Champion 4250-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Open Frame Inverter Generator, CARB

I bought this for a variety of reasons: - Dual fuel and the ability to run Propane. This generator will be used very rarely, perhaps every two or three years whenever local power goes down. It MUST start when needed. Propane, unlike gasoline, does not deteriorate during long term storage. Therefore I plan to run it with a couple of 100 lb propane tanks. - High ratings. - The Champion website seems well organized. - Complete and well organized user manual, parts list, and wiring diagram. - Competitive, innovative technology and fully featured product range. They offer dual fuel on their smallest generators. - Very reasonable price. - Light enough that I can lift it, should the need arise. - Lots of youtube vids. Comments: - I bought their wheel kit, it installed in about 10 minutes. - At first I was unable to start the generator. A shot of starter fluid got it going for about 5 seconds, then it stalled. I thought it was a spark problem. I called Champion service and got a knowledgeable person on the line in less than 2 minutes. I asked if the low oil shutoff could be stuck. They said it's very rare for that to be a problem. The solution was to pre-load the recoil starter. That's when you pull the cord until you get resistance (about half way), then release the cord, then do a full pull. I did that and it started instantaneously. - The fuel gauge was stuck on empty. Champion service is sending a free replacement. They said it's very easy to replace. - The overall impression is high quality, nothing feels cheap. I was a little skeptical about the EZ start dial, which is a combined gas/propane fuel valve and ignition switch. However, it feels robust and operates with a positive action. It's wonderful to be able to switch from gas to propane with just the flick of the wrist. The propane hose and fittings are top quality, and even include a snazzy removable bracket to hang it on the generator. - Noise is on par with other small generators. But the relatively large 224 cc engine doesn't sound buzzy, more of a subdued rumble. Conclusion: Yes, I recommend this generator.

We got this for off grid RVing and it worked flawlessly for our 2 week camping in the boondocks. We work remotely, so it powered our Starlink, computer, printer, and even had enough power to run our small AC unit and microwave, but not simultaneously. It starts very easily, has a large tank for gas and can operate on propane of needed. I really like the gas run-out shutoff that is integrated into the start switch. No more hunting down the fuel switch to run the carb empty. Much better for storage. Do know that it's heavy. About 70lbs, so it's a pig to move. But we appreciate the quiet so moving it 100ft away is still worth it. I'll work on building a little wagon for it lol.

Powers what i need when the power goes out. The propane option is convenient.

I bought this dual fuel generator as a spare/loaner for $317 during a sale in Dec 2023. I applied a $100 gift card so my out of pocket was $217 which made it a no-brainer. For a loaner it checks all the right boxes -dual fuel so no worries about vintage (stale) gas from the neighbor's shed -loud enough it will be obvious if it "grows legs" (theft) -open frame is easy to run a chain/lock through -not a $2400 Honda unit -enough wattage to reduce the need for load juggling -long run time It is a bit loud, but it quieted down after the break-in. It was quieter still up on a furniture dolly so I believe some of the noise is amplified off the ground. The rated power output seems a bit overstated because the inverter module is printed with 3.3KW. It will probably do the stated outputs, but in the interest of longevity I'm choosing to treat it as a 3KW generator. The components on the inverter board look pretty generic which is another reason to go easy on it. I may even wire a 12v computer fan to blow across the inverter board heat sink. I do believe this is a good value at <$400; Any more than that and I'd be looking at the WEN DF450i closed frame dual fuel instead ($648 at the time of this review). Update Jan 2025: Generator has performed well over a couple short outages. It ran a 12k midea inverter AC, 2 fullsize refrigerators, a dorm fridge, plus a variety of low-wattage stuff without issue. The 30amp outlet only secures certain TT30 plugs well because the plastic lip on the front panel prevents the plug from seating fully. An L5-30P outlet would've been a better design choice. After using the furniture dolly I'll say the wheel kit would be a worthy upgrade.

This is the Best value for small inverter propane generator available. I purchased this generator on sale last Oct for $399. It comes with a dual stage propane regulator, hose and demand regulator, this included part alone is $150 if purchased separately. An important thing to note is that this will not power 240v appliances like septic and well pumps, elect water heaters etc. It will power just about all your homes 120v needs, Within reason you may need to shut off something to run another temporarily. Champion engines are almost as good as Honda I have a friend that worked for Costco doing QC testing and told me to only buy champion, or Honda if I could afford Honda. This is an inverter generator so will produce demand power by changing the engine rpms, this saves a ton of fuel while also creating much cleaner sine wave power for sensitive electronics (I have had electronics not work on non inverter generators) For my purposes I took the gas tank off completely and made a piece of plywood with a hole so my propane tank would fit tightly on top. I also got an off brand wheel kit. Propane burns A LOT cleaner than gasoline, and will not gel, varnish and clog the carb like gas. Usually a small engines problem is due to carb or gas and get tossed because it’s too much trouble to install a new carb. This is why I got rid of gas all together. A bbq tank holds 4.5 gallons of propane and will run for 2x the time as the tank, propane never goes bad, and is consistently good unlike quality issues of ethanol gas, and short shelf lifespan of gasoline. I changed the oil at 5 hours like the manual stated and this generator runs quietly like a top. The only difficult thing to note is that there is not a primer button on the propane demand regulator so it takes about 5-10 starter pulls to draw vacuum and propane into the combustion chamber. It’s small enough for one person to use and move! If you’re on a budget this is the one!

