Propane conversion for my Storm Responder 5500-watt generator

[Rocky J]

And too rich gasoline will behave similarly to a too rich propane. There is no opposite.....

On my on demand regulator from a floor scrubber it was to much LP fuel for a 10 hp briggs It used a 3/8 inch rubber hose from the regulator to the air cleaner / this method makes it duel fuel one or the other not both , gasoline or LP . It blew black smoke so I put a hose clamp on the rubber hose and tightened it and as a it crushed the hose it leaned out. Then I put a 20 amp load on generator and with the volt meter I made sure it was 125 volts . Things I found interesting was low voltage will burn up electric motors and the regulator has to be mounted in the vertical position because the weight of the diaphragm inside the regulator will change the way it runs or if it runs. Gap the spark plug a few thousands smaller .

 

[jes_in_sac]

I converted my 13HP Generac to LP, with a Quick Connect, so that I can hook it directly into my home LP line, which means it can run a very long time on my 500 gallon tank. The primary part was a Garretson Model Century KN Fuel Valve demand LP regulator, which I purchased directly from Dultmeier online. I made an injector nozzle into the carb. It's worked great, for many very long power outages over the years, no overheating, no loss of power output, which means it can still start and run my well. Dultmeier will have most any LP parts that you will need. If you're not the project type, then just buy a conversion kit for that engine.

 

[den052]

Hello folks,

I have a secondary standby generator that is a B&S 5500/8250-watt Storm Responder. I want to adapt it to run on 20LB portable propane tanks. I am tired of chasing gasoline/ carburetor related issues every time I need this thing in an emergency.

I have watched a couple of videos, and it seems to be a straightforward process except the kits I look at from Nash & US carburetion and others are incomplete. I am looking for everything that goes from the propane tank to the regulator and what needs to be put on the engine carburetor.

Is there anyone who sells a complete kit, or are they all broken down in "bundle" segments? I am not a fan of piecing together a mixed parts kit.

Thanks in advance.

The TriFuel kit is no big deal. You keep your carburetor and add the kit where the air cleaner attaches. It's actually 2 fuels, gasoline and propane, with a slight adjustment for natural gas. A 20 lb tank won't run for very long.

A friend of mine who is an airplane mechanic aviation told me about AvGas from the local airport. It doesn't have any ethanol to mess the carburetors up and it remains stable for up to 5 years after placing it in a 5 gallon gas can. You can go right to the airport and buy it they don't really care because they're selling gas anyway. It's a little more expensive like a dollar or a dollar and a half more.

I run my generator and when I get done I run it to where it quits with no fuel. I then put a couple gallons of AvGas in the tank and start it up and run it for a little bit and shut it off. It is then good for 5 years. When you need it again you can just simply add regular gasoline and drain it out when you're done and put the AvGas in there again.

What's the real cat's meow is running the generator on natural gas. Very cheap. I have an Onan natural gas generator of 5,000 watts. I ran a gas line just outside the house and the generator is permanently mounted outside. I ran it for 18 hours a day 3 days and it cost me 11 bucks in natural gas the complete time. I also have a gasoline 6000 watt generator that will only run for 7 hours on 5 gallons of gas that cost $17 at the time. So now I run my natural gas generator if the power goes out.

 

[Rocky J]

I converted my 13HP Generac to LP, with a Quick Connect, so that I can hook it directly into my home LP line, which means it can run a very long time on my 500 gallon tank. The primary part was a Garretson Model Century KN Fuel Valve demand LP regulator, which I purchased directly from Dultmeier online. I made an injector nozzle into the carb. It's worked great, for many very long power outages over the years, no overheating, no loss of power output, which means it can still start and run my well. Dultmeier will have most any LP parts that you will need. If you're not the project type, then just buy a conversion kit for that engine.

You do neat work . When people look at my projects and ask who did that I have to admit it was like that when I got it . LOL

 

[VERMEER1]

A few times I have had calls from potential customers to convert gas to propane. I have never done it and don’t want to due to potential liability.

