[Shop-talk] Propane generator

[Pat Horne]

Jim,

A few thoughts. 

Since this is the first time you tried to use it, there may be air in the gas line. Let it run for 5-10 minutes to see if that helps. 

The quick release connector may not flow enough gas. Try bypassing it. 

I doubt you have a defective regulator but it may be that the house pressure may be different than the pressure coming out of the stand alone tank pressure. Are you using the stand alone regulator between the house & the generator? I doubt that would work. Is there any information in the manual about connecting  To the house system? You may need to call the generator manufacturer to see what they say. 

Depending on the configuration of your house gas lines you may have one or two regulators between the tank & the appliances. I have propane also & have what they call a 2-stage system. There is a regulator @ the tank to drop the pressure to about 20 psi (I think), then one @ the house to drop it to what is needed. The single stage setup has a regulator @ the tank. 

Make any sense?

Peace,
Pat

Pat Horne 
We support Habitat for Humanity


On Sep 11, 2020, at 3:52 PM, Jim Stone <1789alpine at gmail.com> wrote:

I have a propane generator that I purchased 3 or 4 years ago for emergency use.  (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sportsman-4-000-3-250-Watt-Propane-Gas-Powered-Portable-Generator-with-Clean-Burning-LPG-and-RV-Outlet-GEN4000LP/202222977). I have never had to use it, but run it every year or so just to be sure it is there when I need it.  Up until today, I ran it off of a portable tank.  However, we use propane for our heat, cooking and hot water and have a 500 gallon in-ground tank, so being able to run off of that would be far better, especially in an extended outage.  

We had the house rebuilt last year and I had the plumber stub out a line on the side of the house.   I attached a quick release connecter to the house line (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071HSYWD3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and purchased an adaptor for the supply line that came with the generator.  The supply line appears to be a standard connector like you would have for a gas grill.  Here is the adaptor I used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008E33GEM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There were also a few assorted bushings and adaptors needed to make everything fit, but I am confident they are all done correctly and I checked everything for leaks before starting up the generator.

The generator ran very sluggishly and didn’t put out enough voltage to even consistently light an LED bulb.  I then connected it to a 20lb LP tank and everything worked perfectly.  I even ran the refrigerator for about an hour with no problems.

There is a regulator on the supply line to the house, so I suspect I am over-regulating the supply.  Still, I assumed that a regulator would put out a constant pressure regardless of what went in, but maybe that isn’t the case.  I checked the house supply to make sure there wasn’t a shutoff in line that was partially closed, but it just runs straight off the main supply and the only shutoff on that line is outside.  I have an unregulated supply line that I can use, but didn’t want to do that without some confirmation that “house" pressure would likely be correct for this application.

Thanks,
Jim
_______________________________________________

Shop-talk at autox.team.net
Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
Suggested annual donation  $12.96
Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk http://autox.team.net/archive

Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/patintexas@icloud.com

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk/attachments/20200911/b9402d1b/attachment.htm>