Propane Usage 2500 Watt Onan

ticki2 wrote:
I have read and experienced myself that if the tank valve is not fully opened to tight that I get a slight gas smell ( leak ) . Worth checking . I have had water gate valves do the same thing .

That’s a possibility as I usually open valve to full stop (tight stop open) and I’ll apply a practice of opening valve all the way. Good point that is possibly why the tank bled off after 6 weeks of non use. Thanks for the feedback.

I have read and experienced myself that if the tank valve is not fully opened to tight that I get a slight gas smell ( leak ) . Worth checking . I have had water gate valves do the same thing .

The tank meter indicated red and the 5 gal tank was empty.

Propane is having very strong odor, se even small bubbling you can smell around.
But than the hoses let for small gas migration, so unless you shut the propane at cylinder, you will lose it eventually.
For our camper, where I use WH for shower every day, we cook and have refrigerator on propane about 50% of the time, 7.5 gallons cylinder last for a month +
Than propane generator usage is like empty TC weigh listing.
Never accurate.

Boondocking2019 wrote:

Eric&Lisa wrote:
Probably not a good choice for a long running generator, thus you won't go through that much propane. Maybe an hour or two here and there for A/C. It is rather noisy (though it is within National Park standards). But for quick & easy power it can't be beat. DW firing it up to run her hairdryer sure does beat the alternative of me getting booted out of the camper and being told to set up a generator!

-Eric

I had a portable 2000 kw Yamaha Gas Generator for our 5th Wheel and only used it a couple of times, hauled it around in the trailers basement and I still own it. The Camper purchase was for getting into those solitude places plus to pull our UTV Side x Side Trailer. Agreed the Generator is a little noisy and wife isn’t to warm and fuzzy with the noise. Here’s my concern and why I asked the propane usage question. After our first camping trip for three days I ran the Generator 30 minutes, fired the Hot Water Heater Up three times for showers, used Shore power to run the Refrigerator and didn’t run the stove. Took Camper off the truck and I left one tank Propane valve open. I checked the tank compartment to shut off the propane valve after I winterized the Camper and I found the tank indicator in the Red and the tank was empty. I know the tank was green when I pulled it off the Camper and to see it now empty concerns me that I might have a leak somewhere.
I sprayed soapy water around the tank valves, lines, regulator fittings and they are all good. I do get a slight whiff of propane when I open the Door to the Tank Compartment with the valves open. I closed off the valves with both tanks now full and there’s no propane odor. I’m thinking it needs to have the Dealer perform a leak down Pressure check as for the little time we used the propane components while camping there might be a leak in the Furnace, Refrigerator, or the Generator. Not my first RV and owned several over the past 30 years, but sure seems concerning that 5 gal tank didn’t last nearly as long as I expected.

Was the tank empty or the needle in the red? If just going by the gauge mine shows empty but has lots of propane left. For that reason I never go by that gauge.

Eric&Lisa wrote:
Probably not a good choice for a long running generator, thus you won't go through that much propane. Maybe an hour or two here and there for A/C. It is rather noisy (though it is within National Park standards). But for quick & easy power it can't be beat. DW firing it up to run her hairdryer sure does beat the alternative of me getting booted out of the camper and being told to set up a generator!

-Eric

I had a portable 2000 kw Yamaha Gas Generator for our 5th Wheel and only used it a couple of times, hauled it around in the trailers basement and I still own it. The Camper purchase was for getting into those solitude places plus to pull our UTV Side x Side Trailer. Agreed the Generator is a little noisy and wife isn’t to warm and fuzzy with the noise. Here’s my concern and why I asked the propane usage question. After our first camping trip for three days I ran the Generator 30 minutes, fired the Hot Water Heater Up three times for showers, used Shore power to run the Refrigerator and didn’t run the stove. Took Camper off the truck and I left one tank Propane valve open. I checked the tank compartment to shut off the propane valve after I winterized the Camper and I found the tank indicator in the Red and the tank was empty. I know the tank was green when I pulled it off the Camper and to see it now empty concerns me that I might have a leak somewhere.
I sprayed soapy water around the tank valves, lines, regulator fittings and they are all good. I do get a slight whiff of propane when I open the Door to the Tank Compartment with the valves open. I closed off the valves with both tanks now full and there’s no propane odor. I’m thinking it needs to have the Dealer perform a leak down Pressure check as for the little time we used the propane components while camping there might be a leak in the Furnace, Refrigerator, or the Generator. Not my first RV and owned several over the past 30 years, but sure seems concerning that 5 gal tank didn’t last nearly as long as I expected.

Probably not a good choice for a long running generator, thus you won't go through that much propane. Maybe an hour or two here and there for A/C. It is rather noisy (though it is within National Park standards). But for quick & easy power it can't be beat. DW firing it up to run her hairdryer sure does beat the alternative of me getting booted out of the camper and being told to set up a generator!

-Eric

No load/0.3 gal hr.....1/2 load/0.4 gal hr......full load/0.6 gal hr..
For propane generator.

I have one a little bigger its been great , uses just a bit more than gas, but worth it, runs much cleaner than gas.

It probably varies depending on what loads you are trying to power with it.