Champion 2500 on Propane

[BikeCamper]

I wanted to report that we ended up purchasing the Westinghouse iGen 2500DFc model, dual fuel. I should have purchased it on Prime Day a month or two ago when it was marked down $100+. I had hoped it would discount again for “black Friday” but no dice. We need it for a trip next week so paid full price ($590.)

I’ve only unboxed it so far. Will provide a full review after using it on this upcoming trip. Our plan is to run it exclusively on propane, fwiw.

Initial impressions so far: Very smartly packaged. Good documentation (including detailed parts list.) Well put together - - no issues with fit and finish. For anyone wondering about the country of origin, this generator is “Designed and engineered in USA. Unit and accessories made in VietNam.”

Spec weight is 42 lbs. I was tempted by the Champion 4000 dual fuel but am now glad I didn’t go that route. This thing is plenty heavy enough and I’m not getting any younger.

[WhereStream]

Originally Posted by BikeCamper

I wanted to report that we ended up purchasing the Westinghouse iGen 2500DFc model, dual fuel. I should have purchased it on Prime Day a month or two ago when it was marked down $100+. I had hoped it would discount again for “black Friday” but no dice. We need it for a trip next week so paid full price ($590.)

I like that 30-amp plug ... my Champion 2500 dual-fuel doesn't have that.

[BikeCamper]

Originally Posted by WhereStream

I like that 30-amp plug ... my Champion 2500 dual-fuel doesn't have that.

Thanks. Yeah, that is one feature that made me lean toward the Westinghouse. I’m sure I would have been happy with the Champion, too, and I already have the adapter. But it will be nice not to have to fiddle with an adapter with this Westinghouse. The 30-amp shore-power cord will plug right in.

That said, 30-amps are not available from that outlet unless you connect two generators in parallel. (Parallel cables are included.) With this single generator, about 20 amps is available for peak surges, and only 15 amps continuously.

Btw, I mis-identified this model in my prior post. It is the iGen 2550DFc.

Hoping to fire it up for a test run today.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by BikeCamper

Thanks. Yeah, that is one feature that made me lean toward the Westinghouse. I’m sure I would have been happy with the Champion, too, and I already have the adapter. But it will be nice not to have to fiddle with an adapter with this Westinghouse. The 30-amp shore-power cord will plug right in.

That said, 30-amps are not available from that outlet unless you connect two generators in parallel. (Parallel cables are included.) With this single generator, about 20 amps is available for peak surges, and only 15 amps continuously.

Btw, I mis-identified this model in my prior post. It is the iGen 2550DFc.

Hoping to fire it up for a test run today.

If your on the "edge" of starting your AC with that unit, try getting an EasyStart installed on your AC, if you don't already have one. (Thats assuming your wanting to occassionally also run your AC.)

[jeffmc306]

Gypsydad speaks the truth

An EasyStart is well worth the investment if you’re running off a generator. The other benefits are if you’re on a 30A unit, the inrush current is lower so it won’t overload your circuits when running other appliances. Plus, it’s easier on the AC’s compressor. Win-Win

They’re on sale now at Micro-Air.

[BikeCamper]

Thanks for the tip on soft starts for the a/c. That might be something I’ll look at down the road. But thus far we have used the a/c only minimally, so it’s not a high priority. The generator is needed more for cold weather camping with the short days and extra draw from the furnace.

I forgot to factor for the 5-hour break-in period on the generator, which is supposed to be completed before any high loads are placed on it. Once I saw that requirement in the owners manual, I had to scramble a bit at the last minute. Ended up running it with a light load for 4:45 while we loaded and hitched up the trailer prior to departure. Just need another 15 minutes of run time to hit the 5-hour mark now.

So far so good.

[jeffmc306]

Looks like a nice unit BikeCamper! If you haven’t done so already you might want to add an hour meter. It’s a simple way to keep track of the operating hours for maintenance. The trigger wire just wraps around the spark plug wire. I got this one from Amazon.

Another suggestion is after breaking in with conventional oil, switch to a high quality synthetic. I’m using Amsoil for small engines 5W30 Synthetic which covers all temperature ranges.

[BikeCamper]

Originally Posted by jeffmc306

Looks like a nice unit BikeCamper! If you haven’t done so already you might want to add an hour meter. It’s a simple way to keep track of the operating hours for maintenance. The trigger wire just wraps around the spark plug wire. I got this one from Amazon.

Another suggestion is after breaking in with conventional oil, switch to a high quality synthetic. I’m using Amsoil for small engines 5W30 Synthetic which covers all temperature ranges.

Thus far I’ve been keeping a running stop watch during operation. But I like the idea of the hour meter. It seems strange to me that one is not included as standard equipment given the service intervals are hours-of-operation-based.

