Champion 2500 Dual Fuel Inverter Generator (Part 2) Extended Run Time Test on a Propane Tank

[@Zkpe02]

Something I found out recently was when you use the exchange 20# bottles of propane, those companies only fill their bottles with 3.5 Gallons of propane, that’s all companies! I started taking my 20# propane bottles to my local Ace Hardware and they fill my bottles with 4.6 gallons! Exchange cost here in the Houston Texas area is $22.99 Per. 20# bottle while a refill at Ace Hardware was $16.00 per. fill👍 You’ll start getting longer run times since you’ll be getting more fuel for less cost! That’s a win win👍

[@khempleman]

Always refill the 20 pounders and exchange them when it goes out of inspection date.

[@Zkpe02]

@@khempleman I do that as well👍

[@kkevinj1]

Ours at our store says 34lb full, 17lb empty

[@Michael-Joseph123]

Then you get 17 pounds of propane, and propane weighs 4.2 pounds per gallon, so you are getting 4 gallons, if your paying 22 to exchange the tank you are paying $5.50 a gallon, hardware by me charges $17 for refilling, my tank 4.58 gallons, so I get a half a gallon extra for $5 less, UHaul by me charges $3.69 a gallon. Never exchange, they charge $1.50 to $2 more a gallon.

[@slidewaze]

They don't top up those rack propane sales places. Usually about 3.5 gallons of 5. So that would definitely make a difference in your run time. Great video and thanks for doing this!

[@applisense]

Thank you, happy holidays!

[@slidewaze]

@@applisense Thanks! Wishing you the same! (I have this very generator and really like it. It's been bullet proof and easy once you get the hang of the propane starting procedure. (They really could use a propane primer button on it))

[@johnpeck11]

both the refrigerator and freezer would be considered a low load. You can keep a refrigerator and freezer off power up to 24 hours before there is an issue. Regular operational cycles is low. Lowest electricity use as a major appliance. you could extend the generator run time by running it maybe every 6 hours or as needed to keep the fridge or freezer at temp.

[@westhavenor9513]

Change the oil after the first 5 hours of runtime with a light, intermittent load (frig or freezer is perfect) per break-in procedure in the manual

[@MrJohnnybmoore]

34 hrs at 25% load. That's 25% of the running watts running propane.

[@denislaflamme8549]

If you retrofit a steel pipe that exhaust straight down to the ground instead of the spark arrester it will cut down the noise a lot

[@applisense]

interesting

[@Zkpe02]

Another way to extend your runtime on one bottle of propane would be to have 4 ea. LifePo4 12v 100ah batteries having 4000 recharging cycles with a inverter and only run the generator if & when batteries need charging, add a couple of solar panels and run the generator even less…Li Time batteries are only $329.00 now…you can add batteries as needed, 1 or 2 could suffice…anyway this is what I do and it works for me. I added my batteries and other items as I could afford them..just a thought…I use the same Champion generator you’re using👍

[@applisense]

Good point

[@t.d.harris1311]

What inverter are you using with your solar setup, I'm looking to build something similar.

[@Zkpe02]

@@t.d.harris1311 I use a 2200W Giandel pure sine wave inverter…

[@Joshua-r3r6w]

So does this math make sense. Run 11 hours on 1 tank which is basically 1 gallon of gas or 25 hours on 20lb propane tank so 4 gallons sense they don't fill them full. So if you have 4 gallons of gas it would run for 44 hours with gas.

[@336W]

Did you change the oil after a 5 hr break in period per the OM prior to this test?

[@applisense]

No I didn't

[@BADD1ONE]

You really need to change it twice in 10 hours

[@BADD1ONE]

These generators are awesome. I bought 2 on prime day. 385$. Runs a fridge and 2 freezers plus entertainment center no problems. I only use propane. Gas/ethanol will jack em up. Very efficient. Just got an 8500 inverter generator. Champion. 10 hours on a 15# tank. Not very efficient.

[@kkevinj1]

get a gas miser for long outages

[@Zkpe02]

Did you have the generator switched to eco mode? Didn’t sound like it…🤔

[@BADD1ONE]

You can't if you have a good load

[@Javii96]

About 1$ per hour on propane? Not bad. Whats the cost per hour on gas?

[@jhjustinlee]

Don't forget an exchanged tank only promises 15 lbs to be in the 20 lb tank, if you refill a tank at 20lb it would be better. If you wanted you could buy a 30lb or more for home backup.

[@shanedenmark5536]

You’re only supposed to fill a propane tank to 80% capacity so even getting a refill should only be 16lbs of propane. But it is definitely CHEAPER to have the tank refilled opposed to exchange.

