OK, we've been looking at some new and alot of used LQ trailers.... My just head, is about to bust open!! Now I, of all people, have got a generator question.
Looked at several LQ trailers that have the Onan 3600LP genset... About how may hours can one expect to get out of one of the 20 lb. LP cylinders running a 13.5k AC unit. I know what my EF3000iseB Yamaha will burn on a hammer down 6 hour pull and it's somewhere about 3 gallons of 87 octane gasoline. I imagine that LP unit is going to burn almost half that amount again.... (20# of LP equals to about 4.1 gallons or liquid) Anyone out there in LQ land got one of these generators that could give me a good guess-ta-ment on fuel usage??? I would hate to be gone to a show for a week and miss seeing my wife showing our horse all because I'm out in the camping area, rotating 20# cylinders, running to the nearest convenient store, trying to rustle up more Liquid Propane Generator Fuel!! I've seen trailers with the 30# and 40# cylinders, but the trailers "I'm looking at" only have the dual 20# cylinders.
How about a 50 gallon pressure vessel across the bed of the truck, just behind the cab...!?? I had one of those back in "78" but it was being used to fuel the truck itself..... Beginning to seem like alot of extra aggravation already....
Posted 2010-08-30 8:55 PM (#124228 - in reply to #124218) Subject: RE: Onan 3600LP (propane) generator...?'s
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Quote.. At full load, 3.3lbs/hour, at half load, 2.2lbs/hour............I just happen to have that literature right here handy.........
That's the LP numbers, right? So at half load, it will burn a full 20# cylinder in about 9 hours, full load it's empty within 6 hours.....WOW!! That can get expensive in a hurry.
I think they derate the 4000 watt generators back to 3600 when burning LP... LP just doesn't produce the BTU's that gasoline does....
Posted 2010-08-30 9:21 PM (#124230 - in reply to #124218) Subject: RE: Onan 3600LP (propane) generator...?'s
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
Had one for a couple of years, got used at least twenty weekends a year. You can expect it to burn about 1/2 gallon per hour. It's just like a gasoline generator. The hotter it is the more load on the gen the more fuel it will put away. I had a 100# bottle mounted behind my saddle rack. It was a headache to get in and out but I could generally run between 35 and 45 hours depending on load. I figure that 100# bottle to be the same as 20 gallons of gas. That's what I've got now and run time is very equivalent. Most of my friends running 20# bottles don't like the headache of changing and carrying extras. My propane system was totally independent of the trailer, own bottle, own battery, own charger, I liked it that way!
Posted 2010-08-31 12:23 PM (#124253 - in reply to #124218) Subject: RE: Onan 3600LP (propane) generator...?'s
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by retento on 2010-08-30 5:49 PM
OK, we've been looking at some new and alot of used LQ trailers.... My just head, is about to bust open!! Now I, of all people, have got a generator question.
Looked at several LQ trailers that have the Onan 3600LP genset... About how may hours can one expect to get out of one of the 20 lb. LP cylinders running a 13.5k AC unit. I know what my EF3000iseB Yamaha will burn on a hammer down 6 hour pull and it's somewhere about 3 gallons of 87 octane gasoline. I imagine that LP unit is going to burn almost half that amount again.... (20# of LP equals to about 4.1 gallons or liquid) Anyone out there in LQ land got one of these generators that could give me a good guess-ta-ment on fuel usage??? I would hate to be gone to a show for a week and miss seeing my wife showing our horse all because I'm out in the camping area, rotating 20# cylinders, running to the nearest convenient store, trying to rustle up more Liquid Propane Generator Fuel!! I've seen trailers with the 30# and 40# cylinders, but the trailers "I'm looking at" only have the dual 20# cylinders.
How about a 50 gallon pressure vessel across the bed of the truck, just behind the cab...!?? I had one of those back in "78" but it was being used to fuel the truck itself..... Beginning to seem like alot of extra aggravation already....
Not sure about the usage but an idea about extra LP. On the trailers you are looking at is there room to just upgrade to larger bottles? The last trailer we had just had 2-20's and I bought 2-40's and had plenty of room. Sorry does not really help you on the usage but just an idea on more fuel without having to add to your truck.
Posted 2010-09-01 6:39 PM (#124297 - in reply to #124218) Subject: RE: Onan 3600LP (propane) generator...?'s
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Propane is a great fuel for stand-by generators. Easy starting, doesn't get stale and runs very clean. But... for a LQ trailer... that might stay far from a fill station .. not so good... Unless you have a honk'in huge tank. I chose gasoline for refill ease.
Onan 3600LP (propane) generator...?'s
