Inverter Generator powered by Propane

I've seen these online, wonder if somebody has one and recommendations. They seem ideal for RV use, better than hauling gas cans.

 

Would this be considered a propane accessory?

 

No, something like this:

http://www.generatorsales.com/triple-fuel-generators.asp

An inverter generator that operates on LPG tanks, not gasoline. You can get 2kW but it runs off an LPG tank.

 

Toss up holds a bit less that a 5 gallon gas can and takes about the same amount of room. how long would you run the generator in a weekend? You most likely would not use what the generator carries for fuel.

 

Yeah, you can convert to LPG, but the inverter generators are much more quiet because they don't run at a constant 3600 RPM.

I'm looking for opinions and experience with inverter generators that run on LPG. I want the inverter generator because it's quiet and doesn't piss too many people off at a campground. And runs on LPG.

 

I'd rather run the generator off of a 20 gal LPG tank than haul gas cans. Much better setup. These that I've seen can go maybe 10 hours on a 20 lb LPG tank.

I'm looking for reviews on those that have the LPG setup.

 

I read forums on rv.net quite a bit, few people care for propane generators, primarily due to much higher cost per hour for fuel compared to gasoline. Let me qualify that their opinion may be influenced by their use of propane for stove, refrigerator, furnace, gas grill, etc.

Guess it depends on how big a generator and whether you need "clean" power ala full sine wave. The 1000 and 2000 kw Honda's have very low consumption, as low as .5 gal per hour, and rpm is dependent on load, rather that the constant 3500-3600 rpm of a lot of generators, and are unbelievably quiet. I think Yamaha makes a similar 2400 kw model.

 

Less run time on propane than gas you can't siphon propane no less noise. Propane will keep indefinably no carb to gum up from sitting works fine as a fuel. You can't buy it everywhere boon docks gas stations etc. probably won't have it and it makes your generator setup have a much larger foot print. So my point is with a portable generator it may not be the best plan. A little Honda 2K with a light load will run close to 10 hr on a fill up. I have an automatic 7K generator to power my house it is propane, best fuel for the setup. I also have portable generators that are gasoline a 2K and a 6K (portable with the tractor) I find them easier to use with gasoline no external connections and nothing else to carry. The propane tanks must be kept up right when in use if it falls over it can cause bad things to happen. That’s my review.

 

I have an LPG generator for backup power for my house and occassionally for use when camping (I usually tent so I rarely bring the generator). As far as noise goes, you can get a gasoline generator just as quiet, if not quieter. I bought a cheaper LPG generator so it doesn't have a lot of sound dampening and it's just as loud as it's gasoline powered counterparts. I bought an LPG generator because of the ethanol that's being put in gasoline now. I'm having a hard time keeping all of my small engines running right without rebuilding the carbs every year (mower, snow blower, motorcycle, etc) and I didn't want to have that problem with a generator because, when you really need it, it just needs to work. An added benefit is the fumes, or lack thereof. The LPG generators' exhaust isn't as offensive as those from a gasoline generator. Lastly, the generator itself is lighter because there's no fuel tank attached. I can easily carry mine (4000W), set it in place, then go get the LP tank. There are certainly pros and cons to LP. My generator's first duty is as a back up generator for the house. I always have at least 2 full LP tanks on hand and there's a local hardware store 1/2 a block from me that's always stocked with LP tanks. Between 2 tanks, I should have more than enough run time to get me through a week of non-constant use just keeping the house warm and the refrigerators cold.

 

Gasoline is about 6 1/4 pounds per gallon so that adds about 6 3/4# to a little Honda as opposed to a 20# BBQ tank that weights about 37# full? I don't see the logic. So if you only carried 3 gals of gas that would run the Honda for maybe 30 hrs. Some thing that sits all the time can benefit from propane ethanol or not gas does not store well for long term. Now if you brought your camper with two BBQ 20 pounders and hooked the generator to them then yeah go for it.

