I vote for doing a test run of powering the house. You know you’re going to lose power at some time in the future so it’s better to work out the kinks now - that way you’ll know exactly what to do when it actually happens. You may also discover that you need to buy some additional items that you never would have thought of otherwise.
To power the whole house It takes a big generator.. With a small generator .. You only power necessities. Refrigerator. (which you never know when it will come on with a start up spike) Some lighting. Ignitors for stove/oven Maybe 1 circuit for oxygen machine shared with electronics
@@jimh4167 -- True, for a but if time we used a generator for some of our then frequent commercial power failures. We could do everything except run the clothes dryer and the heatpump. We just couldn't (& didn't try to) do everything at the same time. The deep well pump could be run with the fridge, and TV & other electronics, routine LED/CFL lighting, and the window A/C. For cooking, we cut everything but the lights and didn't run the ovev with the surface units. Likewise, for the water heating we cut everything but the lights/TV/electronics. We run through two of the units from fuel problems. Had not the power company became more reliable (because of a new high voltage feed) I would still be in the market. One thing I noticed on some of the units I looked at was they flat out say to NOT let the unit run out of gas. It seems it can damage itself trying to maintain speed in those last seconds. That's a pity because we never ran the unit 24/7. We would run twice a day. In the evening we would start it, settle down to TV watching and microwave/water pump and when it ran out of gas we just went to bed. (Heat was a few LPG heaters.) In the morning, there was a dance with water heating, fridge etc, water pump, stove, whatever. The first thing to go on after start up was always the fridge circuit, lighting, and water pump. Hour two was the water heater!
Here is a reminder about portable generator safety: everyone really needs to see this safety reminder to make sure. This advice is just to make sure that everyone is aware of all the warnings and it’s just to remind people to be careful using portable generators. Generators can be dangerous if not used carefully. Every year, hundreds of people die or get injured when using portable generators due to carbon monoxide poisoning and electrocution. Make sure you are using your generator carefully and keeping others safe as well. There is something very serious that everyone should always be aware of when using generators. Some people do run their generator indoors which is not safe and that increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which can cause death of family and you. Some people run their generator in wet conditions which can electrocute them. Please remember that you should never run your generator indoors. Remember that carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that you cannot see or smell. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Keep that in mind. Make sure your generator is 15-20 feet away from your house and away from doors, windows, and vents. Never use your generator in your porch too. Having a carbon monoxide detector is very important against generator safety. Some people also allow children to go near the portable generator which could pose risks. We need to keep an eye on our children making sure that they are not near the portable generator so they won’t get electrocuted or burned by the generator which is dangerous. A locking enclosure also keeps kids safe. A generator shed might look like a tempting place to explore, or take cover during a game of hide and seek, but a generator is a dangerous piece of equipment that can cause injury. It says on the manual that we should also keep children away at all times from the portable generator to avoid injuries. Please do not allow a child or unqualified people to operate the portable generator. Just because some manuals missed what should be listed doesn’t mean it’s safe to do. Always follow the generator safety rules when using portable generators. Generators pose electrical risks. If you need to use your generator during wet weather, you need a generator tent to protect your generator from getting wet. Don’t let your generator get wet. Keep your generator dry and before using your generator, please make sure your hands and your generator is dry. Do not wear loose clothing when operating the generator. Everything that is said on the generator’s operating manual should not be ignored. Never smoke cigarettes near the generator. Please keep flammable things away from the generator. Never overload your generator too. Your generator can catch fire. Never ever try to plug a generator cord into a wall outlet to avoid back feeding. Back feeding your generator is dangerous. Always turn on your generator first before plugging in appliances and shut off the appliances before turning your generator off. Use a heavy duty cord for your generator and the cord should not be worn out. All the instructions should be followed carefully. Never refuel your generator while it’s running. It can cause fire if fuel spills while your generator is hot. You should turn off your generator and let it cool off before refueling it. Having a fire extinguisher next to the generator is also important. This is only a reminder for everyone’s safety of using generators. Make sure your generator is properly grounded. Having a fire extinguisher next to the generator is also important against the safety rules. ua-cam.com/video/I1jT3ANENvI/v-deo.html and here is a video more about keeping others safe when using generators and also about our family’s safety. Hope this helps. Thank you. Remember it’s better to be safe than sorry
Another GREAT video Al... My husband and I watch several homesteading youtube channels and we were watchin "Dutch" yesterday I believe it was and Dutch was building on his chicken coup .. I told Dutch (even though he doesn't know me and can not hear me through the tv, we watch youtube on our smart tv) "Buddy, you need to call Al, he can show you how to build that chicken coup.. lol You and your wife have a BEAUTIFUL homestead. And every building you guys build are GORGEOUS.. You both are so talented... My husband and I look forward to your videos everyday.. Thank you so much for sharing your life with us. And remember, God loves you and your family.. God bless you all..
Just a quick tip: you ALWAYS unhook the (-) negative on any battery (car, motorcycle, generator, etc) FIRST when removing, and Hook back on the Negative LAST when replacing the battery- you hooked the negative on first, which now means if you slip with the tool or contact the frame or anything on the machine while you hooked up the positive terminal you'll blow yourself up - but if you do the (+) Positive first on installation, you can touch the frame or anything all you want, if the negative wire is hanging (waiting to be hooked LAST) it doesnt matter and you cant get hurt
Mornin Al To answer your question Propane has only 73% of the energy one gallon of gasoline I agree with the others in the comments Get a transfer switch and try running your home on it for at least one full tank of fuel. Do I see another project for a generator shed this year? God bless you and your family
Too bad the vet visit wasn't filmed. It would have been interesting, maybe the vet is camera shy. Could you hook the generator up to the big propane tanks with a proper "splitter" in the gas pipe? That could be useful in a long power outage.
It only took a ice storm that knocked out the power for days to teach me I needed a generator. It became my christmas present to myself and my partner that year. Thank goodness we have great neighbors who showed by partner how to turn off the power to our furnace and switch it over to the generator.
We back feed ours from the garage into a 3 family and it'll power everything except the oblivious, which is electric water heaters, ovens, clothes dryers. It's nice to have it the way we do it because every light, outlet, tv's, computers, furnace, Well, frigs, freezers, etc, etc. work. We just shut those high draw electric item breakers off and it makes life bearable. One thing to always do before powering up the generator: SHUT THE MAIN BREAKER OFF TO THE STREET !!
To power the house safely, you'll most likely need a transfer switch. Probably a manual switch with 10-12 circuits. They're available at all the box stores, but consult a licensed electrician. That will allow you to connect the generator to the 240V 30A connector on the generator and not bother with the 125V 30A. Usually the transfer switch is placed near your inside electrical panel and then four wires in conduit are run to an outside connection box. There you'll use a 10 foot cable to connect to the generator. I had an electrician hook mine up years ago and it's been a lifesaver. I do run the generator every 1-2 months as a test and have never had a problem in 20 years.
Al, why don't you check into the Whole House Generators that sit outside on a concrete pad and can provide Power for the Whole House when you have a major Power Outage ! Generac makes them so do other Manufacturers .
Good mornin New Ham Shire .... that generator will certainly come in handy if you are building some outbuildings. My home is fully electric and I've never had an outage that lasted for very long, and only for a very few times in the last 21 years. I really can't justify buying a generator at this point .... I think it will just sit around and rust. Yes .... for you, it is a wise investment because you prolly have so many more applications for one. I would definitely test it running your whole house .... would not want to be blindsided if a real emergency arises. Have a great day AL, Gina & Olivia ... take care.
