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Home > Archive > Alternative Power sources > December 2006 > Tri fuel generator on 20lb lp BBQ tank?
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Tri fuel generator on 20lb lp BBQ tank?
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| anthonymmfalcone@yahoo.com 2006-12-11, 5:25 pm |
| Hi Readers,
I've a newbie question: Can a trifuel home backup generator run on
liquid propane whose source is a standard 20lb barbeque tank? I've
read one opinion that the surface area is too small to generate the
required vapor pressure. Is this true? Anyone tried with
success/failure? If it did work, how long did your specific wattage
generator run?
Just wondering if it's worth it for me to have this option, as my home
has neither natural gas service nor a large liquid propane tank.
Thank you for your advice.
Sincerely,
Anthony M. Falcone
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| vaughnsimon@att.net 2006-12-11, 5:25 pm |
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anthonymmfalcone@yahoo.com wrote:
> Hi Readers,
>
> I've a newbie question: Can a trifuel home backup generator run on
> liquid propane whose source is a standard 20lb barbeque tank? I've
> read one opinion that the surface area is too small to generate the
> required vapor pressure. Is this true? Anyone tried with
> success/failure? If it did work, how long did your specific wattage
> generator run?
It depends on how much fuel you are trying to draw, and the
outside temperature. I have ran my 4KW Onan on a 20 # tank (in
Florida, summertime). Depending on load, I get 4 or 5 hours on a tank.
My tank would get cool to the touch, but never gave trouble.
You did not say how big your generator is, nor mention your
climate. You may have to reduce load to operate successfully. Worst
case, you could put your tank in a tub of water to keep your fuel from
freezing. As a permanant solution, I purchased some 100# tanks and
used the same regulator.
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| vaughnsimon@att.net 2006-12-11, 5:25 pm |
|
anthonymmfalcone@yahoo.com wrote:
> Hi Readers,
>
> I've a newbie question: Can a trifuel home backup generator run on
> liquid propane whose source is a standard 20lb barbeque tank? I've
> read one opinion that the surface area is too small to generate the
> required vapor pressure. Is this true? Anyone tried with
> success/failure? If it did work, how long did your specific wattage
> generator run?
It depends on how much fuel you are trying to draw, and the
outside temperature. I have ran my 4KW Onan on a 20 # tank (in
Florida, summertime). Depending on load, I get 4 or 5 hours on a tank.
My tank would get cool to the touch, but never gave trouble.
You did not say how big your generator is, nor mention your
climate. You may have to reduce load to operate successfully. Worst
case, you could put your tank in a tub of water to keep your fuel from
freezing. As a permanant solution, I purchased some 100# tanks and
used the same regulator.
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| anthonymmfalcone@yahoo.com 2006-12-11, 8:25 pm |
| I'm in lower New York State. The generator load I'm thinking about is
about 8kW max.
But from your reply, sounds like it's not an option due to temperature
issues.
anthonymmfalcone@yahoo.com wrote:
> Hi Readers,
....
> Anthony M. Falcone
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anthonymmfalcone@yahoo.com wrote:
> Hi Readers,
>
> I've a newbie question: Can a trifuel home backup generator run on
> liquid propane whose source is a standard 20lb barbeque tank?
Generac has a model, a small Centurion, as I remember, designed to do
exactly that.
Even a 30 or 40 pound tank works nicely. I use 40s when I run off maple
syrup on my bbq in the spring ;-).
> I've
> read one opinion that the surface area is too small to generate the
> required vapor pressure. Is this true?
No, but you need to be sure to use a regulator sized for the
consumption of the generator, or else you might have supply problems.
> Anyone tried with
> success/failure? If it did work, how long did your specific wattage
> generator run?
> Just wondering if it's worth it for me to have this option, as my home
> has neither natural gas service nor a large liquid propane tank.
Usually I install dual-tank regulators, the type that will disconnect
one tank and switch to the other, allowing you do do a "tank run" to
keep it running smoothly.
DJ
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| Nick Hull 2006-12-13, 9:25 am |
| In article <1165868820.153206.79210@80g2000cwy.googlegroups.com>,
"vaughnsimon@att.net" <vaughnsimon@att.net> wrote:
> It depends on how much fuel you are trying to draw, and the
> outside temperature. I have ran my 4KW Onan on a 20 # tank (in
> Florida, summertime). Depending on load, I get 4 or 5 hours on a tank.
> My tank would get cool to the touch, but never gave trouble.
If the exhaust heat were applied to the propane tank in cold climates it
should work better
--
Free men own guns - www.geocities/CapitolHill/5357/ (add .com after geocities)
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