Champion 2500 Generator Review

[@avflyguy]

I just got one of these - model number change (200961), but still dual fuel 2500 watt. Followed all the directions, Runs extremely quiet - *very impressive.* The primary purpose of this generator will be to power a gas furnace, TV's, a few lights, and internet routers - in a 3,800 sq ft. home,. After the *2021Texas February Freezout* I decided never again. We have a large see through nat gas fireplace, so we didn't have to burn the furniture to keep from freezing. But even at that, temp's got into the low 40's *inside!* and -3F outside. Ran 8 to 12 hours with *NO ELECTRICITY* over 4 days of it, with maybe an hour here and there with power. Today, I did the test after a lot of research. Fortunately that paid off, because this, as probably the majority of portable generators, use a "floating neutral" as opposed to 'bonded neutral'. The startup sequence of the furnace does not like, nor will it run the furnace on floating neutral nor on 'dirty power'. Made a plug for one of the outlets by jumpering the neutral and ground wire together. Now, it runs perfectly as a bonded neutral generator. I am literally amazed this small generator ran the gas furnace and it did it in the *ECO Mode.* It didn't even have to ramp up to get the blower fan running. Ran it through several cycles without a single problem. Will be completing the wiring with a single transfer switch. Great Shoutout to this little wonder machine!

[@harrisonhobbies241]

Thanks for posting this info. Hopefully this winter is much less harsh for you folks down south!

[@brianevans4525]

I love my duel fuel inverter generator I live in my van and I run it around 8to 10 hours a day and it's been a champ been having it over a year and Jenny still starts on the 1st pull I'm very happy Jenny and champion customer service is the best in the industry . She keeps me cool in the summer and warm in the winter. She deserves an oil change every Saturday. And that's the key to running the generator like I do is every 50 hrs change your oil . I have run 10% ethanol since day one and haven't had a problem but I go through 2 gallons of gas every night and in the summer I go through 4 gallons running my a/c I also put an inline fuel filter

[@thomascronquist1604]

It looks like I have the update Version of this Generator. It has a full panel, with screws to open the panel. Thanks for a great review. This is my fourth Champion generator.

[@CallaFab]

Watched this video because I was on the fence. I just ordered it. Thank you 👍

[@bikerbrian6452]

Mine started the same. It gets easier to start after a few cycle runs. Great video.

[@terryfrazier1140]

I bought one in 12/2022 loved it, used about 2 hours, used again a month later 2 hours, it sat in back bedroom 2 months now start it runs for 5-6 seconds shuts down, some videos on you tube say carb

[@harrisonhobbies241]

I'm assuming you're trying to run it on gas (not propane?) bad gas seems unlikely due to timeframe, but a possibility. The 5-6 second runtime would lead me to believe there is a fuel line blockage though. I'd pull the feed line off your carb and make sure gas is flowing freely as a starting point. a poorly tuned carb (unless its extreme) will usually result in surging and sputtering, but not all-out stalling.

[@terryfrazier1140]

Thanks, did that gas flowing good, got it to run few mins. with choke 1/2 on, plugged in a light it's not making power, take choke off surge's few sec. and dies, thinking automatic voltage regulator?? Will call champion tomorrow, thanks for the help

[@lpnelson6584]

Excellent real-world review. Thanks to both of you!

[@bartstewart1807]

Best test I’ve seen I’m seriously thinking about getting one of these

[@funland108]

Excellent review, thanks guys. About to buy one of these in the UK.

[@harrisonhobbies241]

Let us know how you like it!

[@mrspin3315]

Good on you. Others have tried using propane with out starting on choke, and they had a hard time getting the generator started. I have found out that sometimes you just need to turn back to choke! No you don't loose allot of power on propane, just a little.

[@barbaraburke6682]

Thank you for explaining the black plug on the end of the line.

[@RG-wy1ol]

Thanks guys for making this video and digital sign wave 👍🏽👍🏽

[@LoneWolf1985BK]

Just got mine in and it’s DOA. Running on propane it runs smooth in eco mode on or off until you add a load to it. Once a load (300watt for break in) is added it stumbles on its face and can’t keep a constant rpm and shakes pretty bad. Called Champion on a Sunday and was able to get ahold of their tech support. They thought it might be a faulty idle servo. Had me make sure it was plugged in and wires weren’t broke. They wanted to send me a carb to replace it, told them I wouldn’t be doing it. They’re sending out a new unit, see if the next one works better. The servo is bolted on and was very surprised they wanted to send a whole carb just for that small part. Just disappointed in the quality control.

[@javitswenderlich1010]

Amzn carries 2 different Champion 2500 dual fuel inverters. One has a meter and one does not. I don't need one so I got the thing for $499 plus tax when on sale. Free delivery with Prime of course. Model 201183

[@harrisonhobbies241]

That's a great deal. Let me know how it works!