I bought this for the purpose of power outages. I based the purchase on 1. the dual fuel aspect and 2. the reviews for Champion where by and large good. I did not want to pay a premium for a Honda and then add a propane conversion kit. I chose an inverter generator to be kind to things with chips in them. Almost everything has chips in them, from refrigerators to TVs. A regular generators output has the potential of being to dirty. Also, the idea of being able to have propane on hand for an indefinite period of time and not go stale was appealing. Note that using propane the running wattage is 3150 vs 3500 for gasoline on this inverter generator. I followed the instructions upon unpacking the inverter generator and filled it with the supplied oil. The next step was to give it the recommended 5hr break-in. The set up was on my back patio . Hooking it up to propane was a breeze. This model is a pull start. On my first attempt starting it I did not tension the pull cord first (as instructed) and thought something was wrong. Checking the manual and found the user error, tensioned the cord and it started right away. Be sure to set up in an area where exhaust gas will not build up i.e. near windows, doors or to near people etc. The load I used was my home refrigerator-720 watts (running wattage), a 1/4hp fan about 400 watts, and a hair drier upward to 1200 watts. I used the hair drier to alter the output as recommended in the manual to help seat the piston rings. Shutting it off was as easy as shutting off the propane supply. After the break-in I let it cool enough to change the oil, I used 10W-30. Cons: 1. There is a red LCD readout that is difficult to read in bright sunlight. 2. Does not come with a wheel kit. At the time of my purchase I didn't find one available so I used a moving dolly to get it around. 3. Do not know if this counts as a con. It has a 30A RV plug instead of three prong twist lock plug. I bought an RV plug made by Conntek on Amazon it gave me two more outlets. Conntek makes other plugs that will work too. 4. Though on the quiet side for a generator it is still noisy. I plan on making a shed with good venting, fan assist air movement and rockwool sound dampening. Please note that although I list these as "Cons" they would not have changed my mind in the least and may be common with other generators, just the nature of the beast. Pros: 1. Being able to use propane is a plus. Although the generator gives a lower output I don't have to worry about storing gasoline, going stale or whether it has to much ethanol for my use. Propane can be stored laterally for years. Also, the exhaust does not have an overwhelming obnoxious odor as it does with gasoline. Just a few ending notes. It is worth mentioning again about exhaust, placement is everything. Do not skimp on extension cords. Look at the wire gauge my guess is that my refrigerator at 720 watts (running) might pull 2160 when a compressor kicks on. I wouldn't run a 16 or 14 gauge extension cord for it. Think of it as if it where a water pipe. The higher number (gauge) of the wire, smaller the pipe. This is more restrictive to all of those electrons trying to move through the wire. The lower number (gauge) like 12 or 10, larger the pipe, easier flow, less restriction. If power cycles on what you plug in then account for it and have a cord that can handle it. Also, pay attention to the available Amps and what you are plugging in. I hope to update this in a year or so. A review on a brand new purchase doesn't really do justice.

I bought this generator to use for backup during power failures. The main features that influenced my decision were size, propane fuel and inverter output. I have only used this generator for two tests, have not had a power failure yet. The first test was just to start it up and make sure it generated electricity. I used it to power the refrigerator and an 1800 watt hair dryer. It started and ran fine (using propane) and supported the load. The second test was when I got the cable to connect it to the generator inlet for my house. I was able to power my whole house, with the exception of the 240 volt items (Stove, A/C, Dryer). We had a working Refrigerator, Lights, Internet, TV and even used the Microwave. I now feel that we are prepared for the next power failure. This generator is the right size to provide power for the essentials for a medium sized house. We should be able to use everything we need, including the gas furnace, and I plan to purchase a small window air conditioner to keep one room cool and comfortable in the summer.

First, let me say I have both the 2500w dual fuel inverter, and this 4250 dual fuel. I am extremely happy with the 2500w dual fuel, but it won't run my 15.5k BTU a/c on the travel trailer (even with a soft start). So I purchased this 4250 dual fuel because I only use propane in them, I am not a fan of the gas smell. The "low noise" part of this is a gigantic lie as it is incredibly loud for an inverter generator. There are plenty of YT videos showing sound dB, so I won't get into that. I placed this in the back of my '23 Tundra and it unscrewed the latches off of my hard tonneau cover from the vibrations. I could also feel (quite a bit) the vibration inside the trailer while this is running in my truck bed. Next was the random shutoff- plenty of propane, no load changes, but somehow it kept thinking it was out of oil. When trying to start it, you can see the oil light flash (through the sweat dripping because it was hot and pull-starting anything multiple times in the blistering heat is no fun). After I figured it out, I added a bit of oil (even though the dipstick said full) and it started right up. It ran for the 5 hrs I had it on, then I turned it off. The next day I tried to start it again and it said low oil again... I put two blocks up so it was on about a 5-10% grade and it ran fine every time after that for the rest of the 30 day trip for me. Amazon told me they couldn't return this when I called in a week after I purchased it, but some reviews say they returned it. I would try it out quickly and see if you can return it if needed. Again, I am super happy with the 2500w dual fuel, and although this unit does put out electrons, it's nowhere near the quality of the other champion product I have.