I hope this generator video helps you out. Propane can sometimes be tricky but these tips should make your generator experience better…😀👍🏼#generator #fails #rv Check out my favorite and best selling Dual fuel generators. Portable units…… Champion 4500DF:amzn.to/49T7Jr6 Best Price…Wen 4500DF: amzn.to/3SUheiR Pulsar DF 4000: amzn.to/434SXez Maxpeedingrods Bluetooth: TBA Champion 2500 DF: amzn.to/49yEjyw Home Back up……..dual/tri fuel DuroMax 13000: amzn.to/3SXBxMr Duromax16000 The beast! :amzn.to/3TgbUri Genmax 10500 tri fuel: amzn.to/3Ti4kwg BEST PRICED!!…… Pulsar 10500 Tri fuel:amzn.to/3TdSKT4 Pulsar 9500 tri fuel: amzn.to/430aIeQ Champion 10000 tri fuel: amzn.to/4bSyzkS Have a question you want answered fast: asqme.com/@johnnysweekends CHECK OUT MY AMAZON STORE: www.amazon.com/shop/johnnysweekends CHEAP USED CERTIFIED SOLAR PANELS HERE: www.santansolar.com/?ref=Johnnys%20Weekends SAVE BIG ON NEW SOLAR PANELS HERE: signaturesolar.com/?ref=JWKNDS If you feel I helped you out..Consider Buying me a Coffee 👍🏼🙌🏼👊🏼😀 www.buymeacoffee.com/johnny5120J
Ok - couldn’t start my propane gen before I saw your video - followed your advice - started! This is one of the best You Tube videos I have seen- video starts - no goofy intros - you get right to the point with actual solutions! Thank you so much!
I put two propane tanks in parallel to avoid the high-flow issues, and provide better cold weather performance. You can also warm your propane tanks with the generator exhaust gases for very low-temp performance.
@@johnnysweekends Your right a better free way. I could see putting the exhaust hose in a propane box in the freezing cold. And watch the box temperature. For a faster start up you can shake the bottle or rock it back and forth. More flow also but temporarily if it's cold.
@@jamesalles139 i have a Champion 4500w dual fuel that I keep in a mini shed and the exhaust flows over my 2 20 lb tanks for winter use. I have a fan/louver setup that opens when the generator is running and an inlet vent near the front of the genny to supply fresh air.
Thank you. I am a propane rookie as my wife does all the grilling😂. I just added a WEN 2800 dual fuel to recharge my solar generator after Hurricane Milton. Your advice is very helpful.
Thank you for the information. I have a Champion 2000w dual fuel generator, which I used in the aftermath of hurricane Milton here in SWFL. The one thing in your video that I seem to be at odds with is the use of the choke when starting. It seems my generator only starts after first two pulls in choke position then one pull in propane position. This procedure seems to work like clock work every time. Even then Champion instructions say, as you do, it’s not necessary to choke, but, my experience says different. Very odd. I know, I know, everyone will say I’m full of horse water but, I’ve followed instructions multiple times and choking first works best. Thanks again for the video, I plan on never using gasoline on this generator. I should super glue the gas cap on to avoid temptation.
I found my champion same as yours the 2000w dual fuel starts quicker when I choke it first. I used mine during milton as well. I used it to top off my solar stations.
Yes, very well presented, and some great advice! 😎 I have two (2) 2500-watt dual fuel Champions and a combiner box to tie them together (if needed), because a smaller engine requires less fuel. I estimate they are both de-rated to about 1600 -watts each, based on my altitude and the propane fuel. Their primary purpose is to recharge my LifePo4 solar battery bank and/or recharge my EcoFlow Delta solar system. I've never run them on gasoline. I have hoses, regulators, and quick connections for 20lb. (BBQ-style) tanks and my 250-gallon bulk propane tank. I estimate that I can power up my critical electric needs for almost a year (with or without solar). 🤠 Great video ~ Thanks! 😊
What I am finding with my Pulsar propane generator and propane in general to help add to all that is in here: 1. OPD valve - The stated definition I am finding focuses more on not overfilling the tank. As the primary storage mechanism of propane is a pressurized refrigerant liquid state, it needs room to boil without liquid propane ending up getting into the inlet on the tank, even if the tank is not on perfectly level ground. Plus apparently the liquid expands and contracts with temperature. So the general rule is no more than 80% of the tank has liquid propane and the other 20% is gaseous propane. If you are placing a horizontal tank on the ground and it is not level, always make sure to have the valve higher up, never at the bottom of the incline. A secondary stated feature of the OPD valve is a safety mechanism to prevent propane from escaping when nothing is attached to the tank. When I go to fill up my propane tanks, the refueling station sometimes leaves the valve wide open when they put it back in my car, but no propane comes out. This is because when you connect a line to the tank, the tip of the line pushes in a valve that lets the propane out. Because of this feature, I have to wonder if people are screwing in the line with a regulator quickly with the main valve open and this quickly opens the safety valve and propane gushes in and causes the regulator to choke on what is suddenly rushing in, blocking the line. I have never had a regulator shut off like this, so I am just working up a slightly alternate thought on how this could happen. A pressure relief valve is important in case the tank ever gets too hot. As propane is a natural refrigerant, how that works is like water and steam where the phase change to gas causes the refrigerant to expand greatly and cool greatly, except it needs a higher pressure at room temperature to stay in a liquid state. So as the tank gets colder, propane condenses into a liquid more and the pressure in the tank goes down. The liquid level doesn't change much as the liquid state is over 100x more dense than the gaseous state at ambient room temperature. When the tank is hot, some more propane will become a gas in the tank and the tank pressure will increase. While this works at a logarithmic scale, some numbers to wrap your head around is at 0 F, tank pressure should be 25 psig. At 75 F, tank pressure should be at 110 psig. At 120 F, tank pressure should be at 225 psig. At 140 F, the tank should be over 300 psig and venting propane. The thing is when the propane vents, it boils in the tank, cooling it down. If the relief valve is not enough to say overcome a fire, I have seen on the news at least when wind swept firestorms rip through town those 500 gallon propane tanks having a flame shooting out of them from venting while engulfed in flames and burning material around it and then the tank explodes because it can't vent fast enough to keep the tank temperature and thus pressure down. But this is also a reason why you don't want to store the tank in direct sunlight on a hot day and especially don't want to leave in your car with the windows rolled up on a hot. (There is a reason why tanks are painted a bright white, not jet black.) The tank goes above 140 F, it starts venting to cool off by having the propane refrigerant inside boil off, and especially in a closed up car, one spark and BOOM! 2. I like the tank size you have in the video. 30 lbs seems to be what you need to last all day under load for your home or say several days with running for a couple hours at a time at a national park when working with a small portable generator. Go over 40 lbs and you no longer come across OPD valves as they are only required for 40 lbs and under, but instead less safe POL valves that tend to have none of the safety features of OPD valves; just you open the POL valve and propane comes out. I like to put my 30 lbs tanks in base stabilizers when otherwise freestanding so they can't be knocked over too easily. Kids, pets, wild animals, and major earthquakes all seem kind of risky in terms of a tank getting knocked over and I just want to minimize that risk. Also with the local refueling station tending to leave the valve open on the smaller OPD valve tanks and then stuffing it in your vehicle that way, I am a bit leery about bringing a large tank with a POL valve to them to fill up. Especially considering some of the Yelp reviews I found of the place where people are complaining that propane is just spewing out of their tanks as they drive around after going to that refueling station. 3. For my generator at least to feed in the propane, first I need to unscrew a bit from the generator to purge the line. I have found having your gas sniffer out is handy for this as once the propane gas reaches the ground in front of the generator, causing the gas sniffer alarm to go off, at least if it is not windy out, the air is sufficiently purged from the line. The second thing is to do a single pull while the generator is on choke. I am finding with my generator this seems to pull the residual air out of the internal regulator and pull propane in. After a single pull on choke, I switch it into run mode and it just starts up. So two pulls, but this method seems to be reliable in getting the generator started every time. If I don't first choke with my generator, I find myself pulling and pulling trying to get it started and then give it a single pull on choke. So I don't even know how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop. Granted there is nothing else wrong with the generator like leaving in the cheap Chinese plug that came with the generator, so far it seems to always start with this two pull strategy.
