My Champion Dual-fuel (same size as yours) just got us through a 1 week power outage caused by Tropical Storm Zeta. Not a single hiccup while running two refrigerators, a freezer and a collection of random lights in the house. All on propane, too. Filling the propane tanks, like you said, isn't complicated, just find a truck stop (Loves, TSA, Pilot, Etc cater to truckers and RV-ers.) nearby and they will be happy to do it. I also recommend upgrading to 30 pound tanks instead of using the partially filled 20 pound tanks from the propane exchange services.
@@itsruffoutchea6636 Ran mine at the May NASCAR race in Charlotte on a refilled 20lb tank (not the exchange tank amount that gives you about 1/4 less propane) and running a 13k BTU AC on low plus lights, TV, and about 300 watts of other load for 26 hours on economy setting. If your able to keep your load fairly low most of the time so that it can throttle down into economy mode it will run a LONG time. As your load goes higher it will increase engine speed and eat more fuel.
I've had a similar, but slightly lower wattage, Champion dual fuel generator with electric start for a couple of years. I only run it on propane and it starts my 13.5K BTU A/C in temperatures over 100 degrees without a problem. At those high temperatures it uses about 4.5 gallons of propane in about 9 hours. In my opinion it is much safer to use than gasoline and safer to store. A very high percentage of RV parks sell propane so I've never had a problem refilling tanks. I pretty much agree with all of your observations.
Jared, I have the exact same generator and love it. I always use it with gas because I think it's cheaper to run it that way, but love knowing that I can use one of my propane bottles in a pinch. I'm not as strong as I used to be (that's my excuse anyway) so, I avoid the heavy lifting by wheeling the generator up a ramp to my pickup bed.
I have this exact generator... Bought last April. Used several times last year with no issues. Only once I ran on gas to test how long gas would run my ac vs propane. Have run on propane since and no issues. 13.5k one unit ac... NP. Would highly reccomend this generator. Don't have to lug gas around... Major plus. Great review... Thanks Jared.
Jared, great video. I have had that exact generator for some time now. It also starts my 15k AC everytime on propane. Don't forget the safety aspects of having to carry gasoline with you. For the average Joe, propane is much safer. I've owned many generators over the years, this is the best ever, hands down. Price and especially customer support are the best. They will go out of their way to fix any issue you may have. No warranty needed in my opinion. Their customer service is that good. Unsurpassed.
Thanks. I served in the Army back in the 1980s and we had massive diesel generators. They were terrifying, to me. A propane generator is a smart move. Simpler, safer, easier.
A Propane Genny is well suited for home backup (power outage) use when your home also runs on propane. A 375 gallon home propane tank could run your generator for weeks even if you have only half a tank. You could never store 150+ gallons of gas for very long without it going bad.
No, you can't, but there are other reasons to use a generator vs. emergency backup. Running gas makes more sense economically, and it's a lot easier to get, and you can get it at any time of the day. If you're offgrid or boondocking gasoline will be substantially cheaper to run over all.
Everything you asked for is already built into the Westinghouse iGen4500df - including larger gas tank (3.4gl), digital fuel level, time to empty at current load, total runtime hours, total load in watts(no need for a separate tester) and it has a remote start with an automatic choke (this doesn’t work well when below 40 degrees needing multiple start attempts) and it can start your 15k btu a/c without turning everything else off (within reason) 3300 running watts on propane. I bought mine at home depot for $1050. I still recommend the micro-air - I installed one in both of my 15K a/c so I can run them both at the same time - even from just 30amp shore power service.
Covet the Camper - actually it is rated at 52dba by the manufacturer and the champion is rated at 59 so much quieter at the same load. I just ran my 4500 directly under my camper and couldn’t hear it over my furnace and barely at all over the tv when the furnace shut off.
On the subject of soft start and startup capacitors, it amazes me that A/C units installed on RVs don’t have them by default. Other than cost (and yes the manufacturer will need to pass the cost to consumer) there doesn’t seem to be any drawback.
I bought one of these two years ago, works like a champ. My generator has worked very well and I couldn't be happier. I did have a problem when we first bought it, it wouldn't start our AC however the customer service was super sent me the new mother board which was easy to change. I did add a starting capacitor to the AC just to make it easier and the cost was just over $10. Excellent video. Thanks
One of the things I love about my dual fuel generator is, I got a hose set up that runs off of my trailer propane system. After several days of boondocking, I went through the generator gas tank and my spare 2 gallon gas tank. And simply hooked into my three 30 pound propane bottle system on my RV. The reason for the fuel tank being so small is so that it can fit under a tunnel cover on the bed of a pick up truck that has a 19 inch high rails.
My generator never would run my 3 ton AC unit on my house. I installed a $30 hard start kit and now it works! The start kits are totally worth it no matter if your AC is home or RV!!
The biggest thing for me in using the Champion on the propane setting is that, driving a diesel truck and hauling propane, I don't have to carry a third source of fuel in the truck. I have 2 additional propane bottles in the truck, so, I am propane rich. Also, I have what is called a HARD START COMPASITOR or something close to the name that does what your unit showed in starting the AC. Years ago, I had to go buy gasoline for my mowers. It was messy and leaked all over the bed of the truck. Propane...no problems! Thank you for this video because to me, I did the right thing!
Thank you so much for your review on this generator!! I had no idea that there was such a thing as a generator that ran on propane! I am actually in the market for a generator and didn't like the idea of having to tote around gasoline for it. I am a newbie RVer so I need all the help I can get! Stay Safe ❤️
In emergencies, gas pumps don't work nor do they get deliveries so gas is much harder to get. We've had gas shortages but I don't remember a propane shortage. You can exchange propane tanks almost anywhere
We had a severe shortage during the wodfiires over 2,, thru 5 yrs ago, and over this past winter, too! It’s also a plan in agenda 2030...they’ve got plans!
Got one about a month ago, set it up and started it but haven't used it yet. I was ready to purchase a 2000ui Honda but the price spiked, only gasoline, lower wattage, but lighter. Glad I got this one. Newegg.. with a 20% discount at the time. Got it for $717, free shipping. It was the 3100 watt one though. Same look, slightly lower wattage. You're right, the dual fuel is going to be great. You pointed out that it doesn't run as long or pack as much of a punch as gasoline... but... it is gasoline. So the gasoline advantage is still there if you want it. Also, I have the 20 lb tanks, you can swap these out at most gas stations and many other places. Home depot outside with a credit card without bothering anyone too. Almost as convenient to find places as gasoline. Thanks for the post. Enjoyable, and well made.
