Champion 3400 Smart Inverter?

[pedroescobar]

Anyone have experience with the Champion 3400 Smart Inverters? I'm looking at picking one up and adding an extended run fuel tank to it. Will primarily used for running the RV AC for sleeping times. I figure that with the 6.5 gallon tank should be a pretty solid option with only limited refilling needs.

[Popeye]

They're ok, noisier than a Honda. Temperature limit is 104 degrees, we had occasional cut outs at about 110d. You may want to bring high altitude jets and experiment w/ them if running gas. BM altitude is right on the borderline between needing them or not. Change the oil and filter after about 20 hours.

[pedroescobar]

Thanks... We will likely have a smaller shade structure that will cover the generator from the direct overhead sun (completely open sides) so hopefully it won't hit over 104, but yeah after last year's 115 degree heat that may be tough. I'm going to do the initial oil change and break in, plus testing the extended tank for leaks while in default but will make sure we have leak protection as well.

[Zubeneschamali]

Exqueeze me.......115? Were we at the same burn?

Is this the Champion that runs on dual fuel, and are there similar performance issues / rejetting needed if run on propane?

[Popeye]

Exqueeze me.......115? Were we at the same burn?

Is this the Champion that runs on dual fuel, and are there similar performance issues / rejetting needed if run on propane?

The two "official" temp figures I saw where 116d and 119d. If you told me 130 I'd believe you. It was HOT.
Champion says that their generator loses power with altitude. About 80% of rated power at BRC, it's a fuel/air ratio problem. Propane has about 80% of gasolines energy per volume so you get derated to death if using propane.
I haven't taken a Champion apart to be sure, but I assume there is a propane regulator that automatically adjusts for altitude. The tech for this is trivial and pretty common.

[pedroescobar]

One of my buddies who works for the BLM told me 117 I think. But yeah it was hot.

[Just_Joe]

Exqueeze me.......115? Were we at the same burn?

Is this the Champion that runs on dual fuel, and are there similar performance issues / rejetting needed if run on propane?

The two "official" temp figures I saw where 116d and 119d. If you told me 130 I'd believe you. It was HOT.

I did "Black Rock Weather" last year. We had a Davis Vantage Pro2 with 24hr fan aspiration. Not NWS quality, but pretty close.
The high temperature on playa during event week was 103.
I've been recording weather in N. Nevada for the last 13 years. The highest I've *ever* seen was 104.5, so yeah, it was HOT.

[Popeye]

Joe: How does that compare with high temperatures for other years?

Exqueeze me.......115? Were we at the same burn?

Is this the Champion that runs on dual fuel, and are there similar performance issues / rejetting needed if run on propane?

The two "official" temp figures I saw where 116d and 119d. If you told me 130 I'd believe you. It was HOT.

I did "Black Rock Weather" last year. We had a Davis Vantage Pro2 with 24hr fan aspiration. Not NWS quality, but pretty close.
The high temperature on playa during event week was 103.
I've been recording weather in N. Nevada for the last 13 years. The highest I've *ever* seen was 104.5, so yeah, it was HOT.

[Zubeneschamali]

yeah 103 seems about right. I would have turned on my AC around 108.

there would have been reports of temp related deaths at 115.

[Just_Joe]

Usually, temps are in the low 40's early in the morning and climb to ~92° in the afternoon.
I saw a few snowflakes during build week in 2010.

[pedroescobar]

Weird as I know a number of people told me the temp was well above 110. There are even some posts of thermometers at 115 here. Was your weather meter elevated above the ground?

[Just_Joe]

Weird as I know a number of people told me the temp was well above 110. There are even some posts of thermometers at 115 here. Was your weather meter elevated above the ground?

Those numbers are very close to what I recorded in Gerlach at the Friends of Black Rock office.
http://www.gerlachweather.com/wxnoaacli ... 2017&mo=08
I have an identical station set up there that runs 24/7/365, assuming internet and power are on.
My station sensors are sited 5' above ground level- standard NWS height.

[pedroescobar]

Sorry for some reason the link didn't work. It had photos on playa that showed temps at 115. Obviously your station is probably much more accurate, but an 8-12 degree difference seems like a lot. Here is the photo from the Reddit post

[Jackass]

A thermometer with the sun beating on it will read higher than actual ambient temperature. If I remember correctly I had 108 inside my trailer, in the shade, on most days.

[homo ardentum]

My Champion 3000 watt failed both times I brought it up. Honda for me now!

[homo ardentum]

i wouldn’t doubt the low temp shutoff...a real pisser

[Captain Goddammit]

I think you’ll eventually be sorry you bought the Champion, particularly if it’s gonna be used in such a destructive environment.