@@ChaJ67 Thanks for that heads-up on overfilling propane tanks. Didn’t realize the technicalities of overfilling. Guess I’ll fill to the max only when I plan on using the propane right away.
My DuraMax generator never had used gas, it it dual fuel. I only use propane, used for 3 days in Texas for Winter storm Uri, ran great. Test ran every month for an hour. Last week it wouldnt start. Check everything, the hose that came with it had a straight connection to tank and generator. No pressure valve. I had bought a back up hose with a fixed pressure valve. Installed it and have not had a problem with any tanks or any of my 3 generators. Turning bottle on slow, worked for a couple of times, but it was touch and go untill I replaced the hose. My 2 cents
Thank you, been looking at generators and we live at 4200 feet above sea level. Help me learn quite a bit, including my gas grill. I’m leaning on the champion 4500 W dual fuel generator at the moment and eventually get two of them and run them in parallel
Have you had any experience with an iPower SUA3800ied generator. It's about the only model that I could find that ran on propane with remote start. We are off grid and have a large house storage tank with an external propane BBQ outlet. The first unit was a disastrous failure. Strike one was a defective spark plug with an integral cracked resistor that caused it to misfire and backfire. The solution was a NGK replacement. Strike two was the electric propane shutoff valve that was only intermittent rated, ran very hot, fused the windings together and blew a fuse on the control module. Strike three was a gasoline leak that spilled gasoline on the ground. It was returned for a replacement. Armed with this knowledge, the spark plug was replaced at the very beginning. I came up with a engineered in line module that had a fast coil "PICK" and lowered "HOLD" current. While at it, I also added an arc suppression network to prevent damage to the control relay contacts. The valve coil had a strong inductive kick when turned off. This seemed to work quite well into the late fall. Then the valve started to fail. An examination revealed that the control relay contact had become quite resistive. There is a pair of relays, one for the gasoline valve on the carburetor bowl and one for the propane valve. The gasoline valve doesn't draw much current but the propane valve is huge in comparison with a much greater current draw. The relay rating seems to be highly under rated even with my current limiting device installed. The valve specs say that all the other valves from the factory for other voltages is only 2 watts. The DC ohmage on this 12 volt DC coil is 6 ohms. That works out to be 24 watts. No wonder that it gets hot. It draws 2 amperes on that poor small relay. So for the remainder of the winter it ran well for 1700 hours on gasoline even in very cold weather. I may need to engineer a new in line module that takes electrical power directly from 12 volts and only use the control relay as an activation signal. Even replacement valves have the same 6 ohm coil resistance. Do you know if iPower had any re-calls or parts replacements to fix this engineering problem?
Thanks for sharing the tips makes sense. Not sure why my manual says choke on? STARTING THE GENERATOR (LPG) 1. Place the generator outside on a dry, level surface. Allow at least two feet of clearance on all sides of the generator. 2. Check there is sufficient level of oil in the crankcase. Add oil if necessary (refer to "ADD / CHECK OIL" on page 12). 3. Make sure that the LPG regulator hose is properly connected to the LPG tank and the inlet on the generator (refer to "FUEL OPTION B: LIQUID PETROLEUM GAS (LPG)" on page 15). 4. To maximize safety, make sure the generator is properly grounded (refer to "GROUND THE GENERATOR" on page 16). 5. Make sure all electrical devices are unplugged from the generator during ignition. Otherwise it will be difficult for the engine to start. 6. Turn the ECO-MODE switch to "OFF" during starting (Fig. 9 - 1). 7. Turn the 4-in-1 switch (Fig. 10 - 1) to the "CHOKE" position. 8. Gently pull the recoil starter handle (Fig. 12 - 1) 3 - 5 times to prime the engine. 9. Slowly turn the 4-in-1 switch (Fig. 10 - 1) to the "RUN" position.
I live at 5000 elevation. Temp drops down to 10 F. I have 2 duel Duramax generators. I have to run one on gas cuz it won't start with propane. I run the gas Duramax for an hour and then my other propane Duramax can start I guess because the temp increases. It's a real pain but works. Great video. Thank you.
Liked! Absolutely amazing post. Saving this link. Quick question: With the Champion, how do I extend the hose so that it can be about 10 feet without using Champion's extension kit which has had many reported case of leaks? Thanks again!
Great video. I watched a couple of yours earlier about the Ecoflow Dual Fuel Smart Generators, both the 1800 and 4,000. I just ordered an 1800 to supplement my three Delta's, the 1300, Max, and 2 Max. I also ordered an extra battery to use with the Max and 2 Max. You've provided a wealth of info those videos and this one. I already had a Westinghouse 7500 Dual Fuel, but have had trouble starting it, but maybe some of your tips will help alleviate the problem. Again, great video. Hope to watch more of yours.
Excellent 👌🏻👍🏻 video with great information for a first time buyer of a portable generator for the house! a neighbor of mine just got a 6500W generac at Lowe's (gasoline only) but I've seen a lot of recent negative reviews?! Is Champion a better dual fuel generator? Thanks 🙏🏻👍🏻
First thing I did with my generator was read the manual. I am someone that does not like surprises so reading the manual ended a lot of the surprises I could have had. I have a gas only generator and I always try to run the bowl empty. Second thing I did was start break in. The third thing I did was change out the spark plug.
Read the manual. That is the best advice. For those that don't want to read the entire manual, read the section on Long Term Storage of your generator. If you don't want to run it monthly, place it in long term storage mode so that it can sit for years and still start up on that first pull, but you need to put it into long term storage mode.
Glad to see that I'm not the only one to figure out the 30 lb propane tanks are worth the money. Much cheaper to get them refilled rather than the not full exchange tanks. FYI, the Firman 3000 watt dual fuel inverter generator from Costco is a great deal when you get it on sale. Also very, very quiet in operation.
This is a lovely, informative, articulate, intelligent, intellectual adaptation of knowledge. All of which I did not personally know. This was a wealth of information. It makes so much sense. Thank you thank you thank you. And… Thank you. Nice heads up tip on the, Torch, spark plugs. Hmmm? NGK, can't go wrong with those. They made my Honda motorcycle go for years. It's what we call, Reliable. Yeah doggy! Yee ha! Actually I'm Jewish originally from Detroit. And it's all about motors. RemyRAD
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Excellent video! I think opening the fuel valve too quick is why my new Firman was shutting down when there was still fuel in the tank. I will try this and hope it works. I also have a lot of condensation on the tank. Not hot outside and not in the sun. Any suggestion?
