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Re: [Shop-talk] Propane generator

To: Jim Stone <1789alpine@gmail.com> definitions=2020-09-11_12:2020-09-10, 2020-09-11 signatures=0 malwarescore=0 phishscore=0 bulkscore=0 spamscore=0 clxscore=1011 mlxscore=0 mlxlogscore=999 adultscore=0 classifier=spam adjust=0 reason=mlx scancount=1 engine=8.0.1-2006250000 definitions=main-2009110174
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] Propane generator
From: Pat Horne <patintexas@icloud.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2020 16:15:31 -0500
Cc: Shop Talk <shop-talk@autox.team.net>
Delivered-to: mharc@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: shop-talk@autox.team.net
References: <671E6B12-6B79-4951-8383-DEDFE4CBAFF7@gmail.com>
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Jim,

A few thoughts.=20

Since this is the first time you tried to use it, there may be air in the ga=
s line. Let it run for 5-10 minutes to see if that helps.=20

The quick release connector may not flow enough gas. Try bypassing it.=20

I doubt you have a defective regulator but it may be that the house pressure=
 may be different than the pressure coming out of the stand alone tank press=
ure. Are you using the stand alone regulator between the house & the generat=
or? I doubt that would work. Is there any information in the manual about co=
nnecting  To the house system? You may need to call the generator manufactur=
er to see what they say.=20

Depending on the configuration of your house gas lines you may have one or t=
wo regulators between the tank & the appliances. I have propane also & have w=
hat they call a 2-stage system. There is a regulator @ the tank to drop the p=
ressure to about 20 psi (I think), then one @ the house to drop it to what i=
s needed. The single stage setup has a regulator @ the tank.=20

Make any sense?

Peace,
Pat

Pat Horne=20
We support Habitat for Humanity


On Sep 11, 2020, at 3:52 PM, Jim Stone <1789alpine@gmail.com> wrote:

=EF=BB=BFI have a propane generator that I purchased 3 or 4 years ago for em=
ergency use.  (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sportsman-4-000-3-250-Watt-Propan=
e-Gas-Powered-Portable-Generator-with-Clean-Burning-LPG-and-RV-Outlet-GEN400=
0LP/202222977). I have never had to use it, but run it every year or so just=
 to be sure it is there when I need it.  Up until today, I ran it off of a p=
ortable tank.  However, we use propane for our heat, cooking and hot water a=
nd have a 500 gallon in-ground tank, so being able to run off of that would b=
e far better, especially in an extended outage. =20

We had the house rebuilt last year and I had the plumber stub out a line on t=
he side of the house.   I attached a quick release connecter to the house li=
ne (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071HSYWD3/ref=3Dppx_yo_dt_b_asin_titl=
e_o02_s00?ie=3DUTF8&psc=3D1) and purchased an adaptor for the supply line th=
at came with the generator.  The supply line appears to be a standard connec=
tor like you would have for a gas grill.  Here is the adaptor I used: https:=
//www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008E33GEM/ref=3Dppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?=
ie=3DUTF8&psc=3D1

There were also a few assorted bushings and adaptors needed to make everythi=
ng fit, but I am confident they are all done correctly and I checked everyth=
ing for leaks before starting up the generator.

The generator ran very sluggishly and didn=E2=80=99t put out enough voltage t=
o even consistently light an LED bulb.  I then connected it to a 20lb LP tan=
k and everything worked perfectly.  I even ran the refrigerator for about an=
 hour with no problems.

There is a regulator on the supply line to the house, so I suspect I am over=
-regulating the supply.  Still, I assumed that a regulator would put out a c=
onstant pressure regardless of what went in, but maybe that isn=E2=80=99t th=
e case.  I checked the house supply to make sure there wasn=E2=80=99t a shut=
off in line that was partially closed, but it just runs straight off the mai=
n supply and the only shutoff on that line is outside.  I have an unregulate=
d supply line that I can use, but didn=E2=80=99t want to do that without som=
e confirmation that =E2=80=9Chouse" pressure would likely be correct for thi=
s application.

