Champion Power Equipment 4500-Watt Review

The Champion Power Equipment 200987 inverter generator provides reliable portable power supported by clean energy and quiet technology. With 3500 rated watts and 4500 surge watts, it can handle your power requirements at home or while traveling. It’s easy to use and works in all weather conditions. The Champion Power Equipment 4500-watt is fitted with a built-in monitoring system to accurately track energy consumption and check the run hours, frequency, and voltage. 

With a run time of 14 hours, it’s enough to run all night without refueling. Additionally, it comes with the option to purchase a parallel kit, allowing for connecting it to another inverter to double your power output. Not to mention, the unit comes with a limited 3-year warranty and free lifetime technical support. Those who want to know more details and specifications of this power supply unit read our Champion 4500-watt review for all technical information.

Champion Power Equipment 4500-Watt Specs

Power Capability

The Champion Power Equipment 4500-watt houses a reliable 212cc OHV four-stroke engine. It puts out 3500 rated watts and 4500 surge watts. The rated power allows a window air conditioner and refrigerator to be handled simultaneously, with enough power left over for lights or a TV. Providing it’s an inverter generator, it’s designed to produce clean energy and has low harmonic distortion levels. With less than 3% THD, it’s safe to use with delicate electronics, such as smartphones, computers, and digital cameras.

Extended Runtime

A fuel tank with a capacity to hold 2.3 gallons of gas ensures the maximum running time for continual power supply. There is also a built-in fuel gauge to keep you informed about the fuel level. Under a 25% load, the Champion 4500-watt is capable of running for up to 14 hours. Increased loads consume more power, and a 50% load will reduce the total running time to approximately 9 hours. The generator has a fuel consumption of about 0.16 gallons per hour. There is also an Economy mode switch that provides maximum performance and extends the total duration of running hours. It allows the generator to run at varying speeds to match the electrical load. As a result, it consumes less fuel and can run for longer.

Quiet Technology

The Champion Power Equipment 4500-watt inverter is designed to operate with minimal noise, rated at 61 decibels at quarter load. For comparison, this is roughly the volume level of normal human speech. As the load capacity increases or decreases, the noise output from the generator will fluctuate. But it’s not excessive. It’s a relatively quiet generator for the size. Low noise output makes it ideal for outdoor operation and supplying power on camping weekends and fishing trips. It delivers ample power with relatively quiet operation and will not disturb sleep or otherwise disrupt nearby neighbors.

Easy Start 

The EZ start dial and conveniently placed on/off switch allows the generator to come to life with just the flick of a button and the turn of a dial. Besides the usual manual recoil pull start. For cold mornings on a campsite or winter days in the RV, the unit has ‘cold start’ technology. Powering up the generator is easy and supplies power instantly to appliances without waiting for any ‘warm-up’ time. The Champion 200987 also comes with a wireless remote start option. The remote key fob allows you to start and stop the generator from up to 80 feet away.

Control Panel

Located on the front side of the generator is the built-in Quick Touch panel. It provides easy access to all the power hook up, gauges, and connections. The Quick Touch panel has two 120 volts at 20 amps household-style power outlets. There is also one 120 volts at 30 amps outlet that is suitable for direct RV hook-up. For additional charging, the unit comes with a 12V car style outlet and dual USB port adaptor. Everything needed for the unit’s operation is contained on the conveniently placed and well laid out panel. Moreover, the IntelliGauge power meter gives up-to-the-minute information, providing details about usage hours, consumption, and voltage.

Parallel Kit (Optional)

For expanding the power output, the unit is capable of connecting a 2nd compatible generator. The paralleling capability means that you can nearly double the power output. This requires a parallel kit that may be purchased separately and provides the necessary connections for pairing units. Champion Power Equipment inverters that supply 2800 watts or higher can be connected to the primary 4500-watt unit. The extra wattage is useful for upgrading your power to accommodate increased electrical demands and extended trips. The parallel connection kit also includes an additional 50 amp outlet. It’s ideal for connecting an extra RV generator to power a full-sized RV or an entire home.

