Is my generator big enough?

jungleexplorer wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

Here is why you loose wattage from a generator:

I am not sure if I understand how this data relates to the output of the generator. Generators (portable power plants, to be technically correct) consist of two separate parts, the actual generator that produces electricity and the motor that turns the generator. The output of a generator is related to the output capacity of the actual generator, not the torque capacity of the motor. As the amperage draw on a generator increases, so does the torque required from the motor. Portable power plants have a governor that automatically increases the amount of fuel to the motor as the torque requirements increase. So the reduced energy of propane vs gasoline have no direct correlation to the output capacity of the generator. It just seems to me (and I am probably wrong), that with propane, the motor would just consume more fuel to achieve the torque necessary to achieve the maximum potential of the generator.

I understand where you are coming from. I guess the other way to look at it would be not so much in watts when it comes to propane but in engine size. Yes it would use more fuel but it would be at a higher throttle opening. So in overall sizing of the unit the engine is now running at 20 % more throttle opening. So it all depends on how a person is approaching it. If it's from an engineering prospective it gets sized according to a certain expected life span vs load and engine wear.
That's why people go back and forth about all this stuff. Someone will say can my engine/gen do this or that. People will respond and possibly say no, dont do that, then they come back and say I did it and it's working so you are all wrong.
The part that isn't taken into account is engine wear, fuel use or heat production as the unit is at the edge of its capacity. It's sort of like towing capacity, yes it will pull it, but do you want to or should you. When being over capacity with a tow rig lives could be lost, when over doing it with a generator and ac unit all you will be out is $600 or $700 for ac and a generator.




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