 |
03-17-2017, 11:32 AM
|
#1
|
Newbie
1975 31' Sovereign
Dublin
, Ohio
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 31
|
Can Anyone Identify This Generator?
Someone is selling it on Craigslist for $200 claiming it is an Onan 4000 Watt generator. It's an hour away and I'd rather not make the drive if it isn't what it claims to be. Can't find any Onan generators that look quite like this, even if the color matches.
|
|
|
03-17-2017, 11:49 AM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master 
1984 27' Airstream 270
Scotia
, New York
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,082
|
The color is right for a Onan, but by the looks of that muffler, I bet it is going to be noisier than what I would want to be camped near
|
|
|
03-17-2017, 11:51 AM
|
#3
|
Moderator

2017 26' Flying Cloud
Alamo Heights
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,754
|
Whoever made it, I'd bet you a mortgage payment and 4 Airstream payments it's NOT an inverter-based generator, and I'll second WayneG's suggestion that's it's an awfully loud thing.
__________________
— David
Zero Gravitas — 2017 Flying Cloud 26U | WBCCI# 15566
He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. — Sir Winston Churchill
|
|
|
03-17-2017, 11:54 AM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master 
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
|
Looks like an old Onan CCK. I don't think they still make them. I have a neighbor that has one installed on a welding cart. Noisy is an understatement.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
|
|
|
03-17-2017, 11:56 AM
|
#5
|
Rivet Master 
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,008
|
Save your money and buy an inverter generator.
|
|
|
03-17-2017, 12:04 PM
|
#6
|
Vantair
2005 25' International CCD
Westlake Village
, California
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 371
|
Agree with others.
You would NOT want to be camping
next to yourself with the noise and fumes.
__________________
Relaxing is hard work. 
Vantair
2005 25ft International CCD SS
2020 GMC Sierra Denali Diesel 2500 4X4 3.43 Int sway/tow controller
1981 Honda Trail CT110 1X0..no sway control
|
|
|
03-17-2017, 12:27 PM
|
#7
|
3 Rivet Member 
1986 25' Sovereign
Huntsville
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 207
|
It is an Onan YCB portable that they quit building around 95-98. Used Briggs and Stratton engines and yes, are loud. Parts are probably hard to come by now. I'd save my money and buy something else and I'm partial to Onan after working for them for 23 years.
|
|
|
03-17-2017, 01:08 PM
|
#8
|
3 Rivet Member 
Currently Looking...
jackson center
, Ohio
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 159
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by airsovereign
Someone is selling it on Craigslist for $200 claiming it is an Onan 4000 Watt generator. It's an hour away and I'd rather not make the drive if it isn't what it claims to be. Can't find any Onan generators that look quite like this, even if the color matches. 
|
Looks like a Coleman 4000 generator
|
|
|
03-17-2017, 02:04 PM
|
#9
|
Olroy
1976 29' Ambassador
1986 34.5' Airstream 345
Barbourville
, Kentucky
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 14
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by AWCHIEF
Looks like an old Onan CCK. I don't think they still make them. I have a neighbor that has one installed on a welding cart. Noisy is an understatement.
|
Looks like little emergency generators we had on tops of mountains I had to maintain in 1968 in Puerto Rico (I was stationed with a bunch of Navy communicators in FT ALLEN, any way I I think it is rather old ) they were best at that time, but not what you would want today.
|
|
|
03-17-2017, 02:09 PM
|
#10
|
2 Rivet Member 
2017 27' Flying Cloud
2017 30' Classic
Sulphur
, Oklahoma
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 54
|
Hubby said it is an Onan and 200 is a steal.
|
|
|
03-17-2017, 02:24 PM
|
#11
|
1 Rivet Member 
Fuquay Varina
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 8
|
Okay for construction, but awfully dirty power for an RV...and loud. Pass and get an inverter type. Honda's are really nice, but pricey. There are some others from Northern Tool and Camping World that are reasonable and suitable for your electronics. If you blow out the electronic control board in your fridge or converter, you'll wish you stayed away from old gennys.
|
|
|
03-17-2017, 03:20 PM
|
#12
|
Newbie
1975 31' Sovereign
Dublin
, Ohio
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 31
|
Overwhelmed by the knowledge on these forums. Thank you for saving me from divorce
|
|
|
03-27-2017, 01:15 PM
|
#13
|
Rivet Master 
2008 22' Sport
Spicewood (W of Austin)
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,726
|
Uhhhh I believe there's a misunderstanding going on around RV'rs that an "inverter" type generator is "cleaner" power than non-inverter types.
