Coleman UltiMite Generator - Looking for user feedback

[klenger]

I am interested in getting a Coleman Ultimite generator. You can see the unit at http://www.ultimite.com/welcome.htm. It looks like I can buy one on e-bay new in the box for $250 - $300. I would appreciate any comments from anyone who has used one. The unit can output 90 amps at 12VDC. I'm thinking that it might make more sense to use the generator to directly charge the camper batteries using DC than to connect via AC and use the converer. I'm looking for a small generator to supplement our solar electric system for off season camping.

 

[Cummins Corvette]

I can't tell you about the Coleman, but I can tell you that, if you can afford it, one of the Honda EU series generators would be the nicest generator you could buy. I have an EU3000 and absolutely love it. The EU1000 and EU2000 are very light, compact, and best of all, QUIET. Your neighbors at the campground will like you. Just thought I would pass this on, as you might not know about them.

 

[MOWPAR]

I've worked on this kind of stuff for over 25 years, Coleman is at the low end of the scale. Spend the extra cash and buy a Honda, you will much happier and less frustrated!



Jim

 

[HomerDog]

Ken,

I agree with the others in that the Honda EU 1000 is the way to go. They are great to use when camping and, most important to me, VERY quiet... Other 1000 watt generators will do the job but they are noisy...



Dave

 

['956Wheel]

you get what you paid for

HONDA or forget it! Unless you go for a Kubota diesel!



Mike

 

[illflem]

Ken, unless you like repeatedly pulling on ropes get a Honda. That Coleman unit looks like it has a two stoke engine = loud.

 

[SpeedBump]

I had a generator unit very similar to that a couple of years ago. Being small and lightweight they could easily be stored in a sidebox on a wrecker. We used them for additional lighting on a accident scene.



What I remember most though, man were they loud with that a 2-cycle engine. Think about running your weedeater full-blast for 30 or 45 minutes while charging your batteries. JMO



Eric

 

[Gunny]

I would agree that the honda EU1000I is a superior unit. However in this case there may be other considerations to take into account. The Coleman Ultrimite has 10 times the charging power of the Honda, read that again 10 times the DC charging power. And that is not to be sneezed at. Coleman is on the low side of generator quality. I have burned up and used up more Coleman 5,000 watt generators than I care to think about. They used to all come with Briggs engines and where really only good for a 1,000 hours, and you could count on that, 1,000 hours and you needed a new one. All of those Briggs engines where splash lubricated, and they ran at a very high RPM 3,600 and they just did not have much life in them at that speed. These new smaller generator's are using a much different technology, they all have OHV engines some with overhead cams as well. And they have NO generator set. They are actually alternators, these alternators produce DC current only. This DC current is feed into a inverter that converts the DC to AC. Because of this inverter technology they no longer have to turn those high RPM's and run at only about 2,200 RPM's at full load. This makes for a much quiter runing unit. Now please understand I do not have a dog in this fight, I have nothing to do with either Coleman or Honda, but the 10 times more charging power of the Coleman is something to give some thought too. Gunny

 

[RJOL]

Ken

Took a look at the specs... This is a two cycle engine (=LOUD). It also has a small tank with only 1 1/2 hours of run time. This wouldn't be a unit I'd use for serious camping applications, but looks good for short term emergency power. I own a 1000 Watt Coleman and it has worked pretty well, but it is louder than a Honda. 90 Amps at 12 volts is impressive, though...

 

[Gunny]

RJOL, I believe that you are equating 2 stroke with noise. And that MAY be a mistake. The two quietest generators on the market are both 2 stroke. The Honda EX350 and the EX650 are both 2 strokes and have decibel ratings of 34 and 37 respectively. The Honda EU1000I that has been quoted here in this post has a decibel rating of between 57 & 59. Normal talking has a decible rating of 60. The Coleman Ultrimite does not have a stated decible rating but in there specification it does state that this generator has a whisper mode at a rated 400 watts which is about half power. I think the reason these small generators are capable of such quite runing is once again the variable RPM rate that they are able to run at. With the generator that we all are familar with they MUST run at a constant spead no matter what the power output is. These speeds are dependant on the gen-set itself, some of these gen-sets well run and produce 60 HZ at 1800 RPM, the only other speed for a gen-set is 3600 RPM. The 1800RPM gen-sets are pretty rare and are getting very hard to find in a portable generator. So almost all portable generator's run at 3600RPM. These new inverter type generators are not dependent on engine speed to produce that same 60HZ of electricity, and as a matrter of fact they do not produce any AC at all. There DC current is feed into an inverter that has nothing to do with engine speed at all. And because of this they can run these little motors at much lower RPM, less RPM equates to less noise. Now that doesn't help the 1. 5 hours of run time, but if you look closely at the spec. sheet that 1. 5 hrs is at full power. And it does state extended use at reduced power. I am not saying that this is the generator to buy, if I where in the market for a generator I would probably buy the Honda myself. I just wouldn't be too quick to dismiss the coleman because it is a 2 stroke. Gunny

 

[RJOL]

Gunny

Thanks for the info. If it runs as quite as it appears it may, then that takes a big negative away...

