Us carb tri fuel

[Mori55]

http://www.propane-generators.com/type_4.htm
Anyone use this? Got a new Generac 5500 backup generator for power outages.
Be nice to hook up to my home , especially if the gas stations are out.

 

[chris142]

This is assuming that natural gas will still flow when the powers out.

 

[Mori55]

Well I'm about a mile inland fron ocean city NJ and we were fine. I'm pretty confidant the gas will stay on. But I can always run has or propane with it. At least it gives you options.
Right now a lot of gas stations have long lines.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Well I'm about a mile inland fron ocean city NJ and we were fine. I'm pretty confidant the gas will stay on. But I can always run has or propane with it. At least it gives you options.
Right now a lot of gas stations have long lines.

Well, areas that are completely wiped off the map will have lots of gas leaks. Christie has ordered gas cut off to some barrier islands for this reason, they could cut it off anywhere there are enough damaged houses to justify it. Couple of bottles of propane might help however, but you might want that to run the grill to cook dinner.

Charles

 

[Burtonrider10022]

God that "natural gas is unreliable" excuse is getting old fast. Gas cans + a couple 100lb bottles of propane + a natural gas option = pretty ******* prepared.

OP the site you listed is one of the most well known carb places, but some reviews I've read people have complained that they have terrible customer service.

Again, this is mostly hearsay, but due diligence says you might want to check some small engine forums. Lots of home made go-carts use any engine they can find, and therefore those forums will most likely have a fair amount of info about your motor

 

[stingray1966]

I am Looking at the same thing I have a 7750exl Generac Right now my block seem to be the only one that has power People are told there will be at lest a week before they will get the power back on And Thats in Philly Right I have 45 gal of gas plus whats in my cars Witch is full( Looking at a total of about 60 gal) But wonder Just how long that would last if I was out for a few weeks When I first got my generator power would go out for a few hours NOW its weeks. I do have natural gas for my heater but I really dont know if it will work if the generator and then heater is going on the same time Propane would be much easier but cost around here is high Would like to see if any one has done this

 

[Burtonrider10022]

This is assuming that natural gas will still flow when the powers out.

Not to harp, but I'll add that gasoline is more likely to be unavailable in a natural disaster.

NY/NJ Gas Shortages: Mile-Long Lines, Rationing, Fights, Police Draw Guns



As my earlier post stated, OP, if I were you, get the tri-fuel kit from any manf. you chose and install it well. Then scan Craigslist for free/cheap propane tanks (I usually get them for about $5 a piece. Condition isn't really too important, you just need to find the right gas station Trust me, the 17 y/o kid at Jim's Stop-n-Fill doesn't give a **** about the condition of your LP tank at 3a.m. He just wants to exchange it and get back to his nap. Slowly stockpile a fair amount of LP, because it never expires and currently costs around the same amount as gas per gallon. Also, LP burns in a small engine almost as efficiently as gasoline, so you wont notice any power output differences or "MPG" differences really. THEN, rely on your NG line for outages, but now you have a propane backup!


But wait, you're out of propane and your NG doesn't work?! OMG! Oh wait, you have a few gas cans and a car or two to siphon out of. Yeah, tri-fuel is a terrible idea...

 

[StaggeringGoat]

Slowly stockpile a fair amount of LP, because it never expires and currently costs around the same amount as gas per gallon. Also, LP burns in a small engine almost as efficiently as gasoline, so you wont notice any power output differences or "MPG" differences really. THEN, rely on your NG line for outages, but now you have a propane backup!

Actually, a few weeks ago I was quoted a price of $1.61/gallon for propane delivered in bulk. I want to convert my truck! At the gas station it is usually more than $1 less/gallon than gas. Propane actually burns more "efficiently" than gasoline, but, it also has less energy per gallon. (roughly 91,000 BTU per gallon for propane and 125,000 BTU for gas) Propane/natural gas burns much cleaner in your engine, so you don't have to change the oil as often, and your engine will last longer.

Just don't think you have an unlimited supply of fuel with NG and forget to have a backup!

 

[Burtonrider10022]

Actually, a few weeks ago I was quoted a price of $1.61/gallon for propane delivered in bulk. I want to convert my truck! At the gas station it is usually more than $1 less/gallon than gas. Propane actually burns more "efficiently" than gasoline, but, it also has less energy per gallon. (roughly 91,000 BTU per gallon for propane and 125,000 BTU for gas) Propane/natural gas burns much cleaner in your engine, so you don't have to change the oil as often, and your engine will last longer.

Just don't think you have an unlimited supply of fuel with NG and forget to have a backup!

