What Is the Best Kind of Propane Generator?
A propane generator is basically a device which is utilized for the sole purpose of generating electric power directly from fuel via an oxidizing reaction. The power is generated by converting mechanically powered energy from the combustion of propane to electrical energy. A propane generator generally will supply power for a limited amount of time, generally no more than a few hours at the most.
The size of the generator is typically determined by the fuel source being used in its design. Oil fueled generator will have a much larger fuel tank then a gasoline generator, which in turn has a larger fuel capacity. The propane generator has the ability to run continuously on just one cylinder of fuel at a time. While this is the case with an oil fuel generator, it is possible for generators designed to use gasoline to operate to continuously produce running watts.
When purchasing a propane generator, it is important to take note that there are two types of fuel sources available. These fuels are gasoline and natural gas. Gasoline tends to be the more widely used fuel, as it is relatively inexpensive and widely available. However, propane gas can be purchased at retailers for lower prices, as well. In general, it is better to purchase a generator designed to use natural gas as a fuel source as opposed to gasoline, as the propane generator’s performance can be adversely affected should the fuel leak.
There are several advantages to having a propane generator as a backup source of electricity. The primary advantage is that it will be free from any kind of fuel source, so you will never have to worry about running out of gas or electricity. Another advantage is that there is no carbon dioxide emissions associated with producing your own electricity. Propane is also a clean fuel, meaning there are no harmful byproducts produced during combustion. And, finally, the fuel itself is not polluted and it is considered to be an environmentally friendly fuel.
Now that you know what kind of fuel would be best suited for your propane generator, you need to know where you can acquire it. You can obtain your propane from a local hardware store if you have access to a gas line. Otherwise, your only option will be to go to your nearest gas station, which will be far from convenient. As you may know, purchasing gasoline is not only inconvenient, but it can also be expensive.
A propane-powered generator can be a cost effective solution when it comes to providing a power source for your home. However, there are two major disadvantages to using a propane generator – the initial investment and the ongoing cost associated with changing or replacing the fuel. As such, it is often better to purchase a diesel-powered or a dual-fuel generator in order to use your propane generator effectively.
Of course, you can always run your generator on natural gas or even charcoal. But these fuels are more costly and they require special equipment to extract fuel from. Also, while natural gas and charcoal are much cleaner fuels, they are neither as abundant as propane generators. In addition, the process of extracting fuel from these fuels can be rather hazardous, making these fuels a poor choice when it comes to providing a continuous source of power. As such, if you do not want to spend too much money on changing or buying fuel, you should probably consider a diesel generator.
When it comes to your overall cost of ownership, there is little difference between a diesel-powered or a propane-powered generator. The primary difference lies in the amount of wattage (watts) you will need to operate a single propane generator at a given time. For instance, if you have a house that only requires two or three hundred watts of power at night, you should most likely choose a diesel start-up. Otherwise, you should be looking at spending at least two thousand watts for a diesel start-up.