A generator that can run on either gasoline or propane is a versatile tool for emergency power. The Champion Power Equipment 76533 can run on gas or propane right out of the box. It also has both recoil and electric start.

Champion 76533: Summary

This portable generator provides up to 4750 starting watts (on gasoline) for starting and running household appliances such as an air conditioner or refrigerator.

It can also use propane as a fuel source with its built-in LPG hose connector and fuel selector switch. However, its surge wattage on propane peaks at 4275 watts. Still, you will not have to worry about stale fuel or a dirty carburetor when you use propane.

It seems like the Champion Power Equipment 76533 is a good purchase if you want a dual fuel electric start portable generator that can run on either gasoline or propane (buy on Amazon).

What is included?

The generator is shipped with a few essential items. The wheel kit consists of two 8-inch plastic never-flat wheels, a handle and a support leg with vibration mounts. Various flange bolts, washers, bushings and nuts are provided to screw it all up. A 3.3-foot LPG hose with a regulator is provided for connecting to a propane tank. It seems like an oil funnel and a small bottle of automotive oil (0.6 qt.) is included for filling up the oil pan. The last essential item is a 12-volt battery for the engine’s electric start system.

How much assembly?

There are a few small things to do after you remove the generator from its carton. However, you might need a few tools that are not included in the package. We hope you have the following in your tool chest at home: 17 mm wrench, 16 mm socket wrench and pliers.

First, attach the wheels to the frame of the generator. Next, you may install the support leg and handle. Then you can connect the red and black battery leads.

You should use the funnel to add the engine oil, but do not overfill the oil pan. Then you need to either fill up the gas tank or attach a propane LPG cylinder.

The last thing to consider is probably how to ground the generator. You might have to consult with an electrician on what the local electrical laws recommend. Usually you need to attach a ground wire (minimum of 12 AWG) to the ground terminal. The other end of the wire is connected to a copper rod which is pressed deeply into the ground.

What type of engine?

The Champion Power Equipment 76533 generator has a 4-stroke, 224cc engine with a 3.4-gallon fuel tank. The engine is certified by both the EPA and the CARB. Therefore, it can be sold and used in all 50 states. Its operational noise level is stated to be 68 dBA from 23 feet away. Therefore, it is as loud as any other portable generator.

The engine oil capacity is about 0.6 qt. The normal recommended oil type is 10W-30. The engine has a low-oil protection system, which shuts down the generator if the oil level drops too low. Use the included oil funnel to add the oil because the hole is in an awkward spot.

You can keep track of the running hours, voltage and hertz with the small digital meter on the power panel.

Gasoline or propane?

The Champion Power Equipment 76533 can use either gasoline or propane as a fuel source. It produces up to 4750 starting watts and 3800 continuous watts when running on gasoline. The approximate run time on a full tank of gas is about 9 hours at 50% load.

The generator is ready for propane right out of the box because it has an LPG inlet on the power panel. A short LPG hose with a regulator is also included in the package. There is a fuel selector switch that allows you to switch safely between the two fuel sources. The generator produces slightly less wattage output when using propane: only 4275 surge watts and 3420 running watts. The estimated run time on a 20 lb. propane tank when under 50% load (1710 watts) is about 10 hours.

Does it have electric start?

It sure does! The Champion Power Equipment 76533 generator has an engine switch button with three positions: OFF, ON and START. The START position will start the generator with power from the battery. Of course, it won’t start if there is no battery charge.

Does it have a battery?

The generator is shipped with its own internal 12V battery. The battery is automatically recharged by a built-in battery charging circuit when the engine is running. Of course, the battery will only stay charged if the generator is used regularly.

You might charge the battery with a battery trickle charger before attempting an electric start. It might be a good idea to invest in a battery maintainer to keep the battery ready for when you need it during an emergency. There is a battery switch on the power panel, so you can turn the electric start system on or off.

Does it have recoil start?

The engine has a pull cord starter. You can use it when the battery does not have enough charge to start the engine. The product manual has information on how to set the choke when using the recoil starter.

For example, you should push the choke lever into the full choking position for the first pull on the starter rope. Then, you should move the choke lever back to the normal running position for the next three pulls. The reason for this seems to be that too much choke makes the fuel mixture too rich. A rich fuel mixture might either flood the engine with fuel or foul up the spark plug. This will make the engine very hard to start. Use only 75% choke when you are restarting an already warm engine.

What type of outlets?

The Champion Power Equipment 76533 generator has four AC outlets, but there is no DC outlet. All the outlets are protected from power surges by a built-in Volt Guard system. The receptacles do not have GFCI. The four AC outlets that are available on the control panel are:

• Two 120V, 20A, household outlets (5-20R)
• One 120V, 30A, RV outlet (TT-30R)
• One 120V, 30A, locking receptacle (L5-30R)

This portable generator does not have an inverter system. Therefore, it might not be the best option for powering electronic devices such as computers and digital appliances. Voltage fluctuations could have a negative impact on sensitive electronic devices. If you need emergency power for sensitive electronic devices, then you might consider getting a portable inverter generator such as the Champion 4000W Digital Hybrid inverter generator.

How many amps?

The Champion Power Equipment 76533 is a 120-volt 60Hz generator. It does not have a 240V output. The amount of amps that it puts out will vary according to watts and fuel source. The specifications indicate that it puts out a maximum of 39.6A at surge capacity (4750W divided by 120V). The normal amps when running on gasoline is 31.7A.

The amps are lower when the engine is using propane because the wattage figures are also lower. The amps drop to a peak surge of 35.6A (4275 divided by 120V) and a normal running figure of 28.5A.

Champion 76533: Conclusion

To conclude, the Champion Power Equipment 76533 dual fuel generator might be somewhat heavy and a little loud, but it is easy to assemble. It has an electric starter and 30-amp outlets that are ready for recreational vehicles. However, it cannot get up to 50 amps. Nonetheless, this is a good option if you want a 3800-watt portable dual fuel generator with electric start (check price on Amazon).