Posted 2012-08-06 8:43 AM (#146129) Subject: propane vs. gas
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Penrose, Colorado
need to replace our generator and am thinking going propane instead of gasoline, does anyone know about how long each small size tank will run? this will be an Onan 3600.mounted on the hay rack.
Posted 2012-08-06 4:08 PM (#146137 - in reply to #146129) Subject: RE: propane vs. gas
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
A 3600 LP will use about 1/2 gallon of LP per hour. LP doesn't have the BTU's that gasoline has. A couple 40# tanks wont last long. A 40 lb tank has approx. 9.5 gallons of propane. About three days running light and you'll be out.
Most 4000 watt Onan gasoline models are rebadged to 3600 watt when running on LP.
Posted 2012-08-06 5:17 PM (#146141 - in reply to #146129) Subject: RE: propane vs. gas
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Penrose, Colorado
the half gallon per hour is about what I was guessing, the only reason I am thinking propane is to get rid of the gasoline tank inside the trailer for a little extra safety and that thinking may be all wrong but the front of a trailer has got to be safer than the rear.
Posted 2012-08-06 6:14 PM (#146144 - in reply to #146129) Subject: RE: propane vs. gas
Veteran
Posts: 259 Location: Topeka Ks
I choose gas over propane due to the loss of pressure in the winter. I figured I would only use 1/2 a tank before the tank wouldn't have enough pressure to run the genset.
Posted 2012-08-06 8:43 PM (#146147 - in reply to #146144) Subject: RE: propane vs. gas
Expert
Posts: 2958 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by justgurn on 2012-08-06 3:14 PM
I choose gas over propane due to the loss of pressure in the winter. I figured I would only use 1/2 a tank before the tank wouldn't have enough pressure to run the genset.
You might have a regulator problem. It takes -50 F degrees to drop propane vapor pressure below 10 PSI. If the regulator or tank is too small for the flow required, cold weather allows the regulator to freeze up. A pan of warm water over the tank solves the problem temporaily.
propane vs. gas
