It is wise to invest in a power backup solution if you live in an area prone to power outages, especially during storms. Not only do portable generators give you an affordable backup alternative to home standby solutions, but they also give you the flexibility of carrying your electric supply with you anywhere, anytime. This feature is a big win for outdoor lovers and technicians or DIY enthusiasts who need electricity to run power tools on remote job sites.
However, choosing the right portable generator is not an easy task, given the many brands in the market. It is advisable to choose a reputable brand that provides quality portable generators. Champion Power Equipment is one such company that serves the North American market. This article gives you a brief overview of the Champion brand and why you should buy its generators. It also covers an in-depth review of the Champion 100231 5500-Watt Dual-Fuel Portable Generator. Read on for more details.
Why Choose Champion Power Equipment?
Champion Power Equipment was established in 2003 in Santa Fe Springs, California as a power equipment manufacturer. Over the years, the company expanded to include a generator production line that manufactures portable, home standby, and inverter generators. Today, Champion Power Equipment has production centers in Milwaukee Wisconsin, Jackson Tennessee, and Toronto Canada. These centers are strategically located to serve the North American market.
Currently, the company produces generators, log splitters, chipper shredders, cultivators & tillers, pressure washers, water pumps, snowblowers, winches & hoists, and accessories. According to Sitejabber, Champion Power Equipment has a customer approval rate of 4.8 stars.
In the last 12 months, the brand has received 97.4% positive reviews from clients. The brand scores highly in customer service, shipping, product returns, value for money, and quality. Generators are some of its most popular products among North American customers. Therefore, you can purchase Champion Equipment portable generators with the confidence that they will operate as intended.
Why Choose Champion Generators
Champion Power Equipment provides a wide range of generators to choose from. This way, you have the flexibility of choosing power solutions that suit your unique situations. For instance, if you wish to purchase a home standby generator, you can choose from its 8.5kW to 14kW whole house generators. If you are working with a lower budget or need a portable power generator, you can choose from its 1500W to 15,000W solutions. Moreover, if you want clean power for your sensitive electronics, you can choose from its 2,000W to 8,750W inverters.
The company uses innovative product designs to meet customer needs. A good example is its dual-fuel technology, which is available for portable generators, including inverters. You can use gasoline or propane to run their generators. This technology gives you the convenience of using readily available fuel, especially in emergencies. Some of its units come with CO Shield technology that shuts off the generator engine when carbon monoxide levels are dangerously high to prevent poisoning.
The company has embraced electronic fuel injection technology (EFT) on its portable generator engines. This technology improves performance and reduces carbon monoxide emissions. It also uses wireless start on some of its models, which gives users added flexibility to operate their generators.
Champion Power Equipment excels in providing excellent customer support services. The company has certified technicians that offer support services to clients in the U.S. and Canada. They strive to offer 100% customer satisfaction by providing at least a 3-year warranty on its portable generators and free lifetime support from dedicated experts. You can, therefore, rest assured that you have a dependable partner when it comes to servicing your portable generator.
Champion portable generators are proudly made in America. The company employs some of the most talented minds to deliver the best of U.S. engineering technology in portable generators. Thus, if you are looking for a high-quality portable generator made in America, you won’t go wrong with Champion. Moreover, its generators are EPA and CARB certified for reduced C02 emissions.
Review Of The Champion 100231 5500-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator
The Champion 100231 5500-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator is a great pick for anyone shopping for a power backup solution for home use or outdoor applications. Here is an in-depth review of this portable generator to help make an informed decision when buying it.
Fuel Options
The Champion Power Equipment 100231 portable generator features innovative dual-fuel technology that allows you to use propane or gasoline to generate electricity. This feature comes with lots of benefits to customers. For instance, you get the power to choose which fuel to use compared to using gasoline only. This way, you will not be stranded, especially when one fuel type is unavailable. The company has designed this generator in a way that is easy to switch between the two fuels. With this convenience, you can extend your generator runtime by switching to propane if your gasoline fuel tank is depleted.
Although gasoline generates more power than propane, it is more expensive and has a shorter shelf life. It also has higher CO2 emissions. Therefore, propane provides a cheaper and environmentally friendly option. It may also be easy to obtain during emergencies. Therefore, owning this Champion 5500-watt generator increases your chances of getting electricity during emergencies compared to using a unit that runs on gasoline only.
Power Output
This dual-fuel generator has a rated wattage of 5,500 watts and starting watts of 6,900 watts when running on gasoline. When you switch to propane, the rated and starting wattages drop to 5,000 watts and 6,250 watts, respectively. These wattages are important as they help you decide the electrical load you can apply to this portable generator. For instance, when running this generator on gasoline, the total rated wattages of all connected appliances should be below 5,500 watts. If you switch to propane, you should keep the load below 5,000 watts.
Exceeding this wattage overloads the unit and can damage it. It is also important to mention that if you continuously operate your portable generator at full load, you overwork the engine exposing it to frequent failure due to increased wear and tear. In such a case, the unit will be more expensive to maintain and may not last for a long time.
Ensure that none of the appliances you connect to this generator exceeds its peak wattage, depending on the type of fuel you use. If this happens, the appliance will not start even if the generator is running properly. You may not experience such when using normal home appliances. However, you may face this challenge if you wish to power industrial equipment.
Engine Specs
This 5500 Champion generator runs a 389 cc four-stroke OHV engine. At 50% load, this engine consumes 0.67 gallons per hour (GPH), giving about 9 hours of runtime when the generator’s 6-gallon gasoline tank is full. If you switch to propane, the engine will consume 0.72 GPH, giving you about 6.5 hours of runtime on a 20-pound tank. With these runtimes, you can use this generator to run your equipment at a remote work site for a whole day. Also, if you use it to power your home appliances during blackouts, you can run crucial devices for decent times. The fuel consumption rate will increase if you increase the load size resulting in shorter runtimes.
