Champion 4000 Generator $150

[Reefugee]

Remember all the discussions about generators recently? Someone mentioned the Champion generator from Kragen.

Kragen brick and mortar current have a the Champion 4000 peak watt portable generator (3500 running watt output) for $349. There's a $150 rebate, making the cost of the generator $200. Not bad.

Better yet, you can buy it online at Kragen.com for $299. With the rebate, it comes out to $150 + tax (on $299).

I would get one but the wife would kill me. And if the wife is going to kill me, I might as well purchase the nicest generator I can find. ;-) Hope someone benefits from this post.

 

[maxdout]

wow great deal. i got mine for 250 for the 2500watt one while the power was out during the storm.

 

[kdblove_99]

yeah i got that one mihn when the storm hit works like a champ think it was $299 on sale when i got mine

 

[kevin95695]

Minh, thanks for the heads up. Got a link to the rebate?

 

[Reefugee]

Go to www.kragen.com . On the right hand side, there is a big red box that shows a yellow generator. Click on it. Please read the actual rebate form for all the rules.

 

[Reefugee]

[double post]

 

[kevin95695]

Thanks. While we're on the subject: Anybody got info on a deal on a 10k or bigger generator? I'm trying to help out a family member that lives in a rural area.

 

[bored4long]

Nice! I might have to do this.

Really hard to spend $150 on a generator that wouldn't be used for another 10 months, though...

 

[mpoletti]

JMO, take a look at this thread. I am sure some people have read it already, but Tony has been in the hobby for a long time. He was one of the early farmers for Tubs and Exotic reefs. For thise who do not know the goods they had, trust me, they are still the foundation for colal collectors.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1340229

Generators are a great investment. This is a great deal. I also know that there are more and more people DIVING into the sps game. If you invest all that money into a system and then the high dollar corals, do the same with your generator. I learned the hard way once. For the same reason that I bought a Honda is the same reason I will never by a rio powerhead. my $.02

 

[Reefugee]

Forgot to say: Buy it online at kragen.com , but select the "loacl pick up" option, otherwise you will be paying shipping (which I think is $50).

Minh

 

[A Canfield]

where would you rank the "Champion" brand name...
good, fair, don't waste your money(even if it is a good deal)

 

[Reefugee]

I don't have one, so I can't comment. But Google search turned up the following.

http://reviews.cabelas.com/8815/522130/reviews.htm

 

[mpoletti]

I read in an older cosumer reports and all I remember is that is was in the middle, so definitely worth the $150. I used to do a lot of trailing and camping, so when I am out there, I only trust the best.

 

[bored4long]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12083389#post12083389 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by A Canfield
where would you rank the "Champion" brand name...
good, fair, don't waste your money(even if it is a good deal)

Anne, there is a huge thread on one of the RV forums that sings praises about this generator. But RVers may not have thousand if not tens of thousands of dollars riding on the generator working when needed like a reefer would. So, as Mark pointed out, keep that in mind.

 

[tfp]

question for all you generator owners...is there any kind of maintenance that needs to be done to ensure its ready to go?

 

[WarrenG]

Minh,
Thanks very much. Tomorrow I'll be picking up the one I ordered.
Vadda deal!

 

[funman1]

I used to run mine at least 2 times per year.
and here is the BIG ONE!!!!

When you store it;
TURN THE GAS VALVE OFF, AND THEN START IT, AND LET IT GO TILL IT RUNS OUT OF GAS.

If you leave fuel in the carburetor it will slowly turn to gel, and completely foul the carb, and it won't run very well then, (If you can even start it)

By running it out of gas you leave the system in the same condition you bought it in (More or less)
Gas in the tank is fine IF the tank is completely SEALED. If you are not sure then don't leave gas in the tank OR the carburetor.

My friend stored one in storage for 4 years, forgot about it, then when we were cleaning his unit out, we found it.
He had done what I told him MANY years ago.

We smelled the gas in the tank and it seemed fine, so we turned the gas valve back on, waited 20-30 seconds, and it fired and ran perfectly on the FIRST PULL.

Store them properly and they will be ready any time you need them.

 

[Joes210gal]

Excellent preventive maintenance Steve. I think you saved some of us from a lot of frustration and heartache.

 

[Jacob D]

Are you guys hooking these up with transfer switches or.... ?

 

[tcoral]

Yes, how do you use these? I'm leaning on getting one too. We usually don't go without power for a day or two in our area and I've got battery back-ups on my tanks that have handled most of the black-outs we've had, but this may be something to look into too.