 

When was the last time you saw a 4000W generator with a 1 gallon tank? The point was, overall they weigh the same but you can move them separately because they are easily detached from one another. A generator with a tank attached will be 20 - 30# heavier because of the tank weight as well as the weight of the fuel. Yes, you can drain the tank after every use and carry the fuel separate but that's a PITA.

Keep in mind, my point of view was from using a generator was a back up for a house so being able to easily carry the generator was a big deal to me. Handle kits and 4" tires don't help when you have to get the generator through knee deep snow.

 

Thanks for the commentary/reviews maineah, Pugga, et al.


Yeah, I have two 20lb tanks on the trailer and an extra 20lb tank I can use for the generator. I'm not a big fan of hauling gas cans in the trailer or inside the shell on the truck. Not a fan of gummed up carbs either.


I'm looking at this generator:


http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/25002700-watt-propane-inverter-generator/72894


It has just enough wattage to power the AC in the trailer, 64 lbs, 60dB.

 

When was the last time you took a 4K generator camping? Little bit of overkill unless you wanted to run the A/C. Guess I could take my 260# 6K one but at that point who cares how much the fuel weights.

 

Have you seen the monsters people go 'camping' with these days (A/C, TV, heat, etc)? Also, I only have one generator... If I need one for camping, I bring the one I own. I don't know why you feel the need to be argumentative, I simply gave my take on an LP generator and the reasons I bought one over gasoline.

 

In your case go for it that will work fine even if I had a small inverter genset I would still burn gas because I would use it around the farm and portable is some thing I need with out lugging a propane tank too. Side note don't get fooled by noise figures a 3 dB gain in the noise figure is twice as noisy. Also don't run the microwave or a coffee pot and the A/C at the same time it won't make it.

 

Another option I guess is buy TWO generators and parallel them. I think the parallel kit is cheap.

 

I'm not arguing I'm a big fan of the kiss principle shoot I don't even take a generator camping I use solar for long term. Big stuff has 50 amp services and diesel gensets I try to leave all that stuff home that's why I go camping. I also agree with your plan if it's what you got that's what you need.

 

Finally bought the generator LP conversion kit from here http://www.motorsnorkel.com/

The website is not all that great to navigate, but they answered chat questions quickly and accurately and it's a well-known kit.

I bought the tri-fuel kit for two Honda eu2000i's (the base and the companion to get 4kw). 45lbs each, easy to move around. Here's a link for pictures of an install http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=313481

It's not cheap, $200 per kit plus hoses/fittings but for me it's so much easier to haul extra 20lb LP tanks instead of gas containers.

I ended up donating the Honda's to an animal rescue organization that does work in remote areas in the Four Corners region, bought a Yamaha ef2000isv2 from the website already setup for trifuel. $1260 with a RPM/hours meter installed, not bad.

They're good kits, the only thing is the Garretson KN regulators in the kit the load-block has to be adjusted properly to even get the generator started. And has to be adjusted for changes in load and altitude.

It's not a huge deal, requires two crescent wrenches and about ten seconds of time, but if you set it too lean the gen won't start or will stall under load. If you set it too rich the gen will run hot, waste LP.

There's advantages/disadvantages. There should be less frequent oil changes with LP, the exhaust spark arrestor won't be fouled as much, spark plug won't be fouled as much.

 

I have one of those twin fuel generators that I use for camping made by champion .
http://www.bottomlinetrading.com/powergenerators.html
Works awesome !!
There is one catch .
My unit needs to start on gasoline and is then switched to propane once the engine is running.
Didnt know this when I purchased the generator and then visited the website . Sure enough , everyone who purchased the generator was complaining it wouldn't start on LPG . Not a huge ordeal as it has a gas tank .

 

That link shows there is a tiny 1% drop in wattage going from gasoline to LP. That's good to know, I was reading horror stories about 15% drop in wattage.

Edit: Ah man, reading that link I see the FAQ's and the solution to starting it on LP is prime the Garretson regulator. There's a springloaded primer on the backside of the regulator. Press it in and hear the propane hiss into the Garretson, then start the gen.