Another great review Jared. Along with being cleaner burning and fuel storage, Propane is also a lot cleaner on the internal parts of the generator. The gasoline today, with all the ethanol, wreaks havoc on the carburetor, gaskets, fuel system components, etc. If running gas in small engines, try to find ethanol free gasoline....which can be harder to find than propane. Thanks again, brother!
Spot on! I have this same generator and those are the exact reasons I have chosen to use propane over gasoline. I’ll take cleaner, less wear and maintenance, and easier transport/storage of the fuel any day if all it costs me is a little bit of power. And as Jared showed it still starts and runs my AC. I am planning on pairing this with my solar install which I am just finishing up. I purchased a Victron MultiPlus inverter which I hope can also help give a little boost from the solar/batteries if the generator can’t quite keep up with the occasional power spikes (I.e. popping popcorn in the microwave while watching a movie while the AC is on).
We have this model and use it for the RV in the summer and backup power for the house when not RVing. For the RV we turn the water heater and refrigerator to propane. It starts the AC easy but the generator needs to have the eco mode turned off. With eco mode off and the fridge and water heater on propane it will run everything else except for the microwave (won’t run the microwave and AC at the same time). Have only ever run it on propane.
Great information and consideration of multiple issues. If this one had remote start, it would be a no-brainer! I have a 3500 gas model with remote start and really love that feature, as well as desiring to run everything in the rig if need be. Especially helpful for cold weather camping. You’re also right about the micro air easy start. Such a great addition to an RV air conditioner for generator use.
I live on the Gulf Coast. I bought this generator because after a hurricane gasoline is sometimes hard to buy. Propane is available and around the same price.
I bought this generator last year and love it. We use it at deer camp in the winter when we boondock with our rv and it is our home backup power. I wanted duel fuel because I always have propane around but not always gasoline. Would like a fuel guage though you can take the fuel screen out. Great video.
I have one of these generators and it’s a game changer for me. I run it from an auxiliary lp port on the exterior of the trailer. You have to change your RV regulator to hi high flow btu one, and then you don’t use the one supplied with the generator. Just put quick disconnects on both ends. I know a little more about AC ‘s than the average guy, working on them for several years, and would like to point out a few caveats. First install a soft start capacitor. Second, as someone pointed out, the higher you go, the less output you will have. Thirdly, the hotter it is, the more power it takes to start the AC, because the head pressure in the compressor is much higher. I’m glad to report that I have successfully started my 13500 btu AC on a 110 degree day here in Hot Vegas. It did draw to just about the max the generator had, but it did it. Although it’s rated at about 3000 watts on propane mine surged to 3200 watts long enough to fire up the AC. Hope this helps someone.
I do not own one of these but plan to get this exact one when I hit the road. But I have heard of one more "con" about it, no hour meter. But the good news is you can get one cheap and seen it was easy to put on. It looked like you did this from the vid. Love your videos, one of my favorite channels. But there is one "con" about your channel...we need more vids! lol. Keep up the good work!
I have the Honda 2k, after your video I'm surprised that it starts my AC well. Love the features of Champion might consider buying if my Honda gives out.
I've had mine for home backup and love it. Swapped out the starter battery for lithium so I don't have to use a trickle charger anymore. Fyi, you can get a big tire kit off ebay if you need to roll it around on soft sand or wet grass while camping.
The bottle coupler is the weak point on the champion. There is a plastic spacer the cracks and breaks off. I’ve been through three of them already. Not replaceable. But champion stepped up and replaced it every time.
I have a little older EM3500SX Honda generator. It's a great generator. But It developed a problem with the fuel tank petcock shutoff valve where it would drip gas when shut off. It made a hell of a mess in the back of my pickup. Peeled all of the paint off of the floor. Plus the fire danger. Still dripped after putting a kit in it. So last summer I converted it to propane and never looked back. Purrs like a kitten. And with the Progressive Industries HW50C Hardwired EMS Surge & Electrical Protection- 50 Amps installed in the trailer. And the Micro softstart installed in the 15000 AC unit. It's a piece of cake to start and run the AC. But the really big plus to propane is as you mentioned, the cleanliness. Your engine oil stays perfectly clean. Your spark plug always looks like new if you take it out. And if you have ever worked on an engine that runs on propane. The inside of the combustion chamber looks just like new. Zero carbine in the rings. After doing the five start training session that you have to do with the Micro softstart. When my AC starts or cycles, I can't tell it's running if I'm outside near the generator. Before the installation of the Micro softstart, sometimes the generator would stumble and die. Or grunt real hard to start the compressor on the AC. Now it starts and runs so smooth I actually have to go look at the amp meter on the EMS surge protector. If the AC is running the amp meter will float between 17-19 amps. Before I installed the Micro softstart the AC would pull 47 amps on start. That Micro softstart is worth ever one of those $300.
We contemplating this dual fuel generator versus the gas only version, and chose the gas only because it was available with a remote start. For dry camping situations where the generator can only be started at certain times, it’s nice to be able to start/stop it at a precise time if you’re in the RV (eg. Sleeping in :) ). Also, gas storage never an issue for me - I always add stabilizer to the gas can *before* I fill it. Even if I forget to do that, gas stations always sell stabilizer, so I will buy it then.
#1 reason to get a propane generator for me was that running it infrequently, I don't need to keep fuel in the tank and worry about it going bad. So I can do the maintenance run once a month off a propane tank.
I have seen several reviews on this generator mention the absence of a fuel gage and I found a universal gas cap with a built in float gage. I don't know the cap size on the generator but this seems an easy fix. Just throwing that out there
If depends on me my dual fuel generator won't ever see gasoline. I currently don't camp (building a Skoolie) but used mine for 6 days about 2 months ago because of lack of power caused by hurricane Sally. Mine doesn't have electric start. I bought a Sportsman 2000 watts about 2 weeks ago. The small one is what I intend to have in my bus. Great video!
When we bought our Champion generator we were trying to decide between dual fuel and remote start. We went with remote start, for us the convenience of remote start out weighed dual fuel.
