[Shop-talk] Propane generator

[Jeff Scarbrough]

A few random thoughts:

1.  You ought to be able to measure the gas pressure with your random
plumbing fittings and some clear plastic tubing (WARNING! Explosion
Hazard!  Be smart!)

2.  Do you have the volume available to supply everything at once?  (Might
be able to be detected along with #1)

On Fri, Sep 11, 2020 at 5:52 PM Jim Stone <1789alpine at gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks, guys.  This is all really helpful and I think I understand
> everything.  I just did a little more research and have learned that:
>
>
>    - Our house pressure regulator is listed as having an SPG Range of
>    9-13” W.C.
>    - There don’t appear to be any supplemental regulators on the furnace
>    or water heater.  I looked up the water heater and it specifies a supply
>    pressure of 9.5-13.0′′.
>    - The owner’s manual specifications for the generator don’t specify
>    the inlet pressure and the regulator that came with the generator doesn’t
>    specify it's pressure.  However, a little research on the model (Ningbo
>    Wanan RA328) indicates an outlet pressure of 11”.
>
>
> So, while I will want to confirm this with the generator’s manufacturer,
> it would seem that I was over-regulated but also that a direct connection
> to the house should be about right for the generator.
>
> Correct?
>
> Jim
>
> On Sep 11, 2020, at 5:25 PM, Ian McFetridge <shop-talk2 at mcfetridge.org>
> wrote:
>
> As you say, I think you are over regulating the supply.  We have propane
> heat and when our standby generator was installed they measured the
> pressure and said it was too low and that they would have to cut in before
> the regulator to get enough pressure to the generator.  So, we have two
> lines with different regulators.
>
> Best,
> Ian
>
> On Fri, Sep 11, 2020 at 4:51 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
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