On Sun, Nov 11, 2012 at 10:27 PM, OK Don <okd...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > OK - thanks! > > Now that I have a rational and scientific method to compare fuels, I > checked on real prices. I found that Propane cost us 2.60/gal last time we > filled - not the 1.60 that I quoted. > Current prices are: > Diesel road taxes in OK + Fed = $0.38/gal. ( > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Diesel_Taxes_April_2009.svg) > Diesel ranges from $3.49 to $4.29/gal. but is $3.63 at my usual station > now. (http://oklahomacitygasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=D) > So $3.25/gal for a genset. > Propane is currently $2.02/gal from our supplier (need to top off the > tank!). American Propane Gas Company - > http://www.altfuelprices.com/stations/LPG/Oklahoma/Oklahoma-City/ > > So, $3.25*0.657=$2.14 for Diesel vs. $2.02 for propane - not that much of > a delta. Even if the delta were reversed, it certainly is not enough for a > 270 or so gallon Diesel tank installation to match the capacity I currently > have for propane. I should stay with what I have :) > Three gallons an hours at $6/hr for 24 hours = $145/day for electricity! > No wonder we buy it from the mass producers! This is a good argument for > right-sizing the genset for the minimum required load! > Figuring the proper load size is my next assignment. >
I just found this on the GeneratorJoe site - that throws the decision up in the air again -- Propane: *Disadvantages: * More expensive to operate by as much as 3-times the fuel consumption compared to diesels; Shorter life expectancy by a factor or 10 to 1for air-cooled models and 3 to 1 for water-cooled models compared to diesel powered GenSets http://www.generatorjoe.net/html/genfuel.html Sounds like there are efficiency issues beyond the BTUs of the fuels. OK Don 2001 ML320 2012 Passat TDI DSG 1997 Plymouth Grand Voyager 1957 C182A _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
