Out here a lot of people have the 100# tanks for cooking/heating. You
can get them refilled with a truck.
It'd be interesting to know what pressure those heaters want though. A
stove wants low pressure, some heaters want high pressure. Makes a big
difference in how you work your install.
-Curt
On Sunday, February 14, 2021, 9:08:43 PM EST, Kaleb Striplin via
Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote:
More shop propane questions. I am not sure what the PO of Okie acres
did, i see no evidence of a big propane tank being installed on the
property. There is a gas line connection at the back of the shop and I
suspect maybe they used those 100lb tanks and just took them down and
filled them. Would this be the way to go or get a big permanent tank?
Will these 100lb tanks run these big overhead heaters? I would
probably only actually run one of them, not both at the same time.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Feb 14, 2021, at 7:33 PM, Curt Raymond via Mercedes
<mercedes@okiebenz.com <mailto:mercedes@okiebenz.com>> wrote:
>
> This reminds me of a question about tanks.I've got 4x 100# tanks
that have been on the farm, well probably 50 years. Are they useful
for refilling or should I send them for recycling? We've never
refilled them for the camp because they're hard to handle and we only
use 2x 20# cans in a normal week at camp. Actually before we got the
fridge we wouldn't even use 2 full tanks.
>
> -Curt
>
> On Sunday, February 14, 2021, 8:18:07 PM EST, Scott Ritchey via
Mercedes <mercedes@okiebenz.com <mailto:mercedes@okiebenz.com>> wrote:
>
> Kaleb, You need to think through which circuits need to be on the
backup system and which don't (unless you get a really big
generator). The typical home has a 200 amp service entrance, which is
almost 50KW. My house already had an outdoor breaker panel as part of
the meter and an indoor fuse box (which became a breaker panel). I
tried to put all the critical circuits on the indoor breaker panel and
then power that panel through the transfer switch (so everything on
the indoor CB panel could be generator powered). The electrician did
not exactly follow my desires so neither heat pump is on the
generator. That is only a problem in summer because I have LP
fireplaces. Some of the Generac kits include a sub-panel (of sorts)
that you mount next to the main (existing panel). That critical
circuits get moved to that subpanel and that subpanel is powered
through the transfer switch. But I think that setup looks crappy in
the main part of the house.
>
> Another option is to power the whole-house panel through the
transfer switch but selective turn off unnecessary breakers. Finally.
There are devices you can use for specific loads, like a water heater,
that will disconnect that load if it detects the generator is overloaded.
>
> In NC, you can buy or rent the tank. If you use enough LP in a year
the rent can be free. But if you rent, only that company can deliver
LP to the tank. If the tank is above ground, switching to a different
LP supplier (who will provide his own tank) is easy. Generators use LP
quickly, at least compared with other things. One of the reasons for
a larger tank is to maintain pressure during high usage. The tank
needs to absorb enough heat from the environment to "boil off" LP gas
as you use it.
>
> Preferably, locate the generator so the engine exhaust will blow
away from the house.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mercedes On Behalf Of Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes
> Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2021 6:37 PM
> To: Mercedes Discussion List <mercedes@okiebenz.com
<mailto:mercedes@okiebenz.com>>
> Cc: Kaleb Striplin <ka...@striplin.net <mailto:ka...@striplin.net>>
> Subject: Re: [MBZ] Blizzard
>
> I would like to get a whole home backup generator and run it off
propane, and also run a line out to the shop for the heaters there.
Maybe even replace the stove/oven with propane instead of electric
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Feb 14, 2021, at 5:11 PM, Scott Ritchey via Mercedes
<mercedes@okiebenz.com <mailto:mercedes@okiebenz.com>> wrote:
>>
>> Power was out here from about 0700 to noon, probably caused by an
ice storm. I was unaware of that until I got to my kitchen and heard
the generator running. That (15KW Generac) LP-fired standby generator
was nice to have then but there are costs.
>>
>> I think the equipment was about $3500 (in 2005) but the install was
part of a bigger project so I don't have a number for that. LP is
pretty clean but I still do an annual oil and filter change. The
start battery has died several times without much warning and battery
acid damaged allowed the case to rust. I'm using a Battery Minder
now, maybe that will help.
>>
>> At very light load the output frequency is just over 63 Hz which
causes many UPS systems to revert to battery power (beep-beep-beep)
and deplete the battery; APC Smart UPS are more tolerant.
>>
>> I have an underground 500 gal LP tank (which only holds 400 gal)
that should be good for a couple of days. An above-ground thank would
be cheaper and would let ne switch LP suppliers; but SWMBO said no to
above-ground.
>>
>> Overall, I have no complaints but frankly, the few recent power
outages didn't justify the expense. However, long power outages were
very common previously and SWMBO would not be able to manage a manual
system (I traveled for work in those days).
>>
>> For short outages, an 8-10 KW (electric start) gasoline generator
should do the job much cheaper. The plug-in output cord can be wired
to a power panel with a mechanical interlock fairly inexpensively (if
code allows). The main drawback of this setup, IMO, is storing
gasoline and keeping it fresh.
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Mercedes On Behalf Of Dan Penoff via Mercedes
>> Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2021 4:27 PM
>> To: Okie Benz <mercedes@okiebenz.com <mailto:mercedes@okiebenz.com>>
>> Cc: Dan Penoff <d...@penoff.com <mailto:d...@penoff.com>>
>> Subject: Re: [MBZ] Blizzard
>>
>> It does make life far easier and less likely to be interrupted. Big
up front cost, though, if you do it right.
>>
>> -D
>>
>>>> On Feb 14, 2021, at 4:24 PM, Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes
<mercedes@okiebenz.com <mailto:mercedes@okiebenz.com>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Being that we are total electric here, I should get a backup
generator one of these day.
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>>> On Feb 14, 2021, at 3:15 PM, Dan Penoff via Mercedes
<mercedes@okiebenz.com <mailto:mercedes@okiebenz.com>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> That reminds me, it’s about time to check the propane tank for my
>>>> annual fill for the standby generator…
>>>>
>>>> -D shoveling sun and a little bit of rain today in the near 80s
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> On Feb 14, 2021, at 4:12 PM, Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes
<mercedes@okiebenz.com <mailto:mercedes@okiebenz.com>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Blizzard is proceeding, temp is 7 outside with wind chill is -10,
>>>>> snow blowing outside. Heat pump pretty much runs non stop. Over
the last 30 minutes the power has been going out off and on. No good.
I may end up having to haul in some firewood and firing up the
fireplace/insert. It would Most definitely cut down on the heat pump
useable but by the time you pay for firewood I don’t think it would be
any cheaper. I keep firewood around for use in the case of emergency.
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>
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>>>>
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