CHAMPION GENERATOR 3500 WATT FROM KRAGEN...GOOD OR BAD???

binahkitty · Post by **binahkitty** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 8:58 am

CHAMPION GENERATOR 3500 WATT FROM KRAGEN...GOOD OR BAD???

WILL IT RUN a lights, fridge, small stereo, and small portable ac in a little class c rv?

I just want to know if it will suffice...if it's practical......I can build a box to make it shut the fuck up...u know what I mean? Thanks for all your input! I will love it forever! (:::

shitmouse · Post by **shitmouse** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 10:47 am

yes, your gennie will work fine.

it's going to be loud (as fuck) as you know, so building an open top box with enough room for ventilation will work well. even better, if you secure the box on top of your rv, that way the sound will be directed up.

on thing to note.
most people think that generators come "broken-in" AND with oil in them. not true at all... (a friend of mine found out the hard way on the playa)

break your generator in with "non-synthetic" high grade oil for the first 10 hours, then change your oil and put in a good high grade synthetic in, like Mobile 1. this break in procedure will help create a long-lasting machine.

also break in the motor with 10w 30 oil, then for the playa put 10w 40 in for the higher temps. also, break in your motor BEFORE going to the playa. an oil change out there could be ugly.
-b

binahkitty · Post by **binahkitty** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 12:59 pm

many many thnx..... (:::

JDS · Post by **JDS** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 2:21 pm

If you can afford it, your campmates and neighbors will greatly appreciate it if you get a Honda EU2000. They're much much more quiet.

You can buy one off craigslist and then resell it. It'll probably cost you ~$100 + gas.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:40 pm

lLoud and over-used generators have been know to stop running and not able to start.. How that happens is the $64,000 question.. If you choose to bring that beast, then be nice and park away from the center of the city. Not near the walkin area, Not near hushville. I have both a Motorhome and a Honda eu2000. I post a sign near the R.V. side with the gennie and let those who want to camp near that side, know its there. I also invite those near by to use the power I make. Do a search for sound proof boxes on this site and read up..

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:21 pm

Damn that s enough power to light a city. Don't be suprised if you get asked to move. It may run a frig and stove. BUT I hope your not planing on it. You be runing that thing at nght to keep your food cool don't sit well with other campers. I'm getting to think RV burners are a bunch of dip shits with all there "want" I want water delivered. I want my tanks pumped NOW. I want to run the air.(I don't care if I smoke every one out) I want to run a noisey generator 24x7.(fuckeveryone cept me).

binahkitty · Post by **binahkitty** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:03 pm

whoa..I don't think 3500 watts will light a city, but I'm sure your attitude will blow the fucker up....I guess you just don't understand perception yet....that's ok, I didn't at one point either....good luck in that existance...

binahkitty · Post by **binahkitty** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:03 pm

whoa..I don't think 3500 watts will light a city, but I'm sure your attitude will blow the fucker up....I guess you just don't understand perception yet....that's ok, I didn't at one point either....good luck in that existance... (:::

binahkitty · Post by **binahkitty** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:04 pm

ty ibdave (:::

jbelson · Post by **jbelson** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 11:28 am

A good rule of thumb which I learn over and over again is that if you buy cheap, you buy twice.
I saw those generators and thought about it. But if it's cheap, it'll break that much sooner. If it's noisy, you'll get tired of hearing it. And if it's real noisy, a neighbor might get tired of hearing it too and sabotage it.
Then it doesn't matter how much you saved.

Tiahaar · Post by **Tiahaar** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:51 pm

To paraphrase the old work slogan "Good, Fast, Cheap..." here's a genset version: "Cheap, Quiet, Portable...Pick Two"

'cause if its cheap and portable it likely won't be quiet,
and if its quiet and portable it likely won't be cheap,
and if its cheap and quiet it likely won't be portable because it will be buried in some big monster of a sound dampening box.

shitmouse · Post by **shitmouse** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:58 pm

one last:

for those of you looking for silent generators, i just bought a robin/subaru 1700i. it pushes to 2000 watts, and is as silent as the eu's and cost about $200. cheaper.