Read the manual... My champion dual-fuel explicitly says to put it into the choke position when you use propane, pull it a couple of times, and then flip off the choke.
All good tips 👍 Thanks I am seriously considering getting a dual or tri fuel generator, my only concern is how well the propane perform in our cold Canadian winters, What you think of Ai power generators ?
I did not catch what I could replace the factory spark plug with? I understood match the numbers on the spark plug - but does the brand matter? Thanks!
I didn't know that about the choke. I've always set the choke to the "start" position. Actually i've forgotten to do that and it didn't start, until i put it in choke position. I guess it could be it acted that way because of air in the line and only seemed like the choke was doing something. I'll have to check that for sure next time i start it.
I finally got a gen (westinghouse igen11000dfc), 50A inlet and interlock on my home panel, and a bunch of fuel and supplies (spare spark plugs, lots of oil, weather cover, etc). Ideally, I'd like to run only on propane, but it gets very cold here. I currently have multiple 20lbs propane tanks. I run two tanks at the same time to power the generator with an adaptor, but still, these may freeze up when it's -6 outside. I even have propane heater blankets to keep the tanks warm (haven't tried them yet). So, I still store 25 gallons of non-ethanol fuel with stabilizer (gasoline will stay good for up to 2 years this way) in case propane isn't working, so I can run the gen in very cold temps. Eventually I will buy several 100lb propane tanks, but I can't right now. I'll probably never lose power now.... One tip I have: the propane tanks you buy at gas stations and grocery stores are only filled with 15 lbs of propane. The 20lb tank can safely hold, you guessed it, 20 lbs of propane. Take your tanks to a hardware store/tractor supply-like store and they will top them off with the full 20lbs of propane. You''ll get 25% more run time out of your tanks which is a big deal.
A question about regulators. I have two 30 lbs tanks on my RV with an auto-change over regulator. I have a quick connect available for my outdoor grill. When using this quick connect with the grill I do not use the grill regulator. Do I need to use a regulator with the generator in addition to the existing regulator?
Running my Champion 5500 on propane for the first time after Hurricane Milton. The standard 20# bottles run fine. I have two thirty pound bottles. They are not running. They appear to be flooding the generator- but I did read my manual and it indicates the included regulator works for 20# and 30# bottles. Do I need a two stage regulator for the 30# tanks? How can I get them to work? Active outage question.
Sometimes really new tanks can cause issues much like a really old tank. How old are they…? If brand new and never used some manuals will say this can be an issue for generators on the first fill or two. Not sure why.
@@johnnysweekends less than a year. Bought after hurricane last year. I tried the second tank, it worked fine. The first 30# would not run. I am going to try it again to see if anything has changed. The generator and regulator appear to be fine.
got a petrol gen a few months ago, needed it there and then, got it, then found one off these types, this type is the one I should of got, as I live in me Tramper Van alot, , never mind,
Great video! Have you done any videos for tri-fuel generators, specifically the natural gas part? I'm trying to deside what might be best for me. Thanks
@@johnnysweekends Yes, it'll be my primary fuel. For a window unit AC, Fridge, TV & maybe a PC. Can you post a link to any videos that'll help? I'd appreciate it. I was thinking that I'd just run a heavy duty extent cord to witch ever I needed the most. Also What's a good brand? Thanks!!!
Great video. One correction. It is not necessary to disconnect hose when resetting the ball valve. Just close valve and reopen slowly. I do it all the time and never disconnect hose. Maybe there is a special case but I never do
@@johnnysweekends So the regulator that comes with the generator is enough? There is conflicting information out there that an additional regulator is required at the tank. From what I see the pressure should be the same as a 20 pound tank,no?
@johnnyhotrod you need to have the tank pressure at the correct W.C so you’ll need a gauge to measure it. You could just try it and see. I normally stick to 40lb tanks as I don’t wanna move and lift or refill 100 pound tanks. I’m not an expert on the large tanks I just know the WC needs to match. Nothing wrong with just hooking up and trying it. I only though you needed another pressure regulator on the really large 300 gallon type tanks
@@johnnysweekends Thank you for your reply.I’ve called different manufacturers and gotten different answers. My only fear was if the pressure was greater of possible damage to the generators regulator. I’m just going to experiment. Thanks again
An Over FILL Device is now used in the tank's valve to stop inadvertent 100% filling of a tank as opposed to the By-the-Law 90% maximum fill. If a tank is filled over 90% and it then heats in very intense sunlight the result is that the tank will rupture from the liquid Propane expanding. It's not Propane gas causing the bursting but rather liquid Propane expanding.
I have an older champion dual fuel (7000/9000) I only run on propane .. is there an after market quick connect kit for this ?... btw thanks for the tips on purging, slow open of tank and starting w\o using the choke
I have a brand-new Westinghouse 5300 DF generator I am going to run on propane only. My propane tank is full, new, and purged as per your instruction. It has not been used yet {bought in in March), but I wanted to be much better prepared for this winter. I set it up, checked oil and fuel levels. After numerous pulls, and a much-aching arm, I could not get it to turn over. It tried to start a few times, but it ran only for a few seconds, if that, then died. It back-fired twice. My propane tank is full, new, and purged as per your instruction. For the life of me, I cannot figure out what I am doing wrong. I can almost recite my manual I've read it so many times. Clearly I am missing something and Westinghouse has not responded. Buying this took virtually all my savings and I am devastated. Can you advise, please?
Maybe for a true propane generator but for a lawn mower engine that is still low compression I dont think a plug that’s over double the price will provide much if any improvement.
It does nothing to the carburetor and propane actually has plenty of lubricants for lubrication. So over all it’s lasts almost as long as a gas generator.
I'm putting together a battery backup and am planning to add a propane generator to charge the batteries should the grid go down and clouds cover the sun. My question is how important fuel injection is when using propane. It seems like GENMAX is moving in that direction. Should I wait for it?
I didn't hear you mention this but the big negative to propane is that the rated capacity of the generator is reduced by about 25%. Even more for natural gas.
The regulator that I got with my dual fuel Maxpeedingrods 3200S has a button on it which acts kind of like a choke, and is meant to clear the air out of the hose. I’ve also read that you shouldn’t open the propane valve all the way, but only about one turn on the valve is enough…????
The button is a prime button to prime the hose of air and fill it with propane. And yes valve should be open all the way. Not sure why one turn or where you found that. But open it slow or it can activate a safety flow valve and restrict flow.
@@johnnysweekends Thanks (as usual) for your info. I read about only opening the propane valve for one turn on the internet, but frankly, I trust your info more than some random website. I do have another question: my Maxpeedingrods generator has remote control so you can turn it off or on from your house. But surely you wouldn’t want to turn it off if the propane tank valve was still open?? What is the purpose of the remote control???
@Inisfad you can leave the propane tank on if you plan to use it frequently say every 6-12 hours but if less its best to close it. But if using gas you just use the remote when you need but the battery will drain in about 24 hrs if you dont use it if I remember.
