Onan 5500 Generator

gery_L wrote:

allcool wrote:

gery_L wrote:

I care more for the cleaner burning exhaust and the better running at elevation, (as I hunt/camp in 7000 elevation, and that is where I use it the most).

Didn't the altitude adjustment lever on the carb work for you..?

Hey allcool,
....Randy... We've been to Glamis with the Zillas back in the day.... (AZ-ZILLA) Good to hear from you.

Yes it worked but was always overly finicky, and so was the choke setting for starting at altitude. Always needed to be fiddled with. Needed more choke at altitude, but when set, would be to much at low elevation (starts then dies). Local dealer and Onan reps couldn't get it right for both.
Choke isn't necessary now with Propane for starts, as the propane is injected in and air mixture isn't affected at elevation.
Along with dealing with old gas, and draining bowl after monthly start ups was getting to be a pain.
Then with week long stays for hunting trips in 10deg cold, needed more propane for heat, so it has been a Win-Win situation for me. (I carry 2-100# tanks in the garage of the Toyhauler).

Even with the 500 Watt power loss you stated, I have not noticed any power degrade. I have 3-15k AC units on the rig, and all can run with no problem (16amps each when running). Though, normally only run 2 at a time when in the AZ heat.

Gery

Hey buddy, good to hear from you, we got to meet up for a ride next dune season...

Earlier was looking at the Onan manual and found something that caught my attention. The Onan 4000 altitude adjustment range, went from sea level to 10,000'....
But, the Onan 5500 carb models max altitude adjustment went to only 5000'..?
The efi & propane 5500 models also went to 10,000'

So you probably did the only thing you could to run efficiently at the 7000' elevation. Convert to propane... Good move, with some other benefits like no more carb varnish build up for one. Carb varnish is a major pia to me.

Jmo, not so sure/comfortable of 2, full 100# propane tanks inside your TH..? Can't you mount/plumb them under the TH, tucked in the frame somewhere." Maybe where the old genny gas tank use to be..? Sorry, just thinking out loud.

Thats impressive you can run 3 a/c off a 5500, never tried that,,, would have to say thats full load...lmao.
My carb/gas 5500 HGJAB cuts out if I run my 2 a/c on hi, then try to use the microwave,,, no bueno for mine.

Sounds like your propane enriched Onan is pumping out the hp it needs.
Not that the genny needs it, but Propane does have a higher octane rating than gas. If the propane conversion kits have better afr calibration than the troublesome Onan gas carb that comes on the genny, I could see how the text book -10% hp rating of propane would be incorrect in some cases.
Actually from my experience, the slow unavoidable varnish build up in the normal RV use Onan carb will deteriorate the afr after years of use/storage, even with fuel stabilizers/additives/etc, and draining the carbs, and or running them once a month. The propane conversion has no such problem as far as I know...
jmo