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05-03-2018, 03:06 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,333
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Propane tank heaters
Our propane generator (Onan) will completely shut down after about 5 hours of running. Of course when the tank thaws life resumes. Has anyone purchased a tank heater they would like to recommend? I have two 40 pound tanks of course, but we don't ever run them both at the same time. I just want one heater. Yes, I did do a site search but all I got was shouting matches over regulators/tanks. Thanks for your time.
Jim
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Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
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05-03-2018, 03:37 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,758
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Jim is it the tank, not the lines or regulator, or shut off valve on the tank that's freezing? Does this happen regardless of the outside air temp? Also, does this happen while running on either tank? Is this a new issue or a new condition (has it run this long before with no issues or is this the first time you have ran the genset this long under that load?) Just thought of one more question, is the tank near empty when it freezes? Lots of questions but trying to narrow down the possibilities in my feeble mind.
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Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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05-03-2018, 04:19 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,333
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It is caused by a large amount of propane being consumed by the generator. It is a common problem experienced by RV'ers with propane powered generators. A heater of some sort will keep the problem from happening, I'm just looking to see who has one they recommend.
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Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
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05-03-2018, 05:11 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,758
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That's what I thought, I've had propane gensets in the past that required a minimum 100lb. tank.
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Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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05-03-2018, 05:56 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,333
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RV generators will run just fine even from a 20 pound tank. There are no 100 pound tanks in RV's. Two thirty's or two forty's are standard. Back to the heater. Any ideas?
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Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
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05-03-2018, 06:14 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Bragg Creek
Posts: 636
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.
Maybe try one of these oil pan heaters. they are primarily used to heat large hydraulic oil tanks in the extreme cold. I bought a 50 watt one for my standby NG generator, works great.
They have many different wattages available.
https://www.padheaters.com/oil-pan-heaters
.
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2016 Bullet 1800RB, UVW 3260, led by a 2005 Chev Silverado Z-71 1500, Crew Cab, 5.3L, 4WD, Tow & Off Road Package with 4.10 Rear Axle, GVR 7000 lbs, Front GWAR 3925 lbs & Rear GWAR 4000 lbs., Payload 1600 lbs., Hellwig 6012 Air Bags. 97' Honda Goldwing GL1500.
Home Base is the Alberta Foothills at 4300 ' ASL.
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05-03-2018, 06:23 AM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,758
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Quote:
Originally Posted by notanlines
RV generators will run just fine even from a 20 pound tank. There are no 100 pound tanks in RV's. Two thirty's or two forty's are standard. Back to the heater. Any ideas?
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The gensets that I'm talking about was on construction sites, not a RV. Anyway, for the cost I'd try a water line heat tape for a little over $20 it may be worth a shot.
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Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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05-03-2018, 06:56 AM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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We live in an area where propane "boiling" is a must. If it gets too cold, propane will not vaporize (boil) and won't leave the tank. I think that's the problem you're facing. We use one of these heaters, placed under the tank, magnetically attached to the propane tank rack. It generates enough heat to keep the tank warm. I would not recommend attaching it directly to the tank, it may get too hot.
https://www.amazon.com/Kats-1155-Wat...70_&dpSrc=srch
Another alternative would be to hang a "trouble light" in the compartment with the propane tanks. A 60 watt light bulb produces quite a bit of heat and might be all the "help" your tanks need to stay above the "non-vaporizing temp".....
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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05-03-2018, 07:59 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Bragg Creek
Posts: 636
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
We live in an area where propane "boiling" is a must. If it gets too cold, propane will not vaporize (boil) and won't leave the tank. I think that's the problem you're facing. We use one of these heaters, placed under the tank, magnetically attached to the propane tank rack. It generates enough heat to keep the tank warm. I would not recommend attaching it directly to the tank, it may get too hot.
https://www.amazon.com/Kats-1155-Wat...70_&dpSrc=srch
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Good idea John.
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2016 Bullet 1800RB, UVW 3260, led by a 2005 Chev Silverado Z-71 1500, Crew Cab, 5.3L, 4WD, Tow & Off Road Package with 4.10 Rear Axle, GVR 7000 lbs, Front GWAR 3925 lbs & Rear GWAR 4000 lbs., Payload 1600 lbs., Hellwig 6012 Air Bags. 97' Honda Goldwing GL1500.
Home Base is the Alberta Foothills at 4300 ' ASL.
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05-03-2018, 08:15 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 2,910
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There are also heater blankets of various brands similar to this. https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...474281c954f765
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402 Montana
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC
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05-04-2018, 04:11 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,333
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Thanks for all the replies. I ordered the one suggested by Bobbecky and I will report back at a later time with the results.
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Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
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05-04-2018, 04:32 AM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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Jim,
Reading (or re-reading) your first post, you said that you have two 40 gallon propane tanks. Is this some "off the RV" setup or did you mean to say two 40 pound propane tanks? The reason for asking is that if it's an "off the RV" propane setup, is the regulator capable of providing the amount of propane (in BTU's per minute) to run all of the RV systems as well as the generator requirement? Even with an onboard propane system, while most RV manufacturers have engineering departments capable of calculating BTU requirements and calling for components to handle that requirement, it doesn't necessarily mean that the guy installing the regulator on the assembly line pulled the correct one per the build sheet. Stranger things have happened.....
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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05-04-2018, 04:40 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,333
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There is nothing like getting up in the morning and finding out that the terms gallon and pound are not synonymous. I guess the proper term here is "my bad," and has already been corrected. I just don't know what I was thinking when I typed that post.
Thanks for correcting me.
__________________
Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
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05-04-2018, 05:09 AM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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You're "forgiven" Jim.... It's not like anyone else has never done the same thing..... likely, "over and over and over" LOL
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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