You might have mentioned that it’s good to get a grounding plug for it If you don’t your RV will alert you it’s not grounded and throw the breaker. It will still work but you can avoid this with a simple ground that you plug into the 120v socket
Great review ; however , there is one thing your missing : propane does not leave as much carbon buildup on the cylinder heads as gasoline. Onan has for decades offered a kit to remove the cylinder heads and clean the piston tops. Reason is that there is almost no change in RPM's of a generator, they run on a single speed. Generators have come along way :)
The problem with propane is that it creates moisture as it burns. That’s not good for an engine. That’s why propane wall heaters need ventilation, or your walls will be dripping water.
Great video! I enjoyed the A/C test on propane--I had my doubts on whether it would start. I just recently converted my Honda eu2000i to tri-fuel and love it.
Make it easy to charge the battery by providing an external receptacle that accepts the plug in from a trickle charger. You have to remove the rear panel every time you want to access the battery terminals. The generator does not charge the battery when it runs.
From a prepping stand-point, propane is great because it lasts decades (some say indefinite) in storage compared to gasoline. Your limiting factor is the tank the propane is stored in as every tank leaks to some extent. If you store your propane in commercial grade tanks, you will be okay.
Thanks for all the great content. I watch all you stuff. About the gas and adding a stabilizer. I have had my own set of experience with additives for gas and I have come to the conclusion for me that it's the ethanol that is causing my problems and adding stabilizers to help eliminate the biggest problem with storing gas that is moisture drawn into the gas by the ethanol. Over the years the gumming and stalling I believe is being caused by the stabilizers and not old gas. It effects everything I use around the house when I want to use the gas powered tool and even motorcycles. If making a run for propane isn't too much of a chore for you I would suggest that you also drag along a gas can if you intend to use it slowly and it lasts you a while around your place. It's not too hard to find gas without ethanol and last choice is always the local marina it's a bit more expensive but nowhere near the price of what they sell at the big box stores by the liter. Anyway just my take and you or anyone can comment if they want. Would love to hear what everyone else thinks.
Good video, I have a Champion 2000 watt duel fuel inverter generator (1440 watt on propane). I ran my 12000 BTU window A C unit and a portable fridge/ freezer cooler and a intertainment center off of propane! Gas lasted for 4 hours and propane lasted for 14 hours off of 20 pound propane tank. I do think that your math is off for how much much watts a a/c draws and uses? The run times are for not using the economy mode. In my area they have automatic propane exchange where you just need a credit card and the station doesn't have to be open. Also I should point out that heaters take more power than a/c!
I have an older Champion gas generator 3100 that has been trouble free for the past 6 years. It runs my 15k AC I just have to make sure I don't have it in eco mode when I start it so there is no lag on the start. I also have the Generac iQ2000 which I love for those times when I don't need the air. It has a run time indicator and is so easy to lug around. As far as propane I am not a fan of hauling around those big tanks and the difficulty of finding a place to fill them.
I have a dual fuel generator, and I put about one tank of gasoline in it per year, probably less. Mostly for starting. It starts better on gasoline but then I can cut over. In the end, if you have a dual fuel, you can run whatever is cheaper and more convenient.
One nice thing about LP is the tanks size is flexible. You can hook up a 20lb tank or a 200lb tank...the gas tank is always the same size. Also, LP tanks are far far safer than a gas can. Not to mention that basically any gas station, feed store, hardware store etc. Will at least have an exchange option if not a full on fill station.
I bought this Generator this winter and haven't had a chance to really break it in and use it. Another Pro about the propane, is that I can connect mine to my onboard 20# Dual propane tanks through my Quick disconnect line.
The manual says to use the regulator it came with but I know other people have tied it into the existing propane lines on the RV which means it is supplied from the regulator already on the RV. Many people do it that way and like the ease of the propane supply and no other tank needed.
After almost a week without power I have ordered a Champion dual fuel because i know that this generator will not need to be used often, so I can leave it sitting with a propane tank and not have to worry about a can of gas going bad over the year. If we have a power outage i can turn on the generator with the propane and then have almost an entire day to find some fresh gas. The trade off of losing 10% of power output for that convenience is a no brainer .
Been trying to decide between dual fuel and wireless start. Wish champion made a model with both. Love the idea of remote starting the generator in the morning to turn on the heat.
If it"s a Honda they might have a tri fuel Hutch Mountain kit propane, natural gas or gasoline. Very nice kit for the 2200 Honda. Other generator propane kits are US carberation, Nash fuels, century fuels and I think another one. Alot of propane conversion companies closed. I changed a few generators over to propane but get the propane primer button for easy starting.
Everyone should have a start capacitor on every air conditioning compressor, residential units included. But they are especially helpful when using generators. I have one to aid my 12kw standby unit and it definitely helps.
Nice review. I guess we know which propane tank belongs to "Jared" :) I have a dual fuel Champion 7KW for my house and only run it on propane. It's so much easier after messing with gas, stabilizers, and draining the tank for so many years.
I bought the 3500 dual fuel champion from Camping World when I opened the box it had the 3400 sticker on the generator the model number was a 3400 camping world told me to call champion I called champion and Champion told me that the 3100, 3400 and 3500 watt dual fuel generators are all the same you will get the same amount power out of all of them they just put a different sticker and different model number on them. Because Camping World, Home Depot and Lowe's do not want to sell the same product. And the representative a champion also said that by law the company's can fudge the numbers 10% to accommodate
If you install a device called hard start assist on ac..will drop start up amps considerably... for around 30 bucks.. most ac manufactures recommend hard start if you use a generator to run ac..
RV Technician here: The biggest advantages of propane in my eyes is 1: LPG doesn't go bad. You can store propane for decades. Gasoline goes bad in a year at best. and 2. It burns MUCH cleaner and a propane powered engine doesn't get gummed up from bad gas, and you don't have to worry about the fuel system being slugged up after its been sitting. Especially if you don't run ethanol free gas
Good video and the most factual video I have seen on this topic. I crunched some numbers and it costs about five to five and a half more to use propane than gasoline. This does not include the cost of the storage container. If you use ethanol gasoline it will deteriorate rapidly, by using marine grade gasoline is more expensive, but solves a lot of carburetor issues. I have had marine gas for over a year with no visible deterioration and run it in my vehicle when it is time to rotate. In regard to starting your a/c a cold start capacitor is good for both a/c and generator. You have a thermostat, but the overhead a/c's operate differently. Never use eco-mode to start I high load appliance, it is not good for the inverter. To start the typical RV a/c start it on low fan to high fan then low to high cool, it is much easier on the generator and its inverter. These are designed to surge, but in reality the closer you get to the surge limit the more harm is done to the stator. On hot days get a small fan like a honeywell and place it pointed at the air vents on the generator. This keeps the inverter and electronics from overheating. Oil is cheap change your oil a lot.
