in temperature? Robertpanick is correct. There is a given amount of propane in a tank, it has a certain mass, that mass doesn’t disappear and reappear if the temperature changes. The pressure in the tank will fluctuate with temperature.
Toujours très intéressant de vous suivre... Probablement le meilleur site pour Le VR. Merci! Thanks, it's always very interesting to follow you. Probably the best RV site.
I have 2 of the 2000 watt inverter champion generators and wouldn't trade them for the big, bulky ones. They are much more convenient and work well!
👍🏼
Nice comparison thanks for posting. I have a different philosophy on the generators and gasoline. I use the cheapest gasoline I can find from the pump lowest octane. The only thing that low quality gasoline does that I have noticed is possibly gum up the generator if you don’t use it very often and never leave the gasoline in the generator when storing it, but if it does happen, it’s easy to clean. The carburetor comes out and less than 10 minutes and you can clean it and have it in working again in less than an hour and that’s only once every few years.
I have the 3400 Champion dual fuel (90 Lbs) genny which resides in the back of my F350 all camping season. It does all I need to do, but I have to run it every month or else the battery will die and it is a royal bear to start by pulling. In retrospect, if I get rid of the 3400 I will definitely replace it with 2 smaller generators with a parallel kit. That way one generator stays on the truck (to air up tires at the beach with the pancake compressor) and the other stays on the rig.
I look at all these options and I Finally choose the Honda 3200 watts, expensive but very light, efficient and Quiet ; and can Run my A/C on the quiet mode. It is also made in Japan. There is a propane kit conversion on Amazon, but don’t know if it is approved by Honda. It also have the 30 amps RV Outlet.
Ive been dying the Westinghouse 4500. Good pro/con video. Would anyone mind commenting on run time on a 20lb propane tank?
The propane consumption difference was interesting. I honestly thought the two 2500’s would have used more. I recently came across a killer deal and bought two Powersmart gas 2500’s. However, my generators are more for home emergency use (SE Texas and hurricanes). For this reason, I felt 1 larger generator would be simpler so I picked up a Westinghouse 4500 DF. I went from no generators to 3 in a weeks time and will no longer be caught with my pants down in the next blackout.
In the video you used one propane tank to fuel both 2500 generators when you connected then parallel. Can you go over how you did that and add links?
One problem with propane is what is called the heavy ends that leave an oily black deposit in carburetor. The first time I took an LP forklift carb apart I was very surprised
I hand built a nema 1450 outlet with three standard 12 gauge extension cords. I can run three 2000 watt generators together so both my AC can run if need be, or just run two, or even one if I dont need alot of power.
Nice comparison - Also if you just need "a bit of power" you only have to haul out one genny - that is much easier @ 40 lbs. - Cheers!
Very true! 👍🏼
heh…I’m watching this in the parking lot after just picking ip my 2nd westinghouse 4000 to run parallel, slightly less power (for one) than the 4500 but only 60 lbs. I can lift them into the truck bed no problem. Nice and quiet, lots of watts. When you have one gen and one gen dies you have zero. when you have two gens and one dies you still have one!
When running the two generators in parallel, do you need two neutral ground plugs for each generator? Thank you for all your good videos. I have learned a lot. I have two 2000-watt Honda's with a parallel kit. I have never plugged them into an RV. I have used them for home backup only.
Only one should be used.
@@AllAboutRVs Thank you
@@AllAboutRVswhere can we get the clamp you used to hold the regulator to the handle of the generator
When you are hooked to the rv propane, why do you use an additional regulator?
Did Westinghouse running at 1600 watts used 3.22 or 2.22 pounds?
You have conflicting numbers at 2:21 and 2:25.
just bought a 4500 champion dual fuel but havent used it yet. it gives the parallel option also. reviews showed the champion better than the Westinghouse. didnt see the vid on the connection to rv propane
Here you go! th-cam.com/video/L3ozi5rgy-8/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the informative video. You have a knack for simple explanations and clear communication - definitely appreciated!