Thanks,
Jim
_______________________________________________

Shop-talk@autox.team.net
Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk http://autox.team.net/archi=
ve

as@icloud.com


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<html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3D=
utf-8"></head><body dir=3D"auto">Jim,<div><br></div><div>A few thoughts.&nbs=
p;</div><div><br></div><div>Since this is the first time you tried to use it=
, there may be air in the gas line. Let it run for 5-10 minutes to see if th=
at helps.&nbsp;<br><br>The quick release connector may not flow enough gas. T=
ry bypassing it.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I doubt you have a defective=
 regulator but it may be that the house pressure may be different than the p=
ressure coming out of the stand alone tank pressure. Are you using the stand=
 alone regulator between the house &amp; the generator? I doubt that would w=
ork. Is there any information in the manual about connecting &nbsp;To the ho=
use system? You may need to call the generator manufacturer to see what they=
 say.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Depending on the configuration of your h=
ouse gas lines you may have one or two regulators between the tank &amp; the=
 appliances. I have propane also &amp; have what they call a 2-stage system.=
 There is a regulator @ the tank to drop the pressure to about 20 psi (I thi=
nk), then one @ the house to drop it to what is needed. The single stage set=
up has a regulator @ the tank.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Make any sense=
?</div><div><br></div><div>Peace,</div><div>Pat</div><div><br><div dir=3D"lt=
r">Pat Horne&nbsp;<div>We support Habitat for Humanity</div><div><br></div><=
/div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br>On Sep 11, 2020, at 3:52 PM, Jim Stone &lt;1789alp=
ine@gmail.com&gt; wrote:<br><br></div><div dir=3D"ltr">=EF=BB=BF<meta http-e=
quiv=3D"Content-Type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8">I have a propan=
e generator that I purchased 3 or 4 years ago for emergency use. &nbsp;(<a h=
ref=3D"https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sportsman-4-000-3-250-Watt-Propane-Gas-Po=
wered-Portable-Generator-with-Clean-Burning-LPG-and-RV-Outlet-GEN4000LP/2022=
22977" class=3D"">https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sportsman-4-000-3-250-Watt-Pro=
pane-Gas-Powered-Portable-Generator-with-Clean-Burning-LPG-and-RV-Outlet-GEN=
4000LP/202222977</a>). I have never had to use it, but run it every year or s=
o just to be sure it is there when I need it. &nbsp;Up until today, I ran it=
 off of a portable tank. &nbsp;However, we use propane for our heat, cooking=
 and hot water and have a 500 gallon in-ground tank, so being able to run of=
f of that would be far better, especially in an extended outage. &nbsp;<div c=
lass=3D""><br class=3D""></div><div class=3D"">We had the house rebuilt last=
 year and I had the plumber stub out a line on the side of the house. &nbsp;=
 I attached a quick release connecter to the house line (<a href=3D"https://=
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071HSYWD3/ref=3Dppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=
=3DUTF8&amp;psc=3D1" class=3D"">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071HSYWD3=
/ref=3Dppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=3DUTF8&amp;psc=3D1</a>) and purchas=
ed an adaptor for the supply line that came with the generator. &nbsp;The su=
pply line appears to be a standard connector like you would have for a gas g=
rill. &nbsp;Here is the adaptor I used:&nbsp;<a href=3D"https://www.amazon.c=
om/gp/product/B008E33GEM/ref=3Dppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=3DUTF8&amp;=
psc=3D1" class=3D"">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008E33GEM/ref=3Dppx_y=
o_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=3DUTF8&amp;psc=3D1</a><div class=3D""><br class=
=3D""></div><div class=3D""><div class=3D"">There were also a few assorted b=
ushings and adaptors needed to make everything fit, but I am confident they a=
re all done correctly and I checked everything for leaks before starting up t=
he generator.</div><div class=3D""><br class=3D""></div><div class=3D"">The g=
enerator ran very sluggishly and didn=E2=80=99t put out enough voltage to ev=
en consistently light an LED bulb. &nbsp;I then connected it to a 20lb LP ta=
nk and everything worked perfectly. &nbsp;I even ran the refrigerator for ab=
out an hour with no problems.</div></div><div class=3D""><br class=3D""></di=
v><div class=3D"">There is a regulator on the supply line to the house, so I=
 suspect I am over-regulating the supply. &nbsp;Still, I assumed that a regu=
lator would put out a constant pressure regardless of what went in, but mayb=
e that isn=E2=80=99t the case. &nbsp;I checked the house supply to make sure=
 there wasn=E2=80=99t a shutoff in line that was partially closed, but it ju=
st runs straight off the main supply and the only shutoff on that line is ou=
tside. &nbsp;I have an unregulated supply line that I can use, but didn=E2=80=
=99t want to do that without some confirmation that =E2=80=9Chouse" pressure=
 would likely be correct for this application.</div><div class=3D""><br clas=
s=3D""></div><div class=3D"">Thanks,</div><div class=3D"">Jim</div></div><sp=
an>_______________________________________________</span><br><span></span><b=
r><span>Shop-talk@autox.team.net</span><br><span>Donate: http://www.team.net=
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r><span>Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk http://autox.team.n=
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.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/patintexas@icloud.com</span><br><span></=
span><br></div></div></body></html>=

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Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk http://autox.team.net/archive



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