That's an amazing price for propane! Downtown Chicago area is about $19-$22 (roughly $4/gallon) for a standard 4.7 gallon (5lb) BBQ grill style LP tank. I fill them when I go to my parents house, they are on the border of Cook & Will county. I just drive south about 1 mile and fill 'em up for $14-$16 a tank, which is about $3 a gallon. I'm dreading filling my 100#'er 24.X gallons should be a lovely $75+

 

[Mori55]

Has any one used one of these kits ? There's a couple of company's that make these. Really interested how they run on natural gas.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Yesterday evening I stumbled onto a real rant about how bad US Carb was. I cannot find it now. I think it was on an Airstream forum, not sure. Have been doing Google searches like last nite and it doesn't turn up. Guy was real upset that the stuff they sold him didn't work but worse than that was how they would not answer the phone, you had to leave a message and they called you back and would not respond to faxes either. Not sure if the problem was him or them, but he seemed to make a good case. I found other stuff saying they made OK kits and others who recommended Central Maine Diesel for the tri fuel conversion.

Just relaying what I found.

Edit: now I found it, HERE it is on the Air Forum.

Charles

 

[Burtonrider10022]

Yesterday evening I stumbled onto a real rant about how bad US Carb was. I cannot find it now. I think it was on an Airstream forum, not sure. Have been doing Google searches like last nite and it doesn't turn up. Guy was real upset that the stuff they sold him didn't work but worse than that was how they would not answer the phone, you had to leave a message and they called you back and would not respond to faxes either. Not sure if the problem was him or them, but he seemed to make a good case. I found other stuff saying they made OK kits and others who recommended Central Maine Diesel for the tri fuel conversion.

Just relaying what I found.

Edit: now I found it, HERE it is on the Air Forum.

Charles

Yeah, that's one of the ones I've seen as well. BUT! That was from '08. A company can come a long time in 4 years. It's a safe bet that most of the people that were there when he called have long since been fired.

 

[RCStocker]

Propane is a great way to go.
Many city busses run on it around the world.
If the power is out you will not get your propain filled.
It will be like gas if the power is out. You can't get it.

Natural gas is under 5 pounds pressure.
Back in the 20's - 40's they made refrigrators that ran on natural gass. You can still buy them.

My brother inlaw in Australia runs his car on propane. It works great.

 

[cj7365]

I ordered a kit for my portable generac, its only a 3500 watt, but I like the idea of propane, storage for a long time.

I ordered it a week ago, says it could take up to a week to send it out. Ill update here when it gets here and maybe do a write up on the install

 

[littletoes]

I've hooked up several propane/natural gas generators, even a few dual fuel versions, but never a triple fuel version.

Just don't try and run a natural gas version on propane without changing orifices, you'll blow the bad-boy up. Propane has 1/3 times the btu's.

Natural gas CAN be supplied in greater pressures, most gas companies only supply what is needed/required. It's all about the contract you make with them.

We have several houses in our area that run on 2 lb ng, and I've hooked up equipment that runs on 34 psi gas.

Under the regulator, most gas pressures are around 54 psi, and mains around the area are 150 to 400 psi.

Higher pressures allow smaller pipes.....what's funny, in this area, the huge supply of gas for the entire city is stored under ground in huge caverns....what folks don't know...sheesh.
Bet the same thing is going on in a city near you....

 

[littletoes]

Here's one for you guys....

in the winter, they add propane to your gas so it will start easier....

 

[Burtonrider10022]

I've hooked up several propane/natural gas generators, even a few dual fuel versions, but never a triple fuel version.

Just don't try and run a natural gas version on propane without changing orifices, you'll blow the bad-boy up. Propane has 1/3 times the btu's.

Natural gas CAN be supplied in greater pressures, most gas companies only supply what is needed/required. It's all about the contract you make with them.

We have several houses in our area that run on 2 lb ng, and I've hooked up equipment that runs on 34 psi gas.

Under the regulator, most gas pressures are around 54 psi, and mains around the area are 150 to 400 psi.

Higher pressures allow smaller pipes.....what's funny, in this area, the huge supply of gas for the entire city is stored under ground in huge caverns....what folks don't know...sheesh.
Bet the same thing is going on in a city near you....

You mean 1/3 MORE BTU's than NG?

 

[littletoes]

Well, its actually a bit more. Propane is about 2500 to 2600 and natural gas is 1000.
Both can vary a bit depending upon local. So, I guess that makes it about 2 1/2 times hotter.
That is in cubic feet, which is what most equipment is based on.

Better?

 

[Mori55]

I was talking to Aardvark who makes a tri gas , they use ring that goes betweem the carb and air cleaner with ring that has small holes in it the sprays the gas out. He said staring on ng gas can be a pain.
Maine central deisel drills you carb out and inserts a tube in it to supply the gas for there tri fuel. Haven't been able to get through to them. I wonder if there way is better?