DuroMax or Champion generator

[Speed4Life]

I’m looking at the Champion 8500w dual fuel or a DuroMax dual fuel that’s rated a little higher. Would like peoples’thoughts, opinions, personal experiences etc. First consideration is where it is made. Don’t want anything but USA made, and I believe these two brands are U.S. made. Let me know if that has changed. This will be used for emergency back up. Really want to go whole house but 1,200 for a portable vs 8-10k for a whole house, I’m thinking portable for now with a transfer switch. I like the idea of being able to get higher wattage ones from the Duromax, but I also want reliability so if the Champion is a more reliable brand I’d go with it. Plus, 8500 will run just about everything I have with the exception of the 5 ton AC.

 

[fitter30]

This is my setup. Used with a 6500 w. lp generator. Have a plug in that uses a short extension cord and a gas line with a quick connect hose 1/2" . Keep the generator in the garage. Can run the refrigerator, well pump, electric water heater, lights and also a 5k window ac to cool a bedroom if needed. Can't run everything at once but can alternate
things. For heat have a ventless lp decorative cast stove.

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwib_ezBxsP2AhXLbW8EHR80D5AYABAKGgJqZg&sig=AOD64_1Jp9Zlx_24Z6YtEQuCRBl4eyu3kQ&ctype=5&ved=2ahUKEwjEueXBxsP2AhUHQ80KHQWsAGwQwg96BAgNEAY&adurl=

 

[Showkey]

Think it will be assembled in US with world sourced parts.

Depending on use and location noise might be a concern and might be considered in your selection.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I don't know where they're assembled but Champion's corporate headquarters is an Santa Fe Springs CA

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

A fake Hoda is just that, no matter what color the sticker.

 

[nadogail]

Who has the best local parts and service support?

 

[bluwolf]

I have a large and small dual fuel Champion. Would buy them both again. Champion has a pretty good customer service. And they stock pretty well on parts. I've heard and read so-so on the Duromax. But that's just one guy's opinion. I don't think any of the gensets in this category are USA made. Some might be assembled here.

They're like anything else made overseas. The manufacturers can spec better quality parts if they're willing to pay for them. Even the Hondas have some parts from China. They just have the good sense to spec better quality parts to protect their good name.

If you have access to natural gas I'd consider Champion's Tri-Fuel genset. I've only ever run my 2 on propane so I don't have to worry about carb problems.

 

[dcg9381]

I've owned 4 Champion generators in the 3000-4000 watt range. Inverter, non-inverter, gas, and dual-fuel. All of them have been solid. Like what everyone else is telling you, these may be "US Made" - but they are conglomeration of non-US parts.

I don't think there is much difference in Champion or DuroMax (I see of lot of these flow through Amazon). I do like having US based support (Champion).

They are all Honda clones, but for the price difference they have me as customer.

One "gotcha" - and I don't know if this is true of the 8500 watt Champion, but I have 8000 watt Firman (Costco) that's dual fuel. It will NOT start without a battery, unlike many of the mid sized generators. Apparently the battery is necessary to operate the propane check valve (at least that's my guess) - so if your battery is dead, even if you pull start on gasoline, you're SOL - it won't have spark.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Buy a HONDA and you won’t be sorry…..…. You will thank me later!

 

[Speed4Life]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I initially found several places online that said both were U.S. made but after further research, both are assembled in China. And I get that even U.S. ones will have some global parts, but there are pretty much none out there anymore. After my initial post I started learning about THD and started looking for an inverter type for cleaner power since I want to run my furnace and electronics. Landed on the DuroMax XP9000ih would probably work well while alternating heavy load items, but then I came across the Westinghouse WGen12000DF which is more power, and has THD of 5% or lower even though it’s an open frame generator. So now I’m thinking it’s going to be the Westinghouse unless I spot something different.

 

[bluwolf]

Buy a HONDA and you won’t be sorry…..…. You will thank me later!

Can't argue about Honda quality. But for a lot of folks, myself included, you have to look at bang for the buck. I'm in SW Florida so every year there's the threat of hurricanes. But years can go by without so much as a whiff of one. Taking the cost and dividing it by events that need a generator, it's tough to justify the cost of a Honda just sitting, for some of us.

I've had reason to use my Champions a few times, including just for odd power outages that weren't hurricane related. They work flawlessly. Enough that they've already paid for themselves. And proven themselves. I've also never used gas in them, just propane. I think that's part of of why it's gone so well. But I digress...