@@johnnysweekends Thank you. Just saw one of your videos with a link to your ‘ask me anything’ page. Will use that from now no. You’re really helpful! Greatly appreciated.
Like your videos, good info on the generators you test. I am interested in the carburetor you are showing. What is the part number or where did you get it? Thanks
Gasoline is better in cold weather than propane. If you're going to use propane in the winter pick up a 40lb tank, smaller 20lb tanks (like those used for grills) will begin to stop boiling around 15f degrees.
The excess flow control device is super important to know about. Yet!! Find that information in the manual. I have had significant fails on starting each of my 3 champion generators and have secondary backup gas generators in case the f'ing propane unit will not start.
I normally run my generator off of propane, but during hurricane Milton, we were out of power for seven days and I had to get into gasoline. I did my best to empty the fuel tank and run the generator car dry by running the generator and then also attempting to empty the bowl and then finally, I ended by running on propane For 10 minutes do you think I got all the gas out of the system for storage or is there something better I can do?
Of the various 4000/4500 watt dual fuel generators you used and tested, do you have a favorite? I have an EU2200i that I'm about to put up for sale and replace for something a bit bigger because sometimes the Honda struggles to start my A/C unit on my RV.
You could parallel to Honda 2200's. I have two new Honda 2200 that are tri-fuel. Tri-fuel means they run on gasoline, propane and natural gas. I could also take a Honda generator on trade-in. What's nice about having two small generators and paralleling them together. If you need one generator for other projects while you're out and about it's easier than carrying one big one. And as this video mentions if you ever have a problem with the regulator. With the ones I have you can quickly swap them out no hand tools required. Since I've been running my own Honda tri-fuel 2200 inverter generator. I've never had a problem out of it!
Hi Johnny. Why don't more companies make portable Propane-ONLY generators (with 2000-10,000 running watts) for people who will not be using gasoline? A propane-ONLY generator will eliminate the gas tank and make the unit weigh much less. ALP has a smaller 850 running watt model and Ryobi has a 6300 running watt model. Do you know of any other companies or have any opinions on Propane-ONLY generators? Thanks ahead of time :)
I don’t know but it would be nice because an actual propane generator would perform better than a dual fuel unit as it’s built a little different for propane only. Would be nice to see!
Thanks for your very quick reply Johnny. Will you please let me know how a propane-ONLY generator would perform better than dual fuel. ALP company is doing tests on their planned higher wattage propane-ONLY generator which will hopefully come out soon.
@greggfur9626 they are built a little diff. More compression and hardened valves so you get full power from the propane only model, and they will last longer than a dual fuel. Would love to see Alp make a larger unit
Thanks for your expertise Johnny. Yes, I've been waiting a while for ALP's higher wattage generator which is slated to be about 1900-2000 running watts, electric start.
I sell Honda tri-fuel generators. For my customers I install the stock kit that it comes with that they can change out the jet more easily for elevation change. But on all my Honda tri-fuel generators I run a load block. Loadblocks if your mechanically inclined. The generator on propane or natural gas gets better fuel efficiency with a load block. On the smaller generators I have to run a load block on them. There is only one type of fuel conversion Kits I use for the Honda. Over the years I've used a lot of different fuel conversion kits and some of them I will never use again. But for Hondas there's only one fuel conversion kit!
My 3 year old Duromax running only Propane didn't like a 2 year storage and now won't start. The freaking fuel selector knob is now misaligned and only has 2 detents (s/b one each for Store, Gas, and Propane) and I cannot tell which position is for propane. The knob slides to one of them if set in between any of them!
Some newer models or brands are saying now to choke it and pull a 2-3 times then back to run, then start. This is to help remove any air out of the line. You can accomplish the same exact thing in the run position, pull slow 3 times then fast pull
Be careful of bargain hoses. Some do not hold up to propane and break down by the LP. Mr Heater hoses are made of material designed for LP and will not break down and contaminate your appliance/generator with hose material particles.
Actually the problem is the propane tank itself, it has a float inside the tank that trips and stops the flow of gas and they also can go bad and get stuck in the off position.
I hope this generator video helps you out. Propane can sometimes be tricky but these tips should make your generator experience better…😀👍🏼#generator #fails #rv
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Finally, a video that clearly explains the propane vs gas carburetor jetting.
😀👍🏼👊🏼
Ok - couldn’t start my propane gen before I saw your video - followed your advice - started! This is one of the best You Tube videos I have seen- video starts - no goofy intros - you get right to the point with actual solutions! Thank you so much!
😀👍🏼👊🏼
I put two propane tanks in parallel to avoid the high-flow issues, and provide better cold weather performance. You can also warm your propane tanks with the generator exhaust gases for very low-temp performance.
Warming a tank up in the cold gets better fuel efficiency and performance. In some climates you have to run a propane bottle heater.
@tomtee4442 place the tank at the rear of the generator a foot or so away and let the hot fan air warm it….👍🏼
@@johnnysweekends Your right a better free way. I could see putting the exhaust hose in a propane box in the freezing cold. And watch the box temperature. For a faster start up you can shake the bottle or rock it back and forth. More flow also but temporarily if it's cold.
@@jamesalles139 i have a Champion 4500w dual fuel that I keep in a mini shed and the exhaust flows over my 2 20 lb tanks for winter use. I have a fan/louver setup that opens when the generator is running and an inlet vent near the front of the genny to supply fresh air.
I finally started my 3 year old Predator 2000. Watched a lot of your generator videos so I didn’t have to “read the manual”. Oh- it ran great! 🤠👍🇺🇸
Finally 😂👍🏼👊🏼
Thank you for reminding me to narrow the plug gap a little to run better on propane.
This is a great tip!
That was a lot of VERY useful information in a very tight package. Thank you for taking the time to do this - appreciated!
Thank you. I am a propane rookie as my wife does all the grilling😂. I just added a WEN 2800 dual fuel to recharge my solar generator after Hurricane Milton. Your advice is very helpful.
Thank you for the information. I have a Champion 2000w dual fuel generator, which I used in the aftermath of hurricane Milton here in SWFL. The one thing in your video that I seem to be at odds with is the use of the choke when starting. It seems my generator only starts after first two pulls in choke position then one pull in propane position. This procedure seems to work like clock work every time. Even then Champion instructions say, as you do, it’s not necessary to choke, but, my experience says different. Very odd. I know, I know, everyone will say I’m full of horse water but, I’ve followed instructions multiple times and choking first works best. Thanks again for the video, I plan on never using gasoline on this generator. I should super glue the gas cap on to avoid temptation.
I found my champion same as yours the 2000w dual fuel starts quicker when I choke it first. I used mine during milton as well. I used it to top off my solar stations.
@ if your solar battery is an ANKER 767 with expansion battery, you’d have exactly the same set-up as me! Could that be that much of a co-incidence?
My champion generator manual states to put choke half way.
Yes, very well presented, and some great advice! 😎
I have two (2) 2500-watt dual fuel Champions and a combiner box to tie them together (if needed), because a smaller engine requires less fuel. I estimate they are both de-rated to about 1600 -watts each, based on my altitude and the propane fuel. Their primary purpose is to recharge my LifePo4 solar battery bank and/or recharge my EcoFlow Delta solar system. I've never run them on gasoline. I have hoses, regulators, and quick connections for 20lb. (BBQ-style) tanks and my 250-gallon bulk propane tank. I estimate that I can power up my critical electric needs for almost a year (with or without solar). 🤠 Great video ~ Thanks! 😊
Wow sounds like a great setup 👍🏼👊🏼
@@johnnysweekendsI was wanting to talk to you if I could?
