Portable Generators using 20lb propane tanks - eviltoast

IDK if this is going to get any responses, but if you have any experience with using propane with a portable generator maybe you can explain what’s going on.

So I got a big generator, I previously only used gas, but as this was new and dual fuel, it seemed like propane might be a big win. Propane as far as I know doesn’t get old like ethanol gas does, won’t gum up small engine carbs like gas does.

However, it had some downsides - the tanks are not able to just have an extra gas can to refill while the generator is running if needed, and for some reason I can’t tell the manual gives 0 estimated runtime with propane, but lots for the gas fuel. Ok, well some searching found a Y connector with a kind of switch/indicator that is supposed to auto failover to the second connected tank if the first one empties so you can then change out the tank while the generator is running.

Now my problem. Power goes out last night, it’s 20F and I fire up the new generator for the first time. First hour, no issue, however it then starts almost stalling out and then restarting over and over again. I go look at it seems like the “switch” indicated it tried to change tanks but… maybe didn’t? It went straight up and down, not pointed to the other side (though IDK if I actually understand the switch, there were like 0 instructions with it from Amazon). OK, I’ll just figure out which tank is empty (wondering how it went empty in like an hour on a 20lb tank) and move the switch to the other one and then change out the tank with my spare. Did all this, no change. Cannot get the generator to run right, and cause constant brownouts to my house and the generator makes a sound like it’s backfiring every so often. I give up on backup power for the night.

Today, I go look at it again, and it starts up and runs fine today at 43F. However I haven’t put a load on it, but it wasn’t running right without a load last night, so I don’t think it was overloading the generator (and I know it wouldn’t given earlier uses when it was warmer). OK, well lets at least use the valves on the top of the 20lb tanks to test the switch over thing. I tried turning off one of the tanks (right), the one the switch / arrow is pointing towards. Nada, generator keeps running, switch doesn’t do anything. I turn off left and generator stalls out. Weird. I then reset, restart, and try turning off the left tank - no change keeps running. I then re-open left and close right, no change, generator keeps running. Just to not lose my mind, I also close left and as expected generator stalls out.

Ok, so - do I have a worthless amazon transfer thingy, is the propane just not working at 20F or below? This seems really weird as I have a 500 gallon tank for my entire life for heat and stove and it got down to like -15F a few times with no issue.(I asked my provider, they say they can’t hook up the portable generator, or even provide me a propane hose / valve/ anything I could hook it up to.) The 20lb tanks are brand new… So some googling seems to say maybe the tanks need to be warmer? I could get some tank heaters I guess and plug them into the generator also assuming it can run long enough for the heater to do anything and bootstrap stuff when it’s cold. However, I’m also concerned about not having any estimate how long it should run from what should be 40lbs of propane. I don’t know if the first tank leaked over the months since I set it up (the other 2 didn’t), but 1 hour seems really fast to run out, and I would expect at least 8 hours when the gas tank is supposed to be good for 18.

So - do I just give up on propane for this generator? It seems silly to keep propane for the warm months and then switch to gas for the winter…

  • Fuckfuckmyfuckingass@lemmy.world
    51·
    9 months ago

    Propane is very cold. If you’ve ever had some squirt out on your fingers when hooking up a tank you’ll know how cold.

    At my job we have a propane powered forklift. When it’s anywhere close to freezing out, it’s a bear to cold start. It will behave how you describe, runs for a moment then dies.

    As a result we have a plug in heated magnet we throw on the throttle body to preheat the system. Even then once you get it rolling you have to give it throttle until the engine reaches operating temp. Kinda like using a choke but the forklift is fuel injected, so an adhoc choke.

    I’ve heard folks with propane car conversions will run the engine on gas to heat everything up and then switch over to the propane. If that is possible with your generator that would be the next thing I’d try.

    The reason your cooking gas works is because inside where the ignition is happening is presumably warm and also less complicated than running an engine.

    I’m guessing your generator is outside/in an uninsulated space and the engine is having a hard time reaching operating temp with Sub-Zero propane feeding it. Keeping the tanks warm may help, but I think engine temp is a bigger factor.

    I have no idea about run times on propane vs gas. I have heard that propane is less efficient, but cleaner burning.

    I am far from an expert, but these are things I’ve seen and dealt with. Best of luck!

    • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
      1·
      9 months ago

      As a result we have a plug in heated magnet we throw on the throttle body to preheat the system.

      You’d probably have better luck slapping that magnet on the bottom of the tank to warm the liquid. 80F is good (150PSI). Never exceed 120F (250PSI)