Since we were with out power for 3 days, and we are amoung the lucky ones, many don't have power yet. I am thinking of getting a small portable propane powered generator. 3500-5500 watts to run a refigerator and switch to the freezer, and have a few lights.

I like propane as a fuel, had a 77gmc van that ran on propane. The advantages I see. It is readly available. Duing the storm when there was no gas or diesel, even the drugstors still had propane tanks.
I have 3 porpane tanks now. They will run the grill, or a generator.
Safe and easy storage. Does not go stale like gas or diesel.
Easy starting.

Anyone have any experience or thoughts on this?

 

I am also without power since Sunday due to the windstorm from Ike.. Funny thing is I live in Cincinnati. Anyways, I have a gas generator running my fridge and lights in the house plus its running my fver so I can have AC, TV and a hot shower. The only bad thing is its noisy.. I would think a propane generator might be a little quiter and more suffencient due to the availiblity of propane at the gas stations. Like you said propane never seems to be in high demand in emergency situations. I do know the next house I build will have a home generator built outside to run the whole house.

 

Thinking after this Ike thing is over with is converting my generator over to a tri fuel setup. Natural gas, propane or gasoline.

http://www.propane-generators.com/yamaha-generators.htm

MikeyB

 

MikeyB, thanks for the link. Might go all 3.

 

Propane will also burn cleaner. Certainly won't stink as much as a raggedy gas generator. i have a deisel generator and love it. And like most here, I actually like the smell of the exaust it gives off.

 

For a standby/backup thing, propane makes sense to me...

As you noted, it won't go stale as gas will.

When it comes to RV's though, I think I'd prefer gas. Running the generator enough in the winter to keep up with the furnace I would think would go through a lot of propane, if both are propane powered.

 

If you are in town and have Natural Gas available. That is the way to go. No tanks to change and cheaper. A guy I work with lost power during Gustave. He is still without Utility power. But has been on his own generator with no filling, switching bottles etc.. He got a unit from Home Depot that starts and loads automatically in less than 2 minutes. It also starts up every Saturday and runs for a half hour.

 

*IF* you have Nat Gas in your subdivision, a Tri-fuel portable genset makes LOTS of sense! The two biggest plusses for a tri-fuel genny mean you won't have to store ANY gasoline, and the likelyhood of losing Nat Gas supply is low... Not zero, but very low...

Just be aware, a tri-fuel genset won't deliver as much power running on NG as when run on Gasoline or LPG..
With NG, the full energy content is just not available unless you install high compression heads, which will then make running on gasoline a no-no. (can you spell "KNOCK"...) Check the manual for ratings on NG.

I had equipped an old Onan 5CCK-R generator to quick-start on LPG and manually switch over to fresh gasoline (stored in my former GMC PU's dual tanks).
My subdivision has no NG, (All Electric) so running the Onan on NG was never an option... Darnit!
The little gas I did store for the Onan was in metal Outboard boat motor fuel tanks with quick disconnects installed on the Onan to match the tanks.

After I sold the old gas truck and got my CTD, this Onan effort all fell by the wayside when I stumbled across a used, diesel Light Tower..
(Kubota 3cyl, 6KW 120/240v with a 30 gallon internal tank, 60+ hours of run-time @ full load.)


I made ready for IKE as best as I could by topping off everything that used diesel... Between the 30gal internal tank, my 30+gals in my CTD, and several 5gal jerry cans, I figure I could run for quite a while...

I feel for you guys up in the Galv/Hou area... Been there,... done that... Celia, 1970... Don't wanna' do that ever again!

 

I am in the same boat here. I am fixing to start framing my new house, and want to add a standby generator to my list! I live out in the country, so outages are common. I have not figured out witch path to go.

I am going to do one of two things. Either I am going to get a standby generator, or install feed plugs on the outside of the house to plug a generator into.

 

Depending on where you live something to think about.

If you are in a disaster area of some kind and are living large, electricty people in the area are going to know it. Where there is power there is a good chance there is food, water, heat, etc.

It might not be a problem for the first couple of days but as people run out of what they have who knows what a guy is going to do to get his baby something to eat. You hate to turn somebody like that away but when a couple of hundred come by and want what you've got...........

Just be aware of your suroundings and the people in it.

I have a propane generator on my camper. They are much harder to start than gas and louder to start, running they seem to be the same.

 

http://www.generac.com/Products/Resi...AirCooled.aspx


This is what I am looking at purchasing.

 

I had one of these installed at the new place.

http://www.generac.com/Products/Resi...oled/17KW.aspx

with a 500 gallon in-ground tank.

 

the only thing you need to be aware of with propane, is it's heavier than air (unlike natural gas), so if you have a leak it won't dissipate and will look for an ignition source.

 

Check out these reasonably priced Diesel gensets! Even got a Cummins!!
http://www.generatorsales.com/all33.asp?page=3

Since I have a tractor, I am thinking of one of these.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...70_36914_36914

Less maintenance IMO. Just park it till you need it, and keep the dirt daubers out of it.

 

THAT's no lie!!!

Those things especially liked to build their nests on the brush rigging on my old Onan!
Now for some reason, they like the air filter housing on the diesel genset.