You of all people know that a fuel shut off valve solves the majority of fuel related issues when used correctly. What problems are you having with storage and occasional start/use with the generator?

 

[farmerdave1954]

I just had a thought. Since California has banned all gas powered small engines, what do they do for generators in CA? Do they use electric powered electric generators?

 

[StarTech]

There are actually large solar powered generators that will sit you back a good penny. Yet they limited to their battery capacity and solar wattage.

14,400 / 7200 watt version at TSC

 

[farmerdave1954]

The TriFuel kit is no big deal. You keep your carburetor and add the kit where the air cleaner attaches. It's actually 2 fuels, gasoline and propane, with a slight adjustment for natural gas. A 20 lb tank won't run for very long.

A friend of mine who is an airplane mechanic aviation told me about AvGas from the local airport. It doesn't have any ethanol to mess the carburetors up and it remains stable for up to 5 years after placing it in a 5 gallon gas can. You can go right to the airport and buy it they don't really care because they're selling gas anyway. It's a little more expensive like a dollar or a dollar and a half more.

I run my generator and when I get done I run it to where it quits with no fuel. I then put a couple gallons of AvGas in the tank and start it up and run it for a little bit and shut it off. It is then good for 5 years. When you need it again you can just simply add regular gasoline and drain it out when you're done and put the AvGas in there again.

What's the real cat's meow is running the generator on natural gas. Very cheap. I have an Onan natural gas generator of 5,000 watts. I ran a gas line just outside the house and the generator is permanently mounted outside. I ran it for 18 hours a day 3 days and it cost me 11 bucks in natural gas the complete time. I also have a gasoline 6000 watt generator that will only run for 7 hours on 5 gallons of gas that cost $17 at the time. So now I run my natural gas generator if the power goes out.

There are actually large solar powered generators that will sit you back a good penny. Yet they limited to their battery capacity and solar wattage.

14,400 / 7200 watt version at TSC

I guess that would sort of be an "electric electric generator". Of course a battery operated inverter "generates" AC from battery or solar power, so I guess in a sense you could say there are "electric electric generators". The problem with them is cost per kw of generating power. My little Generac GP3300 gasoline powered unit is my go-to when I need power in the field that my DeWalt tools can't handle with a 20volt battery. The last time I had it in use it was on a jobsite with no commercial power yet, to charge the DeWalt batteries for my cordless tools.

 

[StarTech]

I guess that would sort of be an "electric electric generator". Of course a battery operated inverter "generates" AC from battery or solar power, so I guess in a sense you could say there are "electric electric generators". The problem with them is cost per kw of generating power. My little Generac GP3300 gasoline powered unit is my go-to when I need power in the field that my DeWalt tools can't handle with a 20volt battery. The last time I had it in use it was on a jobsite with no commercial power yet, to charge the DeWalt batteries for my cordless tools.

You got it. And they do make smaller portable units for camping and worksites that don't need to power a whole household. But even that Generac GP3300 [3750w /3300w] is too small to start up a 5hp electric air compressor as the 8000w/5000w unit will not start up one under 90psi compressor load. This is not one those pancake compressors.

How do I know you say? Well I toasted the electric motor on my compressor when I first moved to the new site. Finally after I replaced the motor started dragging it to the pole for direct access to 240 vac from the local electric company. Then I spent the next three weeks hand digging a 140' x 18" trench to re-power the detach garage to lay a 6 gauge cable assy. Though I yet to crawl around in the attic to reconnect the original breaker box but I did install a new breaker box with both a twist lock and regular 240 outlets to back the electric system so I have lights and a few other items.

 

[Auto Doc's]

There is nothing wrong with solar panels and a battery bank setup. It's just not a fit for me.

Around my area of South Texas, it would be nice, but the area is flooded with too many shady companies selling garbage and skipping out when there is a problem.

I'm just experimenting with the propane conversion for my 5000-watt storm responder.

I also work on small engine equipment, so servicing is not a hassle, it's what ensures a long life of the equipment.