Champion is a widely recognized name in the industry. Their generators and inverters are of top quality. They manufacture a wide range of power equipment products including, generators, pressure washers, water pumps, snowblowers and log splitters.
The Digital Hybrid series generators are highly appraised all around the globe. The open frame inverter generator, which we will discuss in a while, is from the DH series.
The DH series generators are packed with essential and advanced features, which makes them a strong solution for almost every type of power need, whether you want a backup generator or want to power your appliances at the campsite.
Champion 100520 8750-Watt DH Series Open Frame Inverter is portable, quiet, has sturdy built and packed with a large amount of power.
Moreover, it has a functional design and clutter-free control panel, making the inverter easy to operate. The open-frame design provides you with all the access you need to keep the generator clean and perform maintenance tasks.
If you are looking for something quiet, light, and packed with power, then this is it. This generator offers the best of both worlds. , it is the solution to all your power needs. In this article, we have discussed the 100520 models in detail. So, keep reading.
Table of Contents
What is the meaning of the term ‘Digital Hybrid’?
The word hybrid means something which is a result of a combination of two other things. For the generator, the digital hybrid is referred to the use of digital and analog circuits in the same unit.
The digital hybrid term is mostly known in the field of audio recording and broadcasting field. This champion inverter is known as a Digital hybrid as it uses digital and analog circuits. The alternator is an analog part, while the inverter is a Digital part.
Mostly you will see an inverter generator packed inside the whole casing to keep the noise level minimum, it is rare to have it in as an open frame, but here it is. So, you can refer to it as an open-frame digital hybrid inverter generator.
From this discussion, you can also state that this is not a true inverter generator but a hybrid unit.
Champion 100520 8750-Watt Open Frame Inverter Generator
Design
This open-frame inverter has a sturdy and robust built. It will last for years and will require relatively less maintenance. Coming to the point, it has an all-metal construction with a few exceptions. The new design has many improvisations over its more conventional design, which makes it 20% more lightweight and 50% quieter.
As with every other generator, the top of the unit has a 4.2-gallon metal fuel tank with a fuel gauge to keep an eye on the fuel level. For transportation, the unit has rubber wheels and a folding handle. On the opposite side of the handle, there is a control panel with all the necessary control options and power outlets.
On the left of the control panel, it has a fuel valve, air filter, and recoil starter. They can be easily accessed. While on the right of the control panel, you have an oil drain tube and an oil fill cap.
The major problem when you drain the oil from the unit is a spillage, the oil will spill on the surface and the unit parts, but the champion has taken care of it by providing a drain tube. You can place it directly into the container. The muffler and the exhaust are situated on the back of the unit.
Control Panel
Talking about the control panel, it has many power outlets, and each of them is protected with individual circuit breakers. It has four 120V 20A GFCI AC outlets for general use and one 120/240 V 30A twist-lock outlet to directly connect this inverter to the transfer switch.
Other than that, it has a 12 V 8.3 A DC outlet to charge the batteries. There are also 3 indicating lights, and they are an output light, overload light, and one for low oil level. Each of them will glow in appropriate instances. The color of the output light is green, the overload light is red, and the yellow color is for low oil levels.
Moreover, the control panel has an electric start button, economy mode button, and intelligauge display. The display shows the voltage, frequency, runtime, and total load. It keeps you aware of the state of a generator.
The inverter comes with a charging cable and dual USB adapters, and they fit in the 12-volt outlet, which is protected by an 8-Amp circuit breaker. Moreover, the power coming out of that outlet is not regulated, so it is better if you use it to charge the batteries only.
Power Output and Fuel Consumption
This open frame inverter generator features a powerful four-stroke 420cc CARB-compliant engine, which provides amazing performance. It generated 8750 starting watts and 7000 running watts. That is more than enough for tailgating or camping or as a backup source for small to medium houses.
This is an inverter, which means the power is regulated and controlled by the inverter, which eliminates most of the harmonics from the power and makes it clean. The THD rating of output power is less than 3%, so it is safe to power sensitive electronics.
On the top, the unit has a 4.2-gallon fuel tank. The design and working mechanism of this unit make it more fuel-efficient than a non-inverter generator. With a full fuel tank, you can expect 10.5 hours of runtime at 1/4 load. On half load, the generator offers 5.25 hours of runtime.
Other Features
A conventional generator consumes the same amount of fuel even when the load is not connected, which reduces its efficiency. In this unit, the frequency is controlled digitally, which means the engine can run at different speeds to match the exact power needed.
This utilizes only that much fuel that is required to power only connected appliances. You can turn on this function with the ECO mode switch, and it also reduces the noise.
The generator has a powerful 420cc engine, and it is noisy; you can’t expect it to be quiet. Still, it is less than other models of the same size thanks to its Quiet Technology. At a quarter load, the noise generated is 72 dB. Other than that, the generator is equipped with cold start technology to ensure easy starting in cold weather.
It features two starting methods, an electric start and a recoil start. The convenience of electric start increases the ease of use. But, when the push-button starts malfunctions, or the battery goes dead, you can use a recoil starter; it will start the generator without much effort.
There is also a spark arrestor, and this will prevent the starting of a wildfire if you are camping in a forest. Other than that, there is a ground terminal on the metal frame to prevent electrocution.
What can this generator power and what can’t?
It can power almost anything for hours, and it is possible because of its 8750 starting watts and 7000 running watts. You can power a washing machine, a refrigerator, lights, your electronics, kitchen appliances, TVs, power tools, and many more things. So, when the next power outage hits, you won’t be without power.
This generator can power almost anything, and it is not easy to say what it can’t power. As long as the power requirement of the appliances stays within the generator power range, it can run that appliance. It will not be able to power a central water heater.
For whom is this generator best suited?
This generator is for every individual who wants power when or where there is no grid power. The generator has a variety of power outlets, which makes it a good choice as a backup solution for a house. It will keep a good percentage of your house appliances running.
Moving on, the generator is lightweight and relatively quiet. Considering these plus points, it can make a very good power solution for camping, tailgating or boondocking trips. This generator is not RV-ready, but still, you can connect it to your trailer using some adapters.
It is also a good choice to power your tools at the Jobsite and around the house where there are no power outlets.
Final Words
Champion 100520 8750-Watt DH Series Open Frame Inverter is powerful, versatile, and has a strong built. This makes it all in one solution for all kinds of power needs. You can use it at home as a backup solution or to power your RV. It has many power outlets and is packed with many useful features as we have discussed.
The cold start technology ensures the easy starting in cold weather, and the economy mode saves fuels and reduces noise. You will have instant access to power, and the generator will start in a matter of seconds with the help of an electric start.
But, no equipment is ideal; they all have their downsides. This generator also has few downsides, but they are minor and can be easily neglected. Overall, this is a dependable solution to all your power needs.
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