[@cayrick]

I am seriously interested in the Champion because my option 2 & 3 are the B&S you bought or an Onan P2500i but on those latter two I have to add a propane conversion kit which adds another $250 to the cost. So I can pay$828 for Evan's Champion or $965 for the B&S with a propane kit or $848 for an Onan P2500i which does not appear to be a propane kit available at the moment. Of course I forgot to mention the gold standard; the Honda Eu2200i with a propane kit which gets you up to $1460. The Honda would perhaps be the way to go if you are a heavy user which I am not. Now that Evan has been using his for a year I would really like to see a follow up video talking about durability. Things that matter are: durability, weight, dual fuel and running watts. In my case I will rarely use it so I can sacrifice Honda quality for value. Evan seems to have made a hard to beat choice. Please follow up. Your B&S generator is also a winner, but you have to go thro the brain damage of installing the propane kit yourself.

[@javitswenderlich1010]

Amzn carries 2 different Champion 2500 dual fuel inverters. One has a meter and one does not. I don't need one so I got the thing for $499 plus tax when on sale. Free delivery of course. Model 201183

[@N6EAJ]

Thanks for the video. I have the same one (100899). I have a question and a few comments. For motor oil, did the blue sign say to fill to the bottom of the threads? My owners manual says "a visual check should show oil about 1-2 threads from running out of the fill hole". So almost to the top of the threads. I ask because I was getting a little oil condensing in my air filter box (by way of the PCV hose and dripping down the air intake hose into the filter box). Sounded like too much oil and the Champion person agreed and said to fill it less as they have a low oil sensor that would catch it if oil was too low. Not sure if they changed their fill recommendation. Comments: Similar to what you do to start on propane, I pull on choke until I hear it sputter, then I quickly reach down and turn the selector knob from choke to propane. That works well and normally takes 4-5 pulls. I have paralleled the Champion with a Pulsar PG2200BiS. They don't use the same inverter module, but once you get above 1000-1500W they start sharing the output power pretty well.

[@harrisonhobbies241]

Thanks for your comment! It's great to hear you validated the unit's ability to parallel with other brands - and specifically the output range of units it MAY be compatible with. And it's also great to hear that the starting issue wasn't limited to Evan's. We fiddled with it for a solid 15 minutes before we figured out how to get it going - so that really highlights the need for people to test their units and get familiar with the starting procedure BEFORE they need it. That's really going to be the difference between rage and potentially some spoiled food during an actual emergency, versus a few minutes of frustration during a leisurely evening. Regarding the oil level, I double-checked the manual online, and you're correct in it stating "oil 1-2 threads before the top." However, that did seem too high, and the dip stick has a lot of operating range, so you should be good with a bit less (as in, the bottom of the threads). y79961nbs4u2hvbnwronx9zx-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/100899-om-english.pdf - Link to manual (note, this is a 3rd party site and I have no association with it).

[@TimSleppy]

A down-home, folksy review. Enjoyed your video.

[@adalbertosalce3903]

Thanks! Excellent review. Congrats

[@mbmann3892]

Found this review very helpful. Thanks guys

[@bp-ob8ic]

Ordered one on Monday, as soon as the power and internet came back on.

[@davidclark3147]

Damn dude thanks a lot save me some money and I was going to buy one of those things until I saw your video

[@jackjumperx4441]

I find mine starts easier on propane if you go from choke to gas, pull to start, then turn dial to propane. My unit has never seen a drop of gasoline. It just starts easier this way

[@dsmith2858]

After 2 years, is it still running strong? Any starting issues with propane now? Would you buy it today?

[@mshhz]

curious, why is the label blurred out?

[@imezxrecc3]

This was very helpful for me! Thanks gents🤙

[@RockyPatrol]

Great review! Will this thing run on 1 lb propane tank? And where sell the connection pipe? Thanks!

[@harrisonhobbies241]

www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y5XFF6F Can it run on a green bottle? For sure. Will it run WELL on a green bottle? Probably not. The green bottle doesn't have much surface area or mass, so under heavy generation load the evaporation of the LP will freeze the bottle and the LP - potentially reducing the output to a level where the generator won't be able to run. This shouldn't cause any damage, but it would be a good idea to learn how much power it can actually make on a green bottle BEFORE you actually need the power. If i had to guess, i would bet it will be capable of delivering around 500 watts before the bottle freezes over.

[@StuffBudDuz]

You had me at "free t-shirt."

