Connecting Generator to Trailer - R-pod Owners Forum

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lostagain

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Joined: 06 Sep 2016
Location: Quaker Hill, CT
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Posts: 2587

Topic: Connecting Generator to Trailer
Posted: 22 Jan 2019 at 8:03am

No phlogiston?? Shocked

FAKE News! Ying Yang

Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

offgrid

Senior Member

Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290

Posted: 22 Jan 2019 at 7:36am

Thanks to the work of Antoine Lavoisier we are no longer saddled with phlogiston theory and "deflogisticated air", leading directly to the discovery of oxygen which we all know and love. If phlogiston theory was correct we wouldn't be able to safely fly at 30000 ft, climb mount Everest, travel in space, or survive major surgery. So I for one am not at all sorry to see phlogiston go the way of the dodo.

And on a per unit weight and per unit carbon basis there is 13% more "phlogiston" in propane than in gasoline, which is why lighter hydrocarbons burn cleaner and produce less CO2 than heavier ones.

1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

ColoradoPK View Drop Down

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Joined: 04 Dec 2018
Location: CO
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 21

Posted: 22 Jan 2019 at 7:08am

Great advice. Thanks. I have a two tank system on my pod and didn’t know if it would be silly to bring a third one just for the generator. I can plug my 30 amp cord directly into the generator so will be able to keep good distance from trailer if I use third tank.

PK Colorado

offgrid

Senior Member

Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290

Posted: 22 Jan 2019 at 6:57am

That connector with the integrated shutoff ought to work, and having the ability to connect to the trailer cylinder is a good idea. I don't know about the Champion but my Honda propane conversion leaks a little propane into he carb so I always use the shutoff when its not running.

lostagain's recommendation is a good one too, and I'll add another ever better reason for using a separate cylinder. That's so you can place the genny and cylinder at a distance from you and your neighbor's campsites. Keeps the noise and exhaust smell down as low as possible. And if you're using the genny to run the a/c it will be pretty noisy, inverter-generators aren't really any quieter than standard ones when running at or near full load. Your neighbors will love you for it (or at least not hate you as much) If you want you can bring a heavy duty extension cord and place the genny 50-100 feet away. Most of the noise come from the exhaust so point that out into the woods.

I start a camping trip with the fullest cylinder on the trailer and use the other one for the genny, placing it well away from the trailer. When the genny cylinder is empty I move the genny nearer the tongue and connect it to the cylinder on the trailer. Then next trip into town I swap the empty cylinder for a full one. When I return I put the full cylinder on the trailer and the one on the trailer goes out in the woods with the genny.

That way I have plenty of time before I run out of propane to make the tank swap while always having propane available to both the trailer and the genny. And I never have to swap a partially full cylinder to be sure I have enough.

1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

lostagain

Senior Member

Joined: 06 Sep 2016
Location: Quaker Hill, CT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2587

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 at 11:47pm

We have almost the same generator [3100w/2900w]. It's a really nice one and reasonably quiet.

We never tried to connect it to the trailer's gas system. It is just as easy to carry a dedicated propane tank for the generator and use the regulator and hose that came with the generator to connect with the tank. The generator uses quite a bit of propane and you may find that your trailer tank is running out much faster than you'd really like. And it's a pain to disconnect it to take it off for a refill.

With the separate tank, you can leave the trailer tank in place much longer and it's a lot easier to keep tabs on the propane tank for the generator because all you have to do is lift it up every so often to get an idea of how much gas you really have left. [The gauges don't show level, just pressure.]

And don't forget that the stated wattage for that generator is lower when you run it on LP, since LP has less phlogiston than gasoline. Confused

Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

ColoradoPK View Drop Down

Newbie

Joined: 04 Dec 2018
Location: CO
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 21

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 at 7:47pm

Good evening. I've been so fortunate to learn from so many of you in such a short time period. I've decided to get a dual fuel generator, the Champion 3400 watt inverter. I'd like to connect it to the quick connect on my 2018 rPod 179. From what I've learned, it looks like I can do it, but should have a shut off on my hose after the connection so that I can safely turn off the generator without shutting off the propane to the entire trailer.

Am I correct about this? I'm still learning and would appreciate any advice you all can offer. I'll try to post a picture of the connector, but if it doesn't work, this is the connector I was looking at: https://www.amazon.com/KIBOW-Pressure-Propane-Quick-Connect-Shutoff/dp/B0748ZD277/ref=sr_1_5?hvadid=178114173534&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1014573&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1o1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=11759633346619406151&hvtargid=kwd-12856176611&ie=UTF8&keywords=propane+quick+connect+hoses&qid=1548120906&sr=8-5&tag=googhydr-20

https://www.amazon.com/KIBOW-Pressure-Propane-Quick-Connect-Shutoff/dp/B0748ZD277/ref=sr_1_5?hvadid=178114173534&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1014573&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1o1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=11759633346619406151&hvtargid=kwd-12856176611&ie=UTF8&keywords=propane+quick+connect+hoses&qid=1548120906&sr=8-5&tag=googhydr-20

