Couldn't find an answer in the archives - coulda missed it - this forum is soooo busy.

We have 5000 generator that we have used gas in. We have gotten about 8 hours on a tank of gas when we used it to run the TV and 2 large incubators and a hatcher (we raise emu and had to keep those eggs cooking!).

Two questions:

1. I have ordered a propane conversion kit for the generator. How will the propane compare with the gasoline as far a burn time? I know on another thread there was discussion about the propane having slightly less power.

2. Would there be a difference in the burn time in relation to what you are running off the generator? In other words, if I am only running one light and cooling off the freezer, will there be a difference in the burn time (on the propane) than if I am running say the washing machine and the filling the water bladder by also running the well pump? (Taking into account each appliance uses of course.)

Thanks.

-- Valkyrie (anon@please.net), June 16, 1999

Answers

This is some information from a gentleman on another list that I think is informitive. I hope it helps. Also propane conversion kits are not as good as motors that are made for propane. Freezers I believe do not take much propane to operate as most other applications for it. Some may know more than myself about this. >p> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Propane lasts indefinitely, you don't have funny regulations about the< BR> quantity that you are storing (as far as I know you only have to keep your
tanks a certain distance from your house/hydro wires), and you can use it for
your forge, furnace, refridgerator, lights, generator, etc.etc.etc.

I've been researching propane. I talked to a local propane supplier.< BR> Here is what I found out.

All dollar figures are Canadian, are approximate, and for
the Waterloo, Ontario region.

It costs $55 to recertify a 60 lb. to 100 lb. tank.
(Purge tank, replace value, inspect tank.)
A 100 lb tank, recertified and filled, with taxes, comes to $111.71.< BR> It is cheaper to buy a small BBQ-style (20 lb) tank from a store,
(certified, painted nicely, and filled for $40.35) than
to take in your old tank for recertification and filling.

If you want to dispose of old tanks... you may have a problem.
Many places won't take old tanks, unless the tanks have big gaping holes,
to ensure that there is no fuel left inside.

Size | Price to buy
(US gallons) |
---------------------------
80 | 591 (would need to be recertified every 10 years)
334 | 1235 (bigger tanks don't have a set time period)
500 | 1608
1000 | 2497
2000 | 7100

For various reasons, the best bang for your buck is 1000 US gallon tanks.
(Around 3000lbs/3000 litres.)

It would cost around $250/$300 to deliver the this tank somewhere around
a 1.5 hour drive away from their warehouse. If you buy two tanks the cost
does increase, but not double, because they can just add a second trailer
to their truck. I didn't ask about the incremental cost for 3 or more tanks.

It costs around $500 (off the top of the technician's head) to recertify
a big tank. Keep this in mind when buying a used tank.

You can rent tanks BUT only if you will use a lot of propane
(IE. fillup >= once per year). They won't rent you a tank
if you want fillup once and then go for some number of years.

The cost is around $.35/liter if you rent the tank,
and $.28/liter if you own the tank, if you are buying a lot of propane< BR> at once (IE. filling up one of the larger tanks).
I didn't ask if this includes the fee for them driving out to
where the tank is to be filled up. Add GST (7%) to that cost,
but not PST (8%).

It is cheaper to buy propane in the spring/summer/fall than in the winter,
by as much as $.06/liter.

I would need a high pressure regulator ($100) at the tank,
copper piping (big enough to handle the amount of propane
that I'd be using) is around $3/foot (steel piping is available,
and would be smaller in diameter, but more expensive),
and an $80 secondary regulator at every building (house, barn, workshop, etc).

If you repaint your tank, so that it doesn't rust, the tank will last,< BR> well, not forever, but he has 50 year old tanks. If you don't abuse
your valve, it should last at least 20-30 years (he has one that is
at least 20 years old).

His experience with their vehicles, converted to propane,
is a slight loss of mileage (eg. 15 mpg to 12-13 mpg).

Considering the cost of gasoline, for around the same $$$ for propane< BR> versus gasoline, I would get the around the same amount of electricity< BR> from a generator, ignoring the infrastructure costs (tank/etc).

I have yet to compare propane to diesel.


-- Brian (imager@home.com), June 16, 1999.