Propane Generators?
 

This may be a stupid question, but do any of you have propane powered generators?

Does it cost much to convert one?

Is that a bad idea?

Haven't heard much talk about it here. But was thinkning about getting a large tank so I could use it for cooking, and a generator.

I would think gasoline would be VERY scarce and very expensive in SHTF scenarios. Seem like it would be better to get a big propane tank on my property.

Any thoughts?

Re: Propane Generators?
 

that's not a bad idea. don't know where you'll find a conversion kit though. I have an old one ton truck on my farm that runs on propane. I pay 1.90 a gallon for the propane and the engine is supposed to have a longer life also. Another advantage is the tank in the bed of the truck holds 110 gallons!


:rock:

Re: Propane Generators?
 

No, have two gasoline driven jobs..a 5k and an 8k on my welder.

Don't know about converting, though more parts are probably availiable for small engines, but you can buy one already set up for propane.......seems like I've even seen them multifuel....gasoline or propane....

But my advice is you need to check on the tank first....

IF you rent a tank, they will only put on your property big enough to do about 6 months or so worth of propane use in whatever appliances you have.....they want to be able to sell you propane twice a year so you don't stock a year's worth up in the summer when the price is historically low. I have a propane water heater and a small ( 15k BTU ) wall heater on the sunporch, and all they would put on me was a 250gallon tank ( Blossman out of Elizabethton )......and then the 'rent' for the priviledge of buying ONLY from them is 50 FRNs/yr.

SO, last year, I bought a 500 gallon underground tank from Calgas out of Kingsport......1200FRNs for the tank, regulator, line, I dig the hole.....Blossman was 1700 after I'd been a customer for 5 years !

Now I can buy my gas anytime I want from anybody I want, and that tank will actually do us more than a year.

I also have 12 100lb cylinders stored.....they hold about 25 gallons....you can pick them up in the spring from HomeDepot and such for about 70 bucks, empty...a fill is 40 bucks

Re: Propane Generators?
 

Thanks for the quick response guys.

Had to get a tank filled for the BBQ the other day and that got my mind thinking. So I thought I'd ask "the experts".

I remember during Katrina, even those with generators had to keep going out every 6-8 hours to refill the gas (tanks were only 5-8 gallons). Would be nice to hook up a propane tank and not have to worry about it.

Re: Propane Generators?
 

Tn_Andy <--------------the Ponce of the Appalachians (in preparedness)

Re: Propane Generators?
 

Sukhoi, can you go into more detail on this? I have never heard that said. Does it effect the alternator, or the engine? I have a 7k here in case of hurricanes, and start it every month or so, but never put a load on it till I need it.

m

Re: Propane Generators?
 

Andy
Never saw these big ones, can they be ordered?

I also have 12 100lb cylinders stored.....they hold about 25 gallons....you can pick them up in the spring from HomeDepot and such for about 70 bucks, empty...a fill is 40 bucks

Re: Propane Generators?
 

I have an Onan 6.5 kw propane generator in my motorhome and propane generators are gasoline generators converted. They work good on propane and with a inverter/charger(3 stage charger)and a bank of batteries you get a lot more use out them than just while you have it running. With a good charger you can bring your batteries up in a couple of hours and then operate lights and small fans for the night (and with the inverter have enough power to run 120v small appliances for short spurts). I've read on RV sites about people hooking their RV systems into their houses during extended power outages.

Most higher end RV's have diesel generators these days but propane is good and you can still buy propane for around 2 bucks a gallon.

Re: Propane Generators?
 

Conversion kits:

http://www.propane-generators.com/

In many areas, when you fill the smaller tanks they charge you twice as much for the propane.

Re: Propane Generators?
 

Southfork....Don't know....you might do a google for them, but I'd imagine the shipping on one or two would skin you alive.....they weigh about 75lbs empty ( and 175 filled ), so they'e pretty much have to go motor freight.....unfilled of course.

Keep in mind they are sort of hefty to move around too when filled....

If you have a propane dealer around, which of course you're gonna have to in order to get one filled, check with them......they probably will be a LOT higher than the BigBox stores like Lowes or HomeDepot......

Re: Propane Generators?
 

Here's a site for DYI propane conversion:

http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower...e_convert.html