Thought I'd Share Some Pics of the Propane Kit...

 
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I'm On Fire
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Post by I'm On Fire » Sat. Nov. 24, 2012 7:23 pm

After Sandy hit I decided that I wasn't going to solely rely on fighting to get gas for the generator and after talking it over with my wife it was decided to buy a kit to run the generator off of propane as a backup. The kit I got is an adapter type. It bolts to the carburetor just after the air cleaner. I had to modify the venturi by grinding some material off the top so it'd clear the choke linkage. I haven't gotten it dialed in just yet, I only had enough propane in my grill tank to get the generator running and check for leaks. The plan is to use two 100# tanks but for now I've got one 20# tank (it was a spare for the grill).

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Post by Flyer5 » Sat. Nov. 24, 2012 7:33 pm

I hope you never need it. Looks like a pretty nice kit. Dave

 
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Post by I'm On Fire » Sat. Nov. 24, 2012 7:38 pm

Living where I live. We lose power if you look at the words wrong.

Forgot to mention it does high and low pressure natural gas/propane as well as gasoline.

 
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Post by k9 Bara » Sat. Nov. 24, 2012 7:40 pm

I didn't know they sold such a kit. That could be very handy. Can you return to normal fuel without much work?

 
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Post by jpete » Sat. Nov. 24, 2012 7:42 pm

I've been looking at these myself. We hardly ever lose power but I'd like to think I learned a lesson from other peoples bad fortune.

It would be interesting to know how long it runs on a 20# bottle.

 
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Post by jpete » Sat. Nov. 24, 2012 7:43 pm

k9 Bara wrote:I didn't know they sold such a kit. That could be very handy. Can you return to normal fuel without much work?
According to the manufacturer, you can switch between all three fuels with no work at all.

The "C kit" is the one most people with portable generators would need.

http://www.propane-generators.com/a-c_kit_list.htm

 
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Post by McGiever » Sat. Nov. 24, 2012 7:56 pm

jpete wrote:It would be interesting to know how long it runs on a 20# bottle.
Propane numbers you can use. :)

kWh per US Gallon = 26.9 [At 100% efficiency]

Mass per US Gallon of Liquid at 60°F = 4.20 lb

BTW: 20lb. bottle doesn't have 20 lbs. since new valve and anti-overfill device came about.
:(
Last edited by McGiever on Sat. Nov. 24, 2012 9:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.


 
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Post by Rob R. » Sat. Nov. 24, 2012 9:00 pm

How do you "dial in" the fuel/air mixture?

 
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Post by I'm On Fire » Sat. Nov. 24, 2012 9:07 pm

Yes, you can switch between all three with no trouble. I didn't have to modify the stock fuel system.

And yeah, a 20# propane tank is equivalent to 5 gallons of gasoline from what I've heard. A 100# tank is actually about 29 gallons of gasoline. But the liquid in the tank boils off as its drawn from and the vapor is what is consumed. I've also been told a 20# tank would run a generator for 6-7 hours. Hopefully I won't need to use the generator on propane anytime soon though.

This is the company I bought my kit from: http://www.propanecarbs.com/small_engines.html

The particular kit I got is the tri-fuel kit.

Rob R., there is a load block on the outlet of the regulator mounted to the frame. You start by closing the load block the backing it off about three to four turns then you try to start it. It gets backed off until the generator runs smooth by 1/2 turn increments. Then you have to fine tune it with a meter that has a Hz setting. This is where I stopped because I ran out of propane. The tank I was using was pretty much empty cause it was from my grill. You can see the load block on the right side of the regulator in the last pic. It's closed because it was before I started adjusting it.

 
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Post by lsayre » Sat. Nov. 24, 2012 9:20 pm

That propane conversion kit is a great idea!

 
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Post by McGiever » Sat. Nov. 24, 2012 9:43 pm

For adjusting fuel/air mixture on that 3600rpm engine and have a decent 60HZ, best to have some load connected while adjusting so HZ doesn't range too high or low in actual use. :idea:

 
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Post by I'm On Fire » Sat. Nov. 24, 2012 9:51 pm

McGiever wrote:For adjusting fuel/air mixture on that 3600rpm engine and have a decent 60HZ, best to have some load connected while adjusting so HZ doesn't range too high or low in actual use. :idea:
Yup. I messed with it a bit yesterday but was doing it wrong. I had no load. When I get propane for the grill next I put a drop light or a box fan on it and then adjust it. It takes me a while to comprehend stuff.

 
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Post by McGiever » Sat. Nov. 24, 2012 10:06 pm

The Kill A Watt that has been discussed in other threads here would give you a Frequency Reading. :idea:

 
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Post by I'm On Fire » Sun. Nov. 25, 2012 6:00 am

Do you have any pictures of it? Where can I purchase it?

Nevermind, this this thing?

http://www.p3international.com/products/special/p ... 00-ce.html

 
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Post by Rob R. » Sun. Nov. 25, 2012 6:02 am

They are all over ebay, might be at your local big box store also.


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