Just bought a generator
 

During the storm in Florida, we moved to our rv garage about a 1/4 mile from my home. I had emergency power in the rv (generator) but not the rest of the garage which includes a storage area, a screened patio and garage for my two collector cars.

I could also use a generator at my home if needed.

Amazon had a duromax on sale and I bought it. It is a duel fuel generator, gas and butane. I thought the butane was great as I could keep butane in it all the time.

https://www.amazon.com/DuroMax-XP120...385652d5&psc=1

I then found that it would not run near as long on butane and I would need a large take for continual use. Anyone use a dual fuel generator? What do you use.

Looks nice. I wish there was some way to run that on natural gas, too.

Daughter brought her propane/pump gas generator over for the hurricane, we never used it. I've never had one and lived through blizzards up north and 7 hurricanes in various states. If I lose power for any length of time I'm headed away in my previously filled up vehicles, screw the food in the freezer....

My niece is on a generator in Ft. Myers right now and has spent a lot of time in gas lines to get fuel for it and sometimes can't. I think they are way over-hyped as far as total benefit.

It's more of a hassle for people who run them continuously. My storm plan is simply to keep the fridge cold, and run it for a few hours in the evening, when it is dark. An hour here and there during the day just to keep the fridge cold doesn't require constant running, which uses a lot of gas.

We have a little one. I run it on propane. It's just enough to keep fridges and lights going when needed. If the power goes out we go into "camping" mode, propane stove, battery lights etc. It's enough for us to be comfortable :seasix:

https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Powe...%2C220&sr=8-29

Most can be converted to run 3 fuel, ng, propane and gas.
Butane, propane, ng then gas as far as energy output for gen. (might be ng, propane)

the ad you linked says gasoline and propane.

For portable generators... that is the desired config these days. A gas grill 20lb bottle can run a LP generator for anywhere from 6 hours to days...

https://survivalfreedom.com/wp-conte...5x491.jpg.webp

My whole-house Generac is Propane, and I prefer that gas over natural gas. If your home has NG sourced from the grid.... NG can be shut off by the utility company or local govt. If this happens, a NG only generator is useless. This is generally only a concern in areas where earthquakes are possible.

With Propane, you store the gas in your own tank; no-one other-than-you has control of it.

What ever you buy run it a bit then change the oil. They are not built very well anymore a lot of metal filings.

@Olustee bus I have a 10000 W Duromax dual fuel and converting to NG. Ya need a new regulator and hose to the carb rendering the propane hoses/ reg inoperable. Cost is $129 from nashfuel.com.

Here are the instructions
http://www.nashfuel.com/instructions...STRUCTIONS.pdf

When this project is complete it will be solar charged for the battery as there is no way to charge the battery in the Duromax unless YOU splice into the DC +12vdc charge stubs
https://duromax-xp10000e.tumblr.com/...arging-problem

The enclosure I am building w exhaust fan, grille etc looks like this

I went with this exhaust kit
https://genexhaust.com/generator-exh...nsion-systems/

It’s manual meaning power goes out, flip main breaker (200a) off, slide lock out bar, flip 50A gen breaker, connect cord in garage, start gen. Whole house will run of NG but pool won’t be running

Total cost ~$4000 with NG pipe etc and power trenched to 2nd garage where enclosure sits behind compared to Generac quote of $24000 for auto start

You do loose some wattage at peak using NG but hell of a lot better than switching tanks or filling tanks…. What else ya need to know.

Do you have internet in that van??
In FEB 2021, western part of TX had power outages, my daughter had no power, or water, for 10 days.
Try not to park under a rock,,,

I've never seen butane sold as fuel, except in small containers, like for lighters, soldering irons...

Run time will be more or less dependent on BTU/ pound. For common fuels:

Diesel 19,400
Gasoline 19,500
Natural gas 19,500-21,500
Propane 21,500
Butane 21,640

NG is ~40% cost of propane. Key factor is volume not just BTU. NG is lower pressure compared to Propane @ regulator. As such for stoves/ grille NG has bigger jets. Vase in point if a grill is fed w NG and has a propane reg, the grille might get to 250f:yesnod:

NG is piped in from the street if available, correct? Not available anywhere near me. I have a buried 330 gallon propane tank, and they deliver it by truck, and that tank is about an inch thick. I also have an above ground 275 fuel oil tank in my heated garage.

I heat the house/ hot water with oil because it is cheaper than propane.

I meant propane. I got my "anes" mixed up.

I wish propane was available in my little crossroads. Know one here has water unless they have a well.

Thanks MadinNC, for the great tips. I have saved all of this info.

I'm switching a gen to gas as propane tank, delivery costs, regulators are so expensive here. Propane has gone up 2 to 300 % and throw on delivery fee since not a regular customer. Local companies balk at filling tanks not their own sometimes also even though I buy the tank(s).
In a hurricane emergency I'll stock up on gas is all. I'll get a small tank and put on my trailer.
The only issue will be rotating the gas regularly. New tank will have a drain setup to drain into 5 gallon can and get burned in mower.
Wish to hell NG was available here.

T M I

There once was a man with a van

Who didn't have much of a plan

He'd brag and he'd boast

While he camped at the coast

Belittling his fellow man!

:seasix: