professor95
Mechanicsville, VA
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Joined: 10/03/2004
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I got a chance to look over an Alton from Costco today. It is made by Hangzhou Universal Instrument and Tool, LTD. in Hangzhou, China. UIT is a well established manufacturer of generators and other consumer/commercial power tools. The replacement 6.5 HP Honda-like engines you see on the shelf at PepBoys are made by this company. The muffler on this generator is of a different design than on the other models I have used or examined. This may account for the higher noise rating given by Alton. The front panel is also made of plastic rather than steel. Depending on the grade of platic used it may be subject to stress cracking at the mounting holes, warpage or environmental degration. Personally, I am not real cool on the plastic used on may Chinese manufactured products. Actually, IMHO, the platic parts used on the majority of our RVs is of pretty poor quality as well. Maybe they are made in China too?
Other major manufacturers of these small generators are:
Shangai Chenchang (UST, Contractor, and many 1,000 watt 2 cycle units)
Taizhou Zhongshan (Direct sales in small quanities to most any buyer Big Lots, etc.)
Fuzhou Hauccen(Power Pro)
Jiangsa Jiangdong (Allpower, early ELM3000, Wildfire, Harbor Freight)
My major concern with the Alton is a lack of consumer input on this forum. We have no real history of performance, service or the availability of replacement parts specific to this unit. I did note that the carburetor was built by Huayi, which is typical of most all of the 200cc Honda-like engines used on these generators.
Depending on your needs and priorities, this may be an OK product. I am sure we will find out soon from forum reports.
Still, I contend if you want service after the sale, customer support, a warranty we know is well backed and an affordable price the little yellow units we have become so well reviewed on this forum are hard to beat.
BTW, has anyone bought or have experience with the Chinese built ONAN Homepower unit? Other than the initial advertising and one I saw at the RV show last February I have no other info. They were way over priced (guess because of the ONAN name). I am not sure what Chinese company builds them for Onan, but from the exterior it could be any one of the above listed or even someone else.
One other comment. I have found nothing to suggest Champion Power Equipment builds generator units for rebranding by other vendors. Their factory in Shanghai only builds their own product line.
For those who choose to purchase the Alton from Costco, please keep the formum aprised of your findings.
Professor Randy T. Agee & Nancy Agee, Mechanicsville, VA
2009 Cedar Creek 34SATS 5th Wheel - GMC 3500 dually
Generator Collection: Champion 40008 - ELM3000 - Kipor 2000Ti - Kawasaki 1400 - Champion 7,800W LPG (Home Back Up)
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Index Jeff
Index, Wa
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Joined: 01/18/2007
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professor95 wrote:I got a chance to look over an Alton from Costco today.
Professor,
I realize that it gets tiring, answering what seem like the same questions over and over again.
But I have looked through this thread and found only one psuedo answer to the question of how much propane a generator will use in relation to how much gasoline it would use.
That answer can be nutshelled as... it is ridiculous to ask for a comparison. It's like comparing apples to oranges.
The reason I asked the question of you in particular, is because you have the experience of running a Generac on gasoline for a while, and then switching to propane. Plus you obviously tend to keep better records of this stuff than most. You should have some idea of how one compares to the other.
I am not actually looking for "better gas mileage" so to speak. If that were why I ask, the previous answer would make sense.
The reason the comparison is important is because I simply want to know how much propane I can expect to use. Knowing how much is used, in comparison to how much gasoline is used, gives me and pretty much anyone else a basis for comparison, so we can figure out how much propane we can expect to use.
I am sorry if I am coming across as a pain in the arse.
Yeh... That'll work.
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Index Jeff
Index, Wa
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Mel wrote:Edit - for the full size, right click and save to your diskdrive. Use any graphics program to open and resize it. It is stretching the screen width as loaded. Mel
Mel, I just wanted to say thank you for that.
I moderate elsewhere, (actually several places.), so I am aware of the job you have to do. And how much of it that is never seen or recognized.
I would have taken the time to do the same as you have, but I have not seen many mods who would.