Yes, my plan is to switch over to Amsoil 5W-30 synthetic small engine oil after the initial 25 hour break in on the supplied dyno oil. I have a large supply of it already for my other equipment, so it’s a no brainer and as you say it expands the operating temp range. Btw, the oil capacity of this generator is only 0.35 qts!

[BikeCamper]

We now have about 9.5 hours on the Westinghouse 2550DFc. Exclusively on propane.

We just spent 4 nights out in chilly temps, needing to run the propane furnace a fair bit. We have previously used the furnace in small doses to quickly take a morning chill off. But this was our first trip needing to use heat regularly. I was surprised how much power the propane furnace draws. The batteries (2x Grp24 lead acid) were not happy.

So we definitely needed this generator at our no hook-ups site in a national park. Thus far, very pleased. We ran it twice, each time for about 2+ hours and brought the batteries up to +/-13V.

The days were short and we had a fair bit of cloudy/stormy weather. I am convinced that the amount of solar panels we’d carry in our 19’ trailer would not have done the job. I’m satisfied that we chose to go this route instead.

I am now trying to i.d. an hour meter that will let me set the initial value to the current hours on the generator so that it will be accurate. Any thoughts/suggestions?

[BikeCamper]

Originally Posted by BikeCamper

We now have about 9.5 hours on the Westinghouse 2550DFc. Exclusively on propane.

We just spent 4 nights out in chilly temps, needing to run the propane furnace a fair bit. We have previously used the furnace in small doses to quickly take a morning chill off. But this was our first trip needing to use heat regularly. I was surprised how much power the propane furnace draws. The batteries (2x Grp24 lead acid) were not happy.

So we definitely needed this generator at our no hook-ups site in a national park. Thus far, very pleased. We ran it twice, each time for about 2+ hours and brought the batteries up to +/-13V.

The days were short and we had a fair bit of cloudy/stormy weather. I am convinced that the amount of solar panels we’d carry in our 19’ trailer would not have done the job. I’m satisfied that we chose to go this route instead.

I am now trying to i.d. an hour meter that will let me set the initial value to the current hours on the generator so that it will be accurate. Any thoughts/suggestions?

Answering my own question about the hour meter… I ended up ordering this one from Amazon, which allows for initial programming of the hour meter to match actual engine hours:


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0811MB2VC...look_titleToDp


.

[gypsydad]

My propane powered Honda 2200i has a Bluetooth App to monitor this plus gives me Engine Hours, Amps, HP, Oil Life, and lets you know when Oil Change, Filter, Sparkplug need change. Pretty nice features built in to the Honda unit. Bit more money but nice features.

[BikeCamper]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

My propane powered Honda 2200i has a Bluetooth App to monitor this plus gives me Engine Hours, Amps, HP, Oil Life, and lets you know when Oil Change, Filter, Sparkplug need change. Pretty nice features built in to the Honda unit. Bit more money but nice features.

Wow those ARE nice features. It is very odd to me that the Westinghouse doesn’t have at least an hour meter. But that will be corrected for about $20.

Btw, the Westinghouse dropped $60 for Black Friday on Amazon. So that would make it $530. It was <$500 for Prime Day a month or two back. I guess that would make it something like 1/3 the price of the Honda after the dual-fuel conversion?

[ROBERT CROSS]

We 'converted' in 2008. SFSG.

Bob
🇺🇸

[Downsized]

I wish Honda made a factory propane genny.

[BikeCamper]

Originally Posted by Downsized

I wish Honda made a factory propane genny.

Yeah. Have to say looking at @Robert Cross’s photos in the other thread, the dual-fuel conversion of the Honda generator is very clunky/awkward imo. Having the propane regulator etc mounted to the side like that looks very vulnerable and is not great for storage. I prefer the much cleaner/compact arrangement of the Champion and Westinghouse dual-fuel generators.

Borrowing Robert’s photos for illustrative/comparison purposes:

[ROBERT CROSS]

But realizing that it was done in 2008 and other options were a bit limited back then, I'm just glad the 'old' Honda is still put'n along just fine.

As Dad used to say..."If it ain't broke, fix it until it is."

Bob
🇺🇸

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by BikeCamper

Yeah. Have to say looking at @Robert Cross’s photos in the other thread, the dual-fuel conversion of the Honda generator is very clunky/awkward imo. Having the propane regulator etc mounted to the side like that looks very vulnerable and is not great for storage. I prefer the much cleaner/compact arrangement of the Champion and Westinghouse dual-fuel generators.

Borrowing Robert’s photos for illustrative/comparison purposes:

Well, there are a few different conversions offered out there that may look clunky for sure. If you already have the generator, and are purchasing the "conversion kit" from some Mfg's, it can look like your picture.

The Genconnex however, is integrated pretty nicely and the entire unit comes with a 3 year warranty, for the Honda as well, if you buy direct from them. Hutch Mountain is a great option, but you have to buy the generator and have it shipped to them, and theirs looks like the picture you enclosed. Here is the Genconnex I have.