Perfect for small RVs, this ultralight 2,500-watt inverter generator delivers power to your campsite, tailgate, or small appliances. Combine with another Champion 2,500-watt inverter generator and parallel kit (sold separately) to double your power.
Features:
Specs:
Includes:
Note: Gas generators produce carbon monoxide, which is poisonous. For your safety, always be sure to operate this gas-powered generator outdoors.
Gas-powered, 2,500-watt inverter generator has (2) 120V 20-amp 5-20R outlets for powering small household appliances and electronic devices, and (2) USB type-A 5V DC, 2.1-amp outlets to charge tablets, cell phones, and other sensitive electronics. It also comes equipped with (2) ParaLINK ports used in conjunction with Champion parallel kit (CH74FR sold separately). All outlets and ports have covers to help keep out moisture and debris.
This Champion 2,500-watt generator (1,850 running watts) has built-in parallel capability, which lets you pair it with another Champion 2,500-watt inverter generator (sold separately). This increases your power and allows you to easily start and run equipment with higher electrical demands, such as a 15,000 Btu air conditioner and other go-to RV appliances. You can pair it directly with another 2,500-watt generator using the Champion parallel kit (CH74FR sold separately), to double your power output to 5,000 starting watts and 3,700 running watts.
1. Low Oil Shut-Off Sensor: If the oil level is too low for safe use, the indicator will flash letting you know there is an issue with the oil level. If the generator gets to the point where low oil can damage the engine, it will automatically shut off.
2. AC Overload Reset Button: In the event your generator is becoming overloaded, the indicator light will begin to flash. If the generator is overloaded and shuts down, this button allows you to restart the generator. Simply unplug one or more devices, push the button, and restart.
3. Circuit Breaker: The generator is equipped with a 20-amp breaker to stop power flow to connected devices if overload is detected.
Electronic devices are made with delicate circuitry that requires steady, controlled electrical current. The current produced by standard generators, however, is uncontrolled, allowing extreme fluctuations in power. These fluctuations can damage your sensitive electronic devices. This generator, on the other hand, has a built-in inverter that controls the voltage that is produced. This important feature ensures the generator is safe to use with sensitive electronics such as cell phones, computers, audio and stereo equipment, and medical devices.
When choosing a generator, you need to match the generator's starting and running output with the electrical demands of the equipment you want to operate.
Starting (surge) wattage is the power a device requires at startup. Running (rated) wattage is the power needed to keep the device running. A large appliance with an electric motor such as a furnace, refrigerator, air conditioner, or washing machine may require 2 to 3 times more starting wattage than running wattage.
It is always best to start your generator with no load connected, then add each device one at a time. Additionally, a good practice to consider is connecting your devices in order from highest starting watts to lowest starting watts. As you connect and start devices, your available wattage decreases. This order of operation allows you to start devices with the highest power demands when there is more power available.
At etrailer, we perform numerous tests on generators that put them through real-world experience. An extensive part of this testing includes starting and running RV air conditioners. The following table will help you decide if the Champion 2,500-watt inverter generator has enough power to handle this critical function in your RV.
| Air Conditioner | Will it start and run? |
|---|---|
| Single 13,500 Btu | Yes |
| Single 15,000 Btu | Yes |
| Dual 15,000 Btu | No |
| Appliance | Running Watts | Starting Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Air compressor (1/2 hp) | 1,000 | 2,000 |
| Air conditioner (15,000 Btu) | 1,600 | * |
| Air conditioner (13,500 Btu) | 1,300 | * |
| Air conditioner (10,000 Btu) | 1,000 | * |
| Blender | 400 | 850 |
| Cell phone charger | 11 | 0 |
| Clock radio | 4 | 0 |
| Coffee maker (high setting) | 1,066 | 0 |
| Crock pot (low setting) | 126 | 0 |
| Crock pot (high setting) | 374 | 0 |
| Desktop computer | 150 - 350 | 0 |
| DVD player | 14 | 0 |
| Electric drill (3/8" / 4 amps) | 450 | 600 |
| Electric space heater (high setting) | 1,450 | 0 |
| Floor fan | 100 | 0 |
| Hair dryer (low setting) | 160 | 0 |
| Hair dryer (high setting) | 1,300 | 0 |
| LCD television (32") | 68 | 0 |
| Microwave | 1,000 | 0 |
| Refrigerator | 800 | 1,600 |
| Washing machine | 1,150 | 2,250 |
| Work light (quartz halogen) | 1,000 | 0 |
* The starting wattage on air conditioners can vary greatly depending on several factors, including the assistance of built-in capacitors and cold starts. Because of this, we can't list a standard starting wattage as every application can be different.