Great video. I was looking at that same model to today $899 on Amazon $949 at Camping World. I have a 15K BTU on my Keystone Cougar so this could work.
I run my ac with a Champion 2500 watt inverter gas generator and a easy start. I do not turn off the converter I run the refrigerator off propane when running ac. Biggest draw back and really not the problem one would expect is the microwave . Ac must be off to run the microwave.
If you look at convenience propane is more difficult to get on a clear sunny day. When you use your generator for power outages you realize that when the power is out the pumps don't run. I have two 100lb cylinders that will last about 5 days.
Enjoying your videos very much and learning a lot. Could you do a video on rv water system tests and fixing leaks? Also testing the L.P system and associated appliances? Thank you and keep up the great vids!
You can get the same power from a propane engine that you do from gasoline if you increase the compression ratio for propane. John Deere sold their two cylinder tractors with three different fuel options: gasoline, diesel, and LP gas (propane). All three fuel types had the same rated horsepower. The key difference was fueling system and compression between the engines. The LPG engine had a higher compression ratio but could not run on gasoline. Cummins Onan will sell you a generator in a given wattage that runs on LPG, diesel, or gasoline, but they're not dual fuel. One big advantage an LPG engine has over gasoline is infrequent usage. LPG fuel and engines are much more tolerant of storage. You can use that generator once a year and not worry about it while it's stored.
Refilling propane tanks may not be as convenient, but almost every place you can get gasoline has tank swap service plus many drugstores have tank swap cages and 24 hour availability.
Tank swap is so much more expensive than getting a refill at Costco by a good ten bucks. Also it is far cheaper to use 30 pound tanks than the BBQ tanks. Many good rv makers now using the 30s.
@@pamatthew99 all true, but his point that it is not as convenient to get propane as gasoline is not exactly right. If you need propane you can get it 24 hrs a day at many locations, if you plan better you can get it at a better price from a much smaller number of places, with more restrictive hours. And if you do have an empty 30lb-er you can put a 20 from the Blue Rhino cage in it's place in a pinch.
Great video! I don't understand that gasoline, not treated, can gum up in a short amount of time. I know Ethanol has a lot to do with this. Since I purchased my inverter close to 6 years ago, I have always used premium gas with no ethanol and I treat the gas with Seafoam, and left gas in my tank and carburetor for up to a year with no issues. For the first couple of years, I use to run them for 15 minutes or so every 3 months but some years I went a full year without starting them and never had gas issues. The propane option does look promising though.
The one fairly big downside to that particular model (which caused us to return it) was that it has no gas shutoff valve so you can't easily run it dry on gas for storage. If you use it regularly then no problem but if you only take occasional trips with months in between that's a downside. The other downside is that if your battery is completely dead you can't pull start it (confirmed by Champion customer service....who thought up that design?) Otherwise it was a very nice generator.
I agree it is strange it needs the battery to run, I believe it has to do with the fuel supply but as far as shutting off the gasoline the instructions tell you to switch it to propane which closes off the supply of gasoline to run it dry, but I would still want the tank empty for storage on the gasoline side.
@@Sam-is7hh you can do that and it will do the job of running it dry but that could take 8 hours. Very inconvenient if you want to put it into storage.
Another great video thank you. Price seems to be up to almost 1100 now on this generator. How much run time can you expect on typical size propane tanks?
Thank you so much from this retired old high school teacher.
I love watching videos that were pre-covid, our poor souls had no idea what was coming
My Champion Dual-fuel (same size as yours) just got us through a 1 week power outage caused by Tropical Storm Zeta. Not a single hiccup while running two refrigerators, a freezer and a collection of random lights in the house. All on propane, too. Filling the propane tanks, like you said, isn't complicated, just find a truck stop (Loves, TSA, Pilot, Etc cater to truckers and RV-ers.) nearby and they will be happy to do it. I also recommend upgrading to 30 pound tanks instead of using the partially filled 20 pound tanks from the propane exchange services.
I love my champion duel fuel. I only use propane and mine runs 20 hours on a 20 pound tank and no more messy gas cans.
That was going to be my question. How long does a 20 pound tank last? Thanks for that answer before I even asked it.
@@partylee007 at what load for 20lbs is the question?
@@itsruffoutchea6636 Ran mine at the May NASCAR race in Charlotte on a refilled 20lb tank (not the exchange tank amount that gives you about 1/4 less propane) and running a 13k BTU AC on low plus lights, TV, and about 300 watts of other load for 26 hours on economy setting. If your able to keep your load fairly low most of the time so that it can throttle down into economy mode it will run a LONG time. As your load goes higher it will increase engine speed and eat more fuel.
How much is it in metric ?
Thank you for answering one of the most important questions left out….
I've had a similar, but slightly lower wattage, Champion dual fuel generator with electric start for a couple of years. I only run it on propane and it starts my 13.5K BTU A/C in temperatures over 100 degrees without a problem. At those high temperatures it uses about 4.5 gallons of propane in about 9 hours. In my opinion it is much safer to use than gasoline and safer to store. A very high percentage of RV parks sell propane so I've never had a problem refilling tanks. I pretty much agree with all of your observations.
I’m just so glad Ed Helms is into RV’ing
Jared, I have the exact same generator and love it. I always use it with gas because I think it's cheaper to run it that way, but love knowing that I can use one of my propane bottles in a pinch. I'm not as strong as I used to be (that's my excuse anyway) so, I avoid the heavy lifting by wheeling the generator up a ramp to my pickup bed.
I have this exact generator... Bought last April. Used several times last year with no issues. Only once I ran on gas to test how long gas would run my ac vs propane. Have run on propane since and no issues. 13.5k one unit ac... NP. Would highly reccomend this generator. Don't have to lug gas around... Major plus. Great review... Thanks Jared.
Tammy Flynn How long did it run your AC on gas? How long on propane and what size tank?
Jared, great video.
I have had that exact generator for some time now. It also starts my 15k AC everytime on propane.
Don't forget the safety aspects of having to carry gasoline with you. For the average Joe, propane is much safer.
I've owned many generators over the years, this is the best ever, hands down. Price and especially customer support are the best. They will go out of their way to fix any issue you may have. No warranty needed in my opinion. Their customer service is that good. Unsurpassed.
