Here is the manual transfer switch in the laundry room.

The transfer switch did not come with long enough pigtails to put it where I had to because of the wall structure, so I had to put a terminal strip box in between the 2.
When I remodeled the laundry room and bathroom on the other side of this wall, I put a double stud wall in.
The plumbing all runs in the space between the 2 stud walls.
I put FRP on the wall here so I could take the wall covering down to work on stuff. Works pretty good.

Up above the door, you can see a hook which provides strain relief for a power cord that comes from a battery/inverter setup.

The twist lock plug is an L5-30.
I had a question about pullling only 110v from this inverter machine, and found another question on Champions website about voltage from the inverter.

Answer:
“Indeed, the generator is engineered to recognize a 120-volt load even when connected to a 240-volt supply. It's perfectly safe to operate a 120-volt load on one leg of the 240-volt supply, and the generator will seamlessly provide the necessary power without any complications.

If you have any further inquiries or require additional assistance, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. You can reach us by phone at 1-877-338-0999, or simply drop us an email at Support@cpeauto.com. Our team is also available via live chat and on various social media platforms.

We're here to help and provide the support you need.”
Anthony from Champion Power Equipment

Randall

 

Looks nice!

The factory plug is a Torch I guess, F7RTJC. Again I searched this forum with no luck on that.
Manual says equivalent is Bosch F7KJCR. Again no luck on searching forum.
I did find a replacement for the Bosch online, an NGK 1263 BP6ET.

Personally, I would go with an BPR6EIX Iridium plug. The multi-ground plugs cannot be re-gapped. The gaps are usually changed to .024" for LP, and .022" for NG. If switching between NG and LP, then a happy medium. It is sometimes helpful to go to a cooler plug with LP and NG (BPR7EIX) because they burn hotter, so keep an eye on the plug and see if that is necessary.

Here are specs...

 

The multi-ground plugs cannot be re-gapped.

Thanks GenKnot, I was wandering how you would gap a plug with 3 electrodes.
When I go to NAPA today, I'll see if they can get me the BPR6 plugs.

I appreciate the info.

 

The bore is 3/4 on the 1 inch ball valve.
so, I have a 3/4 inch flow.

Went to get the spark plugs at NAPA and it turns out the BP6ET weren't in stock at the prefered distribution center and would have to pay shipping to get them here.
They looked up the BPR6 Iridium and they say they are in stock, so we'll see.

 

Champion can’t tell you what size thread the drain plug is? The first hour or two of break in is when that engine is going to be shedding the most amount of ferrous debris. I would hold off until you find something.
This company has a big selection of drain plugs I got one for my Honda and my Predator here:

Part Search Results

votex-us.com

 

I also tried to find magnetic drain plug and dipstick. No luck.

Most likely the Predator 420cc drain plugs fit that Champion. Check eBay. It says it is a M12-1.50.

 

Yes, the link I posted recommended this size for all Champion 9000’s.
I kind of like the dipstick, you can clean and observe the metal as it’s breaking in without draining the oil. I actually have both on all of my machines except for the snow thrower, no dipstick was available for it.

 

OD threads on the dipstick measured .765 inches, which I calculate to be 19.4 mm.
Length of the measuring part of the dipstick is 2.135 inch, from the thread shoulder to the end.

Randall

 

OD threads on the dipstick measured .765 inches, which I calculate to be 19.4 mm.

That seems more like a M20-2.5 which fits a WEN GN875i 420cc engine. Hmmm...

WEN GNA200 Magnetic Oil Dipstick with M20-2.5 Threading (for WEN GN625i and GN875i)

Machined to fit the WEN GN625i and GN875i open frame inverter generators Extend your generator’s life by keeping metal out of the engine Industrial-strength magnetic tip collects metal shavings floating in your generator’s oil tank Rubber seal prevents oil from being spilled during operation and...

wenproducts.com

 

👆 That's the same dipstick that I have in my GN625i. I just measured the length and I got 2.105" from the thread shoulder to the end.

 

The magnetic drain plug and magnetic dipstick have both shipped from their separate suppliers.
Picked up the NGK BPR6EIX #6637 plugs from my local NAPA.
Went ahead and gapped them all to .022 per GenKnot.

Making progress on wiring the exterior gen plug, I'll post some pics on that later.
We do like pitch'urs right?

There is a current thread on the moisture under generator covers.
I've been doing a little science project in the garage with some heat under the dust cover while waiting on parts and wiring.
Should I post in that thread, or add to this one?
Don't want to hijack the other thread.

Randall

 

Should I post in that thread, or add to this one?
Don't want to hijack the other thread.

Either thread should be okay. It is on topic for both.

 

While I wait on the magnetic items to get here, I've done a little experimenting with temps inside the dust cover.
I have been following the thread about breathing dust covers.

This genny will reside my garage until I get an enclosure done, and I have a dust cover that I'll use.
This cover has a vent under a flap on one side and Velcro closure on two corners so the end panel will open.

 

I put a 60 watt incandescent bulb on the end where the handle was so it would hold the cover away from the light bulb.

Keep in mind there has been NO gasoline put in this machine yet, by me anyway. Don't even smell any when I removed the gas cap.

I dug out the indoor/outdoor thermo and put the outdoor bulb on top of the engine.

 

Left it overnight.

 

Used my laser pointer thermo to see what the block temp was.

This is right on the block next to where the light bulb.

So what is the bottom line here?
Well, for me, since this genny is going to reside in the garage for now, if I see that we are going to have some icy weather in the forecast, I could plug in the light bulb and possibly the gen would be warmer for starting.

