Dual Fuel generators

DirtySCREW

I am Negan
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Are dual Fuel gens a good idea? I was adamant that my next one will be. I understand propane doesn't give as many watts....but the convenience is nice. But someone told me yesterday that that don't last as long....propane "cooks" the top end.

True?


DS
 
I rebuilt the top end on an 2004 15kw generac generator about 2 weeks ago. It had 1700 hrs on it Top end looked immaculate other than the homeowner added oil. Lots of oil and bent the valves because the low oil shutoff switch had failed and gave the alarm of low oil
 
I put a duel fuel carb from amazon on my champion generator for the sole reason to run propane and I couldn’t e more happy. As for it running what I want it runs my “rv” just fine!
 
I have a 12k DuroMax dual fuel that has never had gasoline in it. I've only put maybe 200 hours on it, zero issues.
Next time I see one of those for the crazy sale price you find them at from time to time, ima buy one
 
Propane as fuel should have nothing to do with ruining an engine. Like said above.... They run cleaner and you should.....be able to have longer oil change intervals.
 
Nice thing about Nat Gas or Propane, the engine starts on the first pull, no need to prime it.
 
My Duramax is dual fuel. It’s a 10kW for gas, 8kW if on propane. I’d like to convert it to natural gas to be able to run off of Piedmont’s line. The gas lines are pretty secure in a disaster so there should be a good supply of it.
 
My Duramax is dual fuel. It’s a 10kW for gas, 8kW if on propane. I’d like to convert it to natural gas to be able to run off of Piedmont’s line. The gas lines are pretty secure in a disaster so there should be a good supply of it.

I dont understand this:oops:

I readily admit to knowing nothing at all:rolleyes:

Your duramax (Chevy,GMC HD engine?)

10k on natural gas? 8k on liquid propane?

Then you want to hook it to a NG hard line?

Clearly I am naive:D I want to understand.. whatchu talkin bout willis?
 
Natural gas has higher energy content vs propane, so 10,000 watts vs 8,000 watts of power.
Running on propane requires tank changes when empty vs nat gas aka city gas no tanks.

Edit: *** I got it backwards ***
propane has higher energy contest vs natural gas.
 
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Ooooooooh!

Damn, I had in my mind, you were doing gnarly things with a truck. Or had taken the truck engine and turned it into a generator system. Or someone does such and you had one:eek::D


Thanks for cheating things up
The Duromax pop up on eBay at crazy prices every once in awhile. Somebody usually posts a deal up when they see them.
 
Natural gas has higher energy content vs propane, so 10,000 watts vs 8,000 watts of power.
Running on propane requires tank changes when empty vs nat gas aka city gas no tanks.


I'm actually, slightly familiar with "power content" between propane and NG. I did my time in the city (Charlotte) where I began to understand the uses of NG piped to a home.

Whereas where I grew up and where I have returned to (The mountains an hour west of Asheville) NG lines aren't a thing.

And while propane is here and available, I can't commit to it because of an ability to use wood as a heat source. Propane and NG are super nice.

I was/am just trying to learn as much as I can about it since, wood heat takes so much manpower(mine) to be useful/justifiable as an actual resource.

I presume availability of such will eclipse my ability to provide my own fuel source.

Time, effort, skill for money saved or spent being what it is:)
 
Natural gas has higher energy content vs propane, so 10,000 watts vs 8,000 watts of power.
Running on propane requires tank changes when empty vs nat gas aka city gas no tanks.
Actually propane is more than twice the energy content of natural gas, 2516 BTU per cu.ft for propane 1030 Btu per cu.ft nat. gas. I think the 10,000 to 8,000 refers to gasoline vs propane
 
Actually propane is more than twice the energy content of natural gas, 2516 BTU per cu.ft for propane 1030 Btu per cu.ft nat. gas. I think the 10,000 to 8,000 refers to gasoline vs propane

Indeed you are correct.

Propane and NG are great generator options because the fuel does not go bad. No carb problems, cleaner oil, and the generator will typically run for several days. I had a propane standby generator for years and presently have a 16KW awaiting installation. Because of the plethora of diesel generators here (6 operational from 2KW - 225KW) I have not been in a rush to complete the installation, but it’s coming up to the top of the project list.

The downside of propane is that it’s difficult - if not impossible - to have a large propane tank refilled during an extended power outage (such as one caused by an ice storm).

For a 5500 watt 1725 rpm propane generator, presume that it will consume around .8 - 1 gallons of propane per hour of operation (at 50% load). 3600 rpm generators will consume somewhat more. So a 125 gallons propane tank (100 gallon max fill) will typically provide around 3.5 days of continuous operation for a 5,500 watt generator.
 
Indeed you are correct.

Propane and NG are great generator options because the fuel does not go bad. No carb problems, cleaner oil, and the generator will typically run for several days. I had a propane standby generator for years and presently have a 16KW awaiting installation. Because of the plethora of diesel generators here (6 operational from 2KW - 225KW) I have not been in a rush to complete the installation, but it’s coming up to the top of the project list.

The downside of propane is that it’s difficult - if not impossible - to have a large propane tank refilled during an extended power outage (such as one caused by an ice storm).

For a 5500 watt 1725 rpm propane generator, presume that it will consume around .8 - 1 gallons of propane per hour of operation (at 50% load). 3600 rpm generators will consume somewhat more. So a 125 gallons propane tank (100 gallon max fill) will typically provide around 3.5 days of continuous operation for a 5,500 watt generator.
And that’s not going to work well having a propane tank that small if you are in a coastal region. I’m not putting in a decent generator then shorting the supply tank. Although I only have a portable currently, when I downsize houses soon I will put in a whole house generator.

Any genearator that will run off propane or natural gas is going to have less issues and a better burn than a petro fueled system.
 
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