The propane has some advantages. I think propane will cost less to run per hour, given how much diesel costs nowadays. A 1000 gallon tank would run it for a long time and really isn't all that big, especially considering the size of a generator that would put out that kind of power. There is no need to transfer the fuel from the tank to the generator (by hand or by 12v pump)... it would all be automatic. There is no risk of propane getting contaminated or getting fungus growing in it with long term storage, and there is no issue with it gelling at cold temps.
NG, Propane, gas or diesel generator??
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Egon
Epic Contributor
You may have to clarify this statement by quoting temperatures as C3 does freeze. This freezing may be enhanced by the cooling effects of the C3 passing through a small orifice in a regulator.
You may have to clarify this statement by quoting temperatures as C3 does freeze. This freezing may be enhanced by the cooling effects of the C3 passing through a small orifice in a regulator.
You will have a problem with anything if it's cold enough (say -50 degrees), but at normal winter temps (say 0 or -10 degrees) you'll have no issue with propane. You would have problems with diesel at that temp unless you go with #1 (more $$/less btus) or diesel/kero mix or keep the fuel underground (EPA nightmare waiting to happen) or inside a heated structure (which is what I did when I had to heat with #2). I imagine #1 gels up at some point too.
Egon
Epic Contributor
Normal winter temperatures just happen to vary from location to location. There are many areas where -40 C is not uncommon.
Take into account the temperature drop due to the flow threw an orifice [Note: common refrigeration technique] and the outside temperature will not have to be near that at which C3 freezes.
It all depends on the flow rate and the temperature drop across an orifice.
Take into account the temperature drop due to the flow threw an orifice [Note: common refrigeration technique] and the outside temperature will not have to be near that at which C3 freezes.
It all depends on the flow rate and the temperature drop across an orifice.
SpringHollow
Elite Member
I read most of this thread and skimmed other parts of it. We sell standby generators. To me, it is a no brainer - go natural gas. Our units at least could be switched over to LPG in about 20 minutes - 15 or more of those hooking up the tank. So if there was a gas main disaster, you could have an lpg tank trucked in from hundreds of miles away if necessary. It makes more sense to me to have the right equipment for the 99.9% of the time scenarios. Having an endless fuel supply definitely has its advantages. And not having to prepay for it and store it is nice too!
Now if i lived in San Francisco where earthquakes are much more common, LPG or diesel starts to make more sense.
Generacs are the most common because they are among the cheapest units out there, not because they are the best.
Depending upon the types of electronics in your house, the quality of the power you want is quite important. Every time there is an outage in the winter, my business partner's brother replaces variable speed drives on people's furnaces who have cheap standby generators. He gets quite happy every time there is an outage.
Ken
Now if i lived in San Francisco where earthquakes are much more common, LPG or diesel starts to make more sense.
Generacs are the most common because they are among the cheapest units out there, not because they are the best.
Depending upon the types of electronics in your house, the quality of the power you want is quite important. Every time there is an outage in the winter, my business partner's brother replaces variable speed drives on people's furnaces who have cheap standby generators. He gets quite happy every time there is an outage.
Ken
Kyle_in_Tex
Super Star Member
Suffice it to say Dargo, you have a ways to go to get "off grid".
My 2 cents, I looked in Northern T and saw how much a huge single phase transfer costs. Ouch. If it were my decision, I'd get something diesel powered on a trailer. That way, if you need power where ever you go, you can have it. Not just locked down at the house. How many more times could you have used power "outback" in the middle of nowhere or at a construction site?
My needs are much smaller than yours and so I would like to have a PTO setup with a diesel supply for the tractor.
PS, I live off of Texas highway 290(goes to Houston) and I've seen plenty of generators of all sizes going to Htown. Most look like they were diesel units in nice cabinets. I'd suppose maybe when all of this Ike damage goes away, there might be some decent deals to be had????
My 2 cents, I looked in Northern T and saw how much a huge single phase transfer costs. Ouch. If it were my decision, I'd get something diesel powered on a trailer. That way, if you need power where ever you go, you can have it. Not just locked down at the house. How many more times could you have used power "outback" in the middle of nowhere or at a construction site?
My needs are much smaller than yours and so I would like to have a PTO setup with a diesel supply for the tractor.
PS, I live off of Texas highway 290(goes to Houston) and I've seen plenty of generators of all sizes going to Htown. Most look like they were diesel units in nice cabinets. I'd suppose maybe when all of this Ike damage goes away, there might be some decent deals to be had????
Charlesaf3
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my thought is FWIW that if you are worried about an earthquake I'd steer clear of natural gas. I'd imagine they'd shut the system down immediately rather than risk random house explosions from cracked pipes until they had the oppty to go out and check everything. And that would take a while.
Of course, if you have a propane backup, that would solve that. I'm not sure I'd count on getting deliveries in a real mess though, whereas you could probably get the diesel in somehow.
Of course, if you have a propane backup, that would solve that. I'm not sure I'd count on getting deliveries in a real mess though, whereas you could probably get the diesel in somehow.
OP
Dargo
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Hot dang it if I'm not confused about coming across a "temporary" solution until that perfect deal comes along. I dropped by my local Rural King to pick up a couple of fittings to finish a plumbing project I started over the weekend and noticed that they had some brand new 15kw PTO generators there. (yes, I know this isn't enough by any means to accomplish what I want, that's why I said a possible "temporary" solution) They had 6 this morning and now only have 2. The price seems pretty reasonable for a 15kw PTO generator at $999.00 Here is what I'm talking about, except the ones at my local RK are yellow in color https://www.ruralking.com/Store/detail.aspx?ID=15098
Between this and the little Honda portable I have I could probably get by until I found that perfect setup, but I don't want to get robbed on a PTO unit. This one just seemed to be a pretty good deal. At least 4 people in my area thought so anyway.
I'm waiting for PBinWA to say "told you so" since I first thought I'd ruled out a PTO generator. I just didn't think I could get a 15kw for a thousand bucks. Between the little 10kw Honda and a 15kw PTO I would have enough for a "temporary" fix....wouldn't I?
*edit*
Actually the ones at my local RK look a lot nicer than the one in the ad. Besides being Yellow, they are setup differently and have a nicer 3 pt. setup and include the PTO shaft. They also have a covered panel to protect it from the elements and a digital hour meter.
The price seems pretty reasonable for a 15kw PTO generator at $999.00 Here is what I'm talking about, except the ones at my local RK are yellow in color https://www.ruralking.com/Store/detail.aspx?ID=15098Between this and the little Honda portable I have I could probably get by until I found that perfect setup, but I don't want to get robbed on a PTO unit. This one just seemed to be a pretty good deal. At least 4 people in my area thought so anyway.
I'm waiting for PBinWA to say "told you so" since I first thought I'd ruled out a PTO generator.
I just didn't think I could get a 15kw for a thousand bucks. Between the little 10kw Honda and a 15kw PTO I would have enough for a "temporary" fix....wouldn't I?*edit*
Actually the ones at my local RK look a lot nicer than the one in the ad. Besides being Yellow, they are setup differently and have a nicer 3 pt. setup and include the PTO shaft. They also have a covered panel to protect it from the elements and a digital hour meter.
The PTO is a good solution. You can get a whole lot of PTO generator for your $$ since you aren't buying the engine to run it. They make some big enough to run your entire place. I don't have one but it is on my list of things I need to get some day. What I would really like is a cheap PTO unit that also welds, but I haven't seen one of those.
