Champion Open Frame Inverter Generator - Why Less is actually WAY MORE! Watch before you buy!

[@bettymoto]

I have this generator and it's a great deal. If you're on a budget this is the best deal. Plus it will run a fridge and two 5,000 BTU window units easy. Also, all of that fits in the back of my hatchback corolla.

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

Thanks for watching!

[@ScrubLord92]

My exact needs. Thanks

[@bullpup33]

I have a similar size westinghouse and it worked fine during outages. The point about efficiency is very valid. However, you must also consider heating and air. Loosing power in the middle of winter with no other heat sorce sucks! Trust me on that one. Or run a/c window units during summer for Grandma and the puppies.

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

You’re absolutely right about the importance of backup heat, that’s a critical consideration when it comes to power outages!

[@RollingSherman505]

I agree with your statements on this size of generator. I did a ton of research and came to same conclusion. I wanted fuel efficiency, lower noise and clean power. This checks all the boxes. I also have 700 W/hr battery bank and 200w solar panel for lights and smaller things.

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

@@RollingSherman505 awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@Mrkck913]

Great video! I needed this

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@granitejeepc3651]

thanks for the info

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@woodlanditguy2951]

I hear you about the smaller generator not using as much gas and that is a valid point. I have a 11kw Wen generator and it can be a gas hog. I mitigate that by using it to charge a few 100Ah LiFiPO4 batteries making it so I can run my whole house and have a great amount of on demand power. If I don't need to run high power items, I can run off battery for several hours at a time and I only have to run the genny 4-6 hours a day in a power out situation as long as I'm charging the batteries while it is running. Buying a 4kw genny is a lot more affordable than my system, you can pick up a 4kw for like $500. My system with the 11kw genny, batteries and inverter costs about $1500. If you add solar panels with the batteries, tack on another $1000.

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

Thanks for watching! I agree and my plan is to run the generator to charge my Bluetti power station then run off the Bluetti for approx 15 hours before starting the generator again to recharge it.

[@athletikonaol]

I've looked closely at this issue of fuel availability, and other issues. Ultimately, the best solution may be two generators. Both must be inverter types. Apparently, some folks really have ruined electronics with long runs of a non inverter genset. I don't have that, so I'm using line conditioners for all my electronics. - in case you need to do that. The larger generator should be two phase, meaning, capable of 240V with a 4 prong plug. If the situation IS NOT a long term emergency, these systems, which typically start at 6KW, can run appliances like your stove, dryer, and even AC with a soft start kit. Albeit, perhaps only one at a time. And I would connect it with an interlock kit on your main panel, giving access to every circuit. Tri fuel is ideal, presuming you have Natural Gas service. Otherwise, dual fuel allows you to keep more fuel on hand, and a lot of gasoline sitting around must be cycled to keep from going bad. The smaller generator, I would go even lower than you did here, presuming that fuel will actually be unavailable for an extended period. Maybe 2800 or so. The only purpose is to keep a fridge and a few other small appliances running. You might be in a situation where you could only run this small unit a few hours a day to keep your fridge cold. Adding a battery inverter system would let you run a few lights at night while the generator is off. On these smaller systems, they are single pole, like yours, with a 3 prong plug, 125v only. Not capable of running large appliances. Maybe start your big one for an hour to take care of laundry or what have you. Preferably, all your systems are gas, and you could do a lot with this little unit. This type of unit is probably best connected via a transfer switch with only 110 circuits on it. Every Generator needs a doghouse, or shelter. Ventilated, but supresses noise, and preferably locks to your building or a concrete base, to keep anyone from stealing your equipment.

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

I 100% agree with what you said here! Thanks for the great points and thanks for watching!

[@robertkubrick3738]

I have found that large phone charging battery banks with lights on them are a good light source when power is out long term, depending on size they can run for days/nights and still allow you walk around without barking your shin on the coffee table. Large ones will also power a small USB fan for long periods.

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

@ that’s great to know! Thanks for watching!

[@Randomcharacters_]

But can it run a well pump that is a 240 volt circuit. I want a inverter generator that can handle a 240V at least once a day to fill my pressure tank during an outage

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

That’s a good question! Unfortunately this unit is only 120v. Champion does make some larger open frame inverters that are 240v and those would easily be able to handle the well pump. Harbor freight predator also makes a large inverter (9500w) that is 240v. Thanks for watching!

[@GingerPainter]

Will this run a forced air furnace?

