[Shop-talk] LP Generator supply

[Pat Horne]

Looks like it should work without the regulator. What size pipe did the do the new pipe in? What size line did you run between the pipe & generator? Just because the the pressures match, flow rate also has to be sufficient. 

Peace,
Pat

Pat Horne 
We support Habitat for Humanity


On Aug 21, 2021, at 1:08 PM, Jim Stone <1789alpine at gmail.com> wrote:

I am on Eastern Long Island, directly in one of the projected paths of Hurricane Henri.  We are being told to plan for 7-10 days without power, although FWIW we were only powerless for 4 days following Sandy.  Shortly after Sandy I purchased an LP Generator (https://www.jbtools.com/buffalo-tools-gen4000lp-4000-watt-propane-generator/?wi=off&gclid=CjwKCAjwyIKJBhBPEiwAu7zll1U54VH4euJneVO0jmOzjdgwy6-t0MUdEtaEHYXf_7W0sQxKo54TphoC__4QAvD_BwE) which, of course, I have never needed, although I do run it periodically to be safe.  It is designed to run off of LP tanks and comes with a standard regulator.  A little Googling shows the following specs for the regulator:

Low Pressure Regulator
Inlet Pressure:               25-250PSIG
Outlet Pressure:            280mmH2O= (11"W.C.)
Flow Capacity(MAX):    119000(BTU/hr)

We use Propane for DHW and heat and have a 500 gallon in-ground tank.   I had an outside gas line stubbed out when the house was remodeled, just in case I ever needed it and I would like to be able to connect the generator directly to the house supply and avoid having to depend on the portable tanks.  The house supply is regulated and, as an example, here are the specs for the water heater:

Max Inlet Gas Pressure:    13.0 “W.C.
Min Inlet Gas Pressure:     8.0 “W.C.
Recovery Rating:               206/Gallons/HR
Max Working Pressure:     150psi
Max Output:                       180,000 BTU/HR
Max Input:                          11,000 BTU/HR
Manifold Pressure:             3.9 “W.C. (For Max Input)

Am I missing anything, or should I be able to hook the generator directly to the house supply without the regulator?  For the record, I tried it once with the regulator attached and it barely ran and didn’t put out any appreciable power.  I always meant to research this before I needed it, but like many of us, never got around to it until now.

Thanks,
Jim


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