The following section provides calculations for wattage estimates. This will give you an overall picture of your potential power usage and help you decide on the generator that is right for you.
The Industry Standard Calculation is a quick and easy way to determine your required wattage. It may provide some padding in your wattage requirements, which could give you more power than you actually need, but you shouldn't have to worry about not having enough power. The following steps will help you quickly calculate the correct size generator to meet your application.
As stated earlier, you should always start your generator without any load, and then connect each device one at a time. The following calculation requires this approach to work. However, using this calculation removes the worry of connecting devices in a certain order.
1. Determine the starting watts and running watts for the devices that you want to plug into the generator.
a. Find the starting (surge) watts and running (rated) watts for each device that you want to plug into the generator. Look for a sticker or plate on each device or check your owner's manuals.
b. If your device or manual only shows amps and volts, watts can also be determined through a simple formula. (Amps x Volts = Watts)
c. List all of your starting watts and running watts as seen in Table 1 below.
Table 1
| Example Devices | Starting Watts | Running Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Air compressor | 2,000 | 1,000 |
| Refrigerator | 1,600 | 800 |
| Microwave | 0 | 1,000 |
| Blender | 850 | 400 |
2. To find the total starting watts required, add the starting watts for the device with the highest value to the running watts of all the other devices from Table 1.
2,000 + 800 + 1,000 + 400 = 4,200 total starting watts
3. To find the total running watts, add all of the running watts together from Table 1.
1,000 + 800 + 1,000 + 400 = 3,200 total running watts
To run all of these devices simultaneously, you would require a generator with at least 4,200 starting watts and 3,200 running watts.
While the method for calculating your power needs outlined above will work, it isn't the most precise. If you aren't afraid of doing a little more math, you can use the Advanced, Precise Calculation to get a more accurate idea of how much power you will need and potentially save yourself some money. Because the calculation above pads in enough power to ensure you can start your devices in any order, it may point you to a bigger and more expensive generator than you need. However, by following the more regimented, order-of-operations calculation below, you'll get a much more precise idea of how much power you need, which could in turn point you to a smaller and less expensive generator.
Again, you should always start your generator without any load, and then connect each device one at a time. The following calculation also requires that you start your devices in order from highest starting watts to lowest starting watts. When you connect devices in this order, you can start high demand devices when there is more power available.
1. Determine the starting watts and running watts for each device that you want to plug into the generator.
a. Find the starting (surge) watts and running (rated) watts for each device that you want to plug into the generator. Look for a sticker or plate on each device or check your owner's manuals.
b. If your device or manual only shows amps and volts, watts can also be determined through a simple formula. (Amps x Volts = Watts)
c. List out these devices from highest starting watts to lowest starting watts as seen in Table 2 below.
Table 2
| Example Devices | Starting Watts | Running Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Air compressor | 2,000 | 1,000 |
| Refrigerator | 1,600 | 800 |
| Microwave | 0 | 1,000 |
| Blender | 850 | 400 |
2. To find the total running watts, add all of the running watts together from Table 2.
1,000 + 800 + 1,000 + 400 = 3,200 total running watts
3. In Table 3, shown below, the values from Table 2 are used to calculate the highest total starting watts required as devices are connected and running. This number represents the highest power requirement you will encounter as you connect all of your devices to the generator. To find this, add the starting watts of each new device you connect to the combined running watts of all connected devices. The highest of these numbers will be the total starting watts required. And again, remember to always connect devices in order from highest starting watts to lowest starting watts.
Table 3
| Device | Starting Watts | Running Watts of All Connected Devices | Total Starting Watts Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Air compressor | 2,000 + | 0 (nothing connected) | = 2,000 |
| 2. Refrigerator | 1,600 + | 1,000 (air compressor) | = 2,600 |
| 3. Microwave | 1,000* + | 1,800 (air compressor + refrigerator) | = 2,800 |
| 4. Blender | 850 + | 2,800 (air compressor + refrigerator + microwave) | = 3,650 |
* Even though the microwave does not have starting watts listed, you have to account for the power needed to actually run it.
850 + 2,800 = 3,650 highest total starting watts required
In order to run all of these devices simultaneously, you would require a generator with at least 3,650 starting watts and 3,200 running watts.
Do you have a question about this Generator?
Info for this part was:
At etrailer.com we provide the best information available about the products we sell. We take the quality of our information seriously so that you can get the right part the first time. Let us know if anything is missing or if you have any questions.
Thank you! Your comment has been submitted successfully. You should be able to view your question/comment here within a few days.
Error submitting comment. Please try again momentarily.