We have 10 tanks which gives us just over 3 days. You could look online for a 200 gallon tank and bury it close to the house and run gas line into the house to the electrical panel and install a bypass panel that just runs your chosen stuff. Keeping the 20 gallon tanks and small supply hose for the shop and other outer buildings. We are currently saving up to install a natural gas generac whole house generator. They are 2k to 20k depending on size and installation location.
As usual another great video! I so enjoy your shows... side note my grandfather ( moms side) lived with Jack London when he wrote “Call of the Wild” . It’s a favorite of mine and I hope y’all enjoyed it!
So happy you were able to get this generator. I like the idea of using the propane also. I have a whole house generator that runs off natural gas. When the power is off for just a minute maybe less the generator comes on.. I would love for you to do the test run on the whole house. It would be good for you also, to know how well it does over an 8 hour period. Chickens are performing well for y'all. Looking forward to seeing what kind of chickens Olivia picked. Y'all have a Blessed day.
Nice purchase, Al. I'm with the others who are encouraging you to go ahead and hook it up to your house. Get the parts and equipment installed up front, so it'll be ready to go when you really need it.
When I was in the army we used to go around generators with sandbag walls. If made right you could almost completely silence them. Maybe you could make something similar. Just out of curiosity how does the exhaust smell with propane?
Enjoyed video Al, the chickens get to do their thing (scratch/scrape-eat) THE DUCKS need to PADDLE!. Next project Al - a DUCK POND. Even in the winter snow. 4 pieces of plank joined- waterproof liner, a guy of your talent 3-4 mins construction, max!. You might like to look-up GARDENISTA for all those egg shells, some fantastic suggestions for the garden!. Maybe next winter you could build Olivia a BIG!!!! snow mound to slide down, when it thaw's, channel the melt water to collect to, feed animals/ sprinkler system to water garden/vehicle washdown hose/pond for the duk's et al. Hope this is good info!. Love seeing you and Gina in the work shop creating, (how many get to do that), and the banter, MORE PLEASE!!. God bless you all.
I know they said on the box it will power your well, but that will depend on the horsepower of your well. My well is 450' deep, using a 3HP well pump. That size generator will power it, but that may be all it does. Truest test will be to put an manual generator interlok breaker in your circuit box with a 30 amp outlet. It is the safest way to add an external generator to your house in the event of a power outage. It is well worth the piece of mind knowing you have power safely, and not sending power down the line that could cause injury to power workers. Then test it- run your water to kick the well on. Run combinations of appliances. We found that a Keurig coffee maker trips our small generator every time.
You should build a little motor attached to a wooden arm with a glove 😆 to pet the goats. Stick the arm out a hole in the building with a sensor. They could walk by or under it when they need some extra scratching.
We have the same Generator it powers our whole house with no problem. I haven't tried the propane yet but we loss power 3 times this winter and the generator performed nice. We have and outlet outside to plug the gen, cord into the an interlocker in the panel box like others have mentioned you shut off the main breaker or the power from the utility company move the interlocker flip the breaker and it powers everything we have. Only draw back is you have to have someone let you know when the power is restored then just reverse the steps works great.
Hi Al, we have four Champion generators two are dual fuel one is 3000 watts the other 7000 watts, the 3000 watt had 6000 hours before we had a little trouble with it but it's only an oil seal issue nothing with the engine or generator. We run both exclusively on propane the other two on gas. The reason for the less wattage on propane is the energy within propane is less than gas. We live offgrid and run the whole house with either, we heat with a wood stove mainly and cook with propane. Both Heather and I love your channel it was you that inspired us to start our own, thanks have continue the good work. PS are your 20 propane bottles 20lb or 20 gallons, up here in Canada the 20s are 20lb which is happens to be 20 litres.
Love how you mentioned the static electricity generated by the shop vac. Makes me think you're aware of the danger should that static electricity connect with any gasoline fumes or leaking propane. You're amazing...took a break from a project to let a cat in! Love that!
Al i would recommend hooking your generator to the work shop panel with a 30 amp breaker. The noise of the generator will be away from the house, and if you vent the exhaust you can run it in the shop during bad weather.
If you plug the generator into the house when power fails. Be sure to plug into a disconnect box from the house to the power lines so when the lineman comes to repair the pole lines he doesn't have your current pulsing through the line to ZAP him into the next county.
Al, I don't know if has been mentioned (too many comments to scroll through ;) ) But a propane cylinder of that size is rated at 20 pounds (not gallons). As mentioned elsewhere, mark the breakers in your house for critical loads that need to be powered. Or, a better solution would be to get a "transfer panel" and switch the critical loads to that. It's a lot simpler/safer to set up and connect your new generator. Keep in mind that propane cylinders have a finite life, there is a code stamped on each tank. The reason gasoline has a higher power rating on your generator is that it has more BTU capacity than propane. Gas has about 10% more BTU's. Get some liquid dish soap mixed with water in a spray bottle to check your connections each time you setup/use your generator. You may not hear a leak as the frequency can be quite high. Keep the hose in a zip-lock bag when not in use. Keep the port on the generator capped. This will prevent spiders from making a cozy home in the hose or port. Nothing will stop your generator faster than a pile of cobwebs. Suggestion, can you remote mic Gina when she is in the kitchen cooking? it's hard to hear her sometimes.
Thanks Al, We have the same generator, we have never used gasoline in it only propane, it works great, you are right, shut off the fuel and it's clear for storage.
In a previous life, I was a disaster recovery coordinator in IT. I would most definitely test the whole house on it. See what you can comfortably run. That way in the event of a disaster, you won’t be scrambling and not knowing. Good investment!!
While the size of a molecule doesn't affect the volume it occupies, it does determine the amount of energy available. Propane (a 3-carbon molecule) doesn't have as much energy as as octane (8-carbon molecule in gasoline). When compressed to the liquid state, the gasoline will weigh more per gallon than the propane and the more mass of carbon, the more energy the molecule gives up when it burns. Diesel is a larger molecule and gives more energy (more miles per gallon as well as more energy per combustion).
Mornin Al, I bought a similar generator not long ago. Same reason as you, propane stores easier than gasoline. Propane doesn’t have as much energy as gas so less output ( 5% ) than gas. Also something you will find out is how long it will run on a 20 pound tank, mine is 8 hours on a tank of gas but only 5 hours on a 20 lb tank of propane. Next you will find with your cold temps that you won’t be able to run a high load in the winter because of the conversion rate of the propane from liquid to vapor. There isn’t enough surface area in a 20 pound bottle to keep up with demand with a high load. I had to buy a manifold to hook 2 20 pound bottles together so I could run 4500 watt load continuously.
tip: i learned a long time ago to always connect the hot, positive or red terminal first. reason: with the neg not connected there will be no sparking or shorting of the tools against the frame, etc. then with the hot connected and safe one can connect the ground, negative or black terminal. reasoning: it is already the same potential as the frame and there will be no sparking or shorting of the tools. caution: there is always the danger of contact with the hot side but this is present no matter how you connect it..........g
The 5 gallon propane tank you were using can hold up to 22 lbs of propane, depending on temperature when filled and how full they fill them. A 100 lb propane tank is about 23 gallons and typically stand about 3 feet tall. If you don't run gasoline through that engine there is no reason you cannot run the generator indoors during an emergency to take further advantage of the heat from the engine. The only harmful fumes would be from any oil burning off, which should be fine in a large area.
