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View Full Version : Generator Tri-fuel converison kit?


parttime
Feb 10, 2010, 02:26 PM
Has anyone used or had any experience with a "tri-fuel" converison kit for a generator? Thinking of buying a generator for back-up power but don't want to rely on having large amount of gasoline stored. I've read about converting to use Propane, natural gas or gasoline. Trying to get input from people that have used this system. Thanks

tkrussell
Feb 10, 2010, 02:41 PM
I have no experience, but did a quick search:


generator tri-fuel conversion kit review - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?q=generator+tri-fuel+conversion+kit+review&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a)

Plenty of reading on the subject.

I will copy this over at Tools and Power Equipment, see if you can get any input there also.

crigby
Feb 10, 2010, 05:30 PM
Hi,
Not experienced in it as such, but I would not want to store gas as an extended prospect. Would store diesel with a proper cetane additive since it will keep longer. Propane has too little energy built into the molecule for my satisfaction. Natural gas is the best alternative I can think of. There will still be pressure on the line under almost all circumstances. A few years ago we had an icestorm here and the only house with lights I saw was one with a natural gas generator. Power was out for 5-7 days most everywhere. They had them, and were smart enough to not turn on their Christmas lights though they had them out and could have. They had power to do it and actually had them on the first night when only a handful of places in town were available to eat. Two of us ran work and the lights went out at 6 PM for the crews to repair more circuits (and I mean exactly at 6.) Every place open was swamped. Golden Corral where we ate had no one to bus the dirty dishes because of the limited staff.
You can bet that the house we saw on the way there with that generator did not go out to eat. They were the absolutely the only place with lights. Coming back from eating they had even cut some off including the decorations.
Hope that explains my humble opinion; others may vary.
Peace,
Clarke

KISS
Feb 10, 2010, 07:03 PM
Propane packs a bigger punch, I believe, (BTU/ft^3), but storage is an issue. Natural gas is a virtually unlimited supply.

parttime
Feb 11, 2010, 06:17 AM
Thanks guys, recent power outage here was due to flooding, which also broke a main gas line, that's why I was looking into the tri-fuel use. I'd like to find someone that's used the conversion kit and can confirm it works as advertised.