Converting Gas generators to Run On Propane?

[Bird]

I've heard mention of losing HP when converting to propane and I'm not nearly an expert enough to say one way or the other.

Me, neither, personally.:laughing: But when I was a full time RVer and member of the Good Sam Club and read lots of RV material, I know those who actually were supposed to be experts said you'd lose 11%. So when we bought a new fifth-wheel and wanted a generator on LPG, I had a choice of a 4kw Onan or 4.5kw Kohler at the same price. I went with the Kohler figuring after the conversion I'd have about what the Onan had before converting.

 

[ray66v]

Ray,

I've heard mention of losing HP when converting to propane and I'm not nearly an expert enough to say one way or the other. I'd recommend upgrading to a larger generator if you're already near your maximum draw.

Obviously that is an option, but not one I will ever consider. I have almost nothing to gain.

I have a high end 5500 watt generator that I only use once or twice a year, for a few hours. It runs a list of things so long, no one believes me, when it list them all. The only thing I turn off for it, is my central air.

It would make no sense for me to spend a wad of money, (I don't have), to replace it with a big expensive one that can run on propane, in the off chance there will be another event that will require me to run it for more than a day or two continuously, (which is about how much gasoline I keep on hand), and be in a situation where I would not be able to buy, or acquire, any gasoline anywhere.

Even if that happens, I have a propane fireplace for emergency heat, and I never have a large amount of food that would be lost to a power failure. So, it would be far cheaper to take the hit.

If I thought I could spare the HP, and I don't, I would spend the money to convert mine to propane, so I wouldn't need to keep so much gasoline around. But that's as far as I will go.

 

[firedog]

I would love to convert mine, but I am afraid losing HP will leave my generator underpowered.

I am already pushing it to the limit.

I haven't noticed an appreciable loss in power with mine. Most of the "power numbers" that I've seen are comparing the straight up btu content of gasoline to propane, not the engine performance.
In a practical application the propane performs closer to 100% of its btu ability that gasoline does to its simply because of the inefficiency of a liquid fuel burning in a gas/vapor combustion engine.
Both of the kits that I installed allow me to run either gasoline or propane.

 

[ray66v]

I haven't noticed an appreciable loss in power with mine. Most of the "power numbers" that I've seen are comparing the straight up btu content of gasoline to propane, not the engine performance.
In a practical application the propane performs closer to 100% of its btu ability that gasoline does to its simply because of the inefficiency of a liquid fuel burning in a gas/vapor combustion engine.
Both of the kits that I installed allow me to run either gasoline or propane.

I appreciate your input on this.

If I can get more input from real world situations, I may convert it.