Propane questions

[jaxs]

It's ounces of pressure in the house.

My only advice is to call your propane supplier, tell them what you want to do and let them come out to do it. Any cost incurred will be less than the cost of repairs caused by an error in design and build on your part.

The propane supplier can figure out the volumes and line size required. The installation will also have to meet their specifications before they will fill your tank.

Note: the generator may need a special kit to use propane. More to it than just switching the fuel lines.

What Moxie said. Plenty of ways things could go "boom" if you don't know what you're doing, and insurance won't likely cover damage if they determine someone unlicensed did the work. For that matter, your propane supplier may not fill the tank either.

If the propane carburation kit you are looking at was feed directly from a 20 pound propane bottle,
simple get a tee for your propane tank and install it before the first regulator and run a feed to the kit.
View attachment 750670

If your propane supplier is anything like ours, they will glady come out and run the line for you, with an appropriate end to attach the genset's regulator.

What they charge me for something like this is so inexpensive, it doesn't warrant my time just to go gather what supplies are needed. Check with your supplier first. They know what and how to do it right. They have all the materials / supplies needed to do it.

Did any of you read the original post before responding? Specifically the part that say's "I don't have a problem having one of the guys from the co-op come out to do this but would like to understand what he would be doing prior to discussing this with them on the phone." ?
If you know something about this subject,why not share what you know as requested so he can keep an eye on whoever he has do it. Seem's easy enough to me,do you mind telling us why you don't want to tell op a little about it? Surely it's not because you actually don't know yourself and just looking for post count.

 

[ljjhouser]

There is more than one way to do that. But I would bet that the propane dealer would use a manifold. Entering fuel from the tank into the manifold and with two or three (or more plugged) exits. If that is the case, they will install another regulator that feeds the generator.

OR:
the regulator you are now using is a two-stage regulator. If the existing regulator on the house has the capacity to add the generator, that might be possible if the generator runs at the same pressure. But I don't think they would do that.

I am wondering - is it two stage because of a long distance to the house?

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Did any of you read the original post before responding? Specifically the part that say's "I don't have a problem having one of the guys from the co-op come out to do this but would like to understand what he would be doing prior to discussing this with them on the phone." ?
If you know something about this subject,why not share what you know as requested so he can keep an eye on whoever he has do it. Seem's easy enough to me,do you mind telling us why you don't want to tell op a little about it? Surely it's not because you actually don't know yourself and just looking for post count.

Yes, I did read his post. I am very knowledgeable on propane, and what propane can do when it is not properly set up. He has a two regulator system. The first regulator decreases the pressure down from the tank pressure so it doesn't blow out the supply line. The regulator at the house takes it down to the pressure required for the house appliances.

Now throw in the size of the tubing (pipe).... you can only move so much gas through a certain diameter..... did the OP specify what size pipe is there? Either before or after the regulators. No he didn't.

Was the regulator pressures specified? No.
Was the demand specifications listed for the generator? No.
Was the distance from the gas line to the generator stated? No.

These are very specific items that need to be addressed individually. The generator may require a larger pipe like 1" vs. 1/2", maybe dependent on distance....

So, your previous post was also helpful? All you did was bash someone who stated factual information.... "it is ounces of pressure in the house"....
Yes, that is correct... appliances require 8-11 oz of pressure. That is probably not enough to supply the generator. Was the regulator that came WITH the generator specified.... no it wasn't. So why do you think that didn't help?

I have a tankless 199K BTU water heater. It REQUIRES a 1" gas line and 14 oz of gas pressure. Totally different from every other appliance in the house! Is the generator the same? Don't know.....

That is why the majority of the posters said to call in the propane guys....

Could it be simply hooked up to the existing gas line without actually calculating the load? .. sure.... will it work? Don't know.... Is it safe? Don't know.

Why don't you tell him how to do it.....
That might contribute something useful to the thread......

 

[civilian]

When my propane tank was set, the standby generator was installed prior and waiting for the supply tank. Talking with generator supplier a comment was made if pipe sizes and regulators were not sized correctly, that when the generator started, it could draw propane fast enough to starve tha appliance's pilot lights of enough propane to stay lit. Just a comment for others to think about or verify with whoever. My generator just ran 22 hours during a power outage and all the appliances worked properly. Jon

 

[5030]

All I know is propane stinks.

 

[jaxs]

Yes, I did read his post.

Why don't you tell him how to do it.....
That might contribute something useful to the thread......

Because he didn't ask how to install it. To the contrary he implied he would have his gas co-op hook the genny up.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

A simple solution would be to buy a couple 40# bottles or even a couple of 100# tanks used / stored solely for the genset. Simple connection from the lineset supplied with the conversation kit. Biggest hassle would be taking the tanks to get filled.
The decision might be based on how often does the generator need to be used? If it is frequently used, this might not be a viable option.

I have a 10K gas/ propane generator. I have 2 - 40# tanks that are filled and stored right with the generator. Neither the generator or the propane have been needed / used in the last year and a half.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Because he didn't ask how to install it. To the contrary he implied he would have his gas co-op hook the genny up.

So, he got quite a few responses stating that was the proper thing to do. There were too many other variables that come into play, as stated earlier....couldn't really give any specific "pointers" to watch for.

I was a licensed general contractor, electrician, and plumber for 30 years.... I could give advice on just about anything related to those trades.... I won't take on that liability nor possibly put someone's life or property in danger giving such advice. Stuff happens.....

I was also a professional nationally certified paramedic. The only medical advice I would give: "you need to go to a hospital", or "you don't need to go to a hospital". There is a lot of info gathered before and during that assessment of the patient. We make a true diagnosis of the problem and can provide treatment..... BUT .... we cannot provide that diagnosis to the patient due to liability issues.

See what I'm getting at?

 

[Egon]

All I know is propane stinks.

It’s the mercaptan added to the propane that stinks.

 

[gasman1075]

I currently have a 200 gallon propane tank. It supplies my kitchen range and my furnace, although the furnace isn't used because of the wood stove.
I am thinking about getting a propane conversion kit for my 9KW gasoline powered generator. The conversion kit comes with a regulator that is plumbed to the carb. The company's video showed the generator connected to a 20# propane bottle when they ran the generator for the demo.

My first question....the pic below is the top of my propane tank. I assume this is some type of regulator to drop tank pressure to a lower pressure? View attachment 750637
This next photo shows what is connected to the other end of the copper line when it gets to my house. The corrugated line going into the house and feeds both the range and furnace as I mentioned.View attachment 750639 Assuming I can use the same copper line coming from the tank, how would one connect the regulator for the generator? A "Tee" on the input of the above item and a hose going to the gen's regulator?
I don't have a problem having one of the guys from the co-op come out to do this but would like to understand what he would be doing prior to discussing this with them on the phone. I can build a custom wiring harness for a vehicle tranny computer swap or build a 40' loafing shed but haven't done any gas work.

Thanks

What you have is a typical twin stage system red regulator ( 1st stage ) takes the vapor from tank psi to 10PSI before it goes through the through the 3/8 copper. Second regulator brown Rego takes it from 10PSI to 11-13" of water column before it go's in the house. The rest of the answers depends on where you want the generator to sit. I would guess somewhere outside near the electrical panel ? I agree the smartest move is to have your LP supplier come out and give you a quote before doing the install. The liability of doing it yourself is much greater than the cost.