Salvo
California
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Joined: 06/01/2008
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You need two regulators, one for the furnace and another for the generator.
Sal
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weathershak
Delaware
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Joined: 12/11/2006
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Do you need to run the genny for long periods of time?, or just to use the microwave or watch the tube for an hour or 2. Would turning the furnace off and using an electric heater instead work ? Just a thought
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mlts22
Austin, Texas
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Joined: 11/15/2010
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Of course, tri-fuel is the best. However, propane has a lot of advantages:
1: A propane leak can almost always be stopped by going to the tank or bottle and screwing the valve shut. If that can't be done, bottles can be removed and set somewhere far from any ignition sources. A gas or diesel tank, if it started leaking is much harder to clean up. To boot, propane dissipating in the air is not considered bad for the environment, while gas/propane soaking in the soil can be considered a toxic waste spill.
2: Using LP gas means no varnish in the carb.
3: LP gas can be stored for long periods of time. I've heard of people using 20 year old propane tanks. Gas turns into varnish, and diesel gets bacteria in it. Propane gas is just limited on how well built the tank is.
Of course the disadvantage of propane is that it is virtually impossible to find a place that refills bottles. Exchanges are the only way to get propane in my part of Texas.
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houtrz
Lake Jackson Texas
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Joined: 05/15/2005
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Where do you live? Flying J, some RV dealers and gas supply companies can all fill your bottles.
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Ajones42
North Texas
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mlts22 wrote:
Of course the disadvantage of propane is that it is virtually impossible to find a place that refills bottles. Exchanges are the only way to get propane in my part of Texas.
Heartily DISAGREE. After almost 5 years of boondocking all over Texas, refilling my external tanks has never been a problem. Sometimes it is the local hardware store, sometimes it is the RV park or the propane jobber for the area or the welding supply or in one case, an auto repair facility but there is always someplace to refill if you look.
Fulltiming in a 1993 Dolphin 32D
North Dallas, TX
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SuperDutyMan
Western PA.
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Joined: 02/23/2008
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I know on my Onan,it uses a special large volume low preasure regulator,because a standard RV regulator will not supply enough volume,ask your dealer if it has the correct regulator,I run mine from a single bottle in all temperatures and have never had any issues.
2011 Palomino Sabre 31RETS,5th Wheel,Triple Slide,4000W Onan Genset
2006 Super Duty,XLT, V10, 6 Speed, 4.10, Tow Command, Tow Pkg. 4X4,Dual Exhaust,K&N,Reese 15K,Air Bags
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Dave & Ginny
peoria, IL
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Joined: 05/29/2005
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mlts22 wrote:Of course, tri-fuel is the best. However, propane has a lot of advantages:
1: A propane leak can almost always be stopped by going to the tank or bottle and screwing the valve shut. If that can't be done, bottles can be removed and set somewhere far from any ignition sources. A gas or diesel tank, if it started leaking is much harder to clean up. To boot, propane dissipating in the air is not considered bad for the environment, while gas/propane soaking in the soil can be considered a toxic waste spill.
2: Using LP gas means no varnish in the carb.
3: LP gas can be stored for long periods of time. I've heard of people using 20 year old propane tanks. Gas turns into varnish, and diesel gets bacteria in it. Propane gas is just limited on how well built the tank is.
Of course the disadvantage of propane is that it is virtually impossible to find a place that refills bottles. Exchanges are the only way to get propane in my part of Texas.
I just ordered a new 5er and I ordered it with a GAS 5.5 Onan. A lot of you are correct about the varnish issue but my trailer will have a 20 galllon tank that I can fill anywhere. As for varnish, simply put additive in it and then no worries. I'll be using my rig on the road and in the winter so I didn't want to deal with LP
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RAINEYTXX
Texxxas
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Joined: 01/04/2009
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i had a Cedar Creek Daydreamer with the LP generator-the first year was aweful. Same problem. Fooled around with it a lot with many unsuccessful repairs. Finally, replaced the LP pigtails off the bottles to the regulator and it worked like a dream until we sold it! Sometimes it would start and die inmmediately, sometimes run for 2 minutes and quit or even an hour or two. Frustrating but glad I finally changed the pigtails. The pigtails had green nuts on them for the higher demand (originals did too). I'd try that first! Tried a regulator first but that did not work
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rugersdad
colorado
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Joined: 01/29/2012
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Thanks for all the input
Thanks for all the input on this post.I should have added that we always dry camp and only go to a campground when in route to a Nascar race.We need the gen to keep the camper cool for 6 to 7 hours a day when dry camping in the desert in the summer and need the gen when it is cold in the early winter and early spring when we need to keep the four 6 volt batteries charged when running the heater. I have 240 watts of solar panels on the roof but I know that it not enough watts to keep up with my demands. I purchased a 40 lb. spare and a 60 inch pigtail to try next time out to see if that gets us through a long weekend.Thanks for all the input.....By the way,if I converted to gasoline it would be around $375.00 in parts to convert to gasoline plus the fuel tank. I am going to try and meld with my new L.P.generator.
a 40 lb extra bottle that I am going to use next time out see if that extra capacity will get me through the weekend.
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rugersdad
colorado
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I purchased some hardware today and built a Manometer. I plumbed it in and measured 11 inches water column with no appliances running. With gen and heater going I only had 10 inches water column on the gauge. I adjusted the regulator to run 12 inches water column while everything was running and was able to run on one tank. It all seems good now and my local R.V. dealer told me 12 inches was OK. I am hopeful that this resolves my issue of the generator shutting down before both bottles are half empty.
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