Bought this same generator at Costco two years back... I use it off grid for power tools... I love it, with the exception of the propane... It will not use all the propane i the bottle.. freezes up.... I've never been able to get it to run more then three hours on propane... It uses alot of gas which is why I have an Ipower from Costco,,, 1800 watt inverter gen that I swear by. Twelve hours run time on less then a gallon of gas...
That insulation board you used on your shop door makes an excellent sound box for a generator. There’s plenty of vids on how to out here on the tube. Would be a quick easy project for you too. Also they do make conversion kits for one of those old clunker generators you mentioned. You could designate one of them strictly for hot water if you wanted, until you upgrade some day to a larger unit. I know, I’m not trying to jump ahead seeing as how you just got that unit, just thinking out loud with a possible solution to a problem you brought up is all. Either way that’s a nice unit! I hope it serves you all well.✌🏼🤟🏼🤞🏼
I have the same model for our house. It is a great generator. We have had to use it about 4 times in the last 18 months. (Power goes out during storms). I wish Tractor Supply Co. was running a sale when we purchased ours.
Al, you may want to have a larger LP tank. The specs for that unit are only 5.5 hours run time at 1/2 load on a 20 lb LP tank. Also LP has less potential energy than gasoline, so your wattage output on LP is slightly lower. Specs say it's rated for 6,750w on LP. If you have several 20 lb tanks, you can go that route, but you will be swapping them out fairly often. I could not find specs on the run time at full power load on LP, but it's probably around 2.5 hour'ish.
Propane needs a different compression ratio to get the same HP as gasoline. I have a duel fuel generator and have never used gas. You can get an adapter hose assembly to connect 2 propane tanks. My generator instructions said to turn off tank at the end of use and let it run out. Your regulator is at the tank, mine is built into the generator. Was not always able to use my earlier generator because of gas/carb issues after long term storage even tho I would run it out of gas at the end of use. Duel fuel or propane only is the way to go in my book, congratulations. Thanks for the great video's.
It's always better to know if your generator is going to power your home before the power goes out so you're not stuck when it does go out! Maybe while you're powering your home... Maybe try plugging other items like power tools, vehicle/s etc. Sometimes when the power goes out, you have to fix things (boarding up windows in a storm) or keeping your motors warm on cold winter nights. Higher range electrical items the better to test it's range!!
Yes. Power the house. That is what I would think is the primary reason for the purchase. Off grid usage. Need to workout your use of the device before the power goes off.
Might be a good idea to install a Generator Interlock Breaker and wiring in your Electric Panel when and if you need to get your power from a generator in an emergency Then you would be ready. Also might be a good idea to mark the circuits to use during an emergency that the generator is capably of powering.. (Refrigerator, lights, circuit to stay in touch with the world, power for a oxygen generator ?? And ???... A propane hose long enough to hook into a large ( 100 gallon +) propane tank. And maybe a small portable generator shed to set by your house .. When it's needed. Might be a good idea the install a generator switch interlock breaker in the barn/shop also for a second generator when and if needed
The first few Jack London books are available free from gutenberg.org on Kindle ... I think the first few are, in order: Cruise of the Dazzler ; Daughter of the Snows ; Kempton-Wace Letters ; Call of the Wild ; Sea-Wolf ; The Game ; White Fang ; Before Adam ; Iron Heel ..... et al
that large tank you are referring to isn't 100 gallons , it's 100 POUNDS . and the one that Al is using on the genny , is 20 POUNDS , not 20 gallons as he said
Get a 25kw Army surplus water-cooled diesel generator with remote start on a trailer. These are relatively cheap, very long lasting, quiet, need to run only a hour a day if you have a large battery storage to take the charge, and the whole can be rolled into town for service.
Propane has a lower compression rate than gasoline but it is cleaner burning. Its better for the wear on your generator and the environment. It is the best idea around close proximity to stock animals and gardens.
I purchased our Champion 9375 Dual Fuel Generator almost 2 years ago and have yet to take it out of it's original box. Will take it up to our property in Idaho and likely use it up there.
If you are going to have a dedicate space(place) where you are going to place the generator when needed, install a ground rod to connect a ground wire to.
We have a generator about same size as yours and had a transfer box installed so we can plug the gen into an outlet 30 to 50 feet from the house flip a switch and run 6 circuits. Good Investment keep uploading Al in good or bad weather:)
My electrician husband says that the difference in the output is just due to it being two different fuels. If it were a car, they may put in a fuel injector, but a generator is simpler made. When we used gas to cook with, my dad said always to close the tank first and the rest after, so the hose would not be standing under pressure. I am sure you know this. Hope you are satisfied with your new generator! Greetings from us!
Hello Al I have the same generator. I put an interlock in the fuse panel dedicated to 30 amp breaker to the generator to an outdoor 30 amp plug and I put down a ground rod and hook the ground wire to the generator then just plug the generator into the plug which goes into the fuse box to the inner lock which allows power from the generator to go to your breakers and not out to the mainline.
Hey Al I recommend shutting off the fuel 1st and let the generator run out of fuel wether on gas or propane has less chance of getting gummed up when in storage.
Good morning Lumnahs... Olivia is so precious with the animals, it warms my heart. I'm loving Gina's dinner ideas and I hope you all get better soon. I'd love to see the generator power up your home. Have a blessed day everyone 🤙
A test run on the whole house is recommended. Good to know what you need to be prepared for, especially if it’s a dark moment. Not fun in the dark. Having your electrical cords available and ready close by so you don’t have to search for them. ( I love all my pampered chef utensils too). Jack London, one of my favorite authors. Call of the Wild was 1903 and White Fang 1906. My two all time favorites. Have a good time at the show. I hope Olivia enjoys it and it’s not too scary.
🤍I'm so grateful that you show us how things work and how to put them together and start them and use them etc... There's so much I avoid cuz I don't understand or things overwhelm me. You keep explanations simple and you're not long winded👍🏻So thx for all that.
Al, You should definitely run your house on generator for at least one tank of fuel. If for no other reason than to find out how long you can run your freezers and fridge. Though, to be fair, you might only need a few short runs per day to keep them at safe temperatures. Over the last several months,, you've mentioned the possibility of a power outage a few times, and I always thought... wow, why doesn't he have himself a standby generator? Not like what you just bought, but a whole house generator with an automatic standby switch. Maybe an upgrade for next year?
This. I would actually go for a large battery system large enough to run the house with an inverter along with solar and a standby generator to protect the house year round. Do they let you sell back to the grid there? In the Summer it could make you money. Maybe later.
We have a 50k stand by generator. Which is awesome but I recommend starting and stopping it your self. Why it will run out of fuel. You need to be there to put more in it. Much more expensive to have it automatically come on and shut off.
Nice setup. I have an older 5500 gas and just got a portable 3000w quiet one. Propane would be nice though. I got a kit to wire into the house so you just plug it in and start it up. Plan is to build a well/firewood/outdoor bathroom/generator house this summer
Regarding the lpg vs gas thing, a gallon of each has 91330 vs 124000 BTUs of energy stored. It's a trade off, lpg has less "go" but is much easier to store and burns cleaner.
I would put some gas pipe wrap PTFE thread tape on both connections of the propane line for added measure against leaks to make sure you get the maximum use of the propane and generator.
