Propane gurus....question about regulator

[Chew]

When we had our home built I had the propane guys put a tee off of the main line so that I could run a portable generator. Tried to do a test run today and the generator wouldn't start.

I'm thinking I need a regulator on the Tee between the generator and the main line. I originally thought that this red regulator they had on the bottle would suffice. Am I right? Or am I doing something else wrong?

[bowhntrmatt]

I know a lot of standby generators have their own secondary regulators built in. That one may, too, meaning it is expecting the pressure in a bottle, not the already-reduced pressure from your home.

[bowhntrmatt]

I would try to run it straight off a regular propane cylinder and see if it runs that way.

[Bucknaked]

From what I’ve been seeing in my research for purchasing , most generators come with their own regulators.

Sorry Chew, I know this didn’t help you. Carry on

[Double C]

What pressure does the generator need? Could the red one have knocked the pressure down too low for it?

[Buckshot-73]

Your supply valve is closed. Turn the blue knob in-line with the hose.

[Texas Grown]

Your supply valve is closed. Turn the blue knob in-line with the hose.

Yep! Gotta have fuel if you want it to run!

[Chew]

I had already turned it off when I took the pics. Propane was rushing out of there like a fire hose. Yes, the generator works with the regular propane bottle. I guess I'll call the propane folks that installed it tomorrow and see if they can put a regulator on the line. We have another outlet on the porch for a barbecue pit and it has a regulator so I guess they forgot to put one on this one.

[bowhntrmatt]

What Inlet pressure does the generator ask for?

[Chew]

What Inlet pressure does the generator ask for?

the manual only says three PSI or more. Not very specific.

I'll have to look at the regulator that came with it that attaches to a bottle and try to get one put on the big tank/tee outlet

[Txhunter3000]

The red regulator on the tank is a high pressure regulator. The generator should of come with it's own regulator and if it didn't and has an internal regulator then the gas company needs to set a low pressure regulator after the t.

[bowhntrmatt]

You should be getting 10psi through that red regulator. I would think the 2nd stage would be built into that genny. Not sure why it wouldn’t work. Maybe your propane co can help.

[Chew]

The generator came with a regulator on the hose but it's only for attaching to a bottle. I bought a 20 ft direct connect hose that connects to the big propane tank and the generator. I guess I need a low pressure regulator somewhere along the line.

[Texas Grown]

The generator came with a regulator on the hose but it's only for attaching to a bottle. I bought a 20 ft direct connect hose that connects to the big propane tank and the generator. I guess I need a low pressure regulator somewhere along the line.

That sounds logical to me. And the next step I'd try, if it were me. I would think a gen would use a low pressure regulator to make a 20lb tank last a little while, much less a big bulk tank. I know on my boiler bunners and fish cookers run on a high regulator for greater BTUs. But my regular cook stoves run on a low for lower BTU burn.

[mavrick]

As long as you are down steam of the regulator coming off the tank it should run. You may have to choke it a bit to get it going. You do not need an additional regulator.

where is everyone getting 10# and high pressure regulator. I am assuming he is already running other items on that line. It maybe 4 or 5 inches of water!