If cost is no object I'd probably have an EU7000is, and maybe a 2200 or 3000 Honda too. But it is an issue. And the savings on the gensets themselves allowed me the extra money to do an interlock, an inlet box, a modified, ventilated generator shed, some 40 lb. propane tanks, a double watt meter so I know how much I'm pressing the generator, and a power back alarm to tell me when main power comes back on, and a window A/C, and still have money left from a Honda.

Again, if cost is no object, by all means, get a Honda. But I've been very happy with my set up.

 

[Showkey]

No matter the genny choice ………Think you need to rethink 40# propane.
40# won’t last ……..calculate your gallons per hour.
40# have a vapor point where are a certain temps the propane draw is capped example so at 30% fill at a some temperatures the genny will “run out of fuel“. Colder means less propane vapor. The tank will freeze up With a high draw above freezing temps.

Example:
40# is 9.4 gallons. A 5000-7000 watt genny might use 1.0 gallon per hour Or more under higher loads like running AC.
I have 3500 Onan it uses .4-.6 per hour it ***** propane like there’s no tomorrow.

Which gets back to bang for the buck. Fuel use…….?
Nothing worse a back power system with no fuel or poor reliability.
Power 2-7 days takes a lot of fuel.
Others in prior posts on propane mention 400-1000 gallon tanks. 400 being the low end.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Can't argue about Honda quality. But for a lot of folks, myself included, you have to look at bang for the buck. I'm in SW Florida so every year there's the threat of hurricanes. But years can go by without so much as a whiff of one. Taking the cost and dividing it by events that need a generator, it's tough to justify the cost of a Honda just sitting, for some of us.

I've had reason to use my Champions a few times, including just for odd power outages that weren't hurricane related. They work flawlessly. Enough that they've already paid for themselves. And proven themselves. I've also never used gas in them, just propane. I think that's part of of why it's gone so well. But I digress...

If cost is no object I'd probably have an EU7000is, and maybe a 2200 or 3000 Honda too. But it is an issue. And the savings on the gensets themselves allowed me the extra money to do an interlock, an inlet box, a modified, ventilated generator shed, some 40 lb. propane tanks, a double watt meter so I know how much I'm pressing the generator, and a power back alarm to tell me when main power comes back on, and a window A/C, and still have money left from a Honda.

Again, if cost is no object, by all means, get a Honda. But I've been very happy with my set up.

I hear ya about the cost of a Honda.…… My 30 year old Honda is still going strong and we have used it many times for 2 weeks straight during power failures. Super Storm Sandy was the longest we used it and we had no power for three weeks. I have always maintained this machine with synthetic oil and keep it covered when in storage.
I could probably sell this unit for some "good money" (and recoup most of my money) during a power failure.
PROPANE is OK for "short" 1 day power failures but it gets costly and tank storage is a problem so rethink using propane for a generator.

 

[bluwolf]

No matter the genny choice ………Think you need to rethink 40# propane.
40# won’t last ……..calculate your gallons per hour.
40# have a vapor point where are a certain temps the propane draw is capped example so at 30% fill at a some temperatures the genny will “run out of fuel“. Colder means less propane vapor. The tank will freeze up With a high draw above freezing temps.

Example:
40# is 9.4 gallons. A 5000-7000 watt genny might use 1.0 gallon per hour Or more under higher loads like running AC.
I have 3500 Onan it uses .4-.6 per hour it ***** propane like there’s no tomorrow.

Which gets back to bang for the buck. Fuel use…….?
Nothing worse a back power system with no fuel or poor reliability.
Power 2-7 days takes a lot of fuel.
Others in prior posts on propane mention 400-1000 gallon tanks. 400 being the low end.

No need to rethink. I've done the math and it's proven out a few times in actual use. My big gen says it will get 5.5 hours out of a 20 lb tank at 50% load. I rounded down to 5 hours to be safe. That gets me 10 hours out of a 40 lb tank. 6 - 40lb = 60 hours. I also have 6 - 20 lb tanks. That's 30 hours. So I have a total of 90 hours.

