RV to Champion Generator Propane Adapter

[Beachcamper]

Moderator note: Post below was copied from Vivian's Car Generator thread (post 33) and was slightly edited to limit content to the subject of this thread. -Howard

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I found this picture on a forest River forum described parts used to connect to onboard propane.

[mpking]

Just because I'm doing this mod myself, here are some links to the parts listed:

Parts for the Mod

• Anderson Metals - 56123-0402 Brass Pipe Fitting, Reducing Hex Nipple, 1/4" Male Pipe x 1/8" Male Pipe
• DOZYANT 1/4" RV Propane Quick Connect Adapter for Propane Hose, Propane or Natural Gas 1/4" Quick Connect or Disconnect Kit - Shutoff Valve & Full Flow Plug - 100% Solid Brass
• EDGE INDUSTRIAL Brass REDUCING Coupling 1/4" X 1/8" Female NPT FNPT Fuel/AIR/Water/Oil/Gas WOG (Qty 01)
• MENSI Propane/Natural LP Gas Quick Disconnect Connect 1/4” dust Cap Diameter 12.5mm (1/4") 3sets/lot ONLY for 1/4" Propane Quick Disconnect (Only one is needed, but sold in a 3 pack)

The DozyAnt has both the Quick connect and the Plug. I swapped the part from SureMarineService.com to one on Amazon, but it should be the same part. (I'm a sucker for free Prime shipping)

Extension hoses can be bought as well:

• Funmit 12 Feet RV Quick Connect Propane Hose, Quick Disconnect Propane Hose Extension for Most LP Gas Low Pressure Application
• DOZYANT 24 feet Low Pressure Propane Quick-Connect Hose, RV Quick Connect Propane Hose, Quick Disconnect Propane Hose Extension - 1/4” Safety Shutoff Valve & Male Full Flow Plug for RVs

(I couldn't find a 10 footer, at least, one that wasn't MORE money than the 12 footer)

Optional Accessory

I already have a 12 Footer with QC for my blackstone grill, and since I'm using the same propane port, I felt I needed a splitter:

• 1/4'' RV Propane Quick Connect Y Splitter Adapter for RV Trailer, 1/4" Quick Connect Splitter Kit, 2 Way LP Gas Adapter, Quick Connect Propane Hose Connect to Motorhome Tabletop Grill

Not sure how this will affect flow rate, but since there is a regulator to step the propane DOWN to a lower pressure for the generator, I think it will be fine.

Generator's this applies to (Inverter Types, I didn't list the open frame one's)

• Champion Power Equipment 100900 2000-Watt Dual Fuel Inverter Generator, Ultralight (Older Model)
• Champion Power Equipment 100402 2000-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Inverter Generator, Parallel Ready (Newer Model)
• Champion Power Equipment 200961 2500-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Inverter Generator, Ultralight (Larger Capacity)
• Champion 3400-Watt Dual Fuel RV Ready Portable Inverter Generator with Electric Start
• Champion Power Equipment 200988 4500-Watt Dual Fuel RV Ready Portable Inverter Generator, Electric Start (Full RV)

Grounding Plug for generator (if you have an EMS system)

• Southwire Company LLC 44400 Surge Guard Generator Neutral
• Link on how to make one yourself (about $5) https://gdrvowners.com/forum/operati...on-a-generator

Adaptor plug to connect generator to Camper

• Gen RV 12" L5-30 AMP Locking 3-Prong Plug/TT-30 30 AMP Standard Receptacle Generator Adapter with Grip (3-Prong)

MicroAir SoftStart

This allows your A/C to start on a smaller Generator (As small as 2000watts)

• Hutch Mountain Microair Easystart 364 + Free Install kit - RV Camper air Conditioner Soft Start Easy Start

[howson]

mpking

I just ordered the items today myself. Hopefully got the right parts. The "Y" adapter is just for convenience.

