Review by kandoro:

For safety concerns just use the source tank valve for on/off control…To fill each 1 lb. bottle more completely simply put those containers in a refrigerator or even a freezer for a few minutes AND put the 20/40 lb. FULL tank in hot water and/or in the Sun…The key here is to maximize the pressure in the source tank and minimize it in the receiving 1 lb. bottle allowing for more propane to transfer before the pressure equalizes…I’ve been filling these little bottles for years using this type coupler and while they may not get 100% filled as when new they can reach 80-90% with regularity when the above steps are taken…Keep in mind NO Propane tank is completely filled anyway or at least it shouldn’t be to allow for excessive heat expansion when full..

Even if trying to refill in a freezing or below environment simply heating the 20/40 lb. bottle up by leaving it in a heated indoors for a few hours and/or in hot water will help tremendously to get more transferred…

When you get tanks refilled commercially the source has pump assisted pressure so this always allows for a complete fill…

Review by Benjamin Herbst:

I have had this or a similar product for several years now. I live in the mountains, and go camping a lot, and sometimes set up camps and leave, going to work, backpacking, etc, and dont return until night or even a few days. I had two small bulk containers, one for a propane lantern, and one for a little heater and both were stolen out of my closed tent. Since the small refillable propane tanks (small bulk tanks cost more than the regular 5 gallon bulk tank) are expensive, I switched back to the 16 oz type disposable type. I have messed with all different ways of refilling these babies, and here are my suggestions and results.

1. If you only camp once a year (or twice), just spend the each on a couple new 16 oz disposables and be done with it. If you set up “big hunting type camps” you are probably going to have a big bulk tank or 2 anyway, with a propane tree on it or some similar setup for lanters, cooking, etc. or more than likely, have a trailer, and you probably don’t need advice from me anyway.

2. Though you can get a complete (and even a little over) fill by pulling the little “bicycle valve” overflow protection valve while filling, these tanks are not really ment for that, and frequently enough (one out of 4 tanks maybe, my experience … maybe one out of every 6) this valve, once pulled out, will leak, and the tank and refill will be useless. Even though the tanks are filled all the way, I do not recommend this due to the higher percentage of leakers.

3. I recommend following the instructions, which requires putting the bulk 5 gal. tank in the sun for a few hours (let it get nice and warm), and the little 16 oz tanks in the freezer, using temperature differential as a pump. Then, grab one tank from the freezer and attach to the refill device/bulk tank, make sure everything is decently tight, and open the valve on the bulk tank (which is upside down – I usually do it on the tailgate of my Toyota Tacoma). You can hear the propane going into the small tank, and when it seems like its not going to get any fuller – usually around 45 seconds to a minute, shut of the big tank valve and unscrew the little one, and go and get another nice cold one from the freezer (little propane tank, not beer). When I first started refilling them, I weighed them to see how much propane I got in the little tank. When I was a newbee, and didn’t know what I was doing, and didn’t have enought temperature difference, I wouldn’t get hardly any liquid propane in. Then I learned the “pull out the bicycle valve trick” and found I could fill them even a little more full than new, by weight on a postal scale. Now and finally, I just put the big tank in the sun, and the little ones in the freezer, and I don’t weigh them anymore, but my “picking them up” scale tells me that they are probably somewhere about 1/2 full, or a little more. This is enough for me, for just one single mantle lantern and one propane stove. Usually they don’t leak if you don’t mess with the overpressure protection valve.

Lastly, a couple things to keep in mind (principles of propane refill) – propane is always at a constant pressure, at a certain temperature. As some of the gas escapes, or is burned, the pressure that would drop is refilled by propane gas which has expaned from some of the liquid. Therefore, if both tanks were equal in temperature, and you hooked one to the other and opened the valve, (assuming the big tank is upside down so the liquid proane is comming out and not gas – if you refill with just gas, you might get 30 seconds worth of gas into the little tank, which is basically nothing and not what you are looking for) the smaller one would only get maybe 5% or 10% full, untill both tanks were under the same pressure. The object is to get as much “liquid” propane in. The more temperature differential, the more liquid you will get in, because the pressure will be lower in the cold tank. Of course, the bicycle valve trick works great (wear gloves on your right hand, because the propane gas is cold when it comes out/evaporates, and no smoking). But, because they weren’t made for that, seem to have a hard time seating themselves again, even when pushed in, etc. Now that I’ve been refilling these little babies for a few years, it seems so quick and easy, and probably saves a few bucks, and is better for the environment not throwing away a decent little tank.

So, summary – yes these work fine, but anticipate only about 1/2 full (or slightly more) small tanks.

