Dual Fuel Generators
About Dual Fuel Generators
Dual fuel portable generators can be powered by one of two different types of fuel, most commonly gasoline and propane. Fuel is selected by turning a switch on the appropriate position.
They can be particularly useful in areas where gas is not easily accessible or when there is a need to store fuel for the long term. Unlike gasoline, propane does not degrade over time. Its shelf life is only limited by its tank/container's (typically 10 to 30 years).
Some of the advantages of dual fuel generators include:
- Highly flexible
- Economical to run on propane
- More eco-friendly (propane has a lower carbon content and burns in a cleaner fashion)
However, a dual fuel generator will always produce less watts when operating on propane than when operating on gasoline. A derating of around 10% is to be expected of both running and starting watts. As an example, a unit such as the DuroMax XP12000EH can produce 9500 running watts and 12000 starting watts on gasoline, but only 8075 running watts and 10200 starting watts on propane.
The most popular brands of dual fuel generators include Champion, Firman, Westinghouse, and DuroMax.