[@TheBreamer999]

Does this produce pure sine wave?. I ask since I want to use it to charge my Bluetti power station if I'm in a 'no grid, no sun' situation

[@med0ri]

Would love to see how this compares to a Honda eu2200i and other top brands on the market

[@johnmitchell2741]

That work table is very scary

[@slidewaze]

Nice review! Really liked the o-scope and VAC values as most reviewers don't go into technical detail like this. Thanks again! Oh and sub'd. :^)

[@Joshua-r3r6w]

If it will run 11 hours which i assume it's from a full tank of gas which is 1 gallon or 25-30 hours on 20lb propane which is 4 gallons since they don't fill them up, using 4 gallons of gas would give me 44 hours run time using gas right.

[@highbeam629]

I recently bought this generator. It seems to blow a puff of blue smoke when a load is added. Exhaust smells a bit like burning oil but I'm not consuming oil fast enough to notice. When you have gasoline in the tank and turn the selector to choke while also feeding it LPG and try and start it, what is it running on? It is louder and higher rpm at low output when on LPG.

[@mrspin3315]

I noticed that on mine, I found oil in the valve cover vent hose where it attaches to the carb. It could draw it into the carb and make it smoke? It runs faster on propane to make up for the power loss of propane!

[@jws3925]

I have one of these and like it very much. I might suggest you read the owner's manual for startup and turn off procedures. I think you will find them helpful. The owner did not want to go past 1400 watts? If you are testing something don't you want to know if it will do what it is rated for on the high end? Then I test batteries I don't pull half to three quarters of the battery rating and call it good. I see if the capacity of the battery is as stated. What you did was let us know this generator could provide about 70% of the stated power rating. Why go buy a 400HP car if you only plan on using 300 of it? This was only a partial assessment not a "review." Re-title it to unboxing and startup of a Champion dual fuel generator.

[@mbmann3892]

I been eyeing that Champion 2500 duel fuel for a while . I tailgate alot and wnated to make some coffee , heat for when it's cold and yes a deep fryer . But I always wanted a generator to run off the 1lb propane tank , due to the fact my grill uses the 1lb tanks Andi have plenty of those cans around . And plus I also drive a C-Class and don't want to bring the 5lb tank. So now I need to watch that other generator that uses the 1tank .

[@brandondye6444]

Awesome review, guys! About to buy one in TN. Did y'all ever test how many watts it took to shutdown the unit? Very interested in learning that number.

[@richardmoss8162]

Requires frequent professional valve adjustments .

[@daniellehaughey4402]

I recently got almost the same model,but without the dual fuel. Model 100889. Is there any way to convert this to using propane as well?

[@BarbaraMatthews-fb1lv]

Have one of these. I used propane during break in with no problem. It has not started on propane since. It will run on gasoline.

[@johnhubble5373]

⛔️ Yea, yer gas hose was empty ⚠️ Maybe run the air (purge) out before hooking it to the machine. Manufacturer doesn’t want to say that in case Mamma is BB-Q ing near by. : )

[@shellycalhoun7194]

Could get a plug adapter for an rv type plug so you could hook it up to a home power transfer switch?

[@harrisonhobbies241]

I'll answer your question in two parts. 1 - Can this be hooked up to a 30A RV Plug directly? No. You can buy a NEMA 5-15P to an L5-30R adapter to connect it to an RV (similar to amzn.to/3N2vdOD). Or you can buy the parallel kit with a second unit and have the L5-30R plug natively. This is all 120V. These plugs will typically have 3 pins. 2 - Can this unit be hooked into a home's transfer switch? Probably not. Most homes will have a 208V transfer switch. In this configuration, any 120V appliance takes 1/2 of the voltage range of the 208V ... and any 208V appliance will just bridge the two legs for the full voltage range of the sine wave (208V). These plugs typically have 4 pins: - 1 pin to give "0-104/120V" - 1 pin to give "104/120V-208V" - 1 pin for common ground (tying everything together): - 1 pin for neutral If you somehow managed to convert your 4-pin transfer switch into a 3-pin generator plug, then you would be feeding your whole house 120v on the same leg (just duplicated). While this would technically be fine for most stuff in your house, since those things don't care which leg they're on - as long as they're seeing 120V - this would destroy an 208V appliances (such as AC/heater, dryer, water heater, stove, well pump, etc.) Unless your house has a 120V transfer switch with only select circuits coupled. In that case, disregard this portion of my response.

[@htiekmahned8859]

My eco button isn't very responsive to presses

[@n.b.p.davenport7066]

Yes sir thumbs-up good video

[@harrisonhobbies241]

Thanks!

[@bryanwelty8578]

Question. I just bought this unit thanks to your video and the ability for this unit to run propane. Is it normal to hear the sound of propane coming out of tank when it is connected to generator but not running? I checked all connections with soapy water, so I would guess it is being consumed internally, or do I have a faulty unit with a leak?

[@harrisonhobbies241]

You may hear a sound for the first second or so when you connect th unit and crack the valve on the propane tank (charging the system), but it should stop after the first second or so (assuming the generator isn't running). If you hear it running continuously, then you should definitely return the unit. There is likely a leak somewhere inside the unit.