[howson]

Took the Champion-provided propane assembly apart just to see what was involved. (I've taped the openings to keep foreign objects from getting inside while I wait for the parts to show up.)

Unscrewing the propane connector / regulator from the the safety valve was not easy--that sucker was on tight!



Ready to mod!

[howson]

Looking closely at the setup I realized a dust cap will be required for the male quick disconnect attached to the safety valve. Added dust caps to my order. Not sure I need three but for the price...I'll have spares.

[Beachcamper]

One more item needed is the grounding plug.

[gbkims]

I got 8 hours on a 20lb propane tank during the day on Monday b/c of the Texas power outage.
This is on an old modded Yamaha 2000W generator.
I was powering up 2 space heaters, side by side frig, lights, laptop, charging phone and MiFi..Rotated power between the side by side frig and the garage frig and deep freezer.
Gone thru one 30lb, one 20lb, 1/2 a 20lb. Have two 30lb, one 20lb remaining, then will switch to gasoline if needed.
Had some power last night, then it was rotated off this morning.

[howson]

gbkims

Check my math, please!

Using the observation from your experience, there's a 2.5lbs/hr consumption of propane with the generator under full load.

Assumptions:

• 1400 watts from my propane-fueled "2000W" Champion generator
• 20% SoC (State of Charge) in my 400aH Battle Born battery bank
  • That means the bank requires 320aH from the generator
• 1400W/13.6V (assumed charge rate) = ~100aH charge rate from Multiplus

So...I should expect in this scenario for it to take 3 hours to fully recharge the battery bank (actually a little longer since there will still be consumption during this time). Let's guestimate 3.5 hours, so 3.5 hours x 2.5lbs/hr = ~9lbs of propane.

That means I can plan on three recharges of the battery bank from a 20% SoC using a single 30lb tank before I'll need to get the tank filled.

Does that check?

Will a bathroom scale (used to measure the weight of the propane bottle before and after a test period) validate the assumptions in this post?

Howard

[JBill9694]

So if you want to play with the math:
1 gallon propane = 91,500 BTU
1 BTU = 0.2923 Watts
At 120V, 1 Watt = 0.008 Amps
At 115 V, 1 Watt = 0.009 Amps

[Beachcamper]

I'm thinking about doing the same.......can you share where your ordered from and price if you are OK with that.

Thank you !

Dan

Dan, I took the items off Mikes post on page one #2 he has options to what I ordered. Here are screenshots of what mine looks like.

[Beachcamper]

While waiting for generator, was looking at online videos on how to modify for onboard propane use. I came across this video showing the use of just an extension hose to one of the tanks. Might be a good solution for those not wanting to do any mods. One issue I did not think about was how modified propane line configuration could void the warranty. I sent an email to Champion and will see what they respond with. Meanwhile, here is this easy solution until the 3 year warranty expires.

https://youtu.be/K-MA9sujtX4

[Beachcamper]

Vivian

That is a good find. I have a similar propane hose that I use for my Camp Chef grill. I would definitely go this route to avoid any warranty issues.

Brian

Brian, I had a reply from Champion and they linked me to a similar mod on the airstreams forum. Which now makes me feel better about the quick connect mod. However, that propane extension is another easy fix if you already have the part.

Here is their reply with similar parts list:

Hello Vivian,

You can extend the propane hose for our 2000W – 3400W inverter generators by doing the following:

SOURCE: http://www.airforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189187
CREDIT: UncleBad

Here are the steps used to create a hose and valve for the Champion 3400-Watt Portable Dual Fuel Inverter Generator.
THE GENERATOR REQUIRES ½ PSI AND A FLOW RATE UP TO 76,000 BTU/HR WHEN UNDER FULL LOAD.

All the parts used can be found in this Amazon list:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/TXNB1SWETOFC




1 –
Remove the small regulator/LPG tank connector from the large pressure reducing valve, leaving the brass fitting on the large pressure reducing valve.
This leaves you with a 1/8 FPT male connection. You cannot change the length of the existing hose from this component to the generator. It is sized specifically for this valve.


