Propane portable generators

[Guest]

Some peeps my not know, that they are available in the portable version. The great things with these, is you don't have to worry about the gas going bad, or storing gasoline that goes bad in a hurry. Store some 20lb tanks, that will last forever, and your good to go! Do a google search on portable propane generators. These are great for prepping cuz you can buy a lillte LP here and a little there and not have to worry about it going bad when you need it!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

How has your experiences with them been and what do you currently have?

[Klayton]

Where the heck do I find portable propane generators? All I can find is diesel and gasoline... Unless I want to upgrade to a HUGE propane one...

[bountyhunter69]

ive seen lots on Ebay,im planning on buying a 6500watt propane and at least 6500 diesel bk up,best i remember,under 900.00

[610Alpha]

Here are some links I found to be helpful:

http://www.generatorjoe.net/html/TankSize.html - LP fuel consumption chart

http://www.generatorjoe.net/html/genfuel.html - Gen fuel types pros & cons

http://www.generatorjoe.net/html/por...tationary.html - portable vs stationary

http://www.generatorjoe.net/page.asp?id=20 - main page, lots of other good links on this page

http://www.ehow.com/topic_4706_generators.html - all about gen sets

http://www2.northerntool.com/generator-buyers-guide.htm - buying guide

http://www.trifuelgenerator.org/ - tri fuel gen sets

[610Alpha]

PROPANE

Estimates of fuel consumption given by the manufacturer for the gasoline run time can be used for propane because it is an estimate or guess. Propane only has about 10% less BTU content than gasoline gallon-to-gallon, so the estimate used by manufacturers for gasoline consumption will be very close for propane.

When figuring power output of any fuel, the size of the engine has to be a significant factor of the total equation. For instance, comparing a vehicle with a V8 engine to a generator with an 11 HP generator attached can not be calculated the same way. The characteristics of the fuels and how they mix with air, how far the piston is in relation the gasoline float bowl effects the power derived from the fuel among many other things. To presume that just because the BTU content is less, it is less powerful, is wrong.

We now offer some basic factors, round numbers and some good estimates to see how run time values of propane cylinders can be worked out:

BASIC FACTORS

• It requires 2 horsepower to produce 1000 watts of energy per hour under load
• Under load, each horsepower consumes 10,000 BTU per hour
• Propane contains 92,000 BTU per gallon
• Propane weighs 4.2 pounds per gallon
• Bulk tanks are rated by gallon

Cylinder Capacities in Gallons and BTU's

Using these factors we can arrive at run times based on average load for any generator. For instance:

How long would a 5000 Watt Generator with a 10 HP engine at 50% load run on a 20# propane cylinder?

10 HP at 50% load would be using 5 horse power to generate 2500 watts of energy.

5hp x 10,000 BTU would consume 50,000 BTU per hour.

Using a 20# cylinder that produces 441,600 total BTU, the engine consuming 50,000 BTU per hour would run for about 8.8 hours.

BTU consumption chart based on generator/engine size and load

Many people want to know what size cylinders they need based on their engine size. Here are some real conservative estimates of the vaporization rate of various size cylinders based on the outside temperature.

Vaporization Rates of Cylinders

Output in BTU's per hour - Vertical Cylinder 25% full - Minimum Cylinder Pressure 10 PSI

For the physical properties of each cylinder, click on the "Cylinder Size" above.

What does all this mean?

Well, if you went exactly by the chart, you would need a 420 Lb. cylinder to run a 14 HP engine if it was 25% full and 40 degrees outside and keep a minimum of 10 psi in the cylinder. This is a worse case scenario. For instance, when a 20 Lb. cylinder is full it can run a 16 HP engine for quite some time in 40 degree weather before there will be any freezing problem. But if you wanted to use up all the gas in a cylinder, it would have to be sized according to the chart.

[FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Here is why. Propane is stored as a liquid under pressure and boils to produce a vapor that is drawn off at the top for the engine to use as the fuel. Because propane boils at -44

[Bill Foster]

I have read (ehow.com) that there is an easy way to convert gasoline to natural gas or propane. Unfortunately, it trashes the carb, so there is no reversal. I am thinking of finding a carb that would fit my Yamaha engine and converting the replacement carb to CNG or LP. Any ideas?

[ablesolutions]

You can find portable propane generators by searching for related product reviews. You can also use a generator wattage calculator to get an estimate of the total wattage you would need to power your "must have" appliances during a power outage. This way you get an idea of the generator size (in watts) you would need to power your appliances during a power outage.

[ryder]

I have been helping out a person off grid with a generac 3250 propane generator. It refuses to start in cold, 20F weather without pre heating or using the gasoline primer I hooked up. It has also gone thru one gas regulator in less than a year. The regulator cost $300+ dollars but was under warranty.