50+ thread

Nice! This one is single. I wonder what it takes to convert one to duel. LP is supposed to give you double the run time.

 

The design just sucks.
Anything you do is so time consuming on these engines.

 

Idk but propane won't go bad

 

Another plus.

 

LP burns cleaner, and it does not go bad, but it also has about 20% less heat energy than gasoline, therefore not as efficient

one gallon of gasoline 125,000 BTU

one gallon of propane 91,000BTU

the work energy isn't there

also, LP converter parts are temperamental with age, the propylene in the LP will deteriorate the internals over time when not used regularly.

LP also is about useless below freezing if you're in that temperature zone

IF you already have a large storage tank of LP for other house hold functions, (250-1000 gal bulk ) an LP generator make sense

 

Ok so what is the best backup generator to get? I would probably rarely use it unless something big, knocked out the power, so it would have to sit for a long time. We are going to get solar eventually, electric has gone sky high. About $650 a month to run the A.C. 24/7. Anyway...what was I talking about?

 

All depends on what You want.
Full auto system or a man setup and run.

 

Maybe ......

 

Need to check local on that.

 

Do you have natural gas in your area ? a generator running off natural gas would be ideal.

 

In my little spot on the map you'll find a few of the residential models in folks backyards. Zoning around here is more geared towards livestock. I was surprised of how many versions of turbines they offer these days.

 

I looked into that but it's a project. I have enough projects so plug and play I did. Can't waste any hard earned venison.

 

wind power is great as supplemental energy, but you need a LARGE turbine and steady wind for a main source, a battery bank would help but the scale for back up use would be fairly large.
Solar is similar, great supplemental, but need battery storage for night and low light use.

 

I would guess it will be manual set up, I don't need a permanent set up, we haven't lost power in 3 years

 

One other draw back as pointed out by @Blkvoodoo is the problem of outside temp below freezing causing the LP to flow erratically. One other thing that does happen with the regulator in a more moderate but colder temps can freeze from the amount of moisture on/in the diaphragm when a high flow rate is drawn. I learned that here in this wanna be northern state. We have mainly big boy diesels for the facility but we have a propane on a well pump that feeds the facility. The regulator froze up at slightly above freezing temp but high winds ( which is what had dropped the trees to kill the main power) . After approx. 2 hours genie stopped and alarmed I got to go find out why lol yeah send the dog walker out there he has the clothes and the truck for it .. Anyhow had to call the propane company to come out they swapped the regulator with .. some other style and flow rate lol I walk a dog what do I know .. Truthfully I called them and sat in my truck the winds were howling . The new one worked for several hours but was building frost by the time main power was returned to the pump house. So be mindful of it there is now a dog house built over the pipe and regulator with a small lamp in it to keep it from freezing up.

My father has a propane one in Maine and to date it's regulator has never frozen up so it could be just the weather here in the winter low temps high winds a lot of moisture and wide open area with no protection. I would check around you area for folks with them and see. I would like propane to but even a propane generator does need maintenance but not near as much as gas or diesel with the associated fuel freshness issues. Oh and for the record dad has a Generac he did have one problem with it right after it was installed failed to do it's maintenance runs at correct times etc they had to replace a logic board in it ... would suck if he had needed it and it was not working. Though lol it is Maine so we have a Honda gas and a PTO one for the tractor :}

Cypher

 

Yes lots of cheap Natural gas. But that would be shut off in an earthquake

 

Bes is best for you and your wallet and area etc. I wrote a thing on this for a college paper if I can find it I will post it if you or anyone else is interested . It is dated but some of the salient points are true today and will be for ever. One thing to consider when folks here talk about perm or mobile. I always suggest mobile here as flooding is very very common in a lot of areas. If you have to bail to some place else you are far better received at your friends house who does not have power nor a generator lol so you come with the generator :}

Cypher

 

LP powered vehicles use the engine coolant to heat the regulator for this very reason, up side is it also aids in vaporization of the liquid to gas conversion, which is what actually causes the freezing action ( same way an AC or other refrigeration system works)

Air cooled engines designed for LP use in cold climes will have a heated air routed , but it only works down to certain temps.

Even gasoline engines can freeze the carb in certain temps ( if you're familiar with small aircraft you know of "carb heat" control

 

Yes, mobile. Probably gas, I have that stored. I don't mind draining it and prepping it for storage, just wondered what brand is reliable, not sure how big to go to power the fridge and ac