I also have a 2000W dual fuel Champion. It says it gets 34 hours out of 20 lb tank @ 25% load. Right off the bat I rounded down to 20 hours. I bought the little one for a specific purpose at first. To run a 5000BTU window A/C plus a light in the bedroom at night. That gets me 3 nights at least, out of 20lb tank. I don't run the big genset at night. Too loud and too much fuel as you mentioned. And there's no need.

I also don't run the big one all day. In the morning, heat up the water heater, run the coffee pot, breakfast. Then it's back to the little one. Laptops, a little TV, anything that needs charging, and a window A/C.

Now I'm starting to ramble. But you get the idea. A little power management goes a long way. After 4 days I hadn't really even put a dent in my propane supply. I also always have 30 gallons of treated gas that I hope I never have to get close to the generators with.

 

[bluwolf]

I hear ya about the cost of a Honda.…… My 30 year old Honda is still going strong and we have used it many times for 2 weeks straight during power failures. Super Storm Sandy was the longest we used it and we had no power for three weeks. I have always maintained this machine with synthetic oil and keep it covered when in storage.
I could probably sell this unit for some "good money" (and recoup most of my money) during a power failure.
PROPANE is OK for "short" 1 day power failures but it gets costly and tank storage is a problem so rethink using propane for a generator.

Not sure what you mean by propane being good for short power failures. It depends on how much propane you have. And propane storage is whole lot less problematic than gasoline. Put the tanks somewhere and forget about them. Propane doesn't go bad. And it doesn't mess with my fuel systems. As far as propane being expensive, you make it sound like gas is free

 

[Showkey]

No need to rethink. I've done the math and it's proven out a few times in actual use. My big gen says it will get 5.5 hours out of a 20 lb tank at 50% load. I rounded down to 5 hours to be safe. That gets me 10 hours out of a 40 lb tank. 6 - 40lb = 60 hours. I also hav

Math and reality differ*………..running a larger genny on 20-40# is asking for trouble.
Filing, handling and using small quantities doubles or triples the cost.
Pay attention to other that have been there. Listen to the guys in Texas when they lost power in colder weather.

*Most consider a “full” 20 lb propane tank to hold 4 gallons of propane.​

Note: Apparently today’s ‘exchange’ propane tanks might only be filled with 15 pounds, or about 3.5 gallons.

Good luck………….

 

[bluwolf]

Math and reality differ*………..running a larger genny on 20-40# is asking for trouble.
Filing, handling and using small quantities doubles or triples the cost.
Pay attention to other that have been there. Listen to the guys in Texas when they lost power in colder weather.

*Most consider a “full” 20 lb propane tank to hold 4 gallons of propane.​

Note: Apparently today’s ‘exchange’ propane tanks might only be filled with 15 pounds, or about 3.5 gallons.

Good luck………….

Well, as I said, I did the math and then proved it out in actual conditions. I also don't do exchanges, even on the 2 - 20 lb. tanks that I use specifically for the BBQ. You always get hosed on an exchange.

As for the vaporization rate, which you are correct that it could be a problem for some folks. All the charts I've seen don't start showing those rates until, at least 60 degrees. I guess you missed that I'm in SW Florida. My problem is, I usually can't run the generator in less than 90 degrees. I broke the generator in, for 5 hours on one 20 lb tank. It was sweating a little tiny bit towards the end. But it had not stopped running yet.

I appreciate your concern. But I can't have a large propane tank where I am. I also don't have natural gas as a possibility, or I'd convert to tri-fuel. And I can run gas if I have to, but only as a last resort. When we're expecting a hurricane I have 30 gallons of treated fuel on standby. Fortunately I've never had to even consider it. It always ends up getting dumped in to the cars after the event.

A couple of side benefits to propane. No fuel system problems. I do a maintenance run every 6 weeks, for 30 to 45 minutes. When I'm done I shut off the propane and I'm done. No draining the carb or the tank, or any of the other procedures that people do. Because it's easy I always do the maintenance. I don't tell myself I don't want to do it because of the hassle.

Another benefit. Like I said this is Florida. All my neighbors have generators... But nobody keeps gas. Amazingly I'm the only one with a dual fuel generator. When we have a power outage that's not hurricane related, I'm the only one with power. A transformer or something blows up and we're without power for 5 or 6 hours (and it always seems like it's right after the sun goes down ). I'm up and running in 5 or 10 minutes. Then after, again, no gasoline clean up.

I realize my system won't work for everyone. But in my reality as you call it, it's worked awesome for me for 6 years.