Thanks. I served in the Army back in the 1980s and we had massive diesel generators. They were terrifying, to me. A propane generator is a smart move. Simpler, safer, easier.
A Propane Genny is well suited for home backup (power outage) use when your home also runs on propane. A 375 gallon home propane tank could run your generator for weeks even if you have only half a tank. You could never store 150+ gallons of gas for very long without it going bad.
No, you can't, but there are other reasons to use a generator vs. emergency backup. Running gas makes more sense economically, and it's a lot easier to get, and you can get it at any time of the day. If you're offgrid or boondocking gasoline will be substantially cheaper to run over all.
How much would that tank cost to fill?
Everything you asked for is already built into the Westinghouse iGen4500df - including larger gas tank (3.4gl), digital fuel level, time to empty at current load, total runtime hours, total load in watts(no need for a separate tester) and it has a remote start with an automatic choke (this doesn’t work well when below 40 degrees needing multiple start attempts) and it can start your 15k btu a/c without turning everything else off (within reason) 3300 running watts on propane. I bought mine at home depot for $1050. I still recommend the micro-air - I installed one in both of my 15K a/c so I can run them both at the same time - even from just 30amp shore power service.
Covet the Camper - actually it is rated at 52dba by the manufacturer and the champion is rated at 59 so much quieter at the same load. I just ran my 4500 directly under my camper and couldn’t hear it over my furnace and barely at all over the tv when the furnace shut off.
I don't think this one is about westinghouse generators.
I believe it is about propane generators and rvs - are you suggesting not to offer the options - I know I would want to know.
I did the add a capacitor thing to my ac and wow ac works on my Honda 2000i generator bty its a 15000 btu
On the subject of soft start and startup capacitors, it amazes me that A/C units installed on RVs don’t have them by default. Other than cost (and yes the manufacturer will need to pass the cost to consumer) there doesn’t seem to be any drawback.
I bought one of these two years ago, works like a champ. My generator has worked very well and I couldn't be happier. I did have a problem when we first bought it, it wouldn't start our AC however the customer service was super sent me the new mother board which was easy to change. I did add a starting capacitor to the AC just to make it easier and the cost was just over $10. Excellent video. Thanks
Your generator is a nice one. Thanks for all of the work and research you put into your videos.
I just upgraded to the Champion 4500w dual fuel. Many improvements over this one (although I loved this one too). Nice job. -Ed
One of the things I love about my dual fuel generator is, I got a hose set up that runs off of my trailer propane system. After several days of boondocking, I went through the generator gas tank and my spare 2 gallon gas tank. And simply hooked into my three 30 pound propane bottle system on my RV.
The reason for the fuel tank being so small is so that it can fit under a tunnel cover on the bed of a pick up truck that has a 19 inch high rails.
How long did your rv propane system last after that?
What about using 2 regulators, one on the tanks on rv and one on the gen ??
Awesome edit at 10:09. That was really cool. Thanks for the great videos, as always!
Thank you!
My generator never would run my 3 ton AC unit on my house. I installed a $30 hard start kit and now it works! The start kits are totally worth it no matter if your AC is home or RV!!
Can you let me know where you bought a $30 hard start kit. Thanks
@@rogercurrie I believe it came from Amazon. It is a second capacitor that you wire up with the factory one
The biggest thing for me in using the Champion on the propane setting is that, driving a diesel truck and hauling propane, I don't have to carry a third source of fuel in the truck. I have 2 additional propane bottles in the truck, so, I am propane rich. Also, I have what is called a HARD START COMPASITOR or something close to the name that does what your unit showed in starting the AC. Years ago, I had to go buy gasoline for my mowers. It was messy and leaked all over the bed of the truck. Propane...no problems! Thank you for this video because to me, I did the right thing!
Thank you so much for your review on this generator!! I had no idea that there was such a thing as a generator that ran on propane! I am actually in the market for a generator and didn't like the idea of having to tote around gasoline for it. I am a newbie RVer so I need all the help I can get! Stay Safe ❤️
Get one, you'll love it.
In emergencies, gas pumps don't work nor do they get deliveries so gas is much harder to get. We've had gas shortages but I don't remember a propane shortage. You can exchange propane tanks almost anywhere
We had a severe shortage during the wodfiires over 2,, thru 5 yrs ago, and over this past winter, too! It’s also a plan in agenda 2030...they’ve got plans!
Got one about a month ago, set it up and started it but haven't used it yet. I was ready to purchase a 2000ui Honda but the price spiked, only gasoline, lower wattage, but lighter. Glad I got this one. Newegg.. with a 20% discount at the time. Got it for $717, free shipping. It was the 3100 watt one though. Same look, slightly lower wattage. You're right, the dual fuel is going to be great. You pointed out that it doesn't run as long or pack as much of a punch as gasoline... but... it is gasoline. So the gasoline advantage is still there if you want it.
Also, I have the 20 lb tanks, you can swap these out at most gas stations and many other places. Home depot outside with a credit card without bothering anyone too. Almost as convenient to find places as gasoline.
Thanks for the post. Enjoyable, and well made.
Another great review Jared. Along with being cleaner burning and fuel storage, Propane is also a lot cleaner on the internal parts of the generator. The gasoline today, with all the ethanol, wreaks havoc on the carburetor, gaskets, fuel system components, etc. If running gas in small engines, try to find ethanol free gasoline....which can be harder to find than propane. Thanks again, brother!
Spot on! I have this same generator and those are the exact reasons I have chosen to use propane over gasoline. I’ll take cleaner, less wear and maintenance, and easier transport/storage of the fuel any day if all it costs me is a little bit of power. And as Jared showed it still starts and runs my AC.
I am planning on pairing this with my solar install which I am just finishing up. I purchased a Victron MultiPlus inverter which I hope can also help give a little boost from the solar/batteries if the generator can’t quite keep up with the occasional power spikes (I.e. popping popcorn in the microwave while watching a movie while the AC is on).
We have this model and use it for the RV in the summer and backup power for the house when not RVing. For the RV we turn the water heater and refrigerator to propane. It starts the AC easy but the generator needs to have the eco mode turned off. With eco mode off and the fridge and water heater on propane it will run everything else except for the microwave (won’t run the microwave and AC at the same time). Have only ever run it on propane.
