Your last generator Maintenance Run

[daugen]

thanks guys. I eyeballed this and thought this won't work. Now I'll go back and physically try to screw them together.
yes to gas testing. My understanding is no teflon tape or goop on these threads. Correct?

 

[Popgadget]

no joy on the t connection to the tanks. Just different kind of connectors at end.
Fine thread vs course thread, male vs female?
thoughts?
thanks Drew

Your T and hoses have POL fittings they are LH thread and will fit inside the the valves on the tanks which have both internal and external threads.

 

[Popgadget]

thanks guys. I eyeballed this and thought this won't work. Now I'll go back and physically try to screw them together.
yes to gas testing. My understanding is no teflon tape or goop on these threads. Correct?

Correct. The seal is made by the ball end of the POL fitting, not the threads.

 

[daugen]

tanks which have both internal and external threads.

ah, I saw only the external threads, oh me of little faith...

 

[3930dave]

The main reason brushes are used is cost and to a much lesser extent size on portable and RV units. Brushless requires an exciter stator, exciter rotor and typically 6 diodes and a surge suppressor on the rotor. This costs much more than slip rings and brushes that will almost always last the warranty period. It does take a little more space to hang all that off the back of the rotor, even more if you add a PMG to power AVR.

Unless there is a severe backfeed or reactive power condition a brushless system has an unlimited lifespan. I致e seen many units with well over 60k hours with no repairs to the exciter system.

Brushes are a wear item as are the slip rings. The worst thing you can do is let them get dirty or worn down so they arc and burn the slip rings. Take care of your brushes and your brushes will take care of you.

Thnx for the details cm. In an expensive enough system, I like the lack of mtce that a non-contact control system delivers.

Advantages I see with generators over complex systems on road-going vehicles...... No salt to deal with (away from coastal or marine environments), no random vibration or impacts, and often less ambient temperature swings.

I often prefer less complexity (all else equal), but anyone who's Got Er Done outside in poor weather can empathize with the "fun" grs had on that brush change.....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

tanks which have both internal and external threads.

ah, I saw only the external threads, oh me of little faith...

Ask, and TBN delivers

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Whatever you end up using, leak test it thoroughly with very soapy water or better yet commercial leak test fluid.

LP is not something to take any chances with.

+2 on that.

Rerun, likely, but I clearly recall a guy blowing up a good chunk of his house working on a catering truck (roach coach) at home, that he knew was leaking propane. Parked it outside, at the end of his driveway, near the road. Didn't realize the implications of his driveway sloping down to basement level garage...... propane ran down-slope and pooled in the garage....... boom.

I like how clean propane burns, but forgetting that it's heavier than air can be fatal.

d likely knows well, from his cruiser (boat) days.... but can't be repeated too often.....

Rgds, D.

 

[3Ts]

There is a special teflon tape (not sure it's actually teflon) for gas pipe that is yellow. Do not use any other color, however the paste type seems to be the most commonly used out here. The POL fitting (the connection to the tank) is an o-ring so that o-ring is the sealant and no other should be needed.

 

[daugen]

thanks guys. Yes, of course the hose kit fit just fine, on the internal threads, going "backwards".
Now the question is whether the hose that comes with the generator will be equally compatible. Hope so...
Lou, thank you again...

one of the most interesting training courses I took as a volunteer fireman was the gas and electric course put on by Philadelphia Electric.
Colorless and often odorless (hence the rotten eggs smell of commercial propane) could definitely do you in. Luckily there are no major railroad freight lines in this area,
but there is a big Texas Eastern pumping station that runs from NJ under the River and here just North of New Hope. Or maybe it goes the other way, which would be logical...
I have a high degree of respect for gasoline, propane and any semi hauling flammable gas. One reason I like diesel, won't blow up in your face.

least expensive bottle of commercial leak detector fluid was ten bucks. Instead I bought a pack of three spray bottles for less than half of that and will make my own
soapy liquid.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Teflon tape or paste on all pipe threads, no sealer of any kind on a flare fitting. The flare surface must be clean and undamaged.