[@Michael-Joseph123]

​@shanedenmark5536 talked to a guy the other day filling my tank, when they refill at tanks where they taje the exchange tanks, they set it to a certain level they choose, when you get your tank refilled, the attendant does not sit there with his finger a a trigger, they start it up and it shuts off when they OPD valve on the tank closes, not all tank will take the same amount, but the guy said most the time between 4.4 and 4.8 pounds, mine shut off at 4.8 pounds, the 80% is a myth.

[@johnlago1478]

Thank you, very helpful…😄

[@kkevinj1]

From what im seeing, gasoline seems way cheaper, run E10 during outage, then drain or run out, then pour a small amount of ethonol free and run a few min to flush the E10 out of the carb, store out of gas

[@ItsEverythingElse]

Anyone ever put a tri fuel kit on this thing?

[@Michael-Joseph123]

A 50 percent load will reduce run time, the more power it puts out, the less run tome you get.

[@Charlie-w5l3w]

Have you noticed a propane smell around the engine compartment

[@applisense]

Yeah after I ran the generator there was a lingering propane smell

[@timk7307]

I'm looking to get this unit to do a fridge and freezer chest as well as a 1/3 sump that has a starting load of 960w and running load of 624w according to the company. I ordered a watt meter to plug into each of my devices to see how much watts they pull, I worry about this unit not having enough watts. Did you ever add anything more than the fridge/freezer and trip it? Thanks.

[@applisense]

No that was it. You can find the starting (surge) watts of each device and add them together. Worst case scenario is they all kick on at the same time if the total exceeds the gen's peak starting wattage.

[@user1-c8yrrr]

Good information. Thank you.

[@georgegould667]

Can you get 1850 watts consistently on propane like you can on gasoline ?

[@Shorby99EK]

No 1650

[@westhavenor9513]

Yeah, I own this gen. On propane it chokes when I try and run my countertop microwave, which is probably 1800 watts I'd guess

[@mark31383]

The generator sounds really loud even in echo mode. Is it really that loud or is the camera audio making it sound louder than it really is. I already have a predator 2000, but would like to add this champion because of the propane option. Thanks

[@applisense]

Out of all the generators i've had hands on experience with, there never really was that much of a noise decibel difference from what I could tell.

[@VWT5Alive]

The exhaust was pointed at the camera it would have sounded much quieter if turned the other way round 👍🏻🇬🇧

[@bobp414]

Mine came with a faulty propane regulator and the company didn’t have a replacement and didn’t know when they will Poor quality control

[@applisense]

Yeah I heard about that as well. Hopefully mine is ok. It seems to start without issue

[@clb3297]

Are you supposed to run any generator CONTINUOUSLY that long. Thought required a "rest".

[@kkevinj1]

I ran my predator constant for 6 days in very hot humid conditions, 95+ temps

[@Nolacon-j4o]

I had high hopes for this generator but sadly when running on propane, 1600 running watts is all you'll get out of it.

[@westhavenor9513]

It still runs my whole house, other than the microwave. Runs frig, lights, furnace blower, water heater blower. All just barely though. This is a backup to my primary gen. and a loaner for friends and family.

[@Nolacon-j4o]

@@westhavenor9513 Are you running it on gas or propane?

[@therats2270]

my dude got a quick pump before each shot

[@victorlamothe6732]

Well propane is nice to have but gasoline has more bang for the buck propane and gas is on the rising cost you may need to look at moonshine as a fuel for back up.😂

[@applisense]

haha!

[@BADD1ONE]

Propane can be stored for 10 to 20 years. As long as the valves hold

[@geokap3]

Πολυ φασαρια κανει γιατι ;

[@johnhubble5373]

Comparing 1 Gallon of gas to 5 Gallons (20 Lbs ) of LP.

[@applisense]

That's a good idea - thank you

[@tj1947]

These Champion 2500 dual fuel do not, I repeat, do not start as easily as shown in this video

[@jdmgatekeeper5849]

Really? I use mine everyday and it starts right up no issues

[@BADD1ONE]

I have 2. They fire right up. Propane only. Never used gas.

[@Hank-Waconda1.]

Just pull 6 times on choke first ....then turn dial to propane mine starts every time:)

[@westhavenor9513]

Mine does, but there's a bit of a trick to it, like most manual start equipment

[@Michael-Joseph123]

Mine did, I turn the 20 pound tank slowly so it don't vaporlock the regulator, then switch the generator to choke, and pull until the first time it sputters (4 or 5 pulls) than I turn the switch to propane and it fires up first or second pull.