Propane Electric Generator Question

[JessePinkman]

So I will be coming into some money in about 6 months and want to invest it in my grow op. I want to go off of the electric power grid. I am running through ideas and was wondering if anyone had ever tried using a propane electric generator. I searched the forums already and didn't find too much info. I was wanting to have the generators inside to help kill the noise. I have read the byproducts of burning propane are CO2 and H2O. I also read CO would be another byproduct if there was insufficient O2 to complete the chemical change into CO2. Has anyone tried this or have any knowledge of this. My thinking would be that the CO2 byproduct of the propane combustion would be good for the plants, and the plants, through photosynthesis, would hopefully produce enough O2 to complete the chemical change of propane to CO2. I definitely don't want the CO, so does anyone have any experience with this? Or a good understanding of chemistry to know if this would work?

 

[JessePinkman]

I could always get a dehumidifier if excess H2O would be a problem, so that part would be taken care of. Surely someone has tried this before. Maybe not though. They may be like me and leary of the possible CO problem. I could always buy some CO moniters/detectors to make sure, but I would like to see if anyone else has tried this already.

 

[Dobby]

Noise - I have an older 50 KW unit and you can't hear yourself think, I have a new 60 KW unit that is amazingly quiet (both diesel). You aren't talking about anything that large, my 17 KW for the house and propane powered is pretty noisy but I have to tell you I'd NEVER EVER go inside a building that houses one and isn't properly vented. Carbon monoxide is another by product.

 

[JessePinkman]

From my understanding CO is only a by product when there is insufficient O2, which is what is needed for complete propane combustion. I know that plants put off O2 through photosynthesis. My question is, do the plants put off enough O2 needed for complete combustion of the propane, ie. no CO.
Dobby - When you say your 60KW generator is quiet, how quiet is it? Would you be able to have it outside and not have nosy neighbors due to the loudness? Also how efficient is it? At what capacity do you run it, and how often do you have to fill it? Have you calculated KWHs per gallon of fuel? I am VERY interested in buying one. I just want to know if it is worth it. Oh and how much did your 60 KWH generator run you?

 

[JessePinkman]

I wouldn't ever run a propane generator in the house unless I absolutely knew there wasn't any chance of CO. I haven't seen anyone ever attempt to run one inside, and I don't think I would want to be the first I know of to try it lol. I have know people who have used propane CO2 generators indoors though.

 

[JessePinkman]

Heya Dobby, tried to send u a PM but I guess I can't yet for whatever reason. I wish there was some way to get you attention lol. I need to talk to you about your generators

 

[mrmadcow]

CO2 is the only byproduct if the engine is running 100% effecient. are you willing to bet your life that the engine will never foul a plug or have any other problem?
as for the plants producing enough O for the engine, how many plants & how big? why not ask how long a piece of string is?
next, try pricing what a generator will cost per watt. I would bet its at least triple what your power co charges.

 

[JessePinkman]

I wouldn't ever run a propane generator in the house unless I absolutely knew there wasn't any chance of CO. I haven't seen anyone ever attempt to run one inside, and I don't think I would want to be the first I know of to try it lol. I have know people who have used propane CO2 generators indoors though.

I guess you did not read this mrmadcow. I was asking questions to people who might know the answers, not to people who would post sacastic non helpful responses. And cost is not the point. Avoiding detection IS THE POINT. Avoiding dectection is more valuable to me than money spent on power. Thanks for your help!

 

[JessePinkman]

CO2 is the only byproduct if the engine is running 100% effecient. are you willing to bet your life that the engine will never foul a plug or have any other problem?
as for the plants producing enough O for the engine, how many plants & how big? why not ask how long a piece of string is?
next, try pricing what a generator will cost per watt. I would bet its at least triple what your power co charges.

If there was no plug, wouldn't there be any CO, just propane, not that it's any better, but you can at least smell the propane. But I would think there would be some kind of safeguard in place right? I don't think anyone would be allowed to sell propane generators if they leaked propane anytime a plug went out. You would have generators blowing up all over the place lol

 

[budleydoright]

I don't know the math but I am quite certain that the generator would produce more co2 per hour than the plants could consume and would require more o2 than they could generate.

I bet the ratios are unworkable, in other words the generator would consume all of the o2 the plants produced in a 24 hour period in a matter of minutes.

I tried to use a watercooled co2 burner in a small cabinet once, it could consume all of the oxygen in the cabinet in about 40 seconds.

sure would be a cool relationship if it could work though.

you could certainly utilize the co2 produced, as well as the o2 to increase effeciency of the system though.

 

[mrmadcow]

I guess you did not read this mrmadcow. I was asking questions to people who might know the answers, not to people who would post sacastic non helpful responses.....

If there was no plug, wouldn't there be any CO, just propane, not that it's any better, but you can at least smell the propane. But I would think there would be some kind of safeguard in place right? I don't think anyone would be allowed to sell propane generators if they leaked propane anytime a plug went out. You would have generators blowing up all over the place lol

I will assume you are in europe & something was lost in translation. a fouled plug is an american term for a spark plug that is dirty. an engine produces power when the sparkplug fires a spark into the combustion chamber that ignites the fuel. a fouled plug will produce a weak spark that will not burn the fuel completely.I dirty carburator could also cause problems.
I also pointed out that w/out knowing how many plants, it would be impossible to determine how much oxygen is made. 1000 plants over a meter tall will create alot more oxygen than a dozen seedling.
if "cost is not the point. Avoiding detection IS THE POINT." why risk growing when you can buy in small amounts for a whole lot less risk?
when production costs more than purchasing a final product, only an idiot would say money is no object, I am afraid of getting caught. if you truely had that kind of money, you could buy your way out of trouble.
or are you just talking out of your ass?

 

[Equinox911]

Running a generator inside is just asking for trouble C02 is known as the silent killer (colorless and odorless gas)

Google C02 M.S.D.S. and see for your self

Pay for hydro, your life is worth more than plants!

 

[JessePinkman]

try pricing what a generator will cost per watt. I would bet its at least triple what your power co charges.

My last grow was done with electric. Electric costs were about $500 for which I made about $9000. The return on investment is substantial, so if I have to pay 3x the cost of electric power to be safe, so be it. Only an idiot would say "when production costs more than purchasing a final product" about a product such as bud. I must assume you are from Mexico or you just grow shit weed that sells for Mexican bud prices. Either that or you just smoke yourself retarded and have nothing to sell, that wouldn’t surprise me either, judging from your responses. I could pay 10x more for power and still turn a NICE profit.

I wouldn't ever run a propane generator in the house unless I absolutely knew there wasn't any chance of CO. I haven't seen anyone ever attempt to run one inside, and I don't think I would want to be the first I know of to try it lol. I have know people who have used propane CO2 generators indoors though.

Like I said, you must not have read this. I never said I had a generator in the house, or even that I ever planned on putting one in the house. I was asking a theoretical question. You do know what that is right?

 

[JessePinkman]

I will assume you are in europe & something was lost in translation.

No, Im just not a mechanic or chemist, thus why I asked questions. To get information, not jackass responses

 

[JessePinkman]

Running a generator inside is just asking for trouble C02 is known as the silent killer (colorless and odorless gas)

Google C02 M.S.D.S. and see for your self

Pay for hydro, your life is worth more than plants!

I believe you meant CO, which is carbon monoxide. CO2 is carbon dioxide

 

[Equinox911]

I believe you meant CO, which is carbon monoxide. CO2 is carbon dioxide

My Mistake C0

Google the M.S.D.S. info and see for your self