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

It should be able to. My predator 5000 runs out forced air furnace ( oil fired). Thx for watching!

[@romeorozeta4998]

I need something with clean electricity, dual fuel, and 240 volt so I can use my water pump. Any recommendations?

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

@@romeorozeta4998 Genmax makes dual fuel and even tri fuel inverters. They’re more expensive but have good reviews. Harbor freight makes a powerful inverter but it’s not dual fuel

[@robertkubrick3738]

Good video and important point about the logistics of keeping your generator fueled. I actually have 6 generators 2 X 4000w 2 X 3000W 1X 900w and a 2100W all running watts inverter generators. I live in Typhoon alley so I want redundancy and I also want to size the generator to the load. We have 9-12 all day (12 hour) power outages a year because they are working cutting trees back from the lines several smaller shorter duration outages because of the aging grid and sometimes 10 days without power when a storm does considerable damage. My 4000W generator is good for the all day outages and burns about 5 gallons of fuel but my life is practically unchanged Running two 1HP mini split air conditioners and all the usual appliances aside from water heater or cooking with electric. I can get by with one Mini split 1400W maximum if the house is already cool and my washing machine uses 2200W, dryer is new and is more fan than heating element and uses 2300W for about 2.5 hours to dry clothes, 20cuft refrigerator 350W when it kicks on 65 inch TV 250W, laptop 70W, desktop gaming computer only pulls about 350W with the chill power setting. 5 gallons a 12 hour day is no problem when it's easy to get fuel. 50 gallons after a typhoon when the roads are impassable is a bit of a storage problem plus it's hot here in the tropics and I prefer cooler, dehumidified air for sleeping. If a person possibly could, I would recommend they have two appropriately sized inverter generators that they could parallel at need and shut down when possible. It helps a lot when everything you are running is of the more efficient type. If you have a really old refrigerator or air conditioner, the electricity savings might pay for it's replacement with a power conserving inverter refrigerator or air conditioner. Also to consider is that my 4000W generator is industrial in nature and has a beast of a 270cc engine. My newest generator the 2100W has an 80cc engine and two of them paralleled together would only be 160cc. 110cc would be a considerable savings in fuel. I do like the open frame design. There is a drain screw on the bottom of the float bowl of the carburetor. It would be child's play to hook a larger gravity fed tank to an open frame generator that would give you days of runtime but don't forget that you still need to check the oil periodically and make sure it's Full, not just that it has oil in it.

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

Great points! Thanks for watching!

[@alcu4190]

im new to generators,bought my 1st at home depot for a bit over 1k,with tax..biggest champion they had..I wanted power to spare,and it runs on gasoline or rino*type propane tank..it came with the gizmo for propane... our elect came back on,jut as we got this unit ready to start,what a bummer???...i did let it run to break in for 15 min...still waiting to see how it preforms,,in the next outage.

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

Thanks for watching!

[@raywells2858]

Running a moderate sized genset does make a lot of sense from a prepping standpoint. You're probably not going to be running everything under the sun in your house and you will likely be limited on fuel availability, so you have to make the fuel you have last!!! Having to run your generator for a couple of days is one thing but what if you need to run it a couple of weeks! Tornados are quite common here and t can easily take a couple of weeks for power to be restored again...

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

Thanks for watching and I totally agree with everything you said!

[@JDStaffylover]

I got the 7000 watt open frame inverter.

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

That’s a great unit as well and I’ve considered buying it myself! Thanks for watching!

[@bobmonztr]

Champion is quiet, fuel efficient. Large gens 7kw + most times have dual or tri fuel, easier to get a big tank and run for weeks or maybe grid gas is still flowing.

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

Thanks for watching! I’ve been very pleased with the champion open frame inverter so far.

[@GhostDust97]

i’ve been looking into generators and i’m wondering if i do parallel two of them, am i able to use the plugs on the generators themselves and still have that double power available? or would i have to use the plugs on the parallel kit ?

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

Thanks for Watching! I have not tried that but my understanding is that yes, the plugs will still work on the individual generators - just stay within the wattage limits.

[@robertkubrick3738]

Yes, you can use the plugs but a 20 amp plug is still 20 amp. Some generators can't even put out all the power they produce through their 20 amp plugs, it takes a combination of the 20 amps and a 30 amp twist lock to ever get the full rated power from some of them. I saw a video by a homesteader who had a 9000W generator where the biggest receptacle on his generator was 30 amp and it wouldn't run his whole house because he needed a 50 amp receptacle to get the full output on one plug. There are parallel cables with a box that would allow you to use a 50 amp plug/cable.