I bought a pair of Pulsar GD400BN units: duel fuel, each provide 3600 peak watts, 2800 running watts. Pretty quiet, start really easily, about 48 lb each. One of them can power BOTH A/C units on my rig (15kand 12k btu) - but only after I installed soft-starts on the A/C units. If I want to run both A/C's, and the microwave, coffee maker, electric kettle, etc., I need both generators with the parallel kit.
Question: you bonded your ground and neutral with the "neutral/ground bond plug" (what I'll call a "plug shunt"), but is that on only a single generator? When using both generators with the parallel kit, you connected the parallel kit to the ground on BOTH generators, right? Would you then use the "plug shunt" on one of the generators? Since the parallel kit joins the 3 leads of the 2 generators (in parallel), I would think that you only need 1 plug shunt, or is t better to put it on both generators?
I would actually consider mounting a heavy duty switch on each generator to optionally bond ground and neutral (when the switch is flipped on), so I don't waste an AC outlet on the generator ... but i guess when using the generators for my RV, I'll just be using the 30 amp receptacle (NEMA L5-30R)
How do you set up the dual generators from start to end. How do you get plug two generators into one RV?
We have several generators for different uses. 1600-5000. My preferred gen is the champion 4500. I have a hard time with pull start due to a bad shoulder.
I upsized my truck from a F-150 to F-250 only to discover I downsized (height) the truck bed. None of our larger gens with electric start will fit in the 250 with the tonneau. I had to remove the wheels and feet to make it ‘just’ fit. What was Ford thinking?
Great information, thanks for sharing this information. I am thinking about getting a generator and this helped in my decision.
Thanks for sharing. Great video
Thanks!
I use a Pulsar 4500I because of the remote start. I if need to run 2 ACs I parallel the Pulsar to a Westinghouse 2500 pull start and I have more than 50 amps. The Westinghouse parallel plug in work on both. Pulsar, Westinghouse, and Cummins 4500I are all the same, except for price and some metering. The 2500 Westinghouse will and has run for 11 hours on a single gallon of gas, with no Airconditioning. The 2500 will run 1 AC with the extra Capacitor I put in my ACs, that is the old hard start setup. Also, all the generators fit into my 310GKR storage area.
Inverters are always more efficient because they regulate the load better vs a large non-inverter just runs nearly 100% the whole time.
Good information
Hey Jared. Do you have a link or description for the quick connect for the ground wire? That's the one thing I'd love to change on my Champion parallel set up. Thanks and I enjoy your channel.
Thanks. I picked mine up at the hardware store but it’s just like these. th-cam.com/video/L3ozi5rgy-8/w-d-xo.html
i went champion 3500. it's right at the limit of what i can pick up (empty on gas) and has more than enough power on propane to run my entire camper (AC included)
Good pick.
@AllAboutRVs I highly recommend you consider Tomahawk Power's Inverter generators.
I checked them out, not very much information, they seem just like every other generator on Amazon etc, they seemed to be a lot more expensive. What makes them so good?
Do the 2500 small generators have a 30 amp RV ready plug, or do you get that only when you use the parallel kit? So can you use only one 2500 without a convoluted series of dog bones? I know the 4500 Champion is 30 amp ready to plug in. I too use my RV propane supply with my 4500 Champion. Very easy to do, and the electric start is a breeze to use. My 4500 Champion tips the scales at right at 100 lbs, and is a little difficult to lift and store. Thanks for the content. Professional, concise and to the point. Your delivery is excellent without all of the stumbling and mumbling on some other TH-cam videos.
Only the parallel kit has the 30amp plug - to use a single 2500 youll need to use dogbones to get to a 15amp plug
👍🏼
A huge factor that wasn't touched upon is the fact that with the two smaller generators, if one of them breaks (or isn't running for whatever reason) you still have a generator. If the big one goes on the fritz, you're SOL.