I wanted to write anyway, and take the opportunity to mention something else...
I have seen many mentions in this thread about the apparent civility and cohesion throughout.
I totally agree. This thread stands almost in a class of it's own.
Much credit and honor has been given to the professor, and a couple others, along the way. And very deservedly so. VERY much so.
But I have not yet seen any credit or honor given to you, who have done much behind the scenes, to keep this thread in the fashion we have all come to expect and appreciate. (Of course, I STILL have not accomplished reading every single post yet. Getting real close though. Do I get a prize for finishing the marathon even though I am tardy ? LOL)
Thank you for your work, mr Moderator. This thread, and the rest of the forum would not be what it is without your work, and the work of others like you.
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bobandcat
Southern AZ
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Joined: 04/20/2006
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Index Jeff wrote:
But I have looked through this thread and found only one psuedo answer to the question of how much propane a generator will use in relation to how much gasoline it would use.
Let me try to help with your propane question. While I was searching around regarding propane conversions, I found this comparison at Onan. Its not for a Generac, but it will give you relative gasoline vs. propane usage numbers.
Bob and Cathy
2002 Montana 3655FL
2006 Chevy 2500HD Duramax/Allison
PullRite 16k Superglide
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phil-am
St Louis, MO
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Joined: 12/18/2006
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Gasoline vs Propane vs Natural Gas consumption/power and dual or tri-fuel conversion kits info here:
http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/fuel_consumption.htm
http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-ge........tors%20on%20propane%20or%20natural%20gas
* This post was
edited 01/22/07 11:04am by phil-am *
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Index Jeff
Index, Wa
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Ok, time for me to make what I hope will be a few useful suggestions here, my own self.
Re: sound abatement.
From the construction trade, I suggest what is called "SillSeal". And "Grace, Ice and Water Sheild."
From the automotive... Yer ordinary junkyard cooling fan.
~~~
The sillseal is a sort of styrofoam product. Kind of halfway between plastic and styrofoam. It comes in a roll that is 3" wide, to 6 or 8 inches wide. By 25 to 50 feet long, or more. Fairly cheap. 3 or 4 bucks the last time I bought a roll.
This is laid down on top of the foundation, before the sill is laid down. It helps to keep the sill from absorbing water over time, from the concrete. Also seals any small gaps between the wooden sill plate, and the uneven concrete surface.
The ice and water seal is a sort of large rubber patch. You peel back the liner, and stick it down where you want it. Be careful, it will stick REAL fast. And sticks to almost anything. (Don't get it on you, or you will be wearing it until it wears off by attrition.)
The actual Grace Ice and Water Sheild comes in a very large roll and costs at least a 100 dollars. But... You can get the very same stuff cut down to about a 16 inch wide roll, for about 16 dollars. It is made for trimming/sealing around window openings.
The I&W is laid on a clean roof sheated surface. (The plywood.) Tarpaper may be laid over that, and the shingles go on top. The biggest purpose to the I&W is that it seals around every shingle mail that goes through it. Believe me, the stuff is awesome when it comes to making a roof leakproof.
Now, the purpose to these two, would be to use the sillseal as a gasket material... And the I&W can be used for either/or gaskets, and panel soundproofing.
To whit:
The sillseal is easily cut with scissors or utility knife to pretty much any shape you want. It can be used, stacked or not, as a gasket between two mechanical parts to keep them from rattling.
The I&W is actually a bit more useful.
I completely deadened all the road noise in an old nova using this stuff.
Cut it into the size you want, clean the metal panel, stick the I&W down... and viola', no more noise.
I stuck large patches if the I&W to the insides of the door panels. (Inside the body of the door. Not just on the inside of the car. LOL) On the firewall and floor, under the carpet. And on the roof, then put the headliner back over it. It almost completely eliminated any noise in that car.
It can be used as gaskets between rattling parts as well. With the advantage of actually sticking to one or the other...
Now, as for the 12v cooling fan from a junkyard...
1.) LOTS of air movement.
2.) Since it comes out of a car, it is going to be a LOT more forgiving of changing voltages, than those 12v computer/muffin type fans everyone has been talking about.