[@camdenheath2044]

I’m on the fence between the 2 inverters you displayed in the video the champion 2500 vs the Briggs and Stratton p2400. Any comments on noise comparison between the 2 and running time? which does anyone prefer? Thanks

[@harrisonhobbies241]

The briggs is a bit louder at all ranges. The mic's gain is locked in for both so your audio should indicate a bit of a difference. I posted the review of the the briggs last week, so that's there. I also have a review coming of the Generac GP2200i coming out this weekend... and it's notably more quiet than either of these options.

[@jtran3022]

can you connect it to house propane tank and run it without that detent on the stock propane hose?

[@harrisonhobbies241]

I haven't tried this, so its speculation on my part... but as the generator is, no. It appears to be an electronic interlock. You could probably bypass it If you took the generator apart, but for that level of effort, there are probably better options on the market.

[@bp-ob8ic]

My plan is to run a tap from my propane tank up to my deck, with a standard tank fitting on the end. I could then connect either my grill or, when needed, this machine using the included adaptor. But you know what they say about plans ...

[@drdrew3]

On gasoline it puts out 1800+ watts but on propane it drops down to only 1600+ watts. That difference can be enough to overload and shut down the unit. You may NEED to use gas to run multiple appliances

[@rrnels]

I wish you would have tried an electric motor to see if it could handle the start cycle.

[@mrspin3315]

40 pounds for a generator is not heavy! Boy your picking. That oil drip tray works just fine! Have you tried it?

[@drobertjacobs]

What is choke mode. Is that on or off?

[@harrisonhobbies241]

choke mode would be "on" - the engine is being choked.

[@MediaCentralTV1]

Thanks gentlemen 💪🏾👍🏾

[@johnhubble5373]

Supposedly not really a “CHAMPION” engine but basically a KAWASAKI which is a good thing . Comparable to the Honda. Taken care of properly it should last as long as a Honda with a bit smaller muffler but with Excellent components should blow Honda away - $Dollar per Dollar$

[@donalddday7741]

got mine almost 2 years ago, runs a 5000 btu A/C on one out let, other out let runs battery charger for ever thing else i do not plug it into rv power cord, keeps battery charged even when i run furnace, i got a 2000 watt for a back up and it runs every thing the 2500,

[@richardching8547]

Runs , stronger on Gas , 1850 , LB Gas 1650 approximately

[@thejeepinrealtor5742]

What is the difference between this one and the one with the black cover? Both are dual fuel 2500 inverters at a claimed 49 lbs 🤷🏼‍♂️ Thanks in advance!

[@donalddday7741]

forgot with just charge batteries when no sun it will run 10/12 hours with the A/C it runs about 8 hours all one one tank of gas

[@n.b.p.davenport7066]

And that's on propane, cool.

[@winstonsmiths2449]

You left out too much of the action. Starting pulls, a/c kicking grade.

[@harrisonhobbies241]

Sorry - it's always a struggle to balance detail with brevity. I recently got an ammeter with logging capability, so that should help provide more detail in the future.

[@johnhubble5373]

NO ! Don’t screw the dip stick in to test the level. Typing cramps people ! Read the damn manual!😮

[@earljklec1684]

Helpful

[@harrisonhobbies241]

Thanks!

[@gabrielpichardo1492]

I bought this and it is the worst generator i have ever bought!! Only mine is not the dual fuel one. As soon as i added the oil that it came with its been burning oil and spitting oil into the air intake and bathing the air filter in oil enough that oil drains out of the bottom of the generator. I tried taking the crap back to bjs and they wont take it back so i tried contacting champion customer ssrvice and i was on hold over an hour two times so i gave up. Then i read the warranty papers and they say that the only way to get a refund is if they repair the same thing three times. Now one month later after owning it the eco mode button does nothing and once started the piece of crap just kills power and blinks the overload light even when nothing is connected to it

[@harrisonhobbies241]

Thanks for sharing. I've had an excessice hold time issue with Generac a few weeks back. Seems all of the manufacturers have been cutting their support staff. If you bought with a credit card, see what options they can provide.

[@gabrielpichardo1492]

@@harrisonhobbies241 thanks i will look into it, i bought it with my debit card. Not sure if the bank can help me

[@steveliptak7135]

The whole bottle goes in

[@spiderman0863]

You sound winded. 😮

[@johnmurphy40]

They did have a problem stating this propane generator,, re-guard-less of the brand name, they all have a problem stating in propane, I got rid of the one I had, It wore me out stating it. Good luck.. stick with gas if possible

[@drc1883]

you know you should be saying STARTING, not STATING?

[@roberteller4165]

you say ah and um way to much! Its hard listening to you ah um ah talk.