Generator feed back

[Highbeam]

That 100 lb propane tank would be gone pretty quickly. Also, is it always 100% full? Probably not. Diesel gensets are very expensive so LP is a great option. You can convert your gasoline genset to burn gasoline OR LP if you want to for pretty small money.

 

[LBrown59]

1*Well of course the folks with a 15KW-20kw gensets and sufficient fuel on hand are perfectly happy.
My 3000 watt genset cost under 300$ and
2*the fuel stockpile for the longest historic outage is contained in a few 5 gallon gas cans.

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~
1*I think this would have the ability to store all the fuel I'd ever need during a power outage.
```````````` ```````````
2*This eliminates the 5 gallon cans.

 

[LBrown59]

I bought my generator before I got my tractor (currently my only diesel application). So a gas generator made sense.
1*If I were buying now I'd seriously consider a diesel generator since diesel is easier to store (i.e. less volatile and fumes explosive).
2*Since I have fireplace gas logs with a 100 gallon (or is it 100 pound?) tank.
3*I really should have opted for a propane generator.
4*That would have solved the storage and supply problems for fuel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
1*Now that you have a diesel tractor a diesel Gen is the only to go.
This way you don't have to store another type of fuel.
Diesel is not only easier and safer to store it is also easer and safer to transfer.
Since diesel is more efficient that means you don't need to stock pile as much of it to last throughout a power outage.
2*The tank is 100 pounds or about 13 gallons which wouldn't last no time at all in a power outage.
3*no you should not have.
4*No it would not have.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If I was in your position and thinking of going with another Gen I'd go Diesel or a pto Gen.

 

[Doc_Bob]

~~~~~~~~~~~~
1*Now that you have a diesel tractor a diesel Gen is the only to go.
This way you don't have to store another type of fuel.

I prefer gasoline because it can be used in my car. Now, if I had a diesel car I might do otherwise.
Bob

 

[ragkar]

I've done some web searching on converting my existing B&S generator to propane, or dual propane and gas. I thought that I'd share some results.

The most informative site that I've found is Generator Conversion Kits to Propane and Natural Gas.

It's tricky doing a google search but using the keywords 'Generator Conversion Kits to Propane' I've had good results.

I've found that a 100 pound propane tank is 24 gallons. But I still haven't determined if I have a 100 pound or 100 gallon tank.

 

[ray66v]

I've done some web searching on converting my existing B&S generator to propane, or dual propane and gas. I thought that I'd share some results.

The most informative site that I've found is Generator Conversion Kits to Propane and Natural Gas.

It's tricky doing a google search but using the keywords 'Generator Conversion Kits to Propane' I've had good results.

I've found that a 100 pound propane tank is 24 gallons. But I still haven't determined if I have a 100 pound or 100 gallon tank.

I've thought about it. But you do lose some power, and I don't want to give any wattage up.

 

[Highbeam]

I've thought about it. But you do lose some power, and I don't want to give any wattage up.

The loss of power is a myth. You need to read up on it yourself, but the folks all have determined that if you can get enough propane to teh chamber that it will make equivalent power.

ragkar: You can't tell the difference between 24 gallons and 100 gallons? Cripes. That's like the difference between a 100 lb woman and a 400 lb woman.

 

[LBrown59]

1*I've found that a 100 pound propane tank is 24 gallons.

2*But I still haven't determined if I have a 100 pound or 100 gallon tank.

1*24 gal weighs 180 pounds.
U can't get that in a 100 pound tank.
2* 100 gal weighs 750 pounds .
Does your tank weigh that much ?
If not U have a 100 pound tank.

 

[ragkar]

Okay you tell me. The tank is cylindrical, 48 inches long and 30 inches in diameter. That's 20 cubic feet 150 gallons. hmmm I guess I answered that myself and it wasn't what I expected.

 

[SpringHollow]

Unless they have changed, Generacs design requires that they use a much larger engine than most just to have the necessary power so the fuel consumption is larger.

The biggest problem with a smaller gas engine generator is if you get a large surge in demand (several pumps, compressors, etc turning on at once), you can very easily ruin refrigerators etc. Or if the gas engine hesitates because of something in the gas. Ask me how i know lol

if you compare fuel consumption of a lightly loaded larger generator with a heavily loaded small generator, they are basically the same. So if you can afford it, the larger one makes more sense.

Ken