We have a 9kw genpro generator - we can convert it over to propane or leave it as gas - wich is better??

-- Robert Ludwig (both real!) (Nwphotog@Foxcomm.net), May 29, 1999

Answers

I would use propane. You can have a 250-gallon propane tank installed in your yard; we pay a $25 rental fee yearly to our propane supplier for ours. Gasoline is expensive, difficult to store in large quantities, and requires an additive to stabilize it for long periods.

We have a gasoline generator and are having a hard time finding a converter to hook it up to our propane tank. Anybody know any suppliers?

-- Jill (jdance@mindspring.com), May 29, 1999.

Robert,

Ever watch King of the Hill? If so, you know what my good buddy Hank would tell you, and I agree 100%: Go with propane, its cleaner, cheaper, and more efficient!

-- @ (@@@.@), May 29, 1999.

Gasoline is usually more available, itseasier to transport (sort of, if you know what you are doong - maybe I should say its lower tech) but its toxic, you have to add Sta-Bil or PRI to it to prevent oxidation. If you convert to propane you'll then have a tri-fuel unit, gasoline, propane and natural gas. If things get REALLY bad you could use wood gas.

On your propane, you really should use the electric starter since it is safer to have the engine turning over and THEN start the propane. Propane will burn cleaner and start easier.

-- Ken Seger (kenseger@earthlink.net), May 29, 1999.

Somebody asked me in e-mail about this "On your propane, you really should use the electric starter since it is safer to have the engine turning over and THEN start the propane." I'm sure that others have the same question.

In a propane carb it is possible to get an accumulation of propane if the carb is on but the engine not turning. Therefore it is safer to have the engine turning over with the ignition on so that as soon as the first bit of propane hits it will take off, this is best done with the electric rather than the pull rope starter. Ideally the gaseous carb should not allow any propane to pass with out a negative pressure in the manifold, but things wear, get dirty, etc. so this is just a failsafe method that should be adapted as a habit.

-- Ken Seger (kenseger@earthlink.net), May 30, 1999.

I have choosen to leave my generator on gasoline rather than convert. The primary reason is economics. The propane conversion is about $500 in my area. I am storing enough gas (about 50 gallons) to run the generator for about 40 hours. Because my heat does not require electricity, I think this will be plenty. If I run it 2 hours a day, we can do all the cooking and wheat grinding and filling of the pump surge tank and hot water heater I will need. That will stretch my supply for 20 days.

There is a company called Beam that builds the regulators that work for generators. I could not find them on the net. I found them at a local generator supply company. There is some BIG price gouging going on right now. Each regulator is going for $500. I learned from a less than trustworthy source that the regulator is specific to a particular model of generator. He was trying to convince me that I needed a professional to install the regulator. Maybe true?

-- John Layman (jlayman@srv.net), May 30, 1999.

For Jill,

FWIW, I agree with those who prefer propane and have converted my largest generator. I got the kit from Carburetion Supply in Dallas. They can be reached at (800)433-2272.

I also have a kit which I have not installed yet for a smaller (4KW) generator with an 8 Hp Briggs & Stratton engine. I got this kit from U.S. Carburetion. They have a website here that has all the contact information, pricing and even some pictures of various kits.

I hope this is of some use to you.

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), May 30, 1999.