PK Colorado

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lostagain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2587	Topic: Connecting Generator to Trailer Posted: 22 Jan 2019 at 8:03am
	No phlogiston?? FAKE News!
	Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 22 Jan 2019 at 7:36am
	Thanks to the work of Antoine Lavoisier we are no longer saddled with phlogiston theory and "deflogisticated air", leading directly to the discovery of oxygen which we all know and love. If phlogiston theory was correct we wouldn't be able to safely fly at 30000 ft, climb mount Everest, travel in space, or survive major surgery. So I for one am not at all sorry to see phlogiston go the way of the dodo. And on a per unit weight and per unit carbon basis there is 13% more "phlogiston" in propane than in gasoline, which is why lighter hydrocarbons burn cleaner and produce less CO2 than heavier ones.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

ColoradoPK Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 04 Dec 2018 Location: CO Online Status: Offline Posts: 21	Posted: 22 Jan 2019 at 7:08am
	Great advice. Thanks. I have a two tank system on my pod and didn’t know if it would be silly to bring a third one just for the generator. I can plug my 30 amp cord directly into the generator so will be able to keep good distance from trailer if I use third tank.
	PK Colorado

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 22 Jan 2019 at 6:57am
	That connector with the integrated shutoff ought to work, and having the ability to connect to the trailer cylinder is a good idea. I don't know about the Champion but my Honda propane conversion leaks a little propane into he carb so I always use the shutoff when its not running. lostagain's recommendation is a good one too, and I'll add another ever better reason for using a separate cylinder. That's so you can place the genny and cylinder at a distance from you and your neighbor's campsites. Keeps the noise and exhaust smell down as low as possible. And if you're using the genny to run the a/c it will be pretty noisy, inverter-generators aren't really any quieter than standard ones when running at or near full load. Your neighbors will love you for it (or at least not hate you as much) If you want you can bring a heavy duty extension cord and place the genny 50-100 feet away. Most of the noise come from the exhaust so point that out into the woods. I start a camping trip with the fullest cylinder on the trailer and use the other one for the genny, placing it well away from the trailer. When the genny cylinder is empty I move the genny nearer the tongue and connect it to the cylinder on the trailer. Then next trip into town I swap the empty cylinder for a full one. When I return I put the full cylinder on the trailer and the one on the trailer goes out in the woods with the genny. That way I have plenty of time before I run out of propane to make the tank swap while always having propane available to both the trailer and the genny. And I never have to swap a partially full cylinder to be sure I have enough.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

lostagain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2587	Posted: 21 Jan 2019 at 11:47pm
	We have almost the same generator [3100w/2900w]. It's a really nice one and reasonably quiet. We never tried to connect it to the trailer's gas system. It is just as easy to carry a dedicated propane tank for the generator and use the regulator and hose that came with the generator to connect with the tank. The generator uses quite a bit of propane and you may find that your trailer tank is running out much faster than you'd really like. And it's a pain to disconnect it to take it off for a refill. With the separate tank, you can leave the trailer tank in place much longer and it's a lot easier to keep tabs on the propane tank for the generator because all you have to do is lift it up every so often to get an idea of how much gas you really have left. [The gauges don't show level, just pressure.] And don't forget that the stated wattage for that generator is lower when you run it on LP, since LP has less phlogiston than gasoline.
	Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

ColoradoPK Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 04 Dec 2018 Location: CO Online Status: Offline Posts: 21	Posted: 21 Jan 2019 at 7:47pm
	Good evening. I've been so fortunate to learn from so many of you in such a short time period. I've decided to get a dual fuel generator, the Champion 3400 watt inverter. I'd like to connect it to the quick connect on my 2018 rPod 179. From what I've learned, it looks like I can do it, but should have a shut off on my hose after the connection so that I can safely turn off the generator without shutting off the propane to the entire trailer. Am I correct about this? I'm still learning and would appreciate any advice you all can offer. I'll try to post a picture of the connector, but if it doesn't work, this is the connector I was looking at: https://www.amazon.com/KIBOW-Pressure-Propane-Quick-Connect-Shutoff/dp/B0748ZD277/ref=sr_1_5?hvadid=178114173534&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1014573&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1o1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=11759633346619406151&hvtargid=kwd-12856176611&ie=UTF8&keywords=propane+quick+connect+hoses&qid=1548120906&sr=8-5&tag=googhydr-20 https://www.amazon.com/KIBOW-Pressure-Propane-Quick-Connect-Shutoff/dp/B0748ZD277/ref=sr_1_5?hvadid=178114173534&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1014573&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1o1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=11759633346619406151&hvtargid=kwd-12856176611&ie=UTF8&keywords=propane+quick+connect+hoses&qid=1548120906&sr=8-5&tag=googhydr-20
	PK Colorado