Great information and consideration of multiple issues. If this one had remote start, it would be a no-brainer! I have a 3500 gas model with remote start and really love that feature, as well as desiring to run everything in the rig if need be. Especially helpful for cold weather camping.
You’re also right about the micro air easy start. Such a great addition to an RV air conditioner for generator use.
I live on the Gulf Coast. I bought this generator because after a hurricane gasoline is sometimes hard to buy. Propane is available and around the same price.
I bought this generator last year and love it. We use it at deer camp in the winter when we boondock with our rv and it is our home backup power. I wanted duel fuel because I always have propane around but not always gasoline. Would like a fuel guage though you can take the fuel screen out. Great video.
Any suprises when running on LP in very cold winters 🥶
I have one of these generators and it’s a game changer for me. I run it from an auxiliary lp port on the exterior of the trailer. You have to change your RV regulator to hi high flow btu one, and then you don’t use the one supplied with the generator. Just put quick disconnects on both ends. I know a little more about AC ‘s than the average guy, working on them for several years, and would like to point out a few caveats. First install a soft start capacitor. Second, as someone pointed out, the higher you go, the less output you will have. Thirdly, the hotter it is, the more power it takes to start the AC, because the head pressure in the compressor is much higher. I’m glad to report that I have successfully started my 13500 btu AC on a 110 degree day here in Hot Vegas. It did draw to just about the max the generator had, but it did it. Although it’s rated at about 3000 watts on propane mine surged to 3200 watts long enough to fire up the AC. Hope this helps someone.
I have heard nothing but good things about these Champion generators. Great video, Lou
I have one and if runs my 13500 btu in Eco no problem. Love it
I do not own one of these but plan to get this exact one when I hit the road. But I have heard of one more "con" about it, no hour meter. But the good news is you can get one cheap and seen it was easy to put on. It looked like you did this from the vid.
Love your videos, one of my favorite channels. But there is one "con" about your channel...we need more vids! lol.
Keep up the good work!
I have the Honda 2k, after your video I'm surprised that it starts my AC well. Love the features of Champion might consider buying if my Honda gives out.
I've had mine for home backup and love it. Swapped out the starter battery for lithium so I don't have to use a trickle charger anymore. Fyi, you can get a big tire kit off ebay if you need to roll it around on soft sand or wet grass while camping.
The bottle coupler is the weak point on the champion. There is a plastic spacer the cracks and breaks off. I’ve been through three of them already. Not replaceable. But champion stepped up and replaced it every time.
You are a great communicator Jarod!
Thank you, my hope is to be clear and concise in the videos I make
one of the biggest pro’s To running propane is the engine can last up to three times longer because it burns so much cleaner.
I've been told that it shortens engine life, that it burns the valves up due to its slower burn time.
@@archygrey9093 same thing a generator repair man told me.
I have a little older EM3500SX Honda generator. It's a great generator. But It developed a problem with the fuel tank petcock shutoff valve where it would drip gas when shut off. It made a hell of a mess in the back of my pickup. Peeled all of the paint off of the floor. Plus the fire danger. Still dripped after putting a kit in it. So last summer I converted it to propane and never looked back. Purrs like a kitten. And with the Progressive Industries HW50C Hardwired EMS Surge & Electrical Protection- 50 Amps installed in the trailer. And the Micro softstart installed in the 15000 AC unit. It's a piece of cake to start and run the AC.
But the really big plus to propane is as you mentioned, the cleanliness. Your engine oil stays perfectly clean. Your spark plug always looks like new if you take it out. And if you have ever worked on an engine that runs on propane. The inside of the combustion chamber looks just like new. Zero carbine in the rings.
After doing the five start training session that you have to do with the Micro softstart. When my AC starts or cycles, I can't tell it's running if I'm outside near the generator. Before the installation of the Micro softstart, sometimes the generator would stumble and die. Or grunt real hard to start the compressor on the AC. Now it starts and runs so smooth I actually have to go look at the amp meter on the EMS surge protector. If the AC is running the amp meter will float between 17-19 amps. Before I installed the Micro softstart the AC would pull 47 amps on start. That Micro softstart is worth ever one of those $300.
We contemplating this dual fuel generator versus the gas only version, and chose the gas only because it was available with a remote start. For dry camping situations where the generator can only be started at certain times, it’s nice to be able to start/stop it at a precise time if you’re in the RV (eg. Sleeping in :) ). Also, gas storage never an issue for me - I always add stabilizer to the gas can *before* I fill it. Even if I forget to do that, gas stations always sell stabilizer, so I will buy it then.
I love my Champion dual fuel generator, runs my 1500 a/c and everything else i need to use along with it. Have never needed to use gasoline in it yet.
If you had it to do over again, would you buy a propane-only generator?
#1 reason to get a propane generator for me was that running it infrequently, I don't need to keep fuel in the tank and worry about it going bad. So I can do the maintenance run once a month off a propane tank.
I have seen several reviews on this generator mention the absence of a fuel gage and I found a universal gas cap with a built in float gage. I don't know the cap size on the generator but this seems an easy fix. Just throwing that out there
If depends on me my dual fuel generator won't ever see gasoline.
I currently don't camp (building a Skoolie) but used mine for 6 days about 2 months ago because of lack of power caused by hurricane Sally.
Mine doesn't have electric start.
I bought a Sportsman 2000 watts about 2 weeks ago.
The small one is what I intend to have in my bus.
Great video!
When we bought our Champion generator we were trying to decide between dual fuel and remote start. We went with remote start, for us the convenience of remote start out weighed dual fuel.
@chris kibodeaux You're entitled to your opinion, but that doesn't make you right.
Yup this thing will work for me nicely. Sold. You helped me make up my mind. Thanks ☺
Glad it helped
Mine is a little smaller, I have the 3100/2800 Dual Fuel Champion and like it very much. The propane feature was HUGE in my decision to buy it.
You might have mentioned that it’s good to get a grounding plug for it If you don’t your RV will alert you it’s not grounded and throw the breaker. It will still work but you can avoid this with a simple ground that you plug into the 120v socket
Great review ; however , there is one thing your missing : propane does not leave as much carbon buildup on the cylinder heads as gasoline. Onan has for decades offered a kit to remove the cylinder heads and clean the piston tops. Reason is that there is almost no change in RPM's of a generator, they run on a single speed. Generators have come along way :)
The problem with propane is that it creates moisture as it burns. That’s not good for an engine.
That’s why propane wall heaters need ventilation, or your walls will be dripping water.