I'm looking at the same generator- came down to this, Westinghouse 7500df or the Firman (Costco). Tractor Supply has the best deal. Thanks and have a great Spring/Summer!
the difference in power out put when using different fuels is the energy density of propane is less than gasoline. Gasoline has an energy density of about 34 megajoules per litre, while propane is about 25 MJ/Litre. Btw, attempt starting with choke fully on. Once it burps or almost starts, turn choke fully off.
I have the same generator in gasoline only. I have it set up with the interlock in my shop to feed my house. I have run it for 3 days at one shot to run my entire house. Now you have me thinking about a dual fuel! It is a great buy in my opinion!
Great, versatile generator. I have a B&S 5500 that I bought 8 years ago during Sandy, with a 240 volt feed to a 6-circuit transfer switch in the house. I keep it gassed (it's in a garden box outside of the house), but despite the problems with ethanol clogging up carbs, I've never had a problem with the unit starting on the second pull at worst. Gas is stabilized, and I swapped it all out a couple times in 8 years, but I religiously run it for 1/2 hour every other month, and I think that's been the secret. Watch the length of that no. 10 guage cable; over 100 feet and I understand that you really start losing power. One of those things I hope you don't have to use, but have to have.
the call of the wild remake is really good, I went and saw it with a friend a couple of weeks ago. it really pulls at the heart strings. I hope you guys enjoy it
Boys and their toys lol, I can tell you were REALLY enjoying yourself with that, as much fun as the Mule! Well, it is your birthday, Happy Birthday to you Al! Love to the fam, human and fluffy!*!
You might consider a heating blanket for your propane tank. Cold does funny things to propane. We use one here in Texas on cold days and there is no tank swapping in the middle of the night when it's cold.
The fuel density of propane is less for the engine than gasoline. The generators engine will have slightly less horsepower output with the propane so that is why you have a bit less power available when running with propane. (I taught in an alternative energy program for a few years.) It should be much cleaner for the engine though with propane but you do still produce carbon monoxide from the exhaust, so running it outside like you did is a must. Propane does store indefinitely though. Good luck with your purchase.
Different watt output is due to different octane rating of the fuels. On gas the engine runs more efficient and produces more HP. Oh and you have a 20 pound cylinder not a 20 gallon. It usually has about 5 gal of LPG.
It makes sense to do the house next, at least it's the most practical because isn't that the biggest reason for buying the generator?? I loved Jack London's books as a kid! And every girl and her horse ( "Misty of Chinquotegue" )or boy and his dog ( "Where the Red Fern Grows" )book I could find. I have no idea whatsoever if I spelled the " Misty " book correctly!!!!!😂🤣😂🤣Love you, my modern stedder family!
I Have run a propne gen for many years and love them because of the easy long term storage just go again with no problem assaociated with gas gens.juust a tip i learned to not open the valve on the propane tank all the way just open enough to hear it the propane go through and thats it seem to make the tank last longer.
The 30 amp outlet and cable is going to be pretty tight for running the house. Ideally you should have a "critical loads" sub-panel whose supply can be selected from the main panel or the generator cable input. 30amps should run the refrigerator, some lights and few low load plug circuits. If you had a 60 am generator things would be much easier but that's the balance between costs and benefits. Good luck with it and let us know how you set up your critical loads.
The exhaust noise from a small engine generator is much less than the mechanical noise. Dual fuel units can be converted to tri-fuel units (fuel jet change) that run on LP (propane), both high and low pressure, NG (natural gas) and gasoline. Your operation from a 20 lb cylinder isn't going to be very long depending on the load. Wattage ratings are based on the energy BTU's of the fuel powering them. LP has less energy than gasoline, so the power available when operated on propane is lower. The small generators have MTBF of around 400-500 hours of operation. If you can find a generator where the engine runs around 1800rpm, its going to last much longer that one that operates at 3600rpm. Change the oil every 25 hours of operation. Limit the number of continuous hours of operation to 4 hours maximum with a 2 hour shutdown to check the oil. One item that will help with power management is the use of a P3 Killowatt box. Plug the box into your 120v outlet and monitor the power consumption. Refrigerators and freezers have somewhat high starting requirements, but once stabilized, draw less than 2 amps/250 watts. Electric water heaters, hair dryers, coffee pots and microwave ovens are power hogs.
I would like to see a test run of powering your home. Just remember to pick up, and wire in a Manual Transfer Switch from either Generac or Reliance. Running 7kW you should be able to handle 8 circuits simultaneously, just choose them strategically. I believe that you can get them also from Tractor Supply or any of the big box hardware stores. To calculate the amount of power needed for an item, if it is not known, find the appliance energy label and multiply the voltage by how much current it uses (i.e. 120V x 2A(amps) = 240W(watts). This will give you it's W/hr (Watts per hour).
You found a nice generator Al. To have 7500 watts running power is fantastic. My generator is only gas and 5500 watts running power. I would maybe run 1 tank propane to see how long your house would operate per tank!
Hey Al, I would vote for a test to power the house. Might as well see what that bad boy can do. At least you would have peace of mind. That is worth something. Enjoy your videos so much! Greetings from Northern Minnesota!
I have that same generator, never used the propane option yet. One mistake I made was leaving the battery switch on after I had shut off and put the generator away. Drained the battery to the point it wouldn't recover and I had to buy a replacement battery. Otherwise it runs our whole house without any problems. We do have propane for heat, cooking and hot water.
Get a spray bottle of soapy water spray on propane connection to see if any leaks if running it in enclosed area . Just to be safe to make sure no surprise of the boom type and good ventilation for the exhaust too .🔥⚡👍👍
Lpg has a octane of 110 while ulp is 91, the reason for the reduction is because it has a basic gas mixer and regulator, if it was a liquid regulator it will be the same, BUT I will say it will respond better on gas then petrol and don't worry about its rating unless you are working the generator to almost max, the gas can freeze (yes freeze) if it is working hard so just keep a watch on the lines and tank, also many of those generators can run on natural gas and that derates it big time, yes I could keep going but I will say "having a generator is great for blackouts and just working around the farm"
I vote for doing a test run of powering the house. You know you’re going to lose power at some time in the future so it’s better to work out the kinks now - that way you’ll know exactly what to do when it actually happens. You may also discover that you need to buy some additional items that you never would have thought of otherwise.
Agreed!
To power the whole house
It takes a big generator..
With a small generator ..
You only power necessities.
Refrigerator. (which you never know when it will come on with a start up spike)
Some lighting.
Ignitors for stove/oven
Maybe 1 circuit for oxygen machine shared with electronics
@@jimh4167 -- True, for a but if time we used a generator for some of our then frequent commercial power failures. We could do everything except run the clothes dryer and the heatpump. We just couldn't (& didn't try to) do everything at the same time. The deep well pump could be run with the fridge, and TV & other electronics, routine LED/CFL lighting, and the window A/C. For cooking, we cut everything but the lights and didn't run the ovev with the surface units. Likewise, for the water heating we cut everything but the lights/TV/electronics.
We run through two of the units from fuel problems. Had not the power company became more reliable (because of a new high voltage feed) I would still be in the market. One thing I noticed on some of the units I looked at was they flat out say to NOT let the unit run out of gas. It seems it can damage itself trying to maintain speed in those last seconds. That's a pity because we never ran the unit 24/7. We would run twice a day. In the evening we would start it, settle down to TV watching and microwave/water pump and when it ran out of gas we just went to bed. (Heat was a few LPG heaters.) In the morning, there was a dance with water heating, fridge etc, water pump, stove, whatever. The first thing to go on after start up was always the fridge circuit, lighting, and water pump. Hour two was the water heater!
