Propane vs Gasoline
So I've always wondered why some of my friends on the boards here have such disdain for propane. I mean, I get it if you have a massive solar array and want to run your fridge with electricity, but.....
Forum Discussion
I played the game for years KendallP. Local LPG delivered for $2.42 gallon or drive 139 miles X 2 to Reno and pay .99 gallon. So I made a two-axle trailer for the 500 gallon tank, then enclosed it with 3/4" plywood so the gendarmes wouldn't get any bright ideas when they spotted me on the highway. It didn't take a mathematical genius to see 440 gallons times a dollar forty two cents adds up quickly. I shopped in Reno, and saved around 40% on groceries, clothing, appliances, whatever. The trailer was not that hard to build. Even lined up end-to end on a longer trailer your 500's would not weigh THAT much when filled.
Propane makes a great fuel for infrequently started short run duration generators. De-rate the potential KW by 20%. The reason is the GAS occupies more space in a stoichiometric LPG/Air environment, inside the engine. Less room for air, the "fuel" occupies more space than gasoline. I always play a fan on the LPG engine except when the temperature gets below 15C Propane burns hotter than the hinges of hell.
The "benefits" of LPG are similar to the "benefits" of a sealed valve regulated battery. Somewhat less power versus far and away less maintenance. No dirty oil to change. No fouled spark plug. No chance of the fuel going bad. Exhaust system has to corrode bad from the outside rather than from the inside - way fewer mufflers. Hint: An LPG-only carburetor and not a "dual-fuel-conversion" hat mixer seems to offer 15% better fuel economy and half or less total generator loading. Propane also smells better if the wind should change.
That said, you can have the gas company install LIQUID VALVES on the tanks. Allowing you to GRAVITATE fuel into smaller jugs. Find a couple of giveaway non OPD used pots for this duty. You can ever lay a 100# cylinder horizontal to liquid fill it from a 500.
Propane makes a great fuel for infrequently started short run duration generators. De-rate the potential KW by 20%. The reason is the GAS occupies more space in a stoichiometric LPG/Air environment, inside the engine. Less room for air, the "fuel" occupies more space than gasoline. I always play a fan on the LPG engine except when the temperature gets below 15C Propane burns hotter than the hinges of hell.
The "benefits" of LPG are similar to the "benefits" of a sealed valve regulated battery. Somewhat less power versus far and away less maintenance. No dirty oil to change. No fouled spark plug. No chance of the fuel going bad. Exhaust system has to corrode bad from the outside rather than from the inside - way fewer mufflers. Hint: An LPG-only carburetor and not a "dual-fuel-conversion" hat mixer seems to offer 15% better fuel economy and half or less total generator loading. Propane also smells better if the wind should change.
That said, you can have the gas company install LIQUID VALVES on the tanks. Allowing you to GRAVITATE fuel into smaller jugs. Find a couple of giveaway non OPD used pots for this duty. You can ever lay a 100# cylinder horizontal to liquid fill it from a 500.
