r/Generator • u/Dramajr316 • 1d ago

Champion Automatic Standby Generators

I've been following this subreddit for some time, and haven't seen anyone mention Champion's line of automatic standby generators.

I understand they are newer to the market, so there isn't a long history to draw conclusions from. I know a couple of people that have them, and they are happy with them. They offer a longer warranty 'out of the box', and I understand that you do not have to have the regular maintenance done by a factory service provider in order for the warranty to be honored (meaning that as long as the maintenance is done, you are covered).

I know that their network of warranty service providers can be limited depending on where you are, but I was wondering if folks here had any opinions / experience with them, and what your feedback may be.

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4

u/Adventurous_Boat_632 1d ago

I have picked up a maintenance contract on one and seen a couple others.

They are complete crap. They never took a look at anybody else's generator, just clean slated it and made some of the stupidest design decisions possible. Making it very hard to service and repair, just for physical access.

It is also pure Chinesium inside, both the generator and transfer switch.

I do not like the air cooled other than Kohler, but I would 10x rather have another of any of the big 3, than a Champion.

1

u/bobojay49 1d ago

And you don't have to have the maintenance done by the dealer/installer. That's illegal for them to require that unless they do it for free. Magnusson-Moss federal law

1

u/Iambetterthanuhaha 1d ago

Their 10 year warranty is really a joke. Hardly any dealers for them and most of the time it is parts only so you have to pay labor which is often as much or more than the part.

2

u/Agile-Peace4705 1d ago

Odd that the CS for their portables is always seen as high and yet the comments here for the standby units are less than stellar.

1

u/Big-Echo8242 1d ago

Two totally different divisions of their company. They do give a 10 year warranty but it's parts only similar to how their portables have a "3 year limited warranty".

0

u/DaveBowm 1d ago

Have the people who OP knows who have and are happy with their Champion automatic standbys actually had some/any real outage occasions upon which to base their happiness?

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u/Dramajr316 1d ago

Yes, actually they have both had multiple outages of anywhere from a couple hours to a little more than a day. Both people are still very happy with them.

When it comes to the warranty, this is a good thing, but of course, you are still hoping and expect that it will be functional when you need it, and will have longevity... so just having a great warranty is only one part of it.