Propane vs Gasoline powered generators

 I'd appreciate opinions on the pros and cons of using one over the other.

We have a 3600 sq. ft. home and recently installed a Briggs & Stratton 8K
portable gasoline generator to run the basic things like refrigerator,
lights, fans, septic pump, water, furnace (propane), etc. During this
incredible heat wave in South Central PA we had blackouts on Sunday afternon
until late in the evening. The generator would run for less than 5 minutes
and turn off. I saw how much trouble my husband went through getting
gasoline, hitting switches, disconnecting the cable, etc. so I want out of
it since I'm never going to touch that sucker when he isn't home and most of
the blackouts are during the day while he's a state away working.

We have a 500 gallon, underground propane tan that we keep as full as
possible at all times. I want to change to a standby, automatic transfer
generator because I live by the K.I.S.S. rule. We returned the adequately
named BS generator yesterday for a full refund and will apply that money to
a new system.

Main question is, how much does it cost to run a 16K propane generator? I've
read so much conflicting info on the internet that I'm at a loss. My husband
believes that it would empty the tank in 2.5 days costing us around $1,000
for the pleasure. I've found data that it uses .75 gallons per hour of use
and that's significantly much lower than the former equation.

Can someone help me with this, or post a link where I can find an answer to
this question?

Thank you,

Sandra

  Foxy Lady wrote:

And you are reading mic.consumers.frugal.living?

  and recently installed a Briggs & Stratton 8K

   Well that's a big generator, and depending on the model it should use
2 1/2 gallons/hr under load. It will use less under lower loads, but not
proportional, it might uses 1 1/2 gallons/hr at half load. That would be
about two weeks for your 500 gallons. Your .75 gallon figure might be at
idle. You should be able to get all the specs on this.

   Jeff

 

How do you think we were able to buy it? Certainly via many frugal
endeavors.

The plus side is that we bought it before this housig situation (3 years
ago), it's a LOT of house for the buck, and it's in PA where our retirement
benefits aren't taxed. The acre of land is also a plus for vegetable
gardening, fruit trees, cutting flowers, and in the midst of so many farms
that if I run out of the produce I grow, I just need to walk down the road
to a neighboring farmer who sells from a stand.

Thanks for your info. I'm certain hubby's calculations are mistaken...

Sandra

 

What's the local price of propane? A friend in Elverson PA just got 80
gallons at $4.40/gallon, the heat equivalent of oil at $6.35/gallon.

Nick

 nicksanspam@ece.villanova.edu wrote:

   I found this:

http://www.homeheatingoilprices.com/

Current
Fuel Prices     Last
Year     Last
Week     Current     +/-
Oil     $2.50     $3.46     $3.71     Last Year ($1.21) / Last Week($0.25)
Propane     $2.03     $2.41     $2.66     Last Year ($0.63) / Last Week($0.25)
Kerosene     $2.86     $3.55     $3.65     Last Year ($0.79) / Last Week($0.10)


and this:

http://www.generatorjoe.net/html/energy.html

  Propane       1 gallon = 91,500 BTU
1 cubic foot = 2,500 BTU
1 pound = 21,500 BTU
4.24 lbs = 1 gallon
36.39 cubic feet = 1 gallon
Natural Gas     1 cubic foot = 1,050 BTU
Gasoline     1 pound = 19,000 BTU
1 gallon = 125,000 BTU
1 gallon = 6.1 lbs
Oils     1 gallon kerosene = 135,000 BTU
1 gallon #2 oil = 138,500 BTU
1 gallon diesel = 139,200 BTU
1 gallon #6 oil = 153,200 BTU

In my area it looks like heating oil is a better value BTUs/dollar.

  I suppose local factors can be considerable (heating oil is little
used here, it's mostly natural gas or propane if you are in the sticks).
Also, I can't vouch for the accuracy of the first website.

   Any way we go, solar (and added insulation) just keeps looking better
and better.

   Jeff