What I am finding with my Pulsar propane generator and propane in general to help add to all that is in here:
1. OPD valve - The stated definition I am finding focuses more on not overfilling the tank. As the primary storage mechanism of propane is a pressurized refrigerant liquid state, it needs room to boil without liquid propane ending up getting into the inlet on the tank, even if the tank is not on perfectly level ground. Plus apparently the liquid expands and contracts with temperature. So the general rule is no more than 80% of the tank has liquid propane and the other 20% is gaseous propane. If you are placing a horizontal tank on the ground and it is not level, always make sure to have the valve higher up, never at the bottom of the incline.
A secondary stated feature of the OPD valve is a safety mechanism to prevent propane from escaping when nothing is attached to the tank. When I go to fill up my propane tanks, the refueling station sometimes leaves the valve wide open when they put it back in my car, but no propane comes out. This is because when you connect a line to the tank, the tip of the line pushes in a valve that lets the propane out. Because of this feature, I have to wonder if people are screwing in the line with a regulator quickly with the main valve open and this quickly opens the safety valve and propane gushes in and causes the regulator to choke on what is suddenly rushing in, blocking the line. I have never had a regulator shut off like this, so I am just working up a slightly alternate thought on how this could happen.
A pressure relief valve is important in case the tank ever gets too hot. As propane is a natural refrigerant, how that works is like water and steam where the phase change to gas causes the refrigerant to expand greatly and cool greatly, except it needs a higher pressure at room temperature to stay in a liquid state. So as the tank gets colder, propane condenses into a liquid more and the pressure in the tank goes down. The liquid level doesn't change much as the liquid state is over 100x more dense than the gaseous state at ambient room temperature. When the tank is hot, some more propane will become a gas in the tank and the tank pressure will increase. While this works at a logarithmic scale, some numbers to wrap your head around is at 0 F, tank pressure should be 25 psig. At 75 F, tank pressure should be at 110 psig. At 120 F, tank pressure should be at 225 psig. At 140 F, the tank should be over 300 psig and venting propane. The thing is when the propane vents, it boils in the tank, cooling it down. If the relief valve is not enough to say overcome a fire, I have seen on the news at least when wind swept firestorms rip through town those 500 gallon propane tanks having a flame shooting out of them from venting while engulfed in flames and burning material around it and then the tank explodes because it can't vent fast enough to keep the tank temperature and thus pressure down. But this is also a reason why you don't want to store the tank in direct sunlight on a hot day and especially don't want to leave in your car with the windows rolled up on a hot. (There is a reason why tanks are painted a bright white, not jet black.) The tank goes above 140 F, it starts venting to cool off by having the propane refrigerant inside boil off, and especially in a closed up car, one spark and BOOM!
2. I like the tank size you have in the video. 30 lbs seems to be what you need to last all day under load for your home or say several days with running for a couple hours at a time at a national park when working with a small portable generator. Go over 40 lbs and you no longer come across OPD valves as they are only required for 40 lbs and under, but instead less safe POL valves that tend to have none of the safety features of OPD valves; just you open the POL valve and propane comes out. I like to put my 30 lbs tanks in base stabilizers when otherwise freestanding so they can't be knocked over too easily. Kids, pets, wild animals, and major earthquakes all seem kind of risky in terms of a tank getting knocked over and I just want to minimize that risk. Also with the local refueling station tending to leave the valve open on the smaller OPD valve tanks and then stuffing it in your vehicle that way, I am a bit leery about bringing a large tank with a POL valve to them to fill up. Especially considering some of the Yelp reviews I found of the place where people are complaining that propane is just spewing out of their tanks as they drive around after going to that refueling station.
3. For my generator at least to feed in the propane, first I need to unscrew a bit from the generator to purge the line. I have found having your gas sniffer out is handy for this as once the propane gas reaches the ground in front of the generator, causing the gas sniffer alarm to go off, at least if it is not windy out, the air is sufficiently purged from the line. The second thing is to do a single pull while the generator is on choke. I am finding with my generator this seems to pull the residual air out of the internal regulator and pull propane in. After a single pull on choke, I switch it into run mode and it just starts up. So two pulls, but this method seems to be reliable in getting the generator started every time. If I don't first choke with my generator, I find myself pulling and pulling trying to get it started and then give it a single pull on choke. So I don't even know how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop. Granted there is nothing else wrong with the generator like leaving in the cheap Chinese plug that came with the generator, so far it seems to always start with this two pull strategy.
@@ChaJ67 Thanks for that heads-up on overfilling propane tanks. Didn’t realize the technicalities of overfilling. Guess I’ll fill to the max only when I plan on using the propane right away.
Great addendum info. Thanks.
Great video and information.. I had no idea about this stuff.... now I do and I won't forget it....
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Thanks for this Johnny. Looking forward to the bluetooth generator review.
You’re welcome 😀👍🏼
I learned a lot. Thank you!!
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My DuraMax generator never had used gas, it it dual fuel. I only use propane, used for 3 days in Texas for Winter storm Uri, ran great. Test ran every month for an hour. Last week it wouldnt start. Check everything, the hose that came with it had a straight connection to tank and generator. No pressure valve. I had bought a back up hose with a fixed pressure valve. Installed it and have not had a problem with any tanks or any of my 3 generators. Turning bottle on slow, worked for a couple of times, but it was touch and go untill I replaced the hose.
My 2 cents
Best generator video online. Great job sir. Thank you
Thank you 😊
WOW!!!! You took me to school today I am so glad I watched you. THANKS.
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Great video! I converted my little Honda to propane best thing ever! Haven’t run gas in it since! Great info!
😀👍🏼
Your now giving your Honda a better life. My Honda generators propane is all I run in them!
Great Information, thank you.
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Thank you, been looking at generators and we live at 4200 feet above sea level.
Help me learn quite a bit, including my gas grill.
I’m leaning on the champion 4500 W dual fuel generator at the moment and eventually get two of them and run them in parallel
Have you had any experience with an iPower SUA3800ied generator. It's about the only model that I could find that ran on propane with remote start. We are off grid and have a large house storage tank with an external propane BBQ outlet. The first unit was a disastrous failure. Strike one was a defective spark plug with an integral cracked resistor that caused it to misfire and backfire. The solution was a NGK replacement. Strike two was the electric propane shutoff valve that was only intermittent rated, ran very hot, fused the windings together and blew a fuse on the control module. Strike three was a gasoline leak that spilled gasoline on the ground. It was returned for a replacement. Armed with this knowledge, the spark plug was replaced at the very beginning. I came up with a engineered in line module that had a fast coil "PICK" and lowered "HOLD" current. While at it, I also added an arc suppression network to prevent damage to the control relay contacts. The valve coil had a strong inductive kick when turned off. This seemed to work quite well into the late fall. Then the valve started to fail. An examination revealed that the control relay contact had become quite resistive. There is a pair of relays, one for the gasoline valve on the carburetor bowl and one for the propane valve. The gasoline valve doesn't draw much current but the propane valve is huge in comparison with a much greater current draw. The relay rating seems to be highly under rated even with my current limiting device installed. The valve specs say that all the other valves from the factory for other voltages is only 2 watts. The DC ohmage on this 12 volt DC coil is 6 ohms. That works out to be 24 watts. No wonder that it gets hot. It draws 2 amperes on that poor small relay. So for the remainder of the winter it ran well for 1700 hours on gasoline even in very cold weather. I may need to engineer a new in line module that takes electrical power directly from 12 volts and only use the control relay as an activation signal. Even replacement valves have the same 6 ohm coil resistance. Do you know if iPower had any re-calls or parts replacements to fix this engineering problem?
