Has anyone converted a gasoline inverter generator to run on propane?  I have a new champion 3100 watt inverter generator.  There are a few different kits to convert this to "trifuel" to run on propane, natural gas, or gasoline.  We use the generator for the pod and also plan to use it for backup power at the house in case of power failure.  I have a natural gas line in my garage that I could hook to for the backup power.  I have several griller tanks and carry an extra while camping so we would use propane for the pod.  I probably would never run it on gasoline once I do this. 

There is an "adaptation" that is simple and adds a part under the carburetor and a "conversion" that requires drilling the carburetor and I think you lose the gasoline option if you go the conversion route.  Both natural gas and propane provide less efficiency and this is my main concern.  Any experience with the Century Fuel kit or the US Carburetion kit and how much amperage you lose would be appreciated,  Love this site. Thanks      

Update:  After more research I found some favorable reviews on the Forest River site for the "motor snorkel" from US Carburetion.  This fits between the carburetor and the air cleaner and moves the air cleaner out a little...maybe a quarter inch or so.  The other brands have an insert that moves the air cleaner out 1.75 inches or so.  It looks like there isn't room for the other brands to fit inside my Champion generator case.....so motor snorkel it is.  The generator will not have quite the output on gas...loses 10% on propane and perhaps 20% on natural gas according to most people.  According to the motor snorkel folks there is zero loss...but that's what they say.  

Natural gas is still cheaper than gasoline on a dollar per watt basis.  Propane is also cheaper...excepting with the current $1.85 gas price that probably isn't true any more. 

Kit is about $180 for the unit and regulator on the generator and another $50 or so to get another regulator for the propane tank. I will get some quick connects to make it easier to change between natural gas line in my garage and a griller propane tank for use in the pod.  Will order this and install next week.  I'll post back with results for how it works.   

I'll find out.  I have four propane tanks and I know I have to refill the gasoline tank after about 8 hours. No extra fuel tank for the gasoline. I suspect a propane tank will last at least a day or two....depending on the load.  I only use it to recharge the batteries on the pod.  With the current low price of gasoline under $2.00 per gallon, it probably costs less to run it on gasoline right now.  Even if it costs a little more, the advantage I see is not carrying gasoline around in a can to use for the small amount we use it while camping.  Also, the thing barely runs right now due to the gasoline going stale and not having stabilizer in the tank.  Need to clean out the carb by getting some good gasoline in it and run it a while before I convert it.  Main reason I got the generator is to keep the freezer running in case of a power failure and I have a natural gas hookup for that use.  Lost a freezer full of meat a few years ago......    

I considered the conversion kits for use on the road, but I did the math and with the power loss I could get more run time from gasoline.  It is also much easier to find a gas station than a LP refill station, especially out west.

Thanks for the replies.  I will post back in a week or two after I get the tri-fuel generator conversion done and test it out under load using propane, natural gas and gasoline. 

   

Joe

'Pure' gasoline, as it is more commonly known, can go stale just as easily as the more common E-10.  In either case, the biggest enemy of storing gasoline is improperly sealed containers.  In a completely sealed container, regular E-10 gasoline will store for at least a year with no problems; I've done it myself.  Never, ever vent a gasoline container unless you are actually using the gasoline at that time.

Pure gasoline does seem to run better in 2 cycle engines such as those found in most trimmers, chain saws, etc., but it will still go stale.

If you happen to have stale gasoline, you can mix it up to 50/50 with fresh gasoline and burn it with no problems.

And regarding a propane conversion for a generator, I honestly cannot see much reason to do so in an RV context.  A five gallon gas can has more energy for the generator than does a 20# propane tank, and the former is far cheaper and easier to move around.  There is also a 10% loss of power when running a gasoline generator on propane, so that 3,100 watt generator would become a 2,790 watt generator.