2 –
Connect a Reducer Coupling 1/4 " FPT X 1/8 " FPT to the male connection on the large pressure reducing valve using yellow propane tape.
This is the hard to find part, its included in the Amazon list below.
Sorry, I didn’t take a picture at this step.

3 –
Connect a 1/4" NPT x Full Flow Male Plug using yellow propane tape.


4 –
This will create a hose that includes a pressure reducing valve with low pressure propane quick connects on both sides.
Then all you need is a low pressure propane quick connect hose, I chose one that is 12 feet long.

[Beachcamper]

I got the go ahead from Champion. Go ahead and mod to your hearts content

Hello Viv,

You will not void your warranty for extending your propane hose or modifying for the quick connect for propane.
We hope you have a great day!


A- WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

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"Many pretenders, some contenders, one Champion.”

[howson]

Beachcamper ,
The mod went well. Which was surprising, because working with propane parts is just like plumbing, but if propane leaks it can blow up. What could possibly go wrong, Cate&Rob ?

Seriously, I didn't have an issue. I used the "sniff test" on all of the connections and didn't smell propane. Generator ran fine.

Some notes:
As noted in the video where the guy goes an alternate route, the low pressure regulator is in tight. See post #4 to refresh your memory if needed, but I used cushioned pipe wrench jaws (tape around them) to hold the pressure regulator and a wrench on the nut. Even with that I needed the leverage of the floor to hold the pipe wrench while I pushed in the opposite direction with a lot of force. You might find this a challenge and might consider having a mechanic separate the parts for you. (Putting them back together wasn't too tough.)

I used white propane tape on all threads.



I realized after I got the parts I didn't have the low pressure regulator completely prepped for the mod. I needed to remove the OEM adapter and install the new one.



With that done next was adding the quick disconnect. Now the original low pressure regulator is ready to use with a propane bottle (if necessary).



The adapter removed from the low pressure regulator got screwed into the safety valve. From there the adapter was installed, then the quick disconnect.



Lousy picture, but gives you the idea. You can see my bonding plug in the upper outlet (it's the orange plug). The 15A-to-50A adapter is plugged into the generator, the power cord then goes back and plugs into the RV as normal.

The Champion's propane hose plugs into the generator as before (nothing changed from that plug to the safety valve). You can see the quick-connect attached to an extension hose which then is connected to the low pressure connection on my 315RLTS. Worked great!

I'll figure out a more elegant mounting solution for the final setup--what you see below was just to get it tested.


Only other note is the dust caps I ordered weren't perfect. The loop meant to retain the dust cap on the line is too big on the female dust caps, which forced me to do some creative looping to get them to stay on the line. I'd try a different brand...not the kind I ordered (list is in the post above).

Good luck with your mod!

mpking -- how did your mod go? Any notes to add?

Howard

P.S. Getting the generator to work with my Victron Multiplus (nothing to do with the propane mod) is another story for another thread. I'll come back and post a link to it once I get it written up for those interested.

P.P.S. Nice to know Champion is OK with the mod! Thank you for pursuing and posting that info!

[howson]

I have a question regarding my portable EMS, should I use it or not between generator and RV?

The EMS protects against a wayward pedestal or neighboring RVs with electrical issues that are tied into the same branch. Also against surges, brown outs, etc. Those possibilities are highly unlikely when connected to the generator...so I don't think it is necessary. Lots of much more qualified individuals here (who are or were electrical professionals) so if one of those chimes in give due consideration to their input.

I did buy the bonding plug in case I did use it but wonder if it is necessary.

I'm going to leave this one to the electrical gurus. I know it won't be necessary (if you don't use the EMS) but should you use it anyway to tie the neutral to the ground at the generator? Not sure. Jkwilson ? TucsonJim ? Or any of the other knowledgeable folks here who know the answer and can explain why. (Thanks!)