I was camping at the Quanah rally and several folks stopped by my AS and advised me to be careful using my little contractor-type generator because (they universally stated) the ordinary generators don't put out "true sine-wave" electrical power and they can damage the control-boards in the refrigerators and furnaces and television/stereos etc etc.
I wish to point out that it is cheap inverters that don't put out "pure sine wave" power... they usually put out "square wave" or what is called "modified sine wave" power.
Ordinary, everyday generators turned by internal-combustion engines put out the same type (ordinary "true" sine wave") AC power the electric utilities put out. Unless some serious surging is going on (like letting it run out of fuel while connected) then it should not be harmful to most equipment, including computers (which, btw, usually have a small, dedicated power-supply within their powerplugs, etc which "clean" the power anyway.)
The only advantage of an "inverter" type generator is they usually reduce noise and fuel consumption when low electrical demands are being made on them, while ordinary generators usually run at a steady-state/governed speed in order to regulate the cycles-per-second.
Hope his helps clarify it a bit.
As for identifying this particular unit depicted... I don't recall ever seeing a genuine Onan (brand) like that one... It resembles a Craftsman I've seen... but many folks call portable generators by the moniker "Onan-type".
If it's important to you to have a genuine Onan (brand), I'd do a bit more research or confirmation on this unit. Ask for the serial number or a pic of the dataplate and confirm it with Onan.
|
|
|
03-27-2017, 01:51 PM
|
#14
|
Rivet Master 
1984 27' Airstream 270
Scotia
, New York
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,082
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boxite
Uhhhh I believe there's a misunderstanding going on around RV'rs that an "inverter" type generator is "cleaner" power than non-inverter types.
I was camping at the Quanah rally and several folks stopped by my AS and advised me to be careful using my little contractor-type generator because (they universally stated) the ordinary generators don't put out "true sine-wave" electrical power and they can damage the control-boards in the refrigerators and furnaces and television/stereos etc etc.
I wish to point out that it is cheap inverters that don't put out "pure sine wave" power... they usually put out "square wave" or what is called "modified sine wave" power.
Ordinary, everyday generators turned by internal-combustion engines put out the same type (ordinary "true" sine wave") AC power the electric utilities put out. Unless some serious surging is going on (like letting it run out of fuel while connected) then it should not be harmful to most equipment, including computers (which, btw, usually have a small, dedicated power-supply within their powerplugs, etc which "clean" the power anyway.)
The only advantage of an "inverter" type generator is they usually reduce noise and fuel consumption when low electrical demands are being made on them, while ordinary generators usually run at a steady-state/governed speed in order to regulate the cycles-per-second.
Hope his helps clarify it a bit.
As for identifying this particular unit depicted... I don't recall ever seeing a genuine Onan (brand) like that one... It resembles a Craftsman I've seen... but many folks call portable generators by the moniker "Onan-type".
If it's important to you to have a genuine Onan (brand), I'd do a bit more research or confirmation on this unit. Ask for the serial number or a pic of the dataplate and confirm it with Onan.
|
On that thought, in my last Argosy I installed a Generac Impact36 3600 watt inverter generator made for RV's.
It was awesome on fuel, very quiet until you put a good load on it, but it had a quirk.
I was powering a small sound system for a band and someone plugged their light show into the generator and the generator went nuts, reeving up and down out of control and finally shut down with some error.
It was not the load that was a problem, it was not a true sine wave output and it did not like the heavy spikes that the light show threw at it.
Sure wish Generac fixed that problem and kept selling the Impact series. I would buy one in a quick minute.
|
|
|
 |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|

Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|