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

I have no experience, but did a quick search:


generator tri-fuel conversion kit review - Google Search

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.

Thanks TK, I've read until I'm cross-eyed. Lol I was wanting to hear someone tell me they have done this and it worked well. I'll need about $800 gen and then the price of the conversion kit, that'll put me near a thou, I'd hate to blow up that kind of cash.

And you don't believe everything you read on the internet? I don't blame you.

I even heard of companies posting reviews of their own products, just to make themselves look good.

Permanent installed gensets work well with propane. thou ratings are a bit lower as propane has a lower BTU value.

Natural gas is the best in my opinion, if available.

Gasoline would be the last option, for the obvious reasons I am sure that concerns you.

A tri-conversion kit sounds like a luxury to give some options depending on fuel costs and availability.

Are you saying they might lie to me? Aaahh. Lol I want portability, one power outage was a flood in the area that also broke the gas main, that's where I could grab the propane from the grill and be in business, or in the wilderness I could carry in jericans of gas. The number one hook-up at home would be natural gas.

Why not go diesel? You could run it on all sorts of waste oils, vegetable oil, way more efficient and last way longer.

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Originally Posted by LandserElectric

Why not go diesel? You could run it on all sorts of waste oils, vegetable oil, way more efficient and last way longer.

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I think fuel storage and availability are the main reasons not to go diesel.
Cold weather reliability is another, unless block and oil heaters are used. Noise is another, although most are noisy enough regardless of fuel source.

Good point about the fuel, but it does have to be processed. You can't simply dump old french fry oil in there. :D
You are right about the reliability though.

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Originally Posted by parttime

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

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Most permanent standby units are easily convertible from LP to NAT. Thing is if you have one you are not likely to need the other, and if one runs out on a large scale the other is probably scarce also.

I am also not versed in (LP/NAT) gas to gasoline conversions. Sorry.

If you are looking for a portable generator which operates on propane, Northern Tool as well as Norwall sells them ready to go. The conversion kits are OK, but if you install them on a new generator it's likely it will void the warranty.

Thanks for the replies. Landserelectric, I'm looking for the option of using any of the three sources of fuel.
Stanfortyman, the conversion kit company makes it sound easy to install to tri-fuel use, As Missouri Bound points out, I'm sure the warranty on the new gen would be void so I would love to hear from some individual that has done this successfully. Surely I should be able to find someone, I've posted in several different forums with no luck. Thanks again for the replies.