Despite my previously stated fascination with solar- I've still wanted a generator that I could top off batteries with when camping with no hook-ups (again, jack covinced me with something he wrote.....) I also wanted one I could use for minimal "survival" at home should we ever experience exstensive power outages-which I believe may come to Wisconsin at some point if weather patterns stay the same----in the form of ice storms.
I agonized over this-wanting a "quiet one" but not wanting to spend money on the red or blue ones, and also it seemed to make sense to get one that could run AC in trailer in a pinch.
Making a long story short- I was aware of the Champion (chinese) inverter generators that had been sold at Costco and Sams for around 400.00 when they first came out but were now unavailable at that price----Cabellas has them for 699.00 but that was getting in the range of a Honda or Yamaha- and I would need two 2000w to run air. Then I saw that Costco had them back in, now red instead of yellow- and slightly different- but they were 449.00. Never knowing with Costco when the next batch would be in- I bought ONE yesterday. I may go back after Christmas and get another----we will see. My buddy is also buying one- as one will run the 500btu in his Casita. He claims if i buy the cord to run them together- I can borrow his if I head off and feel i will need the AC somewhere- though usually we do not.
So- I will see. It will run my house furnace fan (nat gas), which in a pinch is what I wold worry about. And, at 1600W continuous it should work for the batteries.
There is a 228 page thread on RV.Net that spans two years on Champions. I understand the "get what you pay for" argument, but at this price- I may be getting all I need for the hours i will be expecting to use it. I realize that for 350.00 i could have bought a much more powerful, and Heavy, and LOUDER one---but I did not want to be running one in a campground. Wont use it much for now-----but come spring I will update.
Rick
I agonized over this-wanting a "quiet one" but not wanting to spend money on the red or blue ones, and also it seemed to make sense to get one that could run AC in trailer in a pinch.
Making a long story short- I was aware of the Champion (chinese) inverter generators that had been sold at Costco and Sams for around 400.00 when they first came out but were now unavailable at that price----Cabellas has them for 699.00 but that was getting in the range of a Honda or Yamaha- and I would need two 2000w to run air. Then I saw that Costco had them back in, now red instead of yellow- and slightly different- but they were 449.00. Never knowing with Costco when the next batch would be in- I bought ONE yesterday. I may go back after Christmas and get another----we will see. My buddy is also buying one- as one will run the 500btu in his Casita. He claims if i buy the cord to run them together- I can borrow his if I head off and feel i will need the AC somewhere- though usually we do not.
So- I will see. It will run my house furnace fan (nat gas), which in a pinch is what I wold worry about. And, at 1600W continuous it should work for the batteries.
There is a 228 page thread on RV.Net that spans two years on Champions. I understand the "get what you pay for" argument, but at this price- I may be getting all I need for the hours i will be expecting to use it. I realize that for 350.00 i could have bought a much more powerful, and Heavy, and LOUDER one---but I did not want to be running one in a campground. Wont use it much for now-----but come spring I will update.
Rick