A great episode very informative. I enjoy your channel all your tips and information you make it easy to understand now the guy Todd from national RV training center. He says you don’t need a surge protector when using a generator. What are your thoughts? Thank you again for your help.
My experience & opinion - the surge protector helps save both the generator and the RV components if something goes amiss with the generator. Example - I forgot to open the gas tank vent on a generator so it couldn't spin up under load. Voltage dropped but the surge guard caught it and opened its relay. Saved the RV components and the generator from low voltage - high current condition.
Thanks! You don’t have to have one but like @henry17403 said it can still help you if you have an EMS or one like the Power Watchdog EPO for the exact reason he mentioned. It also can be the good reminder to use the bonding plug if you forgot.
When parallel and if 1 generator shuts down, is the running generator able to output power through the parallel kit with less power or does the output voltage goes to 0 on the running generator?
Back to the AC, even with a soft start??
When I bought my grand design fifth wheel I had the dealer install a 5500 onan generator propane with starting switch inside. We can run both air-conditioning. I didn't want to deal with lugging around portable generators.
Great option and great generator.
Hey Jared, I love your channel and always learn something from your episodes. I have a question about the bonded plug. We have 2 2000W Predator generators that can be linked together. We also have a hardwired 30amp Hughes power watchdog. My question is if my generators are linked together do I put a bonded plug into both generators or just one? I couldn’t see how yours was set up once you had everything connected. Thanks!
Thanks, good question. Just one.
Can u parallel two different sized but close in size like a 2500 and a 3000 watt???
Does each Champion generator need the Neutral Ground Bonding Plug when paralleled together or just one of them?
yes, if you use gasoline, then use ethanol free. I use all ethanol free gas in all my lawn mower equipment. I like the idea of 2 small generators for portability and separating them if needed for different uses. And I've heard Champion is one of the best invertor/generators to purchase.
Another great benefit of having two, if you don't want to spend all that money up front, you can break it up over 3 months or longer.
i am new to rv and been thinking the exact same thing. Thanks for your argument in favor of 2 units.
Does your a/c unit have soft start?
Love your videos, great content! Do I need a neutral ground plug for each generator when paired together or just one of them? Thanks.
Just one of them.
May I ask a question about the solar panels and the batteries that's in our 1996 camper?
By doing two 2500 Champion (dual fuel). am I only getting longer running time OR is it giving me more power to run my 15K A/C in my small Intech OVR Expedition camper? The best world is having two that are lighter weight, but I want to run A/C ( I have the soft start). Thank you so much for all your videos. (I thought parallel meant more running time and series is more power...please correct me if I'm wrong...little old retired lady school teacher...haha).
I have a Champion 3200 -3400 I believe, electric start with RV 30 amp plug.. Quiet as a mouse....
How do those Champions compare to the eu2000i or eu2200i Honda Generators in terms of noise level and longevity?
Will the champion 2500 run RV ac with soft start
In my research the Db Level is much Higher on Smaller parreled Generators. Noise attracts attention.
Yupp they are quieter at idel but tend to be louder under load - definitely a ratio of how much power you’re asking the generator to produce vs its max capacity - would be nice for companies to publish 100% capacity noise ratings
very good video. I also use a dual Champion 2500 generator setup running on RV propane, but haven’t tried both at the same time from the RV fuel source. Have you tried two generators off a T fitting setup from the RV source? Wondering if the propane flow rate would be sufficient from the RV source split to both generators.
We haven’t tried that yet. We haven’t made the mod on the second one.
If you have 2 2200w you can use 1 (like I do) I can use it in the pasture
Curious on the LP regulators? Are you already regulated from the front tanks? I thought I could plug in to our camper quick connect without a generator regulator since the front regulator is already in place.
There is a load regulator and a pressure regulator. I had to split mine and take the pressure regulator off and put a disconnect on the load regulator.
Most importantly, what is the awesome quick connect for parallel grounding 🤣 you have? Homemade or do you have a link?
Have you seen the new Champion model# 201422 4000 watt inverter? Looks just like that 2500 you have on this video.