3.) If you go pull one out of a car yourself, half the time they'll just give you the fan. If not, they are usually pretty cheap, if you choose the right car. LOL
4.) It's already got a handy, dandy mounting bracket that can be adapted to almost anywhere.
I hope this helps someone, and/or gives someone some good ideas for their own project.
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joelabq
Albuquerque, NM
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Joined: 08/16/2005
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I just got my enclosure "running" although still unfinished. I'm using a 12v automotive fan (since I've got a few spare from the car hobby).
I will gladly go into more detail once I have finished the box and made sure I won't have any heating issues. I'm working on how to duct the air intakes to keep the gen/engine cool.
Currently, at 10ft away on the plug side of my RV ready Champion, I am getting 70dbA. On the opposing side from 23ft away, I am getting a dismal 55dbA, or at 10ft I get around 70dbA.
One note about the 12v automotive fan is that the fan itself does add to the noise. Close to 2dbA over the enclosure without. That is, at least with my current install.
I constructed the box from 3/4" MDF, 2" of poly-cotton batting, and 12v automotive fan. In the future I would like to try a similar box made from 1/8" Tin or another lighter weight material. the generator is still MUCH heaver then the box however.
Joel
1996 Dodge Ram CTD 4x4
2005 Wildcat 27BHWB Fifth wheel
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Index Jeff
Index, Wa
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I believe most automotive fans can be run at different speeds. Varried by the amount of voltage.
I also believe that the right balance can be found between noise and air current, by varying the speed.
Once the best balance is determined, keep it there.
In the rv compartments with the mesh bottoms, mount the fan on the bottom of that. If it projects below the bottom of the body, put a shroud around it. The fan noise will be directed down.
On an open box, put the fan on top, aimed upward. Again, shroud around it so the sound does not go sideways, but up.
I plan to build a box of concrete blocks. 3 walls of blocks.
The front wall will be plywood and foam. With the fan mounted on the inside front, behind louvers. That wall will be removeable after the top is lifted. The top will be hinged on the back wall.
The bottom rear blocks will be set on their sides, to allow air passage.
There will be a row or two, (vertically), of blocks, 8 inches behind that back wall, to deflect the noise upward. That extra wall will come back along the sides by one block's length.
There will be foam on the concrete floor, Then a piece of plywood that does not reach the walls. The generator will sit on that.
That's as far as I have gotten in design in my head.
Nothing blocks noise like mass.
I am not concerned with weight here, because the generator is not going to be moved.
The point is to keep the neighbors from hearing the generator.
I have been without a generator many times, in power outages, and the neighbors had theirs running 24/7.
That is inconsiderate on several levels. For instance, consider laying in bed at night. The only noise is the sound of the neighbor's generator. And you are either unable to sleep because it is sweltering, or you are freezing your noogies off, and wrapped in every blanket in the house.
I do not wish to do that to my neighbors.
* This post was
edited 01/22/07 12:15am by Index Jeff *
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toprudder
Raleigh, NC
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Joined: 10/08/2004
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bobandcat wrote:Let me try to help with your propane question. While I was searching around regarding propane conversions, I found this comparison at Onan. Its not for a Generac, but it will give you relative gasoline vs. propane usage numbers.
I do not have any direct experience with LP powered generators, so I can't really comment on those. However, I've spoken with a couple of freinds that have pickups that can run on either gas or LP. They both have told me that the mileage (and power) is a little less on LP than on gasoline, so that correlates well with the information in the chart you provided.
Bob, Martha, and Matt
'95 Coachmen Catalina Sport 275QB
oh, and Tucker, the Toy Poodle
Toprudder.com
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dieselmec
Mississippi
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Joined: 02/04/2006
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well professor95 bit the bullet this morning picked up c46540 at tractor supply for 349.00 hope the noise police will let me use it in national forest lol
Live Simply,Love Generously,Care Deeply,Speak Kindly, Leave The Rest To God!(In Our Heart's Forever Our Companion Maggie.)
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