Coming from Alex and phil channel. Look forward to watching your videos.
Love from Iceland
Great video! I enjoyed the A/C test on propane--I had my doubts on whether it would start. I just recently converted my Honda eu2000i to tri-fuel and love it.
New subscriber here from Northern Ireland. Came from Phil and Alex’s channel
Thank you!
I can’t get mine to start with the push button. When I had Generac 5500, we added a fuel gauge! Life was expensive but with one less stressor!
Make it easy to charge the battery by providing an external receptacle that accepts the plug in from a trickle charger. You have to remove the rear panel every time you want to access the battery terminals. The generator does not charge the battery when it runs.
From a prepping stand-point, propane is great because it lasts decades (some say indefinite) in storage compared to gasoline. Your limiting factor is the tank the propane is stored in as every tank leaks to some extent. If you store your propane in commercial grade tanks, you will be okay.
10:07 polished! Good edit.
Agreed, very clever edit.
Thanks for all the great content. I watch all you stuff. About the gas and adding a stabilizer. I have had my own set of experience with additives for gas and I have come to the conclusion for me that it's the ethanol that is causing my problems and adding stabilizers to help eliminate the biggest problem with storing gas that is moisture drawn into the gas by the ethanol. Over the years the gumming and stalling I believe is being caused by the stabilizers and not old gas. It effects everything I use around the house when I want to use the gas powered tool and even motorcycles. If making a run for propane isn't too much of a chore for you I would suggest that you also drag along a gas can if you intend to use it slowly and it lasts you a while around your place. It's not too hard to find gas without ethanol and last choice is always the local marina it's a bit more expensive but nowhere near the price of what they sell at the big box stores by the liter. Anyway just my take and you or anyone can comment if they want. Would love to hear what everyone else thinks.
VERY INTERESTING!!!?
East start rocks. I run me 13.5 btu AC on a Honda 2200.
Good video, I have a Champion 2000 watt duel fuel inverter generator (1440 watt on propane). I ran my 12000 BTU window A C unit and a portable fridge/ freezer cooler and a intertainment center off of propane! Gas lasted for 4 hours and propane lasted for 14 hours off of 20 pound propane tank. I do think that your math is off for how much much watts a a/c draws and uses? The run times are for not using the economy mode. In my area they have automatic propane exchange where you just need a credit card and the station doesn't have to be open. Also I should point out that heaters take more power than a/c!
You can put in an in-line capacitor for about $45 that does what the easy-start does my friend.
We bought one of these generators last month. We’re excited to use it. 😊
you can also step up the start of the A/C by starting it on "fan"...then once the fan is running fine, switch to "cool"...
Yes that works well, the Micro air easy start does that automatically to help reduce that starting spike in draw.
I have an older Champion gas generator 3100 that has been trouble free for the past 6 years. It runs my 15k AC I just have to make sure I don't have it in eco mode when I start it so there is no lag on the start. I also have the Generac iQ2000 which I love for those times when I don't need the air. It has a run time indicator and is so easy to lug around. As far as propane I am not a fan of hauling around those big tanks and the difficulty of finding a place to fill them.
I'm waiting for mine. I'm excited.
Im considering adding a dual fuel carburetor to my onan 5500 just to have another option for fuel.
Thank you so much for the video! We had never considered a propane generator before.
I have a dual fuel generator, and I put about one tank of gasoline in it per year, probably less. Mostly for starting. It starts better on gasoline but then I can cut over. In the end, if you have a dual fuel, you can run whatever is cheaper and more convenient.
Also, starting the AC is hard if you have a 75 amp charger and the batteries are low. You do have to think about where the power is going.
One nice thing about LP is the tanks size is flexible. You can hook up a 20lb tank or a 200lb tank...the gas tank is always the same size. Also, LP tanks are far far safer than a gas can. Not to mention that basically any gas station, feed store, hardware store etc. Will at least have an exchange option if not a full on fill station.
We use the same generator and we love it. Runs one ac just fine. Great review
As a home owner propane is a better choice during an extended power outage because gas stations aren't open.
What an impressive, very informative video. Great job!
I bought this Generator this winter and haven't had a chance to really break it in and use it. Another Pro about the propane, is that I can connect mine to my onboard 20# Dual propane tanks through my Quick disconnect line.
Do you tie it in down the line of the regulator or before?
@@Sam-is7hh I don't understand the question. Do I tie it down? Do you mean stake it down? Sorry for my ignorance.
The manual says to use the regulator it came with but I know other people have tied it into the existing propane lines on the RV which means it is supplied from the regulator already on the RV. Many people do it that way and like the ease of the propane supply and no other tank needed.
@@AllAboutRVs oh yes, it runs through the onboard regulator on the rig.
@patrickkmanning I worded it dumb. I was curious if you could use your RV's regulator instead of the supplied regulator.
After almost a week without power I have ordered a Champion dual fuel because i know that this generator will not need to be used often, so I can leave it sitting with a propane tank and not have to worry about a can of gas going bad over the year.
If we have a power outage i can turn on the generator with the propane and then have almost an entire day to find some fresh gas.
The trade off of losing 10% of power output for that convenience is a no brainer .
Been trying to decide between dual fuel and wireless start. Wish champion made a model with both. Love the idea of remote starting the generator in the morning to turn on the heat.
If it"s a Honda they might have a tri fuel Hutch Mountain kit propane, natural gas or gasoline. Very nice kit for the 2200 Honda. Other generator propane kits are US carberation, Nash fuels, century fuels and I think another one. Alot of propane conversion companies closed. I changed a few generators over to propane but get the propane primer button for easy starting.
Everyone should have a start capacitor on every air conditioning compressor, residential units included. But they are especially helpful when using generators. I have one to aid my 12kw standby unit and it definitely helps.
Does a start capacitor eliminate the need for a soft start?
@@Frankwrite As far as I know, a "soft start kit" is essentially a start capacitor, with perhaps a wiring harness added.
Nice review. I guess we know which propane tank belongs to "Jared" :) I have a dual fuel Champion 7KW for my house and only run it on propane. It's so much easier after messing with gas, stabilizers, and draining the tank for so many years.