[@ClumsyCars]

that canned fuel is garbage. Goes bad very fast.

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

Thanks for watching and for the info. I have not used the canned fuel extensively yet so can’t really give feedback. What types of issues did you experience with it?

[@ClumsyCars]

@@Outdoor_Prepper I watch a few small engine repair channels and they have demonstrated that the canned fuel wont even burn after a month or two of sitting in equipment. I had it happen to myself with a chainsaw.

[@akbychoice]

@@ClumsyCarsand it cost 3-5 times more too.

[@westhavenor9513]

Not to mention that it's a total waste of money. Just search "ethanol-free gas station near me" so much cheaper

[@2wrdr]

I need a 240VAC version of this but the 240 versions I've seen so far are only available in much larger inverter generators. Actually, I don't understand how a 120VAC inverter generator interfaces with your house as 120 would only feed half of your breaker panel so if you have a frig and a separate freezer which are only separate legs of the full panel (240VAC Leg 1 and Leg 2) one of those will be without power. I'm not an electrician, more like an old Electronics Tech so there must be something I'm confused with here? I have a 1.5 Ton Mr. Cool which very well fits the wattage requirements of generator in this video but the Mr. Cool uses 240VAC. I'm open to any suggestions.

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

Thanks for watching! They make an adapter to bridge the 2 hot legs of the transfer switch to the 1 hot leg coming off the generator. It will power the whole transfer switch but no 240v circuits can be used.

[@2wrdr]

@@Outdoor_Prepper Ahh..., so the left side of breaker panel is placed in parallel with the right side providing 120VAC to each side and in phase with each other which kills the possibility of that generator providing 240 to the panel.

[@spacecoastz4026]

You hook up your emergency house feed as a 240v setup. That orange adapter cable sends the generator 120v output into two 120v feeds, same phase. The house panel receives the 120v generator output into both legs. Everything 120v in the house works...but nothing 240v. This is what I do.

[@spacecoastz4026]

Using the adapter cord will not give you 240v. If you have a hard requirement during an outage for 240v, then this set-up is not for you. In other words, you need a 240v output generator/inverter that has the capability of powering your 240v requirement. *I don't understand how a 120VAC inverter generator interfaces with your house as 120 would only feed half of your breaker panel* It feeds both legs of the panel with 120v, same phase, because the adapter cord takes the single 120v output and sends it to both panel legs through the 4-pin power box. The nice thing is that everything 120v in your house will work....lights, microwave, fans, outlets, tv, etc. And in terms of power demands, the only thing you need to monitor is Total demand....not demand by leg 1 or leg 2. But again, nothing 240v will work...like a well for water. You can even run a 120v window A/C, if you have one.

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

@@spacecoastz4026excellent points and I agree with what you said . Thanks for watching!

[@duckpond-studio]

will it power a heat pump?

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

Thanks for Watching! If the heat pump is 120v and stays within the wattage it will. Many heat pumps are 240v though and in that case it would not be able to unfortunately.

[@toddneihaus4902]

Wouldn't you need to have a 120/220 generator to power a dryer or stove. Anything that's 220 in your house

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

You are correct. In my case, my stove is natural gas so the generator only powers the light, fan, and igniter of the stove as that’s all it needs. For an electric stove or electric dryer you would definitely need 220 which this generator cannot do. Thanks for watching!

[@jacklane7439]

Smaller ones is better for longer run times

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

Thanks for watching and I agree!

[@RandomMemories12345]

Do you have a favorite generator?

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

I personally really like the small champion 2500watt dual fuel generator due to its portability, ability to run on propane, and fuel efficiency. Keep in mind it doesn’t produce a lot of power but it’s just enough for a fridge, some lights, tv, router, computer, fan, etc. Thanks for watching !

[@westhavenor9513]

Champion is great, but skip the open-frame models unless you have an enclosure or live on several acres. We have one guy in our neighborhood that runs an open-frame during outages, while the rest of us spent $200 more for a 50-60dB model. We all hate him. Don't be that guy.

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

lol that’s a good point although it’s still quieter than a traditional generator but I do agree an enclosed inverter is very significantly quieter! Thanks for watching!

[@jedeckert8912]

"Less is more" thats NOT what she said.

[@Outdoor_Prepper]

🤣 thanks for watching!