 

[C Schomer]

There sure is a lot I don't know about motor/generators! I've never owned or worked on one(but have done a lot of auto generator, alternator and starter work) so with due respect, how could one brand 1000w M/G be 10 times better than another brand 1000w M/G? Example - 90A x12V=9A x120V (P = IE). Since when do alternators produce DC?? The reason alternators(rotor/slip ring) need a diode bridge is to convert the AC to DC. It's generators(armature/commutator) that produce DC. Maybe MG sets use different terminology! If I needed a gen, I think I'd get a 120v unit and be able to use the microwave and AC(if I got one big enough)and let the converter in the RV do the batt charging. I'm guessin you'd loose a little efficiency between the MG set and batteries(RV converter heat)but you could do more with a 120V job. FWIW, everyone I know with Hondas' wouldn't have anything else! Craig

 

[klenger]

C Schomer



The Coleman generator also produces 110 vac. What makes it different than the competition is that it produces 90 amps of DC where the others produce about 8 amps DC. From the comments on this post, I have decided not to buy the Coleman, save my pennies, and get the Honda when I can afford it.



Thanks to all for the feedback. And I though the only thing you guys knew anything about was diesel engines.



kl

 

[Gunny]

Honda vs Coleman

Well guy's. I decided that sense I had so much to say about these generator's I had better go and find out what the real truth is, or was, or whatever. Finding a dealer with a Coleman Ultrimite turned out to be a real problem Few of the dealers here in California had ever heard of the thing. I did locate one at a dealer a little over a hundred miles away. Went over there and had them start the cotton picker up, and listened to how load it was. And to tell you the truth at the time standing there with nothing to compare it with it didn't sound all that load. Then i went and listened to two Honda generator's EU1000i and a EU2000i, to say that these little guy's where quite would be an understatement. Standing just a few feet away you really couldn't tell they were running. I was so sold on the EU2000i that I bought it right then and there. I then took MY new generator back to the coleman dealer to do a side by side comparison. The Coleman when you have something to compare it with is very loud let me say that again VERY LOAD. There really is no comparison between the two, the Honda generator in a camp site would be very easy to take. The Coleman while quite a little power house in the DC mode, is really so loud that it would be hard to use while camping. I was and am surprised that there is so much difference in the two. They both use the same technology I guess they need to do a little work on that two stroke. Gunny

 

[SnoKing]

Gunny, I have a EU1000i and could not agree more. Also in reading about the Coleman it appeared that the high DC amps was for boost only, and not coninuous use. BTW, my EU1000i will run around 7 hours on its . 6 gals of gas, while powering my TODD 40 AMP converter. Converter will put out around 30 DC amps on the generator. I sold my Coleman 1850 Sport (very loud unit) to a guy at work. www.hondashop.com has good prices on EU's. SNOKING

 

[Cummins Corvette]

Like I said, the Honda EU series is the way to go. 47 db out of my eu3000 is very easy to take at the camp site. It powers my 13500 btu ac just fine too. I usually put the thing about 110 feet from the trailer chained to a tree with two 80 ft heavy duty extension cords coming to the trailer. Put that baby in eco throttle and it is just a very distant hum that you can't hear if someone is talking. It still starts my ac like that too. Honda generators rule! BTW the eu3000 is quieter than the 1000 and 2000 by 6 db I believe. It wieghs a ton though- 150 lbs so it takes two people to move it easily. I wouldn't have anything else.

 

[C Schomer]

Ken, if you have the Intel Power converter in your trailer you can buy the Charge Wizard at Camping World for about $25. It's a module that plugs into the converter to turn it into a 4 stage batt charger. Once the batts. are fully charged, it goes to 13. 2V for maintenance. Then you can just use a 120V gen and let the converter take care of proper batt charging. Craig

 

[klenger]

Gunny:



When I originally created this post, I was only looking for feedback. I didn't expect anyone to drive 100 miles in an attempt to buy one just to answer my questions. Thanks.



C Schomer:

I was at my camper yesterday and looked thru my paperwork to determine what kind of converter I have. Couldn't find the paperwork on it, but I do remember seeing something in the packet of papers that mentioned the charge controller you mentioned. I'll have to get the screw driver out next time I'm at the camper and find out what brand and model I have.



I talked with Miss Cleo, and she said the Honda is in my future. Hello Santa (hint, hint).



Ken Lenger

 

[Gunny]

Ken, To be honest this thread got my curiosty stirred up. So many of the guy's that responded had good things to say about the Honda. On the other hand the Coleman with all of that DC charging power sounded like a good deal. I really thought that the Coleman running at a reduced speed with the INVERTER technology would not be that loud. Boy was I wrong, it is very loud as compared to the Honda. I was sorta in the market for a generator, it wasn't high on my wish list though. I have just purchased a 10. 6 slidein camper and was going to need a generator some time in the future. My 5th wheel trailer has a Onan generator, and my thought's where to buy another Onan for the slidein. Once I took a look at the Honda I really was sold on this generator. I bought the EU2000i instead of the EU1000i only because I can and will use the extra power. I found little or no difference in the level of sound between these two. As far as the 100 mile drive, all I need is an excuse to drive this CTD and I'm gone. Gunny

 

[klenger]

Gunny:



I've thought about putting an Onan propane generator in my 5er, but the cost is high enough that I won't be able to do it for some time. That's why I'm considering a portable. What are you feelings of the Onan vs. a portable?