The engine has a noise level of 74dB(A) from 23 feet. This noise is slightly louder than a vacuum cleaner and, therefore, may not cause much disturbance to your neighbors. It is also quieter than some models in the market with noise levels above 80 dB(A). Before purchasing this unit, consider where you will use it, and confirm whether it complies with approved noise levels.
Control Panel
The 5500 champion generator comes with an easy-to-understand control panel for hassle-free operation. At the top of the control panel are the engine switch and a 3-mode Intelligauge. This gauge gives you the voltage, frequency, and run-time hours at a glance. This way, you can know what additional load the unit can handle at any time. It also allows you to track the generator maintenance intervals.
The second row on the control panel features the electrical power ports and circuit breakers. The power outlets include one transfer switch-ready 120/240V 30A L14-30R twist-lock port. This outlet allows you to connect the generator to house mains so that you can access electricity through your wall sockets. However, ensure that you get a qualified technician to install the transfer switch for safe operation. It also has four 120/1240V 20A GFCI protected ports, which you can use to connect individual appliances to the generator.
Safety Features
Champion Power Equipment has incorporated safety features in the design of its 100231 Champion 5500 dual-fuel portable generator. For example, the generator has low-oil sensors, which trigger engine shutdown when the levels are low. This mechanism protects your generator engine from getting damaged, ensuring that you use the unit for long, thus giving you value for money.
It also with circuit breakers connected to the power outlets, to protect against sudden power surge and overloading. If the applied load exceeds the generator’s rated wattage, the circuit breaker will trip and disconnect the power supply. This feature protects the connected appliances and the generator. Its all-metal open-frame design eliminates the need for grounding since the frame acts as the path of least resistance.
Ergonomics and Portability
The Champion dual-fuel 5500-watt generator weighs 162.5 pounds. This weight can be a challenge for one person to handle when moving the unit from one place to another. Here its all-metal frame comes in handy as two or more people carry the generator with ease. You can still move this generator alone, thanks to its wheel kit.
Once you receive your delivery, read the Champion 5500-watt generator manual to understand its features and install the wheel kit. This kit features a fold-away handle that doesn’t increase the initial size of the generator. The never-flat wheels allow you to operate the generator in harsh conditions without the risk of punctures. It also comes with an LPG hose with a regulator, thus allowing you to use propane to run the unit right from the box. Here you don’t need to buy the hose/regulator separately.
Champion 100231 Care and Maintenance
Proper care and maintenance of your generator start with understanding its salient features. Therefore, read the manufacturer’s manual to know your Champion 100231 generator features in detail. This way, you will know which maintenance tasks you can undertake without damaging the unit. Remember that improper maintenance will void your product warranty. Avoid exposing the generator to extreme heat, cold, dust, or corrosive vapors, as such elements could damage the unit.
Examples of generator parts that you need to clean regularly include the air filter, spark plug, spark arrestor, and combustion chamber. You will also need to check the engine oil level before each use and change it periodically per the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule.
Users’ Opinion About Champion 100231
Most customers who bought and reviewed this portable generator on Amazon gave it positive feedback. Some customers from storm-prone regions, such as South Florida find this generator very reliable and serve them well.
Unfortunately, not all customers had good experiences with this dual-fuel generator. For instance, some customers received their units damaged and could not start. If this happens to you, return the package and request the company for a replacement. Do not try to repair a defective 100231 generator but take it to an approved service center to avoid invalidating your warranty.
Where Can You Use the Champion 100231 Generator?
The Champion Power Equipment 5500-watt portable generator with a wheel kit is an excellent pick if shopping for an affordable home power backup solution. It has enough power to run multiple home appliances such as a refrigerator, freezer, TV, lighting systems, and sump pumps. While this unit may not power your entire house, it can run the critical appliances. Ensure a safe power connection to your mains through a transfer switch and avoid overloading the unit.
Moreover, outdoor enthusiasts can power RVs with the Champion 100231 generator. Here you will need to purchase an adaptor to make its L14-30R twist-lock port RV ready. Other applications for this portable generator include work sites, tailgating, and other social functions. Its multiple power outlets allow you to hook up several tools when working a work site.
SUMMARY
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 4-stroke |
| Engine Displacement | 389cc |
| Amperage | 45.8A @ 120V |
| Running Watts | 5,500 (Gas), 5,000 (Propane) |
| Peak Watts | 6,900 (Gas), 6,250 (Propane) |
| Fuel Type | Dual Fuel |
| Tank Capacity | 6 gal. |
| Max. Runtime | 9 hours |
| Dimensions | 27″ x 27.7″ x 24.4″ |
| Weight | 162.5 pounds |
| Noise Level | 74 dBA |
| Certifications | EPA-Certified, CARB-Compliant |
| Warranty | 3-years limited |
Pros
- Dual fuel
- Multiple outlets
- Affordable
- Super quiet
Cons
- Low fuel efficiency
- No electric start
Champion 100231 5500-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator
Champion 100231 5500-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator
Additional Resources:
Comparing Champion 100231 5500-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator With Its Competitors
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FAQs
The Champion 5500 generator has a noise level of 74dB(A).
The Champion 5500-watt generator runtime depends on the applied load. For instance, at 50% load, this generator runs for 9 hours.
The price of the Champion 5500-watt generator may vary from one retail outlet to another. However, its price is between $750 and $900.
An intelligauge is a digital output meter that shows the output voltage, frequency, and lifetime runtime of your generator.
The Champion 5500-watt generator may not have enough power output to run your whole home. However, it can run your essential appliances as you wait for your utility company to restore the electricity connection.