Here is a reminder about portable generator safety: everyone really needs to see this safety reminder to make sure. This advice is just to make sure that everyone is aware of all the warnings and it’s just to remind people to be careful using portable generators. Generators can be dangerous if not used carefully. Every year, hundreds of people die or get injured when using portable generators due to carbon monoxide poisoning and electrocution. Make sure you are using your generator carefully and keeping others safe as well. There is something very serious that everyone should always be aware of when using generators. Some people do run their generator indoors which is not safe and that increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which can cause death of family and you. Some people run their generator in wet conditions which can electrocute them. Please remember that you should never run your generator indoors. Remember that carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that you cannot see or smell. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Keep that in mind. Make sure your generator is 15-20 feet away from your house and away from doors, windows, and vents. Never use your generator in your porch too. Having a carbon monoxide detector is very important against generator safety. Some people also allow children to go near the portable generator which could pose risks. We need to keep an eye on our children making sure that they are not near the portable generator so they won’t get electrocuted or burned by the generator which is dangerous. A locking enclosure also keeps kids safe. A generator shed might look like a tempting place to explore, or take cover during a game of hide and seek, but a generator is a dangerous piece of equipment that can cause injury. It says on the manual that we should also keep children away at all times from the portable generator to avoid injuries. Please do not allow a child or unqualified people to operate the portable generator. Just because some manuals missed what should be listed doesn’t mean it’s safe to do. Always follow the generator safety rules when using portable generators. Generators pose electrical risks. If you need to use your generator during wet weather, you need a generator tent to protect your generator from getting wet. Don’t let your generator get wet. Keep your generator dry and before using your generator, please make sure your hands and your generator is dry. Do not wear loose clothing when operating the generator. Everything that is said on the generator’s operating manual should not be ignored. Never smoke cigarettes near the generator. Please keep flammable things away from the generator. Never overload your generator too. Your generator can catch fire. Never ever try to plug a generator cord into a wall outlet to avoid back feeding. Back feeding your generator is dangerous. Always turn on your generator first before plugging in appliances and shut off the appliances before turning your generator off. Use a heavy duty cord for your generator and the cord should not be worn out. All the instructions should be followed carefully. Never refuel your generator while it’s running. It can cause fire if fuel spills while your generator is hot. You should turn off your generator and let it cool off before refueling it. Having a fire extinguisher next to the generator is also important. This is only a reminder for everyone’s safety of using generators. Make sure your generator is properly grounded. Having a fire extinguisher next to the generator is also important against the safety rules. ua-cam.com/video/I1jT3ANENvI/v-deo.html and here is a video more about keeping others safe when using generators and also about our family’s safety. Hope this helps. Thank you. Remember it’s better to be safe than sorry
Another GREAT video Al... My husband and I watch several homesteading youtube channels and we were watchin "Dutch" yesterday I believe it was and Dutch was building on his chicken coup .. I told Dutch (even though he doesn't know me and can not hear me through the tv, we watch youtube on our smart tv) "Buddy, you need to call Al, he can show you how to build that chicken coup.. lol You and your wife have a BEAUTIFUL homestead. And every building you guys build are GORGEOUS.. You both are so talented... My husband and I look forward to your videos everyday.. Thank you so much for sharing your life with us. And remember, God loves you and your family.. God bless you all..
Just a quick tip: you ALWAYS unhook the (-) negative on any battery (car, motorcycle, generator, etc) FIRST when removing, and Hook back on the Negative LAST when replacing the battery- you hooked the negative on first, which now means if you slip with the tool or contact the frame or anything on the machine while you hooked up the positive terminal you'll blow yourself up - but if you do the (+) Positive first on installation, you can touch the frame or anything all you want, if the negative wire is hanging (waiting to be hooked LAST) it doesnt matter and you cant get hurt
Mornin Al
To answer your question Propane has only 73% of the energy one gallon of gasoline
I agree with the others in the comments
Get a transfer switch and try running your home on it for at least one full tank of fuel. Do I see another project for a generator shed this year?
God bless you and your family
I'm so impressed at the way you raise your child. You and the Mrs. have my up most respect.
Too bad the vet visit wasn't filmed. It would have been interesting, maybe the vet is camera shy.
Could you hook the generator up to the big propane tanks with a proper "splitter" in the gas pipe? That could be useful in a long power outage.
It only took a ice storm that knocked out the power for days to teach me I needed a generator. It became my christmas present to myself and my partner that year. Thank goodness we have great neighbors who showed by partner how to turn off the power to our furnace and switch it over to the generator.
We back feed ours from the garage into a 3 family and it'll power everything except the oblivious, which is electric water heaters, ovens, clothes dryers. It's nice to have it the way we do it because every light, outlet, tv's, computers, furnace, Well, frigs, freezers, etc, etc. work. We just shut those high draw electric item breakers off and it makes life bearable.
One thing to always do before powering up the generator: SHUT THE MAIN BREAKER OFF TO THE STREET !!
To power the house safely, you'll most likely need a transfer switch. Probably a manual switch with 10-12 circuits. They're available at all the box stores, but consult a licensed electrician. That will allow you to connect the generator to the 240V 30A connector on the generator and not bother with the 125V 30A. Usually the transfer switch is placed near your inside electrical panel and then four wires in conduit are run to an outside connection box. There you'll use a 10 foot cable to connect to the generator.
I had an electrician hook mine up years ago and it's been a lifesaver. I do run the generator every 1-2 months as a test and have never had a problem in 20 years.
Al, why don't you check into the Whole House Generators that sit outside on a concrete pad and can provide Power for the Whole House when you have a major Power Outage ! Generac makes them so do other Manufacturers .
Good choice al. I have the 11,500w model. Have an electrician install the proper disconect to your elect system so you dont backfeed to the grid.
Nice, we need one of these for our homestead!
Good mornin New Ham Shire .... that generator will certainly come in handy if you are building some outbuildings. My home is fully electric and I've never had an outage that lasted for very long, and only for a very few times in the last 21 years. I really can't justify buying a generator at this point .... I think it will just sit around and rust. Yes .... for you, it is a wise investment because you prolly have so many more applications for one. I would definitely test it running your whole house .... would not want to be blindsided if a real emergency arises. Have a great day AL, Gina & Olivia ... take care.
Excellent, Champion should definitely approve this video and pay you for demonstration!
We have 10 tanks which gives us just over 3 days. You could look online for a 200 gallon tank and bury it close to the house and run gas line into the house to the electrical panel and install a bypass panel that just runs your chosen stuff. Keeping the 20 gallon tanks and small supply hose for the shop and other outer buildings. We are currently saving up to install a natural gas generac whole house generator. They are 2k to 20k depending on size and installation location.
As usual another great video! I so enjoy your shows... side note my grandfather ( moms side) lived with Jack London when he wrote “Call of the Wild” . It’s a favorite of mine and I hope y’all enjoyed it!
So happy you were able to get this generator. I like the idea of using the propane also. I have a whole house generator that runs off natural gas. When the power is off for just a minute maybe less the generator comes on.. I would love for you to do the test run on the whole house. It would be good for you also, to know how well it does over an 8 hour period. Chickens are performing well for y'all. Looking forward to seeing what kind of chickens Olivia picked. Y'all have a Blessed day.
