Home Inverter Generator & Air Conditioner Soft Start, Dual Fuel 8500 Watt Champion Does it all!
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- Setting up a Champion 8500-watt inverter generator and the Micro Air Soft start for my air conditioning. This combination should allow me to support my whole home plus my AC unit during a power outage. Since this is a dual-fuel Propane/gas generator I can store propane as a long-term fuel option. Follow along and let's see if it works.
Generator- www.championpo...
Soft Start - www.microair.n...
Nice video! I installed a micro air soft start on my 3 ton unit last year. Was able to start it with my 10 year old 6000 watt Champion LP generator. Since Helene left me without power for 10 days, I upgraded to the same Champion generator you have. Just a real quality product. Mine sits inside a custom generator box so it's even more quiet. I'm sure you have seen videos or read reports of generator owners having issues with the C02 sensors shutting down the generator without there being a safety issue, even with it being outside away from structures, people, etc. The most annoying being the wind blowing and sending the exhaust in the direction of the sensor shutting down the unit. Another being the sensor failing causing the generator not to start. The C02 sensor is located just to the right of the open panel on the air filter side of the generator. Pull the plug connected to the sensor module. On the plug connector, look for the two black wires that are side by side. Connect a jumper wire between them and secure the wire plug harness so it doesn't flop around. You have now by-passed the C02 module and your generator will run normally. Hopefully, this may be helpful to you if you ever run into those issues.
Wow, that is great information, I will definitely look into it. Sometimes it seems manufacturers build so much safety into equipment that it makes it unusable.
Nice setup! I have the same exact setup (Champion 201175 , Inter-lock and AC soft-start) and worked flawlessly post hurricane Milton. Generator ran 4 days around the clock with no issues. Have heard people having issues with Co2 sensor shutting off generator even when ran in an open air area. I did not experience this, but good to know about the sensor by-pass option. Was able to run 2ton AC, refrigerator, well pump and lights concurrently. I wired a 50amp inlet box to future proof incase we want to get a larger generator. Super happy and impressed with the Champion generator.
Good job, the soft start I imagine has to be better for the compressor. Almost 5200 starts on mine since install and all is good.
Thanks 😊
Nice work. Those Milwaukee tools are so high. 😩😩😩😩 I love my Harbor Freight tools. Great video and thks for this video.
Thanks, and those Milwaukee tools take some commitment.. they are nice though 😊
I've had my champion for at least 6 years and if you do the maintenance as directed it will preform like new all the time.
Good to hear that, I purchased the 2000 watt inverter model a few years ago and it’s been a little work horse for portable power in all kinds of applications.. that’s one of the reasons i put my faith in this bigger unit.
Sir, you mentioned that this model (which I too have purchased for home backup) would not run properly on tanks larger than 40lb.
Serious inquiry: how did you determine this? I have read that, despite different capacities, tanks all tend to have the same pressure at same %fill and same temp (obviously this can fluctuate when those variables change). I would have thought that, with the supplied regulator, one could run this on a 420lb (100gal) tank. I haven’t purchased yet but the idea was to have a several day supply in one unit as opposed to purchasing any more than the three 40lb tanks I have now.
Any information is appreciated.
I do plan to inquire with their customer service team but their answers seem to be rather generic…for example an inquiry about floating the neutral was answered with a link to a separate unit with the wiring in a different location. It worked, but sheesh.
Ok, so I went back to my manual and re-read the portion referencing tank compatiblity. I could be mistaken in part.. What it said was the regulator supplied with the unit is compatible 20/30/40 lbs tanks. So taken at face value, what's supplied won't go beyond a 40 lbs tank. Now they don't specifically say you can't run a 100lb or larger, so I guess this is truly a grey area. I would love to get away with 100 lbs or bigger myself.. I have a 100-gallon tank already for gas hot water and a fireplace, I'd love to set a connection at my power source tap in, and go… all that being said, I need to do some additional research myself. Thanks for the comment, I probably left you with more questions than answers.
@@Yellowdogsworld Curious if you ever figured out how to run off a larger propane tank? I have read that the quick connect at the unit is proprietary. Home tanks typically are regulated so an additional regulator isn't required, or at least my current generator won't run with a second regulator in line. Not being able to run off the home tank is deal breaker for me, would love to know if you figured it out. Thanks!
cool video!
Thanks!
