Dual-Fuel Generators
Contributors to this thread:Community
From: Habitat for Wildlife
05-Sep-18
Any experience with one?
Tired of refueling gas. Sam's has a 3500 running watts for less than $300. They give run time for gas at half load, but for propane it says depends on bottle size. I have 40 lb bottles.
Is propane the way to go? Thanks.
From: Shuteye
05-Sep-18
I was wondering the same thing. Cabelas has some of the generators and some are pretty good size.
From: MT in MO
05-Sep-18
A buddy of mine has a small one that runs the A/C and Microwave on his camper. It's a small camper, maybe 16ft. He went through 2 20lb propane tanks in one weekend with the A/C on. It was one of those 90+ in temps and humidity weekends...I don't know if that is efficient or not, but I told him he could rent a motel room for what it cost him to A/C his camper...8^)
From: Straight —» Arrow
05-Sep-18
the main advantage of propane is that it stores better than gasoline so for a stand-by generator that's perfect. on the other hand the fuel system is more complicated and thus more likely to fail and harder to fix if it breaks. Also, propane is not as efficient as gas and the colder it is the worse that efficiency. Below 20 F it really drops off and rapidly becomes useless. best is a unit that does both.
From: Habitat for Wildlife
05-Sep-18
Thanks guys. SA, the unit I am looking at is a dual fuel. Based on what MT said, I think fuel cost wise it would be cheaper to use propane. It is for my bunk house...A/C and lights, so the 3500 will do. In winter I just have lights and a fan on the propane heater so I only use a tiny 1200 unit.
Does anyone know if you can switch the fuels while it is running?
Thanks.
From: Straight —» Arrow
06-Sep-18
Our buddy with the camper that MT is talking about is using a very small unit on a very small camper so I'm thinking your 3500 will use more propane for the same run time. I am guessing a 40 lb bottle a day or more.
From: Habitat for Wildlife
06-Sep-18
Bummer. That will be more expensive. Thanks.
From: rooster
06-Sep-18
I bought a Champion 3200 watt (?) dual fuel last year. I don't like to lug gasoline around and thought it the best option. I have been fully satisfied with it. Starts right up and runs fine. I Don't run it all day and night but it hasn't seemed to use a bunch of fuel. We used it last year on our annual hunt to southern Ohio and we didn't burn a single 20 gallon bottle for the week.
From: Straight —» Arrow
06-Sep-18
my rate estimate was based on running 24 hours a day.......I agree with the only use it when you need juice approach for sure.