Natural gas powered generators

[DD977GM2]

Is there such a thing and if so can you hook it up to your existing house gas line in order to provide usually uninterupted
fuel for a generator?
The reason I say usually uninterupted is the gas line is totally seperate from the gas and electric grid and in times of SHTF
the gas is usually the one that doesnt go out.
Otherwise I would have to get fuel canisters for a gas burning generator.

Appreciate any insight.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Yes, for reference http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,1631573,00.html

You run the gas line from the gas meter to the generator. I got quoted $3500-6000 installed including transfer switch etc.

[DD977GM2]

Thanks Chunky, Chunky people really do have a purpose in society!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(partial quote from a great movei)



Yes, for reference http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,1631573,00.html

You run the gas line from the gas meter to the generator. I got quoted $3500-6000 installed including transfer switch etc.

[ChunkyMonkey]

http://denver.craigslist.org/tls/3413774395.html

[blm28]

Yes, for reference http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,1631573,00.html

You run the gas line from the gas meter to the generator. I got quoted $3500-6000 installed including transfer switch etc.

What size and make of generator?

[ChunkyMonkey]

The cheapest one is generac 8k. The top end is 14k along w/ all the accessories.

[Mtn.man]

If they cut off the flow of NG then you are screwed.

[Great-Kazoo]

If they cut off the flow of NG then you are screwed.

Unless you have the orifice kit for propane.

[DD977GM2]

If they cut off the flow of NG then you are screwed.
.

In a natural distaer type scenario such as Sandy, the natural gas was not cut off on a wide scale and folks had gas but no ignition source for a heater etc

[Bowtie]

.

In a natural distaer type scenario such as Sandy, the natural gas was not cut off on a wide scale and folks had gas but no ignition source for a heater etc

What kind of natural disaster scenario should we plan for here in Arvada?

[TFOGGER]

What kind of natural disaster scenario should we plan for here in Arvada?

Off the top of my head, blizzards, earthquake, tornado, flooding, and civil unrest.

[Irving]

Off the top of my head, blizzards, earthquake, tornado, flooding, and civil unrest.

Don't forget expanding clay.

[Waywardson174]

My father runs a 1710 Cummins on his farm. The conversion from any old diesel to natural gas is pretty simple with a passable knowledge of mechanics. I agree with your resource of choice. The gas lines will take some time to depressurize especially with decreased use. In CO we are close to producing fields, so residual flow will continue from wells that don't require water to be constantly pumped off.

[dave29]

Most people that have them that I know went with Propane. They selected which outlets and appliances they needed in an emergency, calculated the watts and then sized the generator and tank. One friend with a 500 gal tank can run for 4 months. If you're going for natural gas, it might be wise to see what you need to do if the gas line is down and you want a propane back up.

[Busta Prima]

Buy a tri-fuel model (gasoline, propane and natural gas) and you should be set. I don't believe you have to pay too much more to get a tri-fuel model. In fact, gasoline and propane conversions can be done even if the unit wasn't desinged for that (you can even convert your car, if you like). However, natural gas might be another story since that has less energy.

[Inconel710]

Don't forget, you can get any gasoline powered generator converted to run on propane and natural gas. Steven Harris talked about on Survival Podcast last month, even recommended a couple of companies that do the conversion.

http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/episode-1005-steven-harris-on-everything-generators-part-2-of-2

This is his Honda EU2000i running off a balloon filled with natural gas.
lrhlRIvNjTc

[CO303]

I wonder how many balloons I can get in the garage?

[Great-Kazoo]

Most people that have them that I know went with Propane. They selected which outlets and appliances they needed in an emergency, calculated the watts and then sized the generator and tank. One friend with a 500 gal tank can run for 4 months. If you're going for natural gas, it might be wise to see what you need to do if the gas line is down and you want a propane back up.

More than a 100 lb tank and some places require permit, storage etc. I have the local propane delivery place tell me anything over 100lbs and they needed to see a permit for the building we were heating??? I have a few 20lb tanks here & there.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Look into Yamaha + lp/propane kit. I heard good things about them. I saw a vendor demo @ the sportmen show few years back, and was impressed by how quiet it was. As quiet as honda, but cheaper.

[Bailey Guns]

I just helped hook up the propane line to an 80KW generator in Evergreen a few weeks ago. Powered by a 4.6L Ford. Now that's a king-sized residential generator. We had to swap out the propane supply line because the generator sucked all the gas out and the supply couldn't keep up on generator startup.

Personally, I'd prefer LPG over NG simply because the fuel supply is off the grid. We have a 1K gallon tank we keep full all the time even though we use little propane. I know in town there may be more restrictions on propane tanks but I do service a few tanks in the Arvada city limits...mostly 250 or 500 gal. They're with older homes, though, that may have been grandfathered.

I plan to hook up a 8 or 10 KW generator in the not too distant future...as soon as I can afford it. When I have that in place our home will be capable of being completely self-sufficient.