Loved seeing you pet your goats. They know who feeds them !
Nice purchase, Al. I'm with the others who are encouraging you to go ahead and hook it up to your house. Get the parts and equipment installed up front, so it'll be ready to go when you really need it.
“Love tank”?? I love that!! Totally stealing that. Hahahahaha I would definitely make sure you can get the house on the generator!
When I was in the army we used to go around generators with sandbag walls. If made right you could almost completely silence them. Maybe you could make something similar. Just out of curiosity how does the exhaust smell with propane?
Like forklifts in a warehouse
Jason, we did the same. Many a night those generators were my sleeping “white noise” in the field and deployments✌🏼 Thanks for your service brother.
Thanks for your service brother.
Thanks for your service. It smells a bit like propane
Yes, back in the good old days
LOL Al you crack me up @ 3:03. Doesn't look like you are filling the water pan with WATER. LOL
Happy belated birthday! Glad to see you got a generator and you should definitely try running the house with it.
Enjoyed video Al, the chickens get to do their thing (scratch/scrape-eat) THE DUCKS need to PADDLE!. Next project Al - a DUCK POND. Even in the winter snow. 4 pieces of plank joined- waterproof liner, a guy of your talent 3-4 mins construction, max!. You might like to look-up GARDENISTA for all those egg shells, some fantastic suggestions for the garden!. Maybe next winter you could build Olivia a BIG!!!! snow mound to slide down, when it thaw's, channel the melt water to collect to, feed animals/ sprinkler system to water garden/vehicle washdown hose/pond for the duk's et al. Hope this is good info!. Love seeing you and Gina in the work shop creating, (how many get to do that), and the banter, MORE PLEASE!!. God bless you all.
I know they said on the box it will power your well, but that will depend on the horsepower of your well. My well is 450' deep, using a 3HP well pump. That size generator will power it, but that may be all it does. Truest test will be to put an manual generator interlok breaker in your circuit box with a 30 amp outlet. It is the safest way to add an external generator to your house in the event of a power outage. It is well worth the piece of mind knowing you have power safely, and not sending power down the line that could cause injury to power workers. Then test it- run your water to kick the well on. Run combinations of appliances. We found that a Keurig coffee maker trips our small generator every time.
That is a slick generator. Spring should be coming soon. Hopefully. 😺💖🐐
You should build a little motor attached to a wooden arm with a glove 😆 to pet the goats. Stick the arm out a hole in the building with a sensor. They could walk by or under it when they need some extra scratching.
That would be a good project.
Hey Al! Great deal, I bought a propane only backup generator for exactly the same reason, no spoilage and easy to store outside of the house.
We have the same Generator it powers our whole house with no problem. I haven't
tried the propane yet but we loss power 3 times this winter and the generator performed nice.
We have and outlet outside to plug the gen, cord into the an interlocker in the panel box like others have mentioned you shut off the main breaker or the power from the utility company move the interlocker flip the breaker and it powers everything we have. Only draw back is you have to have someone let you know when the power is restored then just reverse the steps works great.
Hi Al, we have four Champion generators two are dual fuel one is 3000 watts the other 7000 watts, the 3000 watt had 6000 hours before we had a little trouble with it but it's only an oil seal issue nothing with the engine or generator. We run both exclusively on propane the other two on gas. The reason for the less wattage on propane is the energy within propane is less than gas. We live offgrid and run the whole house with either, we heat with a wood stove mainly and cook with propane. Both Heather and I love your channel it was you that inspired us to start our own, thanks have continue the good work. PS are your 20 propane bottles 20lb or 20 gallons, up here in Canada the 20s are 20lb which is happens to be 20 litres.
Love how you mentioned the static electricity generated by the shop vac. Makes me think you're aware of the danger should that static electricity connect with any gasoline fumes or leaking propane. You're amazing...took a break from a project to let a cat in! Love that!
Al i would recommend hooking your generator to the work shop panel with a 30 amp breaker. The noise of the generator will be away from the house, and if you vent the exhaust you can run it in the shop during bad weather.
If you plug the generator into the house when power fails. Be sure to plug into a disconnect box from the house to the power lines so when the lineman comes to repair the pole lines he doesn't have your current pulsing through the line to ZAP him into the next county.
Just make sure the house main breaker is OFF !
@@augustreil Thanks for your input. If the right box is used that will happen automatically.
True story !
Al, I don't know if has been mentioned (too many comments to scroll through ;) ) But a propane cylinder of that size is rated at 20 pounds (not gallons).
As mentioned elsewhere, mark the breakers in your house for critical loads that need to be powered. Or, a better solution would be to get a "transfer panel" and switch the critical loads to that. It's a lot simpler/safer to set up and connect your new generator. Keep in mind that propane cylinders have a finite life, there is a code stamped on each tank.
The reason gasoline has a higher power rating on your generator is that it has more BTU
capacity than propane. Gas has about 10% more BTU's. Get some liquid dish soap mixed with water in a spray bottle to check your connections each time you setup/use your generator. You may not hear a leak as the frequency can be quite high. Keep the hose in a zip-lock bag when not in use. Keep the port on the generator capped. This will prevent spiders from making a cozy home in the hose or port. Nothing will stop your generator faster than a pile of cobwebs. Suggestion, can you remote mic Gina when she is in the kitchen cooking? it's hard to hear her sometimes.
Thanks Al, We have the same generator, we have never used gasoline in it only propane, it works great, you are right, shut off the fuel and it's clear for storage.
In a previous life, I was a disaster recovery coordinator in IT. I would most definitely test the whole house on it. See what you can comfortably run. That way in the event of a disaster, you won’t be scrambling and not knowing. Good investment!!
While the size of a molecule doesn't affect the volume it occupies, it does determine the amount of energy available. Propane (a 3-carbon molecule) doesn't have as much energy as as octane (8-carbon molecule in gasoline). When compressed to the liquid state, the gasoline will weigh more per gallon than the propane and the more mass of carbon, the more energy the molecule gives up when it burns. Diesel is a larger molecule and gives more energy (more miles per gallon as well as more energy per combustion).
Gina did a great dinner meal , no need to change the counter top , the repair turned out great . More zinc and broccoli for those colds.
Mornin Al, I bought a similar generator not long ago. Same reason as you, propane stores easier than gasoline. Propane doesn’t have as much energy as gas so less output ( 5% ) than gas. Also something you will find out is how long it will run on a 20 pound tank, mine is 8 hours on a tank of gas but only 5 hours on a 20 lb tank of propane. Next you will find with your cold temps that you won’t be able to run a high load in the winter because of the conversion rate of the propane from liquid to vapor. There isn’t enough surface area in a 20 pound bottle to keep up with demand with a high load. I had to buy a manifold to hook 2 20 pound bottles together so I could run 4500 watt load continuously.
tip: i learned a long time ago to always connect the hot, positive or red terminal first. reason: with the neg not connected there will be no sparking or shorting of the tools against the frame, etc. then with the hot connected and safe one can connect the ground, negative or black terminal. reasoning: it is already the same potential as the frame and there will be no sparking or shorting of the tools. caution: there is always the danger of contact with the hot side but this is present no matter how you connect it..........g
100% correct !
Very true!
