Champion 13,500-Watt Electric Start Tri Fuel Home Backup Portable Generator with CO Shield®
Champion 201241 13,500 W tri-fuel portable generator — 16,875 W starting / 13,500 W running on gasoline, 12,000 W on LP, 11,000 W on natural gas, 79 dB(A) at 23 feet, 739cc, 8 (gasoline); 3 (propane) at 1/2 load, CO Shield, 361 lb.
Our 13,500-watt Tri Fuel generator runs on natural gas, gasoline, or propane. It features CO Shield® carbon monoxide auto shutoff and a powerful 739cc Milwaukee Series V-Twin engine with battery-included electric start—perfect for home backup or your next project.
Specifications
- Output. Gasoline: 16,875 W starting / 13,500 W running. Propane: 15,000 W starting / 12,000 W running. Natural gas: 13,750 W starting / 11,000 W running.
- Engine. 739cc, Champion Milwaukee Series V-Twin, 4-stroke.
- Fuel and run time. 11 gal tank, 8 (gasoline); 3 (propane) at 1/2 load.
- Sound. 79 dB(A) at 23 feet.
- Starting. Electric.
- Outlets. (1) 120/240V 50A (14-50R); (1) 120/240V 30A Locking (L14-30R); (1) 120V 30A Locking (L5-30R); (2) 120V 20A Duplex GFCI (5-20R).
- CO Shield®. Carbon monoxide auto shutoff — the unit shuts itself down if CO builds up around it.
- Size and weight. 32.7 in. L x 33.7 in. W x 33 in. H, 361 lb.
- Warranty. 3-year limited warranty.
- Emissions. EPA Certified; PGMA Compliant G300-2023.
Note on the 30 A outlet. The 30 A receptacle on this machine is a locking outlet, not the TT-30R an RV cord plugs into. If you are powering a coach you will need an adapter, or a model with a proper RV receptacle — ask and we will point you at one.
Altitude — this matters more than the sticker suggests
Champion's own operator's manual for this machine states that engine power and generator output are reduced by about 3.5% for every 1,000 ft of elevation above sea level. That sentence is in the manual, not on the product page, and it is the number that decides whether this generator does what you bought it for.
- Denver, ~5,280 ft: about 18% off — roughly 11,005 W instead of 13,500 W.
- Colorado Springs, ~6,035 ft: about 21% off — roughly 10,648 W instead of 13,500 W.
- Monument / Palmer Divide, ~7,000 ft: about 24% off — roughly 10,192 W instead of 13,500 W.
- Leadville / high passes, ~9,000 ft: about 32% off — roughly 9,248 W instead of 13,500 W.
It needs a high-altitude jet here, and we can get it. Champion makes a high-altitude carburetor main jet for this model covering 6000-8000 ft. (1829-2438 m) — part 16161-000107, for carburetor code 16100-000091. Colorado Springs is 6,035 ft, so on the Front Range this is not optional if you want the machine to run properly. Champion does not sell these jets on the shelf — the manual tells you to contact their technical support. Buy the generator from us and we will sort the jet out with it, matched to the carburetor code stamped on your actual unit.
One warning worth repeating. Champion is explicit that a high-altitude jet must not be run below its minimum altitude — “Operation using the alternative main jet at elevations lower than the recommended minimum altitude can damage the engine. For operation at lower elevations, the originally supplied standard main jet must be used.” If you take the machine back down to sea level, the standard jet goes back in.
Manual. Champion publishes the full operator’s manual for this model, including the high-altitude section quoted above: 201241 operator’s manual (PDF).
Our 13,500-watt Tri Fuel generator runs on natural gas, gasoline, or propane. It features CO Shield® carbon monoxide auto shutoff and a powerful 739cc Milwaukee Series V-Twin engine with battery-included electric start—perfect for home backup or your next project.
- Tri Fuel — Operates on natural gas, propane, or gasoline, with hoses included for natural gas (25 ft.) and propane (6.6 ft.) so it’s ready to run on any fuel right out of the box.
- Ultra-Powerful — At 16,875 starting watts and 13,500 running watts, enjoy up to 8 hours of run time on a full tank of gasoline with a noise level of 79 dBA from 23 feet.
- Electric Start — Powered by a reliable 739cc Milwaukee Series V-Twin engine with a convenient, battery-included electric start.
- Easy Monitoring and Operation — Intelligauge with Power Meter tracks voltage, frequency, and run time, plus features CO Shield® carbon monoxide auto shutoff system.
- Champion Support — Comes with a 3-year limited warranty, FREE lifetime technical support from dedicated experts, and access to a network of service centers across the country.
The Champion Power Equipment 201241 13,500-Watt Tri Fuel Portable Generator with CO Shield® is designed with your safety and convenience in mind. This natural gas-ready, rugged 13,500-watt generator ensures that the next time there’s an outage, the power in your house stays on. For projects, the massive 739cc Milwaukee Series V-Twin engine has what it takes to handle multiple power tools and large equipment, helping you get the job done with ease. When you are not running your generator on natural gas, you also have the option of operating it on gasoline or propane. The ability to operate your generator on three types of fuel out of the box makes this one of the most versatile generators on the market. The Fuel Select dial allows you to safely select gasoline, propane (LPG), or natural gas (NG) as your fuel source. Using gasoline, the generator produces 16,875 starting watts and 13,500 running watts; and will run for 8 hours at 50% load when the 11-gallon fuel tank is full. When using a 20-pound propane tank, it produces 15,000 starting watts and 12,000 running watts; and will run for 3 hours at 50% load. A 6.6-foot propane hose with a built-in regulator is included. Using natural gas, the generator produces 13,750 starting watts and 11,000 running watts. To connect this generator to your home’s natural gas source, this generator includes a 25-foot NG hose kit, which includes a female quick connect end, a female flare fitting end, and an NPT male adapter. You’ll appreciate the handy electric start with included battery, plus Cold Start Technology ensures a quick start in cold weather. The Intelligauge with Power Meter monitors voltage, frequency and operating hours, while the integrated lift hook, foldaway U-shaped handle and 12 in. never flat tires make it easy to load, unload and move your power where you need it. At 16,875 starting watts and 13,500 running watts, this powerful unit has a durable steel frame and can handle it all in an outage – lights, sump pump, refrigerator, modem/router, security system, window AC, furnace blower, fan, TV/DVD, computer, well pump, microwave and will start and run a central AC with a manual transfer switch (not included). Not only that, but the Volt Guard™ built-in surge protector prevents overloads and keeps your equipment safe from spikes in voltage. This powerful generator has better fuel economy, lower emissions, and reduced friction for less wear and longer life thanks to the newly designed Milwaukee V-Twin engine. The engine’s 90-degree V-win design results in superior balance and low vibration, plus the fan reduces noise and ensures maximum airflow. All the outlets have covers for protection and include 120V 30A (L5-30R) and 120/240V 30A (L14-30R) locking outlets, a 120/240V 50A outlet (14-50R), and two 120V 20A GFCI-protected household duplex outlets (5-20R). From 23 feet, the noise level is 79 dBA, similar to what you’d hear curbside on a busy street. This unit has a low oil shut-off sensor and includes 1.5 quarts of 5W-30 engine oil so all you’ll need to buy is gasoline.