We have a 30kw generator running our farm house. It powers 4500 square foot house with 3 ac units with zero issues. Forget gas
I bought the 3500 dual fuel champion from Camping World when I opened the box it had the 3400 sticker on the generator the model number was a 3400 camping world told me to call champion I called champion and Champion told me that the 3100, 3400 and 3500 watt dual fuel generators are all the same you will get the same amount power out of all of them they just put a different sticker and different model number on them. Because Camping World, Home Depot and Lowe's do not want to sell the same product. And the representative a champion also said that by law the company's can fudge the numbers 10% to accommodate
Curt Hansen 3100 has a 171cc engine. The other two have 192cc engine.
Using Ethonel-free gas is your first defense against varnishing and small engine problems.
*Ethanol-free
@@PeterLawtonNobody likes you.
If you install a device called hard start assist on ac..will drop start up amps considerably... for around 30 bucks.. most ac manufactures recommend hard start if you use a generator to run ac..
I have that same shirt and two of those generators. Love the shirt and the generators are great. Good video.
😀
RV Technician here: The biggest advantages of propane in my eyes is 1: LPG doesn't go bad. You can store propane for decades. Gasoline goes bad in a year at best. and 2. It burns MUCH cleaner and a propane powered engine doesn't get gummed up from bad gas, and you don't have to worry about the fuel system being slugged up after its been sitting. Especially if you don't run ethanol free gas
Thanks for putting this together for us 🍻
Glad it helped!
Good video and the most factual video I have seen on this topic. I crunched some numbers and it costs about five to five and a half more to use propane than gasoline. This does not include the cost of the storage container. If you use ethanol gasoline it will deteriorate rapidly, by using marine grade gasoline is more expensive, but solves a lot of carburetor issues. I have had marine gas for over a year with no visible deterioration and run it in my vehicle when it is time to rotate.
In regard to starting your a/c a cold start capacitor is good for both a/c and generator. You have a thermostat, but the overhead a/c's operate differently. Never use eco-mode to start I high load appliance, it is not good for the inverter. To start the typical RV a/c start it on low fan to high fan then low to high cool, it is much easier on the generator and its inverter. These are designed to surge, but in reality the closer you get to the surge limit the more harm is done to the stator. On hot days get a small fan like a honeywell and place it pointed at the air vents on the generator. This keeps the inverter and electronics from overheating. Oil is cheap change your oil a lot.
Great video. I was looking at that same model to today $899 on Amazon $949 at Camping World. I have a 15K BTU on my Keystone Cougar so this could work.
I run my ac with a Champion 2500 watt inverter gas generator and a easy start. I do not turn off the converter I run the refrigerator off propane when running ac. Biggest draw back and really not the problem one would expect is the microwave . Ac must be off to run the microwave.
Add a support spp6 start capacitor to air conditioner for $12. placed on both ac units and works great
thanks for sharing. safe journeys
If you look at convenience propane is more difficult to get on a clear sunny day. When you use your generator for power outages you realize that when the power is out the pumps don't run. I have two 100lb cylinders that will last about 5 days.
I wish I would of waited and got a duel fuel inverter generator. Storing propane is so much easier.
Enjoying your videos very much and learning a lot. Could you do a video on rv water system tests and fixing leaks? Also testing the L.P system and associated appliances? Thank you and keep up the great vids!
Truck stops usually have propane. Open 24 - 7
Great review Jared, I feel much more comfortable now to purchase a dual-fuel generator. Thanks.
Two questions:
1. Do you ground your generator when using it?
2. Do you bond the neutral to the frame when using it?
You can get the same power from a propane engine that you do from gasoline if you increase the compression ratio for propane. John Deere sold their two cylinder tractors with three different fuel options: gasoline, diesel, and LP gas (propane). All three fuel types had the same rated horsepower. The key difference was fueling system and compression between the engines. The LPG engine had a higher compression ratio but could not run on gasoline. Cummins Onan will sell you a generator in a given wattage that runs on LPG, diesel, or gasoline, but they're not dual fuel.
One big advantage an LPG engine has over gasoline is infrequent usage. LPG fuel and engines are much more tolerant of storage. You can use that generator once a year and not worry about it while it's stored.
10:08 Very cool how you do this editing technique
Thanks
Refilling propane tanks may not be as convenient, but almost every place you can get gasoline has tank swap service plus many drugstores have tank swap cages and 24 hour availability.
Tank swap is so much more expensive than getting a refill at Costco by a good ten bucks. Also it is far cheaper to use 30 pound tanks than the BBQ tanks. Many good rv makers now using the 30s.
@@pamatthew99 all true, but his point that it is not as convenient to get propane as gasoline is not exactly right. If you need propane you can get it 24 hrs a day at many locations, if you plan better you can get it at a better price from a much smaller number of places, with more restrictive hours. And if you do have an empty 30lb-er you can put a 20 from the Blue Rhino cage in it's place in a pinch.
Great video! I don't understand that gasoline, not treated, can gum up in a short amount of time. I know Ethanol has a lot to do with this. Since I purchased my inverter close to 6 years ago, I have always used premium gas with no ethanol and I treat the gas with Seafoam, and left gas in my tank and carburetor for up to a year with no issues. For the first couple of years, I use to run them for 15 minutes or so every 3 months but some years I went a full year without starting them and never had gas issues. The propane option does look promising though.
I installed a Softstartrv on my 15K Ac. I can run the AC on low fan using my Honda 2200.
It’s a great piece of tech.
The one fairly big downside to that particular model (which caused us to return it) was that it has no gas shutoff valve so you can't easily run it dry on gas for storage. If you use it regularly then no problem but if you only take occasional trips with months in between that's a downside. The other downside is that if your battery is completely dead you can't pull start it (confirmed by Champion customer service....who thought up that design?) Otherwise it was a very nice generator.
What do you mean? What happens if you keep running it until it runs out of gas?
Also, what's the point of the pull start then?
I agree it is strange it needs the battery to run, I believe it has to do with the fuel supply but as far as shutting off the gasoline the instructions tell you to switch it to propane which closes off the supply of gasoline to run it dry, but I would still want the tank empty for storage on the gasoline side.
@@AllAboutRVs when you switch it to propane when it's running on gas it cuts off the engine too so you can't run it dry that way. I tried it.
@@Sam-is7hh you can do that and it will do the job of running it dry but that could take 8 hours. Very inconvenient if you want to put it into storage.
How long will it run the the ac in heat with out the soft start and with the higher heat will it run with out over working the generator
It is a lot cleaner for your engine too if you only run propane check you oil probably look almost new
Another great video thank you. Price seems to be up to almost 1100 now on this generator. How much run time can you expect on typical size propane tanks?