Oh, and lastly about the no smoking comment – I stand by that, but propane gas is heavier than air (which is why you can’t use propane appliances in your basement) and goes down when leaking. I’ve had a little leaking tank within 2′ maybe of a flame which was higher and screened, and it didn’t catch, but I was watching it closely, and threw the tank away shortly thereafter. Try that with gasoline fumes, and you will find yourself in a big explosion of flames!

Sorry for the long review, hopefully it will be kinda helpful.

Review by Greg Mccormick:

After much online research, I chose this model for a backup home generator for use during power outages. The unit arrived undamaged in around two weeks. It was very easy to assemble and set up, and started right up. I tested the electrical output by running a Skilsaw on it, and it worked fine. I have only run it around 20 minutes so far, so have no idea how it will perform in the long run, but so far, I am very satisfied.

The thing that impressed me right from the start was how rugged this unit is, including the quality of the hardware, etc. that came with it. I am very happy that I made the decision to pay a little more for a propane model, as the advantages are almost too numerous to mention in the limited space available here.

Review by A. Danaie:

The generator blew up after 10 hours of use. It melted everything around it and threw it’s oil all over our sound equipment. I called the first business day after (31 instead of 30 days) later to return it and have been rejected.

Otherwise, it was generally louder than comparable generators and heavier than it needed to be. It’s cheap for a good reason!

UPDATE: Amazon called me back and allows me to return it. I talked with the technical support and customer service teams at champion power equipment. They said this problem was not very common, but every person I spoke with seemed to know all the details of every single failed part on the generator. Their policy to fix it was to have me drive it to a far suburb in it’s current oil-covered condition for them to do an assessment.

Save yourself the trouble and spend the money on a honda generator. They are quiet, last forever and you won’t have to deal with any ordeals like this one.

Review by Alan Gold:

After losing power for 5 days last December I swore to never be in that situation again. I had looked at portable generators like the Honda and Honeywell 2k models because they were small and light (60 lbs). Unfortunately they were also expensive per kilowatt and did not have adequate power. On the other end of the spectrum are whole house 6-8KW models, but at 200+ lbs they are too heavy for me to move by myself. I opted for the Champion 4kw because it weighs 100 lbs and has a reasonable amount of power. I ordered on-line because my car is too small to carry the boxed unit and at 100 lbs it would be difficult to get in/out of the car. I was delighted to see the unit delivered to my door in just 3 days! It assembled in 10 minutes and started on the second pull. It is fairly quiet (no louder than a lawn mower) and easy to operate. The only caution is that to use the full 4kw you need a 110v/30 amp twist-lock cable, which I haven’t been able to find at the local stores. You can use a standard 110v extension cord for lower power use.

All in all, I am very happy with the product and the fast delivery. Hopefully I’ll never need it but the peace of mind is worth the purchase price.

Review by T. Sal:

This product arrived 2 days earlier than expected, which worked out great. I was leaving for a camping trip and wanted to bring this along. The campground was a “primative” setting, meaning no electrical hook-ups for the RV. This Generator worked flawlessly. Following the easy steps to get it running was a no brainer. All I had to do when it arrived was attach the wheels and handle bar and add oil and gas (seperate, of course) and start it up. I ran it for a few minutes, let it cool down and then installed the flash arrester in the muffler’s exhaust. It worked reliably. The power output was plenty. I didn’t run the air conditioner in the RV because it was an unseasonably cool weekend, so I really couldn’t try to overload the generator. I’ll give a whirl next time when I’m out RV-ing in the “heat”. The fridge stayed cold and all the lights stayed on when I needed them. I’m completely satisfied with my purchase. Worth every penny.

Review by Joe G.:

I use this controller with a 15 watt Brunton Solar Flat panel on a boat hoist that uses a 12V DC motor for the winch. The 12v battery remained charged throughout last summer with no “over charging”. The controller is easy to install and provides an indication of “charging” or “charged”. Amazon has a good price for this item.

Review by Aurora R. Traver:

I put this guy between the Northern Tool 15 watt solar panel and a 33ah wheelchair battery. It’s doing a good job, exactly as expected. One thing that confused me at first is before you attach it to the battery both the CHARGING and BATTERY FULL light will be on, but once you hook it up to the battery it works as advertised.

Review by John:

I use this as a bellows for our fireplace, and it blows plenty of air! Very handy item.

Review by W. C. Miller:

I have a fisher woood stove—The air-grill really helps to

reingite My stove when it get down to a few coals,,, will order

another one next Year–The only thing I would change is the

plastic tips–they melt to easely,,would make them out of metal.

W C Miller–Retired.