Portability

The robust and sturdy construction is housed in a rugged molded plastic. It provides a hard outer shell and protects the unit from knocks, bumps, and transportation vibration. It has two rear 5 inch wheels, a fixed durable handle, and a collapsible handle to allow for easy movement and placing. Weighing in at about 100 pounds, it is not the lightest unit on the block. It is a bit cumbersome to move, but the built-in wheels assist with positioning and maneuvering. It is portable enough to be used at various locations to provide the needed power for outdoor activities or supply energy for multiple projects. Once situated, the front feet with rubber end caps ensure that the generator remains firmly in place. While in operation, it provides minimum movement from vibration.

Maintenance 

The Champion Power Equipment 4500-watt is very convenient because it doesn’t require any tool to access the maintenance panel. It has a thumbscrew that allows for quick access to the service panel. Another welcome change is the extended oil drain tube. So you can drain the oil without a mess. The generator uses a 0.5-quart oil capacity and has a low oil shut-off feature. It’s a safety warning light that flashes an alert when the unit is running low on oil. It triggers a shut-off sensor when oil levels fall below safe operating levels. The generator is also fully certified by the EPA. Further, it is CARB compliant, producing fewer toxins and emissions, leading to cleaner air quality.

Support

The Champion 200987 is sturdy and has a no-frills design that comes with an affordable price tag. To ensure complete customer satisfaction, Champion Power Equipment supplies a comprehensive warranty with their units. It includes a 3-year limited warranty to cover any eventualities, which is uncommon for generators of this price point and gives an added security level. For any problems further down the line, there is a team of experts standing by to offer full technical support that is entirely free for the product’s lifetime. There is a print of the support number on the unit and gives access to a network of service centers that are available across the country.

Pros

• Good fuel economy. It can supply adequate energy for most users and can last up to 14 hours.
• Low harmonic distortion. Safe to use with sensitive electronic equipment.
• Fuel gauge and IntelliGauge. It allows for real-time monitoring of the fuel level, voltage, frequency, and operating hours.
• Easy start. Equipped with cold start technology, and has three ways for ignition. A wireless remote from up to 80 feet away, an electric push-button start, and a backup pull-start. 
• Quiet operation. From 23 feet away, it measures 61dBA, which won’t interfere with daily living.
• Free lifetime support. A 3-year limited warranty provided by Champion to ensure a hassle-free operation and lifetime technical support.

Cons

• Heavyweight. It weighs 101 pounds, which may be awkward for some people to position and move.
• Limited brightness. The brightness of the IntelliGauge is somewhat insufficient and hard to view in full daylight.
• No GFCI outlet protection. This unit does not comply with OSHA standards.
• No 240 volt. For whole-house power, you may require more power than this unit can supply.

What’s in the box?

On purchasing the Champion 4500-watt, you will find that everything you need has been thoughtfully supplied. Almost all the items you will need for operation, service, user manual, and ongoing maintenance are available. It includes the following items:

• Champion Power Equipment 200987 or 200986 (the latter has no key fob)
• USB adapter with dual charging ports
• Flathead screwdriver
• Spark plug wrench
• 10mm wrench
• Engine oil 
• Oil funnel
• Remote key fob

Champion Power Equipment produces a range of different power outputs and fuel sizes. They usually are gas, propane, or a combination of the two. There is the Champion Power Equipment 200988, which is the dual-fuel generator version of the same unit.

You may also be interested in checking the review of Champion 100302.

Champion 4500-Watt Review – Conclusion

Robust, rugged, and no-nonsense piece of equipment that will deliver an extended supply of power. The Champion Power Equipment 200987 is one of the best portable generators when it comes to value, durability, and warranty. Features are carefully thought out and incorporated to provide durable performance and high fuel economy. This unit will not cost a fortune to run, even with extended use. The included warranty and lifetime technical support provided by Champion’s nationwide service centers adds a level of customer support that is not common in units of this price point. Combined with stand out features like intelligauge monitoring and cold start technology, this unit is perfectly designed to operate safely and efficiently. So, next time you need a stand-alone power source, remember the Champion 4500-watt review.

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