The 5 gallon propane tank you were using can hold up to 22 lbs of propane, depending on temperature when filled and how full they fill them. A 100 lb propane tank is about 23 gallons and typically stand about 3 feet tall. If you don't run gasoline through that engine there is no reason you cannot run the generator indoors during an emergency to take further advantage of the heat from the engine. The only harmful fumes would be from any oil burning off, which should be fine in a large area.
Bought this same generator at Costco two years back... I use it off grid for power tools... I love it, with the exception of the propane... It will not use all the propane i the bottle.. freezes up.... I've never been able to get it to run more then three hours on propane... It uses alot of gas which is why I have an Ipower from Costco,,, 1800 watt inverter gen that I swear by. Twelve hours run time on less then a gallon of gas...
That insulation board you used on your shop door makes an excellent sound box for a generator. There’s plenty of vids on how to out here on the tube. Would be a quick easy project for you too. Also they do make conversion kits for one of those old clunker generators you mentioned. You could designate one of them strictly for hot water if you wanted, until you upgrade some day to a larger unit. I know, I’m not trying to jump ahead seeing as how you just got that unit, just thinking out loud with a possible solution to a problem you brought up is all. Either way that’s a nice unit! I hope it serves you all well.✌🏼🤟🏼🤞🏼
I have the same model for our house. It is a great generator. We have had to use it about 4 times in the last 18 months. (Power goes out during storms). I wish Tractor Supply Co. was running a sale when we purchased ours.
Al, you may want to have a larger LP tank. The specs for that unit are only 5.5 hours run time at 1/2 load on a 20 lb LP tank. Also LP has less potential energy than gasoline, so your wattage output on LP is slightly lower. Specs say it's rated for 6,750w on LP. If you have several 20 lb tanks, you can go that route, but you will be swapping them out fairly often. I could not find specs on the run time at full power load on LP, but it's probably around 2.5 hour'ish.
Propane needs a different compression ratio to get the same HP as gasoline. I have a duel fuel generator and have never used gas. You can get an adapter hose assembly to connect 2 propane tanks. My generator instructions said to turn off tank at the end of use and let it run out. Your regulator is at the tank, mine is built into the generator. Was not always able to use my earlier generator because of gas/carb issues after long term storage even tho I would run it out of gas at the end of use. Duel fuel or propane only is the way to go in my book, congratulations. Thanks for the great video's.
It's always better to know if your generator is going to power your home before the power goes out so you're not stuck when it does go out! Maybe while you're powering your home... Maybe try plugging other items like power tools, vehicle/s etc. Sometimes when the power goes out, you have to fix things (boarding up windows in a storm) or keeping your motors warm on cold winter nights. Higher range electrical items the better to test it's range!!
Yes. Power the house.
That is what I would think is the primary reason for the purchase.
Off grid usage.
Need to workout your use of the device before the power goes off.
Might be a good idea to install a Generator Interlock Breaker and wiring in your Electric Panel when and if you need to get your power from a generator in an emergency
Then you would be ready.
Also might be a good idea to mark the circuits to use during an emergency that the generator is capably of powering..
(Refrigerator, lights, circuit to stay in touch with the world, power for a oxygen generator ?? And ???...
A propane hose long enough to hook into a large ( 100 gallon +) propane tank.
And maybe a small portable generator shed to set by your house .. When it's needed.
Might be a good idea the install a generator switch interlock breaker in the barn/shop also for a second generator when and if needed
The first few Jack London books are available free from gutenberg.org on Kindle ...
I think the first few are, in order: Cruise of the Dazzler ; Daughter of the Snows ; Kempton-Wace Letters ; Call of the Wild ; Sea-Wolf ; The Game ; White Fang ; Before Adam ; Iron Heel ..... et al
that large tank you are referring to isn't 100 gallons , it's 100 POUNDS . and the one that Al is using on the genny , is 20 POUNDS , not 20 gallons as he said
Get a 25kw Army surplus water-cooled diesel generator with remote start on a trailer. These are relatively cheap, very long lasting, quiet, need to run only a hour a day if you have a large battery storage to take the charge, and the whole can be rolled into town for service.
Figaro is no fool. He's learned the shop is heated. 😂
He just wanted to supervise and make sure the new items brought in were to his approvel
The house!!!!! Lol. This is perfect. I have been looking at those generators.
Propane has a lower compression rate than gasoline but it is cleaner burning. Its better for the wear on your generator and the environment. It is the best idea around close proximity to stock animals and gardens.
I purchased our Champion 9375 Dual Fuel Generator almost 2 years ago and have yet to take it out of it's original box. Will take it up to our property in Idaho and likely use it up there.
If you are going to have a dedicate space(place) where you are going to place the generator when needed, install a ground rod to connect a ground wire to.
We have a generator about same size as yours and had a transfer box installed so we can plug the gen into an outlet 30 to 50 feet from the house flip a switch and run 6 circuits. Good Investment keep uploading Al in good or bad weather:)
I have that exact same generator that I bought from tractor supply as well. I love it!!!
My electrician husband says that the difference in the output is just due to it being two different fuels. If it were a car, they may put in a fuel injector, but a generator is simpler made. When we used gas to cook with, my dad said always to close the tank first and the rest after, so the hose would not be standing under pressure. I am sure you know this. Hope you are satisfied with your new generator! Greetings from us!
Yes, the cooking is always great, gives viewers ideas for dinner!
Hello Al I have the same generator. I put an interlock in the fuse panel dedicated to 30 amp breaker to the generator to an outdoor 30 amp plug and I put down a ground rod and hook the ground wire to the generator then just plug the generator into the plug which goes into the fuse box to the inner lock which allows power from the generator to go to your breakers and not out to the mainline.
Hey Al, I would like to see how your new generator does while running your whole house. Thanks for sharing and keep the videos coming. 👍
Plenty of power. I run everything in a three family except the high draw electrical items. It evens runs the well, 2 forced hot air furnaces.
Hey Al I recommend shutting off the fuel 1st and let the generator run out of fuel wether on gas or propane has less chance of getting gummed up when in storage.
Good morning Lumnahs... Olivia is so precious with the animals, it warms my heart. I'm loving Gina's dinner ideas and I hope you all get better soon. I'd love to see the generator power up your home. Have a blessed day everyone 🤙
I have a few cd's of White Fang. My grandsons love watching
A test run on the whole house is recommended. Good to know what you need to be prepared for, especially if it’s a dark moment. Not fun in the dark.
Having your electrical cords available and ready close by so you don’t have to search for them.
( I love all my pampered chef utensils too).
Jack London, one of my favorite authors.
Call of the Wild was 1903 and White Fang 1906. My two all time favorites.
Have a good time at the show. I hope Olivia enjoys it and it’s not too scary.
That is NOT a 20 gallon propane tank. It is a 20 POUND tank...it holds 4.7 gallons when full.
Good mauhnin Lumnah Acres! Great video today. Take care!
Test powering the house. Always good to know, before you have lost power.
Most do not read the manual, please do, I did not know mine required a 8 hour break in time and requires a 4ft copper grounding rod.
🤍I'm so grateful that you show us how things work and how to put them together and start them and use them etc... There's so much I avoid cuz I don't understand or things overwhelm me. You keep explanations simple and you're not long winded👍🏻So thx for all that.
Cut the card board box side with all the options and tape to wall by generator. Great referral...
