Converted generator to propane and natural gas

[bigwakes]

I was tossing around the idea of buying a propane generator when I found people that convert your existing gas generator to diesel. I sent my Generac GP5000 carburetor off to Central Maine Diesel to be converted. A week later I got the carb back.

They basically just drill a hole in the carb and drop a pipe in that is connected to a half inch hose. That hose goes to the secondary regulator that brings the propane into the carb at a steady 1/2 psi.

And it works! I had some issues initially because I did not realize the secondary regulator attached to the generator needs a low psi input. Once I put the high pressure regulator at the bottle it fired right and works like a champ.

[tnhawk]

Sounds like a good option. I'm going to look into it.

[swim615]

This sounds like a great idea for when we go camping. We always have at least two propane tanks with us anyway.

How long will it run on a tank of propane the size you have hooked up?

Can it still run on gas as well if needed?

What is the total cost of the conversion?

Edited March 11, 2012 by swim615

[tnhawk]

For an extended emergency, gasoline probably will not be a good option as it doesn't store well. The option to use propane, natural gas, or gasoline sounds good.

Edited March 11, 2012 by tnhawk

[bigwakes]

This sounds like a great idea for when we go camping. We always have at least two propane tanks with us anyway.

How long will it run on a tank of propane the size you have hooked up?

Can it still run on gas as well if needed?

What is the total cost of the conversion?

That's why I did it. We have a travel trailer with up to 60lbs of propane plus the 20lb tanks we can throw in the back of the truck for boondocking the trailer. Propane weighs 4.22lbs per gallon so there is 4.75 gallons per tank for the grill size 20lb tanks. Not sure how long it will run, but my 5k runs 10 hours on the 9 gallon gas tank. I'm guessing 5 hours on the 20lb tank. Although propane doesn't give you quite as many horse power from what I read on the interwebs.

The great thing is 20% less carbon monoxide emissions.

It still runs on gasoline. You just turn off the tank and turn the gasoline back on. I will always turn off the fuel source to kill the engine to make sure there is no fuel mixing going on.

The total was $193 including return shipping. Seems high, but look at the price of tri-fuel generators and it seems a little more reasonable.

Edited March 11, 2012 by bigwakes

[monkeylizard]

Another benefit is that propane and natural gas burn a lot cleaner in the engine. The engine should last longer and need less maintenance vs running it on gas.

[seez52]

I have a B&S generator with a propane conversion. I've only run it an hour or two but it will power my emergency circuits in the whole house. The one I have uses a venturi plate that fits between the air filter housing and the carb, so there's not permanant modification to the carb. It has several holes and the propane is provided through these. It came with a rather large low pressure regulator. Similiar units as mine that are factory tri fuel, they say require a 100lb tank to properly run them, but I"ve used the 20lb tank on this one and it seemed to work fine. I did buy a 100lb cyl just to have on hand.

Mine has never had gasoline used in it, I think its 8500 watts on gas, and probably drops down to 7000 or so when on propane. This one, if piped directly without the regulator, is also supposed to run on natural gas but I've never tried it. Natural gas has even less energy being unrefined, so it takes a big pipe and possibly a different meter at the house to provide the volume.

There is one safety issue related to propane conversions. The factory ones have built in shut off valves. Conversions don't usually, so should the engine stop for whatever reason, and there's still gas in the propane tank it will continue to be provided even though the engine is no longer burning it. Meaning it's probably spilling onto the ground or floor. Propane is heavier than air so it will settle to the lowest point.

Edited April 19, 2012 by seez52

[bigwakes]

The regulator I have installed does not flow when the engine is turned off.

[seez52]

an excellent safety feature, unfortunately mine does not do that. Did your reg. come from the same place?

[kckndrgn]

I also converted my B&S generator to tri-fuel. I used http://www.propane-generators.com/ to get the kit. About 10 min of work and it was done. It was recommended to add a tachometer to the generator so that I could adjust the flow of propane. I did, the tach, when the engine is not running also serves as a display of hours run so it helps with maintenance.