Champion 10,000-Watt Electric Start Tri Fuel Home Backup Portable Generator with CO Shield®
Champion 201438 10,000 W tri-fuel portable generator — 12,500 W starting / 10,000 W running on gasoline, 9,000 W on LP, 8,000 W on natural gas, 74 dB(A) at 23 feet, 500cc, Gasoline 8 h.; Propane 3 h. at 1/2 load, CO Shield, 231 lb.
Champion’s 10,000-watt natural gas ready generator features CO Shield® carbon monoxide auto shutoff system. Also operating on Tri-Fuel technology, allowing it to run on natural gas, gasoline, or propane. This unit includes a 25-foot natural gas hose kit.
Specifications
- Output. Gasoline: 12,500 W starting / 10,000 W running. Propane: 11,250 W starting / 9,000 W running. Natural gas: 10,000 W starting / 8,000 W running.
- Engine. 500cc, Champion 4-stroke, 3600 RPM (no named series published).
- Fuel and run time. 7.7 gal tank, Gasoline 8 h.; Propane 3 h. at 1/2 load.
- Sound. 74 dB(A) at 23 feet.
- Starting. Recoil, electric.
- Outlets. (1) 120/240V 30A Locking (L14-30R); (1) 120/240V 42A (14-50R); (2) 120V AC 20A GFCI Duplex (5-20R).
- CO Shield®. Carbon monoxide auto shutoff — the unit shuts itself down if CO builds up around it.
- Size and weight. 29 in. L x 28.5 in. W x 25.8 in. H, 231 lb.
- Warranty. 3-year limited warranty.
- Emissions. EPA Certified: Yes; 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 8,152 W instead of 10,000 W.
- Colorado Springs, ~6,035 ft: about 21% off — roughly 7,888 W instead of 10,000 W.
- Monument / Palmer Divide, ~7,000 ft: about 24% off — roughly 7,550 W instead of 10,000 W.
- Leadville / high passes, ~9,000 ft: about 32% off — roughly 6,850 W instead of 10,000 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 - 8,000 ft. (1,828.8 - 2,438.4 m) — part 16161-000105, for carburetor code 16100-000085. 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.” 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: 201438 operator’s manual (PDF).
Champion’s 10,000-watt natural gas ready generator features CO Shield® carbon monoxide auto shutoff system. Also operating on Tri-Fuel technology, allowing it to run on natural gas, gasoline, or propane. This unit includes a 25-foot natural gas hose kit.
- Tri-Fuel — 10,000-watt portable generator operates on natural gas, propane, or gasoline, plus natural gas and propane hoses are included so the unit is ready to run on any fuel right out of the box
- Electric Start — Power up the 500cc Champion engine with the handy rocker switch, battery included
- Intelligauge — Track voltage, frequency, session run time, and total run time to monitor output and track maintenance intervals, plus features CO Shield® carbon monoxide auto shutoff system
- Powerful — Gasoline: 12,500 starting watts and 10,000 running watts, propane: 11,250 starting watts and 9000 running watts, natural gas: 10,000 starting watts and 8000 running watts and engine oil is included
- Champion Support — Includes 3-year limited warranty with FREE lifetime technical support from dedicated experts
The Champion Power Equipment 201438 10,000-Watt Tri-Fuel Portable Natural Gas Ready Generator with CO Shield® is a reliable source of power with the flexibility you need. 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 natural gas, the engine produces 10,000 starting watts and 8000 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 and a female flare by male NPT adapter fitting. Using gasoline, the 500cc Champion engine produces 12,500 starting watts and 10,000 running watts, and will run for 8 hours at 50% load when the 7.7-gallon fuel tank is full. When using a 20-pound propane tank with included 6-foot propane hose assembly, it produces 11,250 starting watts and 9000 running watts, and will run for 3 hours at 50% load. The electric start includes a battery, plus Cold Start Technology ensures quick cold-weather starts. With a 1.4-quart oil capacity, this unit has a low oil shut-off sensor and includes engine oil – all you need is fuel! Easily monitor power output and track maintenance intervals with Intelligauge, which allows you to keep track of voltage, frequency, session run time, and total run time to easily monitor output and track maintenance intervals. This generator has a noise level of 74 dBA from 23 feet, which is a bit louder than a vacuum. The covered outlets include a 120/240V 30A locking outlet (L14-30R), a 120/240V 42A outlet (L14-50R), and two 120V 20A GFCI duplex household outlets (5-20R). 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.