Propane Generator

Being out in the sticks, we sometimes experience prolonged power outages... 2-3, 7-8 hours ... and being on a well with our own pressure system, it means going without water as well.

A generator is the obvious answer... gas has no shelf life, but as we already use propane, it would seem a propane powered gen set would be ideal...

NOB , Propane Generators are readily available at Home Depot or Lowes, but appears not so in Guadalajara...

Has anyone out there experience with a Propane Generator and know where a person can purchase one locally?

6000 - 10000 watt should do...

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=228085-24212-5893&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3229654&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

I'm looking for something with an auto-on feature... also acts as a surge protector for the whole house

There is even a Lowes in Mexico... but I've gotten nowhere with them... and unable to comunicate a deal and delivery arrangements...

I might have to bring something like this down with me but as you can see ... they weigh 400 - 500lbs

I thought this internet stuff was supposed to make things easier!!

Another option is to purchase a gas generator and pick up the propane conversion kit. A lot cheaper to send that down here than a generator. Most can be converted from gas to propane or even the option of dual fuel. My Generac is a stationary model and weights in around 400 lbs. I'd hate to pay the shipment. As I mentioned in another post don't go any larger than you think you need to run the house. You will just waste propane.

If I had to do it again I would pick up a Honda generator of the size I needed and convert it to propane myself. If had nothing but problems with my Gernerac.

http://www.propanecarbs.com/

Bob asked about cost of running a propane generator on another thread that got so Hijacked I thought I would start it back up on this one.

I have current propane costs and the usage of my propane generator. What I don't have is the current cost of incoming CFE power. this is because of a lack meter readings over the last 8 months by CFE. So the first half of the numbers to get this started are as follows.

My Generac 7500 watt generator uses 7.8 ltrs/hour of propane to product the 7500 watts it is capable of. Within the hour I just filled my bulk tank and it cost me 5.14 Pesos/ltr. In other words to produce 7500 watts of power I paid 40.09 pesos.

I'm sure there is someone there that has a pretty typical house and could come up with CFE costs based on their usage and KW charges.

I still feel that the only way to go is grid-tie as batteries are a big cost and a continuous never ending maintenance issue. As grid-tie shuts down if the main power is lost there would have to be a bypass switch to allow the generator to continue to fee the house. I would think this could be automated.

I've been checking to see if I can pick up a used, good condition RV propane generator. Not that large, easy to bring back in the Honda CRV.

You don't see too many smaller generators already on propane but the conversion kits are easy to find. If I had to do it again I would go smaller and convert. Something that would run the RV and charge the batteries at the same time but no more. Any extra is just propane out the tailpipe.

Why not solar? I have RV buddies who boondock a lot and this works great with them. On rare occasions, they start up their gen sets.

More than a few gassers have propane generators. I just had this idea I might be able to pick one up and adapt it for here as a backup to our dismal CFE service. We don't have water in the house when the power goes off. That gets old quick.

I have solar on my RV and a big battery bank but there is a big difference between boon docking with next to no services and wanting to live full time in an RV with some resemblance of a normal day. My RV consumes 1500 watts min. providing i don't use the A/C. To store enough power to last me the into the night and till morning would need a huge system. Not something I could even think of bolting to the roof. It's scary but CFE is cheaper. However like i've stated the right size propane generator possible would compete.