Al,
You should definitely run your house on generator for at least one tank of fuel. If for no other reason than to find out how long you can run your freezers and fridge. Though, to be fair, you might only need a few short runs per day to keep them at safe temperatures.
Over the last several months,, you've mentioned the possibility of a power outage a few times, and I always thought... wow, why doesn't he have himself a standby generator? Not like what you just bought, but a whole house generator with an automatic standby switch. Maybe an upgrade for next year?
This. I would actually go for a large battery system large enough to run the house with an inverter along with solar and a standby generator to protect the house year round. Do they let you sell back to the grid there? In the Summer it could make you money. Maybe later.
We have a 50k stand by generator. Which is awesome but I recommend starting and stopping it your self. Why it will run out of fuel. You need to be there to put more in it. Much more expensive to have it automatically come on and shut off.
Nice setup. I have an older 5500 gas and just got a portable 3000w quiet one. Propane would be nice though. I got a kit to wire into the house so you just plug it in and start it up. Plan is to build a well/firewood/outdoor bathroom/generator house this summer
Regarding the lpg vs gas thing, a gallon of each has 91330 vs 124000 BTUs of energy stored. It's a trade off, lpg has less "go" but is much easier to store and burns cleaner.
I would put some gas pipe wrap PTFE thread tape on both connections of the propane line for added measure against leaks to make sure you get the maximum use of the propane and generator.
I'm looking at the same generator- came down to this, Westinghouse 7500df or the Firman (Costco). Tractor Supply has the best deal. Thanks and have a great Spring/Summer!
the difference in power out put when using different fuels is the energy density of propane is less than gasoline. Gasoline has an energy density of about 34 megajoules per litre, while propane is about 25 MJ/Litre. Btw, attempt starting with choke fully on. Once it burps or almost starts, turn choke fully off.
I have the same generator in gasoline only. I have it set up with the interlock in my shop to feed my house. I have run it for 3 days at one shot to run my entire house. Now you have me thinking about a dual fuel! It is a great buy in my opinion!
Great, versatile generator. I have a B&S 5500 that I bought 8 years ago during Sandy, with a 240 volt feed to a 6-circuit transfer switch in the house. I keep it gassed (it's in a garden box outside of the house), but despite the problems with ethanol clogging up carbs, I've never had a problem with the unit starting on the second pull at worst. Gas is stabilized, and I swapped it all out a couple times in 8 years, but I religiously run it for 1/2 hour every other month, and I think that's been the secret. Watch the length of that no. 10 guage cable; over 100 feet and I understand that you really start losing power. One of those things I hope you don't have to use, but have to have.
the call of the wild remake is really good, I went and saw it with a friend a couple of weeks ago. it really pulls at the heart strings. I hope you guys enjoy it
Champion are great building our house off it ,i want another one have a bless day
Boys and their toys lol, I can tell you were REALLY enjoying yourself with that, as much fun as the Mule! Well, it is your birthday, Happy Birthday to you Al! Love to the fam, human and fluffy!*!
Looking very nice that generator Al! Enjoy it! 👍😁
You might consider a heating blanket for your propane tank. Cold does funny things to propane. We use one here in Texas on cold days and there is no tank swapping in the middle of the night when it's cold.
That TO GO window is definitely a have-it-your-way shop. And such a big smile!!
Glad you happy with your new toy
The fuel density of propane is less for the engine than gasoline. The generators engine will have slightly less horsepower output with the propane so that is why you have a bit less power available when running with propane. (I taught in an alternative energy program for a few years.) It should be much cleaner for the engine though with propane but you do still produce carbon monoxide from the exhaust, so running it outside like you did is a must. Propane does store indefinitely though. Good luck with your purchase.
Different watt output is due to different octane rating of the fuels. On gas the engine runs more efficient and produces more HP. Oh and you have a 20 pound cylinder not a 20 gallon. It usually has about 5 gal of LPG.
It makes sense to do the house next, at least it's the most practical because isn't that the biggest reason for buying the generator??
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I Have run a propne gen for many years and love them because of the easy long term storage just go again with no problem assaociated with gas gens.juust a tip i learned to not open the valve on the propane tank all the way just open enough to hear it the propane go through and thats it seem to make the tank last longer.
The 30 amp outlet and cable is going to be pretty tight for running the house. Ideally you should have a "critical loads" sub-panel whose supply can be selected from the main panel or the generator cable input. 30amps should run the refrigerator, some lights and few low load plug circuits. If you had a 60 am generator things would be much easier but that's the balance between costs and benefits. Good luck with it and let us know how you set up your critical loads.
Would love to see a test run of generator. Keeping all of you in my prayers 💕
The exhaust noise from a small engine generator is much less than the mechanical noise.
Dual fuel units can be converted to tri-fuel units (fuel jet change) that run on LP (propane), both high and low pressure, NG (natural gas) and gasoline. Your operation from a 20 lb cylinder isn't going to be very long depending on the load.
Wattage ratings are based on the energy BTU's of the fuel powering them. LP has less energy than gasoline, so the power available when operated on propane is lower.
The small generators have MTBF of around 400-500 hours of operation. If you can find a generator where the engine runs around 1800rpm, its going to last much longer that one that operates at 3600rpm. Change the oil every 25 hours of operation. Limit the number of continuous hours of operation to 4 hours maximum with a 2 hour shutdown to check the oil.
One item that will help with power management is the use of a P3 Killowatt box. Plug the box into your 120v outlet and monitor the power consumption. Refrigerators and freezers have somewhat high starting requirements, but once stabilized, draw less than 2 amps/250 watts. Electric water heaters, hair dryers, coffee pots and microwave ovens are power hogs.
I would like to see a test run of powering your home. Just remember to pick up, and wire in a Manual Transfer Switch from either Generac or Reliance. Running 7kW you should be able to handle 8 circuits simultaneously, just choose them strategically. I believe that you can get them also from Tractor Supply or any of the big box hardware stores. To calculate the amount of power needed for an item, if it is not known, find the appliance energy label and multiply the voltage by how much current it uses (i.e. 120V x 2A(amps) = 240W(watts). This will give you it's W/hr (Watts per hour).
It looks like a very good geni, very good buy. I like it.
You found a nice generator Al. To have 7500 watts running power is fantastic. My generator is only gas and 5500 watts running power. I would maybe run 1 tank propane to see how long your house would operate per tank!
Hey Al, I would vote for a test to power the house. Might as well see what that bad boy can do. At least you would have peace of mind. That is worth something. Enjoy your videos so much! Greetings from Northern Minnesota!
I have that same generator, never used the propane option yet. One mistake I made was leaving the battery switch on after I had shut off and put the generator away. Drained the battery to the point it wouldn't recover and I had to buy a replacement battery. Otherwise it runs our whole house without any problems. We do have propane for heat, cooking and hot water.
Get a spray bottle of soapy water spray on propane connection to see if any leaks if running it in enclosed area . Just to be safe to make sure no surprise of the boom type and good ventilation for the exhaust too .🔥⚡👍👍
Lpg has a octane of 110 while ulp is 91, the reason for the reduction is because it has a basic gas mixer and regulator, if it was a liquid regulator it will be the same, BUT I will say it will respond better on gas then petrol and don't worry about its rating unless you are working the generator to almost max, the gas can freeze (yes freeze) if it is working hard so just keep a watch on the lines and tank, also many of those generators can run on natural gas and that derates it big time, yes I could keep going but I will say "having a generator is great for blackouts and just working around the farm"