Unfortunately not familiar with that model. But I really like the new when 4500 duel fuel remote start…which is this one here…amzn.to/4c0yz29
New Subscriber. I definitely got some good tips on using my new propane generator. I was making a few of the mistakes you pointed out. Thanks!
👍🏼😀👊🏼
Excellent video. Great explanation and good knowledge to have. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing the tips makes sense.
Not sure why my manual says choke on?
STARTING THE GENERATOR (LPG)
1. Place the generator outside on a dry, level surface. Allow at least two feet of clearance on all sides of the generator.
2. Check there is sufficient level of oil in the crankcase. Add oil if necessary (refer to "ADD / CHECK OIL" on page
12).
3. Make sure that the LPG regulator hose is properly connected to the LPG tank and the inlet on the generator (refer to "FUEL OPTION B: LIQUID PETROLEUM GAS (LPG)" on page 15).
4. To maximize safety, make sure the generator is properly grounded (refer to "GROUND THE GENERATOR" on page
16).
5. Make sure all electrical devices are unplugged from the generator during ignition. Otherwise it will be difficult for the engine to start.
6. Turn the ECO-MODE switch to "OFF" during starting (Fig. 9 - 1).
7. Turn the 4-in-1 switch (Fig. 10 - 1) to the "CHOKE" position.
8. Gently pull the recoil starter handle (Fig. 12 - 1) 3 - 5 times to prime the engine.
9. Slowly turn the 4-in-1 switch (Fig. 10 - 1) to the "RUN" position.
I live at 5000 elevation. Temp drops down to 10 F. I have 2 duel Duramax generators. I have to run one on gas cuz it won't start with propane. I run the gas Duramax for an hour and then my other propane Duramax can start I guess because the temp increases. It's a real pain but works. Great video. Thank you.
Liked! Absolutely amazing post. Saving this link. Quick question: With the Champion, how do I extend the hose so that it can be about 10 feet without using Champion's extension kit which has had many reported case of leaks? Thanks again!
Great video. I watched a couple of yours earlier about the Ecoflow Dual Fuel Smart Generators, both the 1800 and 4,000. I just ordered an 1800 to supplement my three Delta's, the 1300, Max, and 2 Max. I also ordered an extra battery to use with the Max and 2 Max. You've provided a wealth of info those videos and this one. I already had a Westinghouse 7500 Dual Fuel, but have had trouble starting it, but maybe some of your tips will help alleviate the problem. Again, great video. Hope to watch more of yours.
This was an excellent video. Thanks so much for sharing!
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Thank you!!!
Loads of useful info....Most of which I didn't know!!! Thanks!!!
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@@dannyj5688 and how exactly did you figure getting by for a year?
Great information. Thanks for sharing
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Excellent video! Thanks
And the propane doesn't foul spark plugs. Thanks for the tip of gapping the spark plug.
I’m noob when it comes to generators specially propane generators. Thanks for the vid!
Excellent 👌🏻👍🏻 video with great information for a first time buyer of a portable generator for the house! a neighbor of mine just got a 6500W generac at Lowe's (gasoline only) but I've seen a lot of recent negative reviews?! Is Champion a better dual fuel generator?
Thanks 🙏🏻👍🏻
First thing I did with my generator was read the manual.
I am someone that does not like surprises so reading the manual ended a lot of the surprises I could have had. I have a gas only generator and I always try to run the bowl empty.
Second thing I did was start break in.
The third thing I did was change out the spark plug.
Read the manual. That is the best advice. For those that don't want to read the entire manual, read the section on Long Term Storage of your generator. If you don't want to run it monthly, place it in long term storage mode so that it can sit for years and still start up on that first pull, but you need to put it into long term storage mode.
Glad to see that I'm not the only one to figure out the 30 lb propane tanks are worth the money. Much cheaper to get them refilled rather than the not full exchange tanks. FYI, the Firman 3000 watt dual fuel inverter generator from Costco is a great deal when you get it on sale. Also very, very quiet in operation.
Yea having multiple sizes helps. I have 40s in my rv and a 20lb I refill.
I like the 40Lb propane tanks but mine are not for a RV. Just backup.
@3beltwesty in the Rv they are nice. Just heavy going back in but less refills for sure.
This is a lovely, informative, articulate, intelligent, intellectual adaptation of knowledge. All of which I did not personally know. This was a wealth of information. It makes so much sense. Thank you thank you thank you. And… Thank you.
Nice heads up tip on the, Torch, spark plugs. Hmmm? NGK, can't go wrong with those. They made my Honda motorcycle go for years. It's what we call, Reliable. Yeah doggy! Yee ha!
Actually I'm Jewish originally from Detroit. And it's all about motors.
RemyRAD
Thank you 😀👍🏼
Great video... JUST SHARING... ECOFLOW DUAL FUEL generator has been on the market for a while and they have had the capability to start via app ...
You are correct! 👍🏼😀 if you wanna learn more about the EF DF gen check out my other videos, and if you wanna learn about Ecoflows new Dual fuel smart generator 4000!!! Stay tuned 😁🙌🏼👍🏼😀
@johnnysweekends hurry please. Lol.
@andrewnelson3725 full review coming but some info here ECOFLOW Delta Pro 3 & Smart Generator 4000! Changing The Game Again!
ua-cam.com/video/RC7LTQ4YdBo/v-deo.html
Fabulous content - thanks
Excellent video! I think opening the fuel valve too quick is why my new Firman was shutting down when there was still fuel in the tank. I will try this and hope it works. I also have a lot of condensation on the tank. Not hot outside and not in the sun. Any suggestion?
Read the manual...
My champion dual-fuel explicitly says to put it into the choke position when you use propane, pull it a couple of times, and then flip off the choke.
you are a total geek, but what an awesome video. thank you
All good tips 👍
Thanks
I am seriously considering getting a dual or tri fuel generator, my only concern is how well the propane perform in our cold Canadian winters,
What you think of Ai power generators ?
I like my champion just fine, I also have a small dependable Honda , both are good.
I did not catch what I could replace the factory spark plug with? I understood match the numbers on the spark plug - but does the brand matter? Thanks!
Ngk just a simple plug nothing fancy
Awesome video well done 🇨🇦🛠️🇨🇦🛠️
😀👊🏼
great video!
I didn't know that about the choke. I've always set the choke to the "start" position. Actually i've forgotten to do that and it didn't start, until i put it in choke position. I guess it could be it acted that way because of air in the line and only seemed like the choke was doing something. I'll have to check that for sure next time i start it.
