In this review of the Champion portable inverter generator, model number 75537i, we’ll look at the pros and cons of this compact inverter generator. While the generator is designed for use on an RV, it is not limited to that application.
Pros of the Champion Portable Inverter Generator
At 58 decibels at a distance of around twenty feet, this is one of the quietest generators around. (Note that it is more than sixty decibels when it is sitting right next to you.) In contrast, loud vacuum cleaners generate around 70 and 80 decibels, and the loudest generators may be louder than this.
This generator can put out 2800 watts for up to eight hours on a single tank of gas. It generates a steady stream of power safe for powering your electronics, instead of putting out lower quality power that barely supports your appliances. It also has a dual part USB adapter built-in.
And its battery causes it to start almost immediately. Hit the push to reset breaker if necessary.
This is a clean generator. It doesn’t put out many fumes or noise, perfect for having right next to your tent when camping. This unit is EPA+CARB compliant, so it is legal to operate in California, unlike the Champion model 46596. This RV generator is perfect for those who want to have a minimal environmental impact while camping in every way. Its automatic idle also saves your fuel and wear and tear on the generator, and that saves you money.
This generator’s remote control lets you turn it on and off at the touch of a button, saving fuel. The quick start battery lets you do this without waiting five to ten minutes for enough power support what you need. The quick start battery automatically recharges as the generator runs.
This generator is designed to support almost any customer’s needs. It has one 120 volt 30 amp RV outlet, two 120 volt 20 amp household outlets and 12 volt dc outlets. The 30 amp RV outlet is powerful enough to power a 15,000 BTU air conditioner, the type commonly used in RVs.
The manufacturer has a three year limited warranty with lifetime tech support. This warranty applies to generators purchased new.
The unit is very portable, relatively speaking. It has a carry handle and tires so you can pull it around. This makes the almost hundred pound generator safe to move around.
Cons of the Champion Portable Inverter Generator
Access to the oil fill and dipstick is not as convenient as it should be.
While the battery is low maintenance in and of itself, the panel to access it is too low to the ground to be easily accessed. For example, you have to unscrew screws to remove the panel to get to the battery, and being close to the ground, that’s a challenge.
The remote battery drains quickly. In rare cases, it gets stuck on, draining both the battery and the generator you have trouble shutting off until you do so manually.
Observations
It has a starting 3100 watts and then maintains 2800 watts while running, so it cannot support a 3100 watt RV AC. If you use this RV compatible generator to run your 2800 or lower wattage AC, you may not be able to do much else. If you are running other appliances in the RV and the AC kicks in, it may shut down the generator.
The gas tank only holds 1.6 gallons of gas. And the eight hours is a maximum. Expect to have to refill it after six hours. Take extra gas cans to be able to run the unit all day.
You cannot return this generator to most sellers after you add fluids. This means that if it fails almost immediately after you buy it and try it, you have to go through Champion’s customer service to get it repaired. If Champion takes several weeks to repair it – and they sometimes do – and it still doesn’t work, you absolutely cannot return it to any sellers at that point.
This unit is not dual fuel like the Champion model 100263 inverter generator.
Summary
This is an eco-friendly generator, suitable for environmentally friendly users and those in California. This unit is more expensive than the dual fuel Champion generator and some of the less eco-friendly models. It is powerful enough to run mid-power RV air conditioners, while it is designed to power almost anything with a plug – including your smart phone. Few portable inverter generators can power so many things around the RV and campsite, though it cannot power everything you want to run.
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