Champion 1200-Watt Portable Generator with CO Shield®
Champion 201285 1,200 W portable generator — 1,500 W starting / 1,200 W running on gasoline, 65 dB(A) at 23 feet, 79cc, 10 hr at 1/2 load, CO Shield, 58 lb.
Convenient and versatile power is yours with the Champion 1200-watt portable generator with CO Shield®. Rely on the Champion 79cc engine and enjoy up to 10 hours of run time at 50% load with a dBA of 65. This generator features CO Shield® carbon monoxide auto shutoff system, making it your perfect portable power solution.
Specifications
- Output. Gasoline: 1,500 W starting / 1,200 W running.
- Engine. 79cc.
- Fuel and run time. 1.46 gal tank, 10 hours at 1/2 load.
- Sound. 65 dB(A) at 23 feet.
- Starting. Recoil.
- Outlets. (1) 120V Duplex (5-20R).
- CO Shield®. Carbon monoxide auto shutoff — the unit shuts itself down if CO builds up around it.
- Size and weight. 18.1 in. L x 14.1 in. W x 16.9 in. H, 58 lb.
- Warranty. 3-year limited warranty.
- Emissions. EPA Certified; PGMA Compliant G300-2018 (CARB status not published on product page).
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 978 W instead of 1,200 W.
- Colorado Springs, ~6,035 ft: about 21% off — roughly 947 W instead of 1,200 W.
- Monument / Palmer Divide, ~7,000 ft: about 24% off — roughly 906 W instead of 1,200 W.
- Leadville / high passes, ~9,000 ft: about 32% off — roughly 822 W instead of 1,200 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 16161-000013, for carburetor code 16100-000087. 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: 201285 operator’s manual (PDF).
Convenient and versatile power is yours with the Champion 1200-watt portable generator with CO Shield®. Rely on the Champion 79cc engine and enjoy up to 10 hours of run time at 50% load with a dBA of 65. This generator features CO Shield® carbon monoxide auto shutoff system, making it your perfect portable power solution.
- Designed for Safety — Includes a 120V 20A covered household duplex outlet, a low oil shut-off switch and holds 0.4-quarts of oil (recommended 10W-30)
- Powerful — At 1500 starting watts and 1200 running watts, enjoy up to 10 hours of run time on a full tank of gasoline with a noise level of 65 dBA from 23 feet
- Intelligauge — Monitor voltage, frequency and operating hours with ease, plus features CO Shield® carbon monoxide auto shutoff system
- Convenient — Cold Start Technology ensures a quick start in cold weather
- Champion Support — Includes 3-year limited warranty with FREE lifetime technical support from dedicated experts
The Champion Power Equipment 201285 1200-Watt Multi-Purpose Portable Generator with CO Shield® is designed with your safety and convenience in mind, and is the perfect “what if” generator. At 1500 starting watts and 1200 running watts, this rugged generator with its durable steel frame is easy to transport and provides just what you need for RV use, camping, tailgating, boating, hunting, weekend trips, family vacations and small jobs around the house. The next time there’s an outage, the 79cc Champion single-cylinder OHV engine will provide the power you need for a few essential items in an emergency - lights, microwave, fan, TV, modem/router, cell phone charger, etc. (Note: this unit is not recommended for emergency home backup for powering air conditioners, stoves, furnaces or sump pumps.) Power up with Champion’s reliable recoil start, plus Cold Start Technology ensures a quick start in cold weather. Champion also makes it easy to monitor voltage, frequency and operating hours with Intelligauge. This unit includes a 120V 20A covered household duplex outlet (5-20R). Designed for safety with convenient push-to-reset circuit breakers, a low oil shut-off switch plus an included oil funnel for easy changes, this unit has a 0.4-quart oil capacity (recommended 10W-30). The reliable 79cc single-cylinder OHV Champion engine produces 1500 starting watts and 1200 running watts, and will run for up to 10 hours at 50% load when the 1.46-gallon tank of gasoline is full. With a noise level of 65 dBA from 23 feet, which is a little bit louder than normal speech, this machine can handle a few basic essentials in an outage. Champion’s thoughtful packaging and clear directions make setup hassle free. Buy this EPA certified generator with confidence – Champion Support and our nationwide network of service centers will back up your purchase with a 3-year limited warranty and FREE lifetime technical support. CO Shield® technology monitors the accumulation of carbon monoxide (CO), a poisonous gas produced by engine exhaust when the generator is running. If CO Shield® detects unsafe elevated levels of CO gas, it automatically shuts off the engine. CO Shield® is not a substitute for an indoor carbon monoxide alarm or for safe operation. DO NOT allow engine exhaust fumes to enter a confined area through windows, doors, vents or other openings. Generators must ALWAYS be used outdoors, far away from occupied buildings with engine exhaust pointed away from people and buildings. Meets the requirements of ANSI/PGMA G300-2018.