I was talking to a whole home generator installer today, explaining that I was planning to connect my two inverter generators in parallel so that I can run both of my A/C units on my fifth wheel. He asked what happens if one runs out of gas? Is there a possibility for the still operating generator to back feed into the generator not running? He said if this happens it could damage the stator, making the generator unusable. Just wondering if this could happen.
Great video! Do you need a grounding plug for each of the small generators?
No just one.
I went from two generators to one 7000 watt generator. So nuch nicer to only deal with one
I built a "cage" that mounts to my rear bumper. I lock my generator in the cage and never have to move it. It's always there to plug into if I need it.
Nice!
Great Video, Thanks
Glad you liked it! Thanks.
Is the champion generators quieter on propane or gasoline?
Since we have the Victron Multiplus II inverter with power sharing, I only use a single Champion 2500 dual fuel generator. I tell the Multiplus not to draw more than 15 amps of power, and if our loads temporarily exceed that, the Multiplus takes the additional power from our batteries, inverts it to 120 volts AC, and sends it alongside the power from the generator. When the loads drop below 15 amps, the Multiplus charges the batteries back up. It works flawlessly. The only time our power needs exceed 15 amps is if we're trying to run the AC or heat pump while also running the toaster, microwave, or hair dryer, which isn't long.
In truth, I don't see much need for the parallel kits anymore since soft/easy starts are available on air conditioners and dramatically reduce the surge load when the compressor starts up. Even a 15k BTU air conditioner with a soft/easy start can likely be run directly from a single 2500 watt generator. You would just need to turn it off before running the microwave or some other high power item.
The multiplus setup with the directions to divert/share power like that is fantastic!
Yes we love our Multiplus. It is amazing. We have heard of people without a Multiplus in the heat at higher elevation struggle/not run their 15k AC . We, like you, also find that majority of the time we only need the generator to recharge the batteries and only one is needed for us.
Do you know if you can connect an extended exhaust, so you could run it in a compartment but have the exhaust away from the RV?
It’s not intended that way, I know some people have tried it. I would probably consider an on board generator that is built for that.
The Westinghouse iGen 4000 only weighs 60 lbs and will handle the 3000 watt load. But it only burns gas.
When was the last time you weighed your trailer I recently checked my tongue weight what I found unless my TV is at it’s max weight my tongue weight is way to much.
We weigh fairly often. As we change things we often swing by the scales.
etc (et cetera)
Are both the Champions you used the same? They look different.
They are the same model but a couple years apart.
Awesome!
Are you able to run 2 small generators off of 1 propane tank?
QUESTION; Do you need that neutral ground bond for a 12 to 120 volt inverter, or will that cause other issues or damage? Thanks
It depends on the inverter. Our Victron Multiplus handles it internally. It disconnects the bond when on shore power and connects it when just inverting. It’s best to test your inverter. Plug in your surge protector and see if you have an error.
The weight wouldn't change, the density of the propane and the pressure in the tank would. It might slightly affect how much fuel the generator burns but it wouldn't be much and the tank itself wouldn't change weights. The ratio or gas to liquid propane in the tank would change some as the temperature affected the pressure, but whether it was -10 or 100 out the cylinder's weight wouldn't change.
To put it another way, if you measured out a gallon of LP at 2 different temperature they'd contain different amounts of propane because the density would be different. But once the propane is measured into the tank, that that. The amount of propane doesn't change so the weight (technically mass) doesn't change. What would change is the liquid level in the tank and the pressure. That's part of what a regulator is for, keeping a constant pressure out as the pressure in the tank varies.
Note there is a quite substantial power output loss as you increase altitude. At 8000’ the single Champion won’t even run my microwave. figure on losing 3% per 1000’
but do they run an ac fridge and some lights?
Yes
Are your two Champions different models? Maybe one being a new version than the other? They don't look the same.
They are the same model but a couple years apart. The new one has a couple more features like the CO detect.