As far as humidity/condensation inside the dust cover, I would need to see what the humidity is under the cover.
This test was done in dry weather, so there is more to learn.

Randall

 

The gen plug on the outside of the house.

I pulled AWG 6 x 4 for the gen, plus a 12 romex for the 110v plug.

 

This broader picture is taken from about the point where the 1.25 inch poly gas line comes from around in front of the house where the meter is, to where I am standing, then on to the tankless water heater connection, which can be seen in the far right.

The exhaust for the tankless is up high on that wall and the intake is around the corner about halfway up the wall.
There are no doors or windows in the walls going around the corner to the right.
The nearest window is around the corner to the left, 8ft down from the corner.
Around the farthest corner to the right, past the tankless, is a patio door 10ft from that corner.
It is 14 feet from this wall to the wall where the tankless feed goes in.

This old slab is where the combo HVAC unit was when we bought the place.
The furnace is now in the basement area, and the coil is out of frame on the right, sitting on an elevated platform on another slab.
So I used the rather large square hole in the old slab to run all the utilities underneath.
I hate holes in the wall.
The grid power comes in underground, which you can see at ground level below the old phone box.
So this old slab is 7 feet from the siding to the outer edge.
If I use the last 2 feet to sit the gen, then I have the 5 feet recommended by the owners manual to be from combustibles.
The riser for the gen is covered with the red lockout.

I had an old kitchen trash can that I used the bottom part of to make a rain cover for the gen plug.
We'll see how that holds up in the wind.

This is on the South end of the house, so that offers some protection from the Winter wind.

Randall

 

All of it looks really good!

When the next big outage happens, you will reap the rewards of all this hard work!

 

I can confirm the WEN magnetic dipstick GNA200 is a direct replacement for the factory dipstick .
Same threads. Screws in just fine.

Champion PN is 15010-000007 Oil Dipstick Subassembly

Magnetic drain plug should be here Thursday this week.

Randall

 

Got the hard gas line finished up.
That hex on the end is just something I found that would keep bugs out until I put the hose on.

Randall

 

Got the magnetic drain plug today, that I ordered from the link that Champion provided to me.
SuperGen is the name. Got the 12mm.
I stood a 2x4 on edge to tilt the gen so as not to lose any oil.
That wasn't enough so I used the 2x4 flat and put a 2x6 on edge and that was enough tilt.
Honestly the little oil that came out, on first tilt, when I pulled the factory drain hose off, was probably what was in the hose.

The crush washer that came with magnetic plug is quite large, so make sure it is not dangling in the root of a thread when you tighten it down. I stuck a long screwdriver in there to hold it up while I tightened it down by hand.

The factory nipple takes a 17mm socket and the magnetic plug takes a 14mm.
EDIT ( 14 not 15mm)

I took the lower plastic cover off where you would remove the 12v battery. That requires an 8mm socket.

Randall

 

I started looking today, to see what I would need for Propane as my secondary fuel.
My knowledge of this is outdated.
I went into town and talked to the local propane supplier, and he informed me that my 100lb tanks were now required to have the OPD valves, and describing mine to him, he said yeah those would even need re-certified.
Not worth it he said.
And he said "honestly, you can buy those from the farm stores cheaper than I can get them here."

I probably am not going to want to hustle 100lb tanks around anyway.
New 40lb tanks don't seem to awful pricey. Looked them up on Menards website.

The local supplier said the problem with propane and generators is the vaporization rate, thus the need for more than one tank, in some cases. I took all the info for this genny with me.

I found this page while searching for "propane+gang" gang tanks
More for me to learn here also.

I wanted to run the initial break-in on NG, and then run another 4hr oil change on propane. Looks like that will be later.
But I do want to get the propane fuel as backup, on site, and know that it will work properly.

And I searched this forum for propane stuff, but didn't see much on multiple tanks.

Randall

 

I searched this forum for propane stuff, but didn't see much on multiple tanks.

Maybe some of this will give you an idea. When it comes to manifolds for tanks, you are only limited by your creativeness (and possibly the size of your wallet).

Nash Fuel Manifold: PROPANE NATURAL GAS MANIFOLD BALL VALVE LOCK OFF LOW PRESSURE 3/4" 1/2

Nash Fuel Manifold kits: Vapor Propane Tank Manifold Kit Link Cylinders Tanks Rubber Hose Ball

Five tank manifold kit:
PROPANE LP MANIFOLD KIT -- Hook FIVE Tanks Together!! | eBay

PropaneManifold.com GS-GANG – Propane Manifold

and from another vendor:

 

Started the break in run.
All of this is on NG.

Magnetic dipstick at 3hr.

 

At 5 hr oil change.

 

Again this is at the 5hr oil change.
With the drain plug.

 

Before I put the factory oil in that came with it, I marked the level so I could use that container to pre-measure my oil changes. I've got one ready to go for next time that way.

 

Factory oil after 5 hrs.

 

I had 2 qts. of Penzoil sitting here, so I used that for the first oil change, 10W30.
I use 5W30 full syn in my truck so I just got that ready to go for the next oil change, which I plan on doing at 10hrs.

I was going to run 5 hrs on NG and then the second 5 on propane, but the propane will have to wait.
I lack 2 hrs on the second 5hr run so I'll get that tomorrow.

This is the most I ever saw on the little meter on the xfer switch. Just happened to be in front of it when something kicked on.
I don't know what the 2 scales are on the meter. I'll open it up and see where the CT is.