I finally got a gen (westinghouse igen11000dfc), 50A inlet and interlock on my home panel, and a bunch of fuel and supplies (spare spark plugs, lots of oil, weather cover, etc). Ideally, I'd like to run only on propane, but it gets very cold here. I currently have multiple 20lbs propane tanks. I run two tanks at the same time to power the generator with an adaptor, but still, these may freeze up when it's -6 outside. I even have propane heater blankets to keep the tanks warm (haven't tried them yet). So, I still store 25 gallons of non-ethanol fuel with stabilizer (gasoline will stay good for up to 2 years this way) in case propane isn't working, so I can run the gen in very cold temps. Eventually I will buy several 100lb propane tanks, but I can't right now.
I'll probably never lose power now....
One tip I have: the propane tanks you buy at gas stations and grocery stores are only filled with 15 lbs of propane. The 20lb tank can safely hold, you guessed it, 20 lbs of propane. Take your tanks to a hardware store/tractor supply-like store and they will top them off with the full 20lbs of propane. You''ll get 25% more run time out of your tanks which is a big deal.
I never swap, I always refill unless the tank is past service 👍🏼
New to this channel Sept 2024. I have been reading generator reviews. Any feedback appreciated. This information has helped a lot! Thank you!
Awesome and welcome 👍🏼😀
Great video..
Really useful information. Thanks!
👍🏼😀
A question about regulators. I have two 30 lbs tanks on my RV with an auto-change over regulator. I have a quick connect available for my outdoor grill. When using this quick connect with the grill I do not use the grill regulator. Do I need to use a regulator with the generator in addition to the existing regulator?
No the onboard regulators will give you correct W.C. Pressure for lpg
I use my on boards which makes it nice
Running my Champion 5500 on propane for the first time after Hurricane Milton. The standard 20# bottles run fine. I have two thirty pound bottles. They are not running. They appear to be flooding the generator- but I did read my manual and it indicates the included regulator works for 20# and 30# bottles. Do I need a two stage regulator for the 30# tanks? How can I get them to work? Active outage question.
Sometimes really new tanks can cause issues much like a really old tank.
How old are they…?
If brand new and never used some manuals will say this can be an issue for generators on the first fill or two.
Not sure why.
@@johnnysweekends less than a year. Bought after hurricane last year. I tried the second tank, it worked fine. The first 30# would not run. I am going to try it again to see if anything has changed. The generator and regulator appear to be fine.
@coevers1962 you may have a bad tank valve 🤷🏼♂️
Great video with lots of helpful content. ...But wild crazy shrubbery in the background. Someone has waaaaay to much time on their hands....
My retired neighbor has been doing it since I have moved in. He’s a machine lol
Excellent. Thank you.
got a petrol gen a few months ago, needed it there and then, got it, then found one off these types, this type is the one I should of got, as I live in me Tramper Van alot, , never mind,
Great video! Have you done any videos for tri-fuel generators, specifically the natural gas part? I'm trying to deside what might be best for me. Thanks
Yes a couple. Depends what ya need. If it’s going to be your primary fuel you wanna get a larger unit since NG has a lot less power than gasoline
@@johnnysweekends Yes, it'll be my primary fuel. For a window unit AC, Fridge, TV & maybe a PC. Can you post a link to any videos that'll help? I'd appreciate it. I was thinking that I'd just run a heavy duty extent cord to witch ever I needed the most. Also What's a good brand? Thanks!!!
Tell people about propane tanks freezing up when its cold outside.
Great video. One correction. It is not necessary to disconnect hose when resetting the ball valve. Just close valve and reopen slowly. I do it all the time and never disconnect hose. Maybe there is a special case but I never do
Agree! 👍🏼👊🏼
Awesome!
Johnny,can you hook up to a 100 pound tank same as a 20 pound tank or would an additional regulator be required?
Thanks for any help
You can do a large tank you just need a regulator to put out the correct water column of about 11-13 W.C.
@@johnnysweekends So the regulator that comes with the generator is enough?
There is conflicting information out there that an additional regulator is required at the tank.
From what I see the pressure should be the same as a 20 pound tank,no?
@johnnyhotrod you need to have the tank pressure at the correct W.C so you’ll need a gauge to measure it. You could just try it and see. I normally stick to 40lb tanks as I don’t wanna move and lift or refill 100 pound tanks.
I’m not an expert on the large tanks I just know the WC needs to match.
Nothing wrong with just hooking up and trying it.
I only though you needed another pressure regulator on the really large 300 gallon type tanks
@@johnnysweekends Thank you for your reply.I’ve called different manufacturers and gotten different answers.
My only fear was if the pressure was greater of possible damage to the generators regulator.
I’m just going to experiment.
Thanks again
An Over FILL Device is now used in the tank's valve to stop inadvertent 100% filling of a tank as opposed to the By-the-Law 90% maximum fill. If a tank is filled over 90% and it then heats in very intense sunlight the result is that the tank will rupture from the liquid Propane expanding.
It's not Propane gas causing the bursting but rather liquid Propane expanding.
I have an older champion dual fuel (7000/9000) I only run on propane .. is there an after market quick connect kit for this ?... btw thanks for the tips on purging, slow open of tank and starting w\o using the choke
You would have to mod something up
I have a brand-new Westinghouse 5300 DF generator I am going to run on propane only. My propane tank is full, new, and purged as per your instruction. It has not been used yet {bought in in March), but I wanted to be much better prepared for this winter. I set it up, checked oil and fuel levels. After numerous pulls, and a much-aching arm, I could not get it to turn over. It tried to start a few times, but it ran only for a few seconds, if that, then died. It back-fired twice. My propane tank is full, new, and purged as per your instruction. For the life of me, I cannot figure out what I am doing wrong. I can almost recite my manual I've read it so many times. Clearly I am missing something and Westinghouse has not responded. Buying this took virtually all my savings and I am devastated. Can you advise, please?
I’ve heard the using iridium spark plugs are the way to go for propane generators. They last longer.
Maybe for a true propane generator but for a lawn mower engine that is still low compression I dont think a plug that’s over double the price will provide much if any improvement.
What is your favorite 2500 or so watt dual fuel generator? Thanks, helpful video.
Does running mainly on propane cause problems with the generator carburetor or other parts that need lubrication from gasoline?
Thank you
I doubt it. Farm and Ranch and Vets have run propane Vehicles for many years
It does nothing to the carburetor and propane actually has plenty of lubricants for lubrication. So over all it’s lasts almost as long as a gas generator.
@@johnnysweekends
Thank you. I bought a Champion 4650 dual fuel and would like to run primarily on propane.
Very good tips. Thank you Sir!
I'm putting together a battery backup and am planning to add a propane generator to charge the batteries should the grid go down and clouds cover the sun. My question is how important fuel injection is when using propane. It seems like GENMAX is moving in that direction. Should I wait for it?
Fuel injection has nothing to do with propane. Gasoline only
Great video. Have you had any experience with conversion kits such as with Hutch Mountain?
Yes used on my eu3000is and also the Ecoflow smart generator and another regular home back up unit.
They work good.
I don’t need it now but they work.
I didn't hear you mention this but the big negative to propane is that the rated capacity of the generator is reduced by about 25%. Even more for natural gas.
they tend to run lean because of epa requirements, tune it a little rich to stop from heating up the valves
Propane doesn’t make a difference as there is no tuning for it as the regulator is preset.
