propane generators?

[Dustin]

Does anyone have any experience with propane generators in the wintor? Up here in the North East, we can get a lot of sub-zero nights. Does propane work when it's that cold out?

 

[RonMar]

The generator has to be pre-heated and the fuel is brought in thru a heat exchanger that uses engine heat to bring the fuel up to a more reasonable temperature before it is burnt.

 

[kennyd]

My propane fired Generac Automatic standby generator did fine all last winter. I starts itself once a week and runs for 15 minutes to exercise.

 

[hayden]

The generator has to be pre-heated and the fuel is brought in thru a heat exchanger that uses engine heat to bring the fuel up to a more reasonable temperature before it is burnt.

There are two types of propane fuel systems: One liquid, and the other vapor. A vapor system requires no pre-heating, only the liquid systems do. I've got an Onan Emerald 4000 with a vapor system and it starts flawlessly in sub-zero weather. Propane is actually better at cold weather starting than gas - there isn't even a choke.

 

[tommu56]

I had a propane conversion at my cabin only when it was cold <10 deg. did I have any problem it was a beam conversion on a briggs motor 3kw gen using vapor to regulator. To solve the problem the propane dealer said to hook at least 2, 20 lb cylinders and leave them both on in cold weather. the other choice he said would be a horizonal 100 lb cylinder. This gives more surface area for the vapor to boil off. worked fine with 2 20's in the summer i only turned one on.

tom

 

[BubbaJr]

We are in Western Ohio where it will get down below 0 every winter. Last year we had a big ice storm and were without electric for a week. Our propane fired generator worked flawlessly all week. We have a 500 gallon propane tank, so there is plenty of surface area for the vapor to form, then it is fed into a 12KW Honda powered Coleman generator,which goes through an exercise cycle every 2 weeks under load. So it gets run in all sorts of temp ranges.

We started out with a B&S powered unit and had nothing but engine trouble. The dealer made us a deal to upgrade the whole unit to the Honda powered generator, and we couldn't be happier with it.

I have never had nor have heard of anyone in this area having cold related issues with propane gas.

 

[hayden]

I had a propane conversion at my cabin only when it was cold <10 deg. did I have any problem it was a beam conversion on a briggs motor 3kw gen using vapor to regulator. To solve the problem the propane dealer said to hook at least 2, 20 lb cylinders and leave them both on in cold weather. the other choice he said would be a horizonal 100 lb cylinder. This gives more surface area for the vapor to boil off. worked fine with 2 20's in the summer i only turned one on.

tom

Yes, the vapor systems require a tank that's big enough to allow enough fuel to vaporize from the liguid surface inside the tank. A bigger generator obviously requires more vapor evaporation, and in colder weather the evaporation occurs more slowly. I don't know how big a generator different size tanks can power at different temperatures. I've got a 1000 gal underground tank so it's not a problem, but with smaller tanks or a bigger generator you might have troubles. Your local propane supplier should be able to help you with what will work in your area.

 

[HillStreet]

I built a house on 2015/2016, single story full basement 1700 square feet. We have gas cooking stove, gas clothes dryer, radiant heat, and 11kW Generac propane generator. We lose power quite a bit, sometimes 2 to 5 days. We burn a total of 600 to 700 gallons of propane a year at just under $3 a gallon. Electric bill is under $50 given all the LED lights in use.

Very comfortable living, very convenient, no issues. I even have a coal stove in the basement (with 3 tons of bagged coal) that I don’t use because it is cheaper to burn propane. I’m happy.

 

[PILOON]

In the early days of propane heating we learned of some of the shortcomings.

The main one being that at very cold temps the tank pressure would drop to the point that you'd only get some 60-70% of the tank capacity and the other being that heavy demands could actually freeze things up.

For winter heating we'd bring in 6 or more 100lb tanks and come summer we'd re connect the discarded winter tanks to use up the balance.
Back then we had no electricity so propane was essential for heat, light and cooking.
Some even had propane incinerator toilets.(phew, you did not wish to be down wind)

Late fall it was common to see a boat floating a half dozen tanks to the cottages.
Making things worst I had to carry my tanks up 50 steps so I opted for 60 lb tanks that were manageable.

Today I understand they have a system to maintain some heat to the tanks while I know some installations rely on ground vaults to use below frost line heat.

Always remember that propane is heavier than air so it will accumulate in basement areas and create a terrific explosion if ignited, only takes one spark!

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Propane was around $2.50 per gallon here this summer.....GAS is $1.839 right now...

I'm not as dumb as I look, I STOCK UP on gas when it's cheep, can't do that with propane that's NEVER cheep!

For longer term/bigger loads, I use a diesel generator. I've never had even one problem with diesel storage, and I ALWAYS have diesel around.

SR

 

[coobie]

No issues with our 17 KW whole house propane genrac gen. with 500 gal.tank.We purchase our propane the first part of august.The last 3 years it has been 88 cents,99cents and this past august $1.09 per gallon.A heck of a lot cheaper than the 87 octane gas I bought for my 300 gal.tank at $2.89 per gal.Farm diesel was $2.92 per gallon in sept this year when I filled up.

 

[Budweiser John]

20KW stand by system installed 7 years ago. 500 gallon underground propane tank. Unit exercises itself once a week. I change out the spark plug, air filter, oil filter, and change the oil annually.
No starting issues in any season. Sure is nice not to have to worry about cold beer or hot showers when the power goes out.

B. John

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I can't even remember when propane was less that $2.00 per gallon here, last summer the best price I found was over 2 bucks and considered a "deal" at something like $2.29.

Gas is $1.839 right now, so I stocked up a bit...

SR

 

[cdaigle430]

I have a Generac 16kw NG, NG has less BTU but with a battery tender\heater and oil filter heater it starts right up. NG is vapor so what others are saying about vapor not needing to be preheated may be true. Mine starts every other Saturday all year round...this is third winter.....I chimed in because propane has more BTU (more punch) than NG which means harder starting.

 

[coobie]

20KW stand by system installed 7 years ago. 500 gallon underground propane tank. Unit exercises itself once a week. I change out the spark plug, air filter, oil filter, and change the oil annually.
No starting issues in any season. Sure is nice not to have to worry about cold beer or hot showers when the power goes out.

B. John

I fully agree with this statement ^^^^^^

 

[Buggs67]

Gas is $1.839 right now, so I stocked up a bit...

SR

WOW! Is that E85? Cheapest around here is about $2.40s.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

WOW! Is that E85? Cheapest around here is about $2.40s.

Nope, I wouldn't use E85 if it was fifty cents a gallon!!

SR

 

[Garandman]

Our place is on Mount Sunapee NH and we’ve seen low temps of -22 F.

We have a Kohler 14KW unit and two 100 gallon tanks. That will run for 8-10 days. Has roughly 110 hours on it. Never run below 25% but the fuel dealer said it should run down to 5%.

We do not have the cold weather kit, which I believe is a battery heater. The dealer said the battery will not freeze as long as it is charged.

We checked out Kohler and Generac. Most Generac customers were happy. The Kohler was a few hundred $ more, and 100% of the people we talked to were happy. Unit was aroun $4 K plus install.

 

[hillwood]

Man.. I'm reading this thread and the difference in price on propane, gas and diesel fuel is all over the place..

 

[grsthegreat]

We topped off propane tank last month. $1.75 gal. I install and maintain lots of propane generators here in north idaho. Never have had any issues with frozen propane tanks come winter. The only time ive seen propane tanks freeze is when using my patio heater hooked to a 5 gallon propane bottle.