-b

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:08 pm

Oh just go rent a ingersal-rand and run your own power grid. Come to think of it. Wounder how much to rent a construction unit. I've seen them on small contractor sites.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:09 pm

Oh just go rent a ingersal-rand and run your own power grid. Come to think of it. Wounder how much to rent a construction unit. I've seen them on small contractor sites.

el alacrán · Post by **el alacrán** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:05 pm

Can two of those EU2000s be connected for 4000 watts?

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 10:15 pm

el alacrán wrote:Can two of those EU2000s be connected for 4000 watts?

Absolutely, that's one of the advantages to buying the Honda units over any other brand. As for the cables to do it you can buy the Honda cables...or if you search the eplaya there should be some posts or links to do it yourself cables....if you're willing to go that route.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 11:42 pm

I have a friend that fired up one of those Champion generators yesterday. I was loud but not horribly so. Not as loud as the generator we had in our camp last year that got the Playa Book of Records "Most Obnoxious Generator" award.

binahkitty · Post by **binahkitty** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 5:44 pm

Would this be the Geekster from Iron Rose?

Ha ha! Yes, the Champion is fairly quiet...but fuck it, we just blew the bank up and went with the eu2000........

thanks!!

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 9:59 pm

Would this be the Geekster from Iron Rose?

The very same.

I wanted a 2000, Kristine wouldn't go for it.

Stilesfamily · Post by **Stilesfamily** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 2:59 am

Another reason why I love the Alternative Energy Zone, I have never once had to deal with any kind of gas powered generator, just the gentle hum of a wind gene or the majestic monolithic silence of the solar panel.

COME AND JOIN THE REVOLUTION

I am pretty conflicted about the subject though. At what point does your enjoyment of the burn impede my enjoyment, I know if I were camped next to ANY king of generator I would get real cranky. I have very strong feeling about bringing too much of the default world to BRC and IMHO I draw my line at anything that can not run off alternative energy be it solar panels, wind gene, battery banks or the like. I find it to be part of the challenge. In the end I try not to begrudge anyone anything that adds to there enjoyment of the burn. I was not aware of the problem of mysteriously inoperable generators, how wide spread is this problem?

binahkitty · Post by **binahkitty** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 7:17 am

yo yo...look everybody....so, here's the conclusion to the illusion....

The Champion was actually quite quiet compared to most gennies out there other than the expensive ones....However.....

We bought a EU2000; just to save ourselves from trying to build the best sound proof box (as we are but newbies to it all).....

So, you will be all happy to know that your suggestions and help paid off greatly to your ears! (as that was the point of me asking in the 1st place.....you know, being conscience and aware of others).....

luv luv and thank you thank you to all

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 12:23 pm

We are going to be camped near AEZ, generators and all. For some people, BM is an opportunity to experiment with alternative energy, fine. I wouldn't personally define how my electrons are pushed around as part of my personal burning man experiance, though. If you want to use wind or sun to push yours around, fine and dandy. May you have nothing but sunny, breezy days! We will have at least one diesel generator running biodiesel in our camp and some gas generators.

I have very strong feeling about bringing too much of the default world to BRC and IMHO I draw my line at anything that can not run off alternative energy be it solar panels, wind gene, battery banks or the like. I find it to be part of the challenge.

That's fine that you have defined your Burning Man experiance in those terms. But expecting others to share your definition might be a little much. If even the hearing of a generator is going to get you cranky, I would be curious as to why. Does the hearing of that generator seem to you like someone is trying invalidate your definitiion of burning man? Why is it important to you that others define it the same as you to the point of making you emotional? I don't think anyone running a generator did so with the point of making fun of AEZ in mind. I wouldn't think they are doing it with any malice intended. They simply have a different definition. Head over to the general area of first camp sometime, see the generators on trailers putting out tens of kilowatts.

