Portable generator powering most of house in power outages.

[Sawyer Rob]

There's not that big a spread between the two fuels here and your generator will use more fuel on propane.

SR

 

[MossRoad]

There have been several discussions on choosing propane as a generator fuel. Such things as cost, actual usable amount of propane in the tank, delivery of propane during disasters, etc... were all discussed. Many folks liked their propane, however, it's generally conceded that they never actually ran the actual cost numbers to run a propane whole house generator for several days, weeks, etc...

Diesel appeared to be the most cost effective for long term generator usage.

If you're just talking about using a generator to run a few tools or appliances for a few hours a day, then fuel usage probably isn't a big concern. $300 to convert to propane is $300 worth of gasoline you could have purchased. How many hours can that Honda generator run on, say, 100 gallons of gasoline? Even if it used half a gallon per hour, that's 200 operating hours. I haven't run my portable generator 50 hours in 24 years. :laughing:

 

[shooterdon]

The numbers I ran showed a significant cost savings by using bulk propane....not 20 lb tanks. But the biggest advantage of propane is that it lasts for years and will not gum up carburetors or get moisture in the fuel tank.

One option is to get a dual fuel generator. But Honda does not offer one. Chapman looks like a decent option.

I will stay with gas this year unless I sell the Honda. Just ran both generators today so they are ready for winter. The Honda started on the third try after sitting idle for over 8 months ran it for 15 minutes. Did not need starter fluid. Had to use starter fluid on the HF. It took over three hours to run the old fuel out of the HF.

 

[Industrial Toys]

APPARENTLY, here in a potentially cold climate, the turn-key style propane generators often just don't start. Which is the kicker, because people bought them to be installed and forgotten, and ready for service when it matters.

Just curious. Are propane generators running on gas or liquid propane?

 

[LouNY]

All propane engines run on vapor, many small engines on the vapor from the supply tank,
larger units may have a liquid feed to there own vaporizer.

 

[shooterdon]

APPARENTLY, here in a potentially cold climate, the turn-key style propane generators often just don't start. Which is the kicker, because people bought them to be installed and forgotten, and ready for service when it matters.

Just curious. Are propane generators running on gas or liquid propane?

When I investigated a whole house propane unit, Generac told me I would need to add another 500 gal. tank to get enough vaporization to supply the generator during cold weather.

 

[grsthegreat]

APPARENTLY, here in a potentially cold climate, the turn-key style propane generators often just don't start. Which is the kicker, because people bought them to be installed and forgotten, and ready for service when it matters.

Just curious. Are propane generators running on gas or liquid propane?

Not sure where you come up with that. we get -20F here and mine starts up in few seconds. I usually suggest a minimum of 500 gal propane so you have a good supply in power outage. i PERSONALLY could care less what it costs to operate as i like my comforts. Saying that, i do manually shut mine off during prolong outage during the day if i dont need to have it running. takes a few seconds to do. I have a 1,000 gal buried tank myself.

For EXTREMELY cold climates, Generac offers a breather tube heater for better starts. I use a battery heat pad and oil heater myself.

 

[cqaigy2]

In our mild wet climate, propane works well for the portable generator. I've had fewer problems with gunk in the carburetor and it starts much easier. I have larger portable bottles i us for the propane.

 

[shooterdon]

Not sure where you come up with that. we get -20F here and mine starts up in few seconds. I usually suggest a minimum of 500 gal propane so you have a good supply in power outage. i PERSONALLY could care less what it costs to operate as i like my comforts. Saying that, i do manually shut mine off during prolong outage during the day if i dont need to have it running. takes a few seconds to do. I have a 1,000 gal buried tank myself.

For EXTREMELY cold climates, Generac offers a breather tube heater for better starts. I use a battery heat pad and oil heater myself.

That was an honest admission. "PERSONALLY could care less what it costs to operate as i like my comforts. Saying that, i do manually shut mine off during prolong outage during the day if i dont need to have it running."

They are expensive to run!! BTW, I do the same with my portable unit. Sure, I have to fuel it, start it and connect it, but once that is done. it takes a few seconds to shut off and then put it back on line. But I have a fraction of the capital cost invested and lower operating costs.

Look, the whole house option is great if someone can afford it. But there are other ways to get the job done with less cost and a bit more effort.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I'm not sure what affording it has much to do with anything. I know multi millionairs that don't have standbye systems because they don't think they should have to. Indoor/Outdoor swimming pools and a riding arena, but no permanent standbye generator. I don't get it. To each his own. It's a hobby of mine, and I wouldn't feel covered unless I had four or so Diesel slow running sets of various capacity. I have pretty much assured the power never as much as flickers here anymore!

 

[grsthegreat]

I'm not sure what affording it has much to do with anything. I know multi millionairs that don't have standbye systems because they don't think they should have to. Indoor/Outdoor swimming pools and a riding arena, but no permanent standbye generator. I don't get it. To each his own. It's a hobby of mine, and I wouldn't feel covered unless I had four or so Diesel slow running sets of various capacity. I have pretty much assured the power never as much as flickers here anymore!