Pretty sure I will avoid anything that says MicroAir Flex as those are dropping like turkeys on WKRP in Cincinnati. lol Also, are you going to have a larger propane tank than the BBQ grill size? That definitely won't last long running the generator at 1/2/ to 3/4 wattage for any amount of time. I have a 250 gallon tank outside we use for our gas oven and gas insert fireplace (which that rarely gets used)
Yea, I've seen some comments in other forums expressing reliability issues, so far so good... I guess time will tell.
Although i stated in the video i planed on using 40 lb tanks, i may try a 100 lb tank a friend of mine has to see how that works out. If that does fine that may be the route i go.
@@Yellowdogsworld I've contemplated doing a soft start but I'm going to talk to some Rheem distributors and installers locally and see what they think about them being added on to a 5 ton heat pump unit. It's not quite 6 years old yet so don't really want it to cause any issues on a fairly new unit. I'm having a friend, who is a licensed plumber for last 40 years, do a connection at my house with a "tee" where I can tie the duel fuel generator (Genmax GM7500iAED) via quick disconnect and run off the big tank. I do keep a few smaller 20lb tanks around but will be better delivery with the big boy. lol. Thanks for the reply. Hopefully yours works well!
Nice!
Thanks!
Thank you for the video. Good info. How much did that Champion Gen set you back?
Ordered on line from Home Depot, the generator + the extension hose and cover was 2k tax and all.
@@Yellowdogsworld does the cover fit? I need one. I have the same generator. What is the part or sku number?
The cover fits like a glove, In short its a great match to the unit. This is the info from home depot
Product Information
Internet # 203233403
Model # C90016
Store SO SKU #1000570418
So a 100 pound propane bottle isn't recommended? Could you just add a pressure regulator?
I think you could probably do that, I think it might have mentioned it in the book, But in its out the box setup that's where the max 40 lbs recomendation came from.
@@Yellowdogsworld
Gotcha. I too saw this and while this addressed (sort of) my question in my first comment, I was curious if you’ve learned anything more recently that I’m missing.
I had same question but with a 420lb (100gal). What did you determine? I’ve seen information that the tanks run same pressure under equal temp and %fill. I don’t think I’ve found anyone that has direct experience though. I should think it could be done but it would be nice if you have experience with that.
@@mnemonicmoniker4101 That’s what I’ve been told.I contacted multiple people,companies,asked the local propane guys,etc and no one seems to know if there’s a pressure difference.
From my understanding since the surface area is the same the pressure should be the same,only the volume is increased which simply means longer run time.
It’s actually amazing how difficult it is to get a definitive answer.
What size AC unit. I’m looking at a soft start for my 2 year old 4 ton unit so I can get a generator like yours to run my AC and fridge. Maybe a few small things.
Mine unit is 4 year old 4 ton, the micro air easy start flex will work “ I think” on units from 2 to 6 tons.. it auto adjust for the size differences.
did you not have to float the neutral ?
This generator's neutral is bonded, I guess it depends on how you look at it. The only place I would have potential current on the ground is between the gen, and the panel since I am tied in @ the panel just past the meter. On the flip side, I'd want it bonded if I used it for any other stand-alone purpose. The risk is much higher with it floating in the event of a fault. I don't want to tear into this generator to separate the ground and neutral, to mitigate the first scenario. When the Unbonded setup could be more risky.... " After thought, if it were 100% hard wired / permanent installation, yes id float the Neutral"
It’s code to be floating when connecting straight to the panel since the panel is already bonded. It’s risky having two paths. You can float the neutral right where the pull cord is. There is a wire with “N” labeled and tied to the ground lug. Just isolate it. Really simple.
Thanks for the info, I will have to look at doing that
Not trying to harp here but you should definitely float the neutral when connecting to your house breaker panel. If that neutral isn't floating you run the risk of breaker in your home not tripping if something pulls too many amps, or in the event someone contacts an electrical circuit it will not trip either. You can cut the bonded neutral wire on your generator and put a simple on/off toggle switch to activate it for times when you use it as a stand alone when camping etc. Thanks for the video.
@@user-wp2tq6op8rThat’s exactly what I thought about doing… I really appreciate the feedback back, that’s one of the reasons I post these videos, sometimes a guy can learn a thing or two from the community.
Which soft start did you buy and install?
It was the micro-air easy start flex… “flex” being the important part, it will adjust for units up to 6 tons of I'm not mistaking.
www.microair.net/products/easystart-flex-home-ac-soft-starter
How many ton ac do you have?
4 ton
It Will not start without oil. They put all those oil fill reminders to reduce service calls.
That makes sense too, Low oil sensor would prevent it from starting 👍