One thing I have noticed that can cause friction between people is when they have an expectation that others define the event the same way they do and become irritated when they discover examples of different microcultures. If someone ran a noisy generator inside AEZ, I could understand your irritation because that would be counter to the implied shared culture of your camp. By camping there, one implies that they share the same definition of the event with regard to moving electrons around. Fine. That definition ends, though, at the edge of your camp and while people may try out of the kindness of their heart to hide their evil power production from you, the areas outside your camp are going to be infested with power generation sinners. Expect that, don't be surprised and I hope you won't be irritated by it.

blyslv · Post by **blyslv** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 1:14 pm

binahkitty wrote:Would this be the Geekster from Iron Rose?

Ha ha! Yes, the Champion is fairly quiet...but fuck it, we just blew the bank up and went with the eu2000........

thanks!!

My eardrums and those of many other participants thank you.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 1:22 pm

No, really, it wasn't as loud as I expected it to be. Granted, we didn't run it at full load but it was quieter than at least two generators we had in our camp last year. But I would still baffle it ... just because it's kinda ugly.

Stilesfamily · Post by **Stilesfamily** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 3:09 pm

geekster wrote:I wouldn't personally define how my electrons are pushed around as part of my personal burning man experiance, though. That's fine that you have defined your Burning Man experiance in those terms. But expecting others to share your definition might be a little much. If even the hearing of a generator is going to get you cranky, I would be curious as to why.

Well, I think I should have been a little clearer. I am cool with generators, but I would not like to camp within 20 ft of a generator, the thought of it going off outside my tent in the middle of the night (which I realize does not happen all that often) bugs me. To hear the hum of a gene across the street from the AEZ does not bother me at all and I can certainly understand the benefits of having ample electricity within your camp.

I live in Long Beach and I love the diverse population and people of the city but it’s also one of the most densely populated areas in the country. Working graveyard I have to sleep during the day, and I can not get through a day without being woken up by construction, leaf blowers or noisy neighbors. Not to mention the filthy harbor, choking smog, industry and serious overpopulation of cars in this city. So in this respect I guess I do define my BM experience, somewhat, by the lack of gas powered devices in close proximity, buzzing in my ear. As for noisy neighbors, it’s all part of the fun.

PS I commend you on your biodiesel generator

diamondblast · Post by **diamondblast** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:16 am

you are telling us a real life tragedy...
I hope your life has improved :) since.
just know that no all things are materilistics, you can try to change your attitude and see your life change as well

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 6:02 pm

db, your 2.5 years late.....

crstophr · Post by **crstophr** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:34 pm

I brought a 3500W coleman genny last year to recharge the batteries in my travel trailer. I found that I had to run it daily to keep the batteries topped off.

Yes it was loud. I spent two afternoons building a sound proof box only to have it cause overheating as soon as I used it on the playa. After that my strategy was only to run it during the hottest part of the day until it began to cool off. Say... 3-6PM or so. This allowed me to enjoy the AC while charging the batteries. I also offered to share the cool environment to everyone within earshot along with drinks, etc. But I do think a few people were annoyed with the noise.

This year I'm going to try plumbing a motor scooter muffler onto the unit. I've heard they can make a dramatic reduction in noise because most of it comes from the nearly unmuffled exhaust. I'm planning on an electric bicycle this year and I'm still a bit worried about how to effectively recharge the batteries in it.

I fully researched the solar requirements for the power I need. In the end it was looking like $2000 for the panels, regulators, inverter, and additional batteries. I just can't make that investment in something I'll only use 1 week a year.

CHAMPION GENERATOR 3500 WATT FROM KRAGEN...GOOD OR BAD???

CHAMPION GENERATOR 3500 WATT FROM KRAGEN...GOOD OR BAD???

if a and b then not c...

EU2000

Re: EU2000

Geekster...you rock

Re: Geekster...you rock

Generators and RVs