Yup... and it is sure fun to have my Christmas lights running while the rest of neighborhood is dark:cool2:

 

[grsthegreat]

Another trick I have told homeowners on portable generator wanting to protect hot tubs. A hot tub heat circuit takes up to 5,000 watts for heaters. But a caged water trough heater runs around 250 watts. The cage protects fiberglass and the 250 watts allows it to operate on portable units and prevents freezing tubs in prolonged outages. Just draining tub doesn稚 help as ALL water needs to be purged from pipes and pumps, and most people don稚 do that. Ive seen my share of ice damaged tubs over the years. Last night it was 24f...yeiks. Too early. I haven稚 blown out sprinklers and fountains yet. My fountains are all frozen.

 

[shooterdon]

Yesterday I sold my Honda EB11000 for $2500. It was bigger than I needed, plus I want the advantages of propane and a dual fuel generator. I am planning to purchase the Champion unit below and connecting it the line that supplies my grill. That line is T'ed after the regulator to the supply line to the house. Primary operation will be from the 500 gal propane tank but it will be good to have the option to use gas if necessary.

Champion Power Equipment 75-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator, 1165 at Tractor Supply Co.

My Honda had 275 hours on it after 10 years of use. Our longest outage since I moved here has been just over 2 days and normally power is restored in less than 6 hours. So many times, it is not necessary to power up the generator. I am surprised at how good the power company is.

My needs are different than most. A portable unit is perfect.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

You definitely traded down! lol

SR

 

[Industrial Toys]

I like the immersion heater idea for the hot tub. In a pinch. But I wonder if the heat will make it to the poorly insulated engine house, where the pump and pack is. A small circulation pump would be good, and now it becomes a time consuming project.

 

[shooterdon]

You definitely traded down! lol

SR

LOL!!! You are right about that.

But I got burned with bad fuel in my 300 gal storage tank that I had for the gas generator and other toys I used to own. Sold the UTV's and that makes using up fuel even tougher. I have decided to sell the fuel tank as well...should get about $400 for it. So after buying the Champion generator I will be almost $2000 ahead. Keeping enough gas for a long outage is a PITA and I do not want to be schlepping 5 gal jugs of gas around. So much easier and cheaper to depend on propane. I can add another 500 gal propane tank for $1200 but not sure I really need it.

It will be nice not having to fuel the generator when it is sub zero and/or at night. And I will never have a gummed up carburetor.

If the Champion lasts 400 hours, I will get over 10 years out it based on historical usage. And I have an old Generac to back it up.

BTW, wanted to add. After 400 hours, the cost to fuel the Honda would have been $1250 ($2.75/gal); the cost to run the Champion on propane is $400 ($1.39/gal). Almost enough to purchase another new one.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I bought gas for $2.17 a few days ago, propane right now is 1.86 and that's if they will let you get the summer price.

You will burn more propane than you would gas too...

SR

 

[MossRoad]

LOL!!! You are right about that.

But I got burned with bad fuel in my 300 gal storage tank that I had for the gas generator and other toys I used to own. Sold the UTV's and that makes using up fuel even tougher. I have decided to sell the fuel tank as well...should get about $400 for it. So after buying the Champion generator I will be almost $2000 ahead. Keeping enough gas for a long outage is a PITA and I do not want to be schlepping 5 gal jugs of gas around. So much easier and cheaper to depend on propane. I can add another 500 gal propane tank for $1200 but not sure I really need it.

It will be nice not having to fuel the generator when it is sub zero and/or at night. And I will never have a gummed up carburetor.

If the Champion lasts 400 hours, I will get over 10 years out it based on historical usage. And I have an old Generac to back it up.

BTW, wanted to add. After 400 hours, the cost to fuel the Honda would have been $1250 ($2.75/gal); the cost to run the Champion on propane is $400 ($1.39/gal). Almost enough to purchase another new one.

Either that's new math or I'm not getting something.... :laughing:

400 x $2.75 = $1100
400 X $1.39 = $556

And that's assuming a 1:1 gallon of propane VS gallon of gasoline usage, which probably isn't going to happen, because a gallon of propane contains something like 27% less energy than a gallon of gasoline. You'd need 508 gallons of propane to produce the same energy as 400 gallons of gas.

508 x $1.39 = $706.

At least that's the way I'm seeing the numbers. Please correct me if I'm mistaken. Math isn't my strong suit.

 

[MossRoad]

I bought gas for $2.17 a few days ago, propane right now is 1.86 and that's if they will let you get the summer price.

You will burn more propane than you would gas too...

SR

gas 400 x $2.17 = $868
propane 508 x $1.86 = $944.88

 

[shooterdon]

Your math is good but you have not factored in consumption per hour.

The Honda uses 1.14 gal/hr of gasoline
The Champion uses .73 gal/hr of propane

Also there is a difference in fuel consumption with an 11kw unit vs a 7.5kw unit even at idle. And with propane the Champion is not even at 7.5 kw but 6.75 kw.

I used the consumption rates at 50% load as that seems like a normal load in my conditions.

BTW, my average consumption is about 25 kWh per day....it has never exceeded 45 kWh per day.

I think the smaller unit will easily handle my needs so why pay for capacity I do not need?