Review : Champion Power Equipment 100302 | Open Frame Inverter

🕥 Updated: March 25, 2024 ✽ Writer: Colin Manley

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Champion Power Equipment 100302 vs Westinghouse WGen3600 — Which gas generator is worth your hard-earned money? These are both great portable generators but the one right for you depends on several factors which we discuss in great detail.

Pitting the Champion Power Equipment 100302 hybrid inverter generator against the Westinghouse WGen3600 isn’t really a fair race, but makes for an interesting comparison. What you’ll be left to decide is whether the, much more expensive, Champion Power Equipment 100302 is worth buying when you could get the Westinghouse WGen3600 for about half the price.

When reviewing the Champion Power Equipment 100302, you’ll notice it that it has many features and functions that you won’t find on the more modest Westinghouse offering. In terms of power output, they’re pretty evenly matched. So, in effect, it may appear that you’re getting a very similar product. They will both handle a similar load, both in their running watts and peak starting power abilities.

VIDEO | Overview of the Champion 100302 Generator

https://youtu.be/PHcHG9IiZsU

Though, if you’re considering the Champion Power Equipment 100302 as your best option, you’ll want to know if you’re spending your money wisely. By comparing it to a generator that is also of a very high quality standard (they’re both very well-made machines), you’ll get to see what benefits you may, or may not, be getting for the extra cash. The price difference is huge, so we’re going to make sure to point out the pros and cons of both generators and compare them on every level.

Champion Power Equipment 100302

Hybrid Digital Inverter Generator Review

Features:

Advanced Digital Hybrid Design
50% quieter and 20% lighter than a traditional Champion 3500-watt generator, plus our Economy Mode feature saves fuel and extends engine life
Quiet Technology and Extended Run Time
64 dBA is great for RVs, tailgating, your next project or home backup, with 4000 starting watts and 3500 running watts for up to 17 hours run time on gasoline
Clean electricity for sensitive electronics
RV Ready with a 120V 30A RV, plus two 120V 20A household outlets with clean power (less than 3% THD) and 12V DC outlet with dual USB adapter
Parallel Ready
Increase your power output by connecting up to two 2800-watt or higher inverter or digital hybrid with the optional Parallel Kit
Includes 3-year limited warranty with FREE lifetime technical support from dedicated experts

✓ View or download the MANUAL for the Champion Power Equipment 100302

Overview | Champion Power Equipment 100302

The Champion Power Equipment 100302 represents all the best that modern technology has to offer in a portable generator. At first, I assumed that this was a dual fuel generator – the term “hybrid” usually refers to a generator that is able to use regular gas and natural gas. As it turns out, this is a little misleading and the Champion Power Equipment 100302 is not a dual fuel generator. It seems that they use the term hybrid because it’s an inverter generator that looks similar to standard generators. It has a steel frame and the generator is not enclosed like most inverter generators. This means that it doesn’t have the same sound insulation as more modern looking inverter generators.

The main advantage presented by the Champion Power Equipment 100302 is its inverter. By now, there’s been a lot of talk about the pros of inverter technology. You get clean, low HD power that won’t cause any harm to your sensitive electronic equipment. The sophisticated electronic controls on most inverter generators allow for a smart-throttle also known as an eco-mode. This controls the engine revs of the generator.

When power demand is low, the throttle will slow the RPM on the engine and speed it up when the power demand is higher. This results in significant fuel savings as well as reduced wear and tear on the engine. Both these factors lower your operating costs in the long run. A lower fuel spend and less maintenance is required, thanks to the fact that the engine isn’t working as hard at a lower RPM and won’t run as hot.

One more advantage of the inverter is the option of parallel connection. While this is not common to all inverter generators, the Champion Power Equipment 100302 does have this function. By synchronizing the sine wave of two generators connected in parallel, it’s able to allow them to function as one. This means that you can double your power output. A single Champion Power Equipment 100302 generator provides you with 3500W running power and 4000W peak load. When you connect two together, you end up with 7000 running watts and a peak of 8000 watts. This is enough power to supply a medium-sized house with enough electricity to run just about every electrical appliance, including high current heating equipment and large air conditioners.

The Champion Power Equipment 100302 is also designed for quiet running. Though, I wouldn’t call it the quietest portable generator on the market. For a powerful 3500W/4000W generator, it isn’t too bad when it comes to noise levels. At 64dBA, it is just about at the same noise level as a normal speaking voice. I should point out that some quiet generators can go as low as a little over 50dBA, which is why I say the Champion Power Equipment 100302 isn’t a real winner in this category.

Okay, let’s look at the tech specs and design details. The Champion Power Equipment 100302 has a conventional design, meaning that it has a strong steel frame and the generator is mounted to this frame. This is unlike the plastic sound insulated casing found on most other quiet inverter generators. I’d say the old-fashioned steel frame is a more durable way to do things, but it does seem to reduce the effectiveness of the sound insulation. Honda is the only generator manufacturer (that I’ve seen) to combine the robust design of a steel-frame generator with noise insulation that matches the more modern enclosed design of most other quiet generators.