The regulator that I got with my dual fuel Maxpeedingrods 3200S has a button on it which acts kind of like a choke, and is meant to clear the air out of the hose. I’ve also read that you shouldn’t open the propane valve all the way, but only about one turn on the valve is enough…????
The button is a prime button to prime the hose of air and fill it with propane.
And yes valve should be open all the way. Not sure why one turn or where you found that.
But open it slow or it can activate a safety flow valve and restrict flow.
@@johnnysweekends Thanks (as usual) for your info. I read about only opening the propane valve for one turn on the internet, but frankly, I trust your info more than some random website. I do have another question: my Maxpeedingrods generator has remote control so you can turn it off or on from your house. But surely you wouldn’t want to turn it off if the propane tank valve was still open?? What is the purpose of the remote control???
@Inisfad you can leave the propane tank on if you plan to use it frequently say every 6-12 hours but if less its best to close it. But if using gas you just use the remote when you need but the battery will drain in about 24 hrs if you dont use it if I remember.
@@johnnysweekends Thank you. Just saw one of your videos with a link to your ‘ask me anything’ page. Will use that from now no. You’re really helpful! Greatly appreciated.
Like your videos, good info on the generators you test. I am interested in the carburetor you are showing. What is the part number or where did you get it? Thanks
The carb is off a genmax 7250.
If i ran gasoline in generator first then LP do i need to drain carb bowl of gasoline or is it purged out some how before storing generator ?
Yes you’ll need to drain the carb still.
What if the manual says to put it on choke and pull the cord to purge the air?
Read the Manual! 😂👍🏼
Gasoline is better in cold weather than propane. If you're going to use propane in the winter pick up a 40lb tank, smaller 20lb tanks (like those used for grills) will begin to stop boiling around 15f degrees.
Not having to clean the carb once a year makes propane always better. Also RV tank warming pads work for low temps.
The excess flow control device is super important to know about. Yet!! Find that information in the manual. I have had significant fails on starting each of my 3 champion generators and have secondary backup gas generators in case the f'ing propane unit will not start.
Have you replaced the regulator. Just like a bbq they go bad
would you replace your sparks plug with Iridium?
No it’s not a car with digital ignition packs. It’s a lawn mower engine
New sub. Great vid. Thx!
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I normally run my generator off of propane, but during hurricane Milton, we were out of power for seven days and I had to get into gasoline. I did my best to empty the fuel tank and run the generator car dry by running the generator and then also attempting to empty the bowl and then finally, I ended by running on propane For 10 minutes do you think I got all the gas out of the system for storage or is there something better I can do?
Use the drain screw as well
Of the various 4000/4500 watt dual fuel generators you used and tested, do you have a favorite?
I have an EU2200i that I'm about to put up for sale and replace for something a bit bigger because sometimes the Honda struggles to start my A/C unit on my RV.
You could parallel to Honda 2200's. I have two new Honda 2200 that are tri-fuel. Tri-fuel means they run on gasoline, propane and natural gas. I could also take a Honda generator on trade-in. What's nice about having two small generators and paralleling them together. If you need one generator for other projects while you're out and about it's easier than carrying one big one. And as this video mentions if you ever have a problem with the regulator. With the ones I have you can quickly swap them out no hand tools required. Since I've been running my own Honda tri-fuel 2200 inverter generator. I've never had a problem out of it!
Hi Johnny. Why don't more companies make portable Propane-ONLY generators (with 2000-10,000 running watts) for people who will not be using gasoline? A propane-ONLY generator will eliminate the gas tank and make the unit weigh much less. ALP has a smaller 850 running watt model and Ryobi has a 6300 running watt model. Do you know of any other companies or have any opinions on Propane-ONLY generators? Thanks ahead of time :)
I don’t know but it would be nice because an actual propane generator would perform better than a dual fuel unit as it’s built a little different for propane only.
Would be nice to see!
Thanks for your very quick reply Johnny. Will you please let me know how a propane-ONLY generator would perform better than dual fuel. ALP company is doing tests on their planned higher wattage propane-ONLY generator which will hopefully come out soon.
@greggfur9626 they are built a little diff. More compression and hardened valves so you get full power from the propane only model, and they will last longer than a dual fuel.
Would love to see Alp make a larger unit
Thanks for your expertise Johnny. Yes, I've been waiting a while for ALP's higher wattage generator which is slated to be about 1900-2000 running watts, electric start.
I sell Honda tri-fuel generators. For my customers I install the stock kit that it comes with that they can change out the jet more easily for elevation change. But on all my Honda tri-fuel generators I run a load block. Loadblocks if your mechanically inclined. The generator on propane or natural gas gets better fuel efficiency with a load block. On the smaller generators I have to run a load block on them. There is only one type of fuel conversion Kits I use for the Honda. Over the years I've used a lot of different fuel conversion kits and some of them I will never use again. But for Hondas there's only one fuel conversion kit!
My 3 year old Duromax running only Propane didn't like a 2 year storage and now won't start. The freaking fuel selector knob is now misaligned and only has 2 detents (s/b one each for Store, Gas, and Propane) and I cannot tell which position is for propane. The knob slides to one of them if set in between any of them!
Well that’s different
What size propane tank is that? 30 or 40 lbs?
30s out of my RV, I went to 40s…😀
this guy ran a propane generator and he got moisture in his carb Is that true can you gat moisture from propane?
I converted two AI inverter generators to propane with kits from US carb, they are parallel together.
For safety, only open the Tank valve a 1/2 turn.
Good sound advice....If I see another UA-cam video of a guy doing 40-50 pulls to get his propane gen started!!!!😮😮😮😮😮😢😢😢😢
Yea I dont get that lol 👍🏼
I HAVE TO LAUGH AT YOU AND YOUR CARBONED UP SPARK PLUG BECAUSE YOU DID GAP IT DOWN
The gas cap on my Champion Dual Fuel Inverter has an On/Off position. Does this only apply when running on gas? The manual is not clear. Thanks!
Only used when using gasoline.
It's a cap vent. Must be in on or open position when using the Genny.
@SuperCyril2 only if running on gasoline.
No need for the choke position. MMMM.....but you said to read the manual. My Champion manual says to put it on choke for a few pulls.
Some newer models or brands are saying now to choke it and pull a 2-3 times then back to run, then start.
This is to help remove any air out of the line.
You can accomplish the same exact thing in the run position, pull slow 3 times then fast pull
@@johnnysweekends Yes, that is what the manual says to do.
@jws3925 not all say this and still most times you never need the choke because tank is pressurized verses fuel needs vacuum
Be careful of bargain hoses. Some do not hold up to propane and break down by the LP. Mr Heater hoses are made of material designed for LP and will not break down and contaminate your appliance/generator with hose material particles.
It’s a good thing Mr Heater can make a hose that works because they sure as hell can’t make a dependable heater.
When all else fails, read the manual lol.
Why is my propane generator not working?
Actually the problem is the propane tank itself, it has a float inside the tank that trips and stops the flow of gas and they also can go bad and get stuck in the off position.
WHAT?!?!? No jetting at altitude with propane?
Yup….👍🏼
My generator will not start on propane without using the choke.