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05-07-2017, 11:14 AM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
2017 30' Flying Cloud
Raleigh
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 70
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Champion 3400 -- Propane Port
I have a 2017 FC 30 Bunk. with a propane port. I bought a 3400 Champion dual fuel Inverter/Generator. I read that many people are running their generators off the propane port. Several said the run 2 hondas. Our port will not provide enough gas to run the generator. What can I do? Modifications? I can connect directly to the tank with no problem. Really wanted the simplicity of a quick connection to the port. HELP!!
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05-07-2017, 12:15 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,406
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Since the Gen runs ok directly from a tank, problem could be the two pressure regulators being in line. From the LP tank pressure can be "stepped down". The AS regulator will provide proper pressure and volume to the AS components. If another regulator is further down stream, it will be limited by the AS regulator upstream.
To resolve, can you remove or bypass the Gen regulator and directly connect from the AS? To me that is simplest fix.
If you can't do the above, you will need a port between the AS tanks and the AS regulator... that will take creative plumbing.
Hope someone has better solution.. good luck!
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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05-07-2017, 01:08 PM
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#3
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2 Rivet Member
2017 30' Flying Cloud
Raleigh
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 70
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Thanks -- Figured it out
Thanks -- I figured it out. needed to use secondary regulator. Works like a champ now!!
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09-21-2017, 11:08 PM
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#4
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1 Rivet Member
San Tan Valley
, Arizona
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 7
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Champion dual fuel generator will not work with external propane port
I see others on this thread have been successful running propane generators using the external low pressure port of their AS. I have a 2017 International Serenity 19ft. I connected my Champion Dual Fuel 3500/3100 watt generator to the outside propane port using the 6 ft propane hose that came with the AS that I added a 3/8 quick connect male fitting to attach to the generator. This hose does not have a regulator and relies on the internal AS regulator. I could not get enough propane pressure necessary to run my generator. I called Airstream Customer Service and they told me the AS internal regulator has pressure of an 11 in column of water (the measurement the regulator gave to AS. The AS Customer Service person said the external propane port is only meant to use with a small propane stove/grill and does not have enough pressure to run a generator. I also tested the generator by removing one of the 30 gal propane tanks from the AS and using the 6 ft hose and regulator that came with the generator. That worked fine. Does anyone know what I can do to get the external propane port to work with my generator?
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12-19-2017, 10:36 PM
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#5
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3 Rivet Member
2011 27 FB International
Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 228
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jim6090
Thanks -- I figured it out. needed to use secondary regulator. Works like a champ now!!
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Just had a quick connect added to our airstream, one intended use is to connect to our champion generator. First, are there readily available male-to-male quick connect hoses? I couldn't find any on amazon. Second, is the pressure actually too low for this to work? Why did a second regulator work? What is your setup?
Thanks!
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05-13-2018, 04:30 PM
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#6
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2 Rivet Member
2018 19' Flying Cloud
Waltham
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mixedpuppy
Just had a quick connect added to our airstream, one intended use is to connect to our champion generator. First, are there readily available male-to-male quick connect hoses? I couldn't find any on amazon. Second, is the pressure actually too low for this to work? Why did a second regulator work? What is your setup?
Thanks!
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Hi. I'm having this same issue. Did you find a resolution?? Thanks in advance.
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05-14-2018, 05:52 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2018 27' Globetrotter
Apollo Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,401
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I frequently run my Champion 3400W Dual Fuel generator off my Airstream quick disconnect fitting all day long without any issues. Here is a post that describes what I've done. Basically, I removed the small pressure regulator from the Champion hose but keep the large fuel controller in the line. Pictures and description in the following post.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ml#post1996143
__________________
2021 Northern-Lite 10-2 & F350 DRW PSD, 600W Solar/Victron/600A BattleBorn
146 nights 31,000 miles (first 10 months!)
Sold: 2018 GT27Q, 74 nights 12,777 miles
Sold: 2017 FC25FB, 316 nights 40,150 miles
Sold: 2013 Casita SD17 89 nights 16,200 miles
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05-14-2018, 01:19 PM
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#8
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2 Rivet Member
2018 19' Flying Cloud
Waltham
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AirMiles
I frequently run my Champion 3400W Dual Fuel generator off my Airstream quick disconnect fitting all day long without any issues. Here is a post that describes what I've done. Basically, I removed the small pressure regulator from the Champion hose but keep the large fuel controller in the line. Pictures and description in the following post.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ml#post1996143
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Awesome. This is very helpful. Thank you.
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08-28-2018, 10:07 AM
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#9
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Swanstreaming
2014 28' International
Zionsville
, Indiana
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AirMiles
I frequently run my Champion 3400W Dual Fuel generator off my Airstream quick disconnect fitting all day long without any issues. Here is a post that describes what I've done. Basically, I removed the small pressure regulator from the Champion hose but keep the large fuel controller in the line. Pictures and description in the following post.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ml#post1996143
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Thanks for this. I’m having a hard time finding the right quick-connect to work with the Airstream port. Can you give specifics about the parts you bought to make this conversion work?
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08-28-2018, 10:35 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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Since my Airstream is older, I chose to go with a 3/8" quick connect system and appropriate larger hoses. It did not have any quick-connect port when I got it. Had to add piping and valving between the AS regulator and the copper propane piping.
I did separate the larger low-pressure regulator and the smaller high pressure regulator with additional 3/8 quick-connect fittings. I've written up and provided pictures of this install and conversion somewhere else on the forums, in connection with the use of a Champion 3400 Inverter dual fuel generator set.
Try the search box: Here is the thread where connecting a Champion Dual Fuel to the AS regulator is heavily discussed:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f382...-175058-2.html
My meanderings and pictures start around post #20. Detailed pictures of MY version of the conversion start at post #182, same thread.
Have a look at the whole thread for a sense of what several have done.
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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08-28-2018, 10:52 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2018 27' Globetrotter
Apollo Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,401
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swan
Thanks for this. I’m having a hard time finding the right quick-connect to work with the Airstream port. Can you give specifics about the parts you bought to make this conversion work?
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This is the one I bought and use. https://www.amazon.com/Camco-Propane...EWL&ref=plSrch
__________________
2021 Northern-Lite 10-2 & F350 DRW PSD, 600W Solar/Victron/600A BattleBorn
146 nights 31,000 miles (first 10 months!)
Sold: 2018 GT27Q, 74 nights 12,777 miles
Sold: 2017 FC25FB, 316 nights 40,150 miles
Sold: 2013 Casita SD17 89 nights 16,200 miles
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08-28-2018, 11:46 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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Somewhere in the thread I referenced, after post #182 should be an Amazon part list for the 3/8 quick connect and hose assembly stuff I used. Note that I went to 3/8 ports and hoses to make sure I would be able to get full flow to the generator through a hose that could be extended up to 24 feet with the two extension hose assemblies I ended up building. Wanted to be sure I could get the generator far enough from my AS to minimize noise, and provide distance for the carbon monoxide and other exhaust products from the engine to dissipate sufficiently.
With Propane (and Natural Gas, for that matter) the longer the piping run, and the more bends and fittings, the more the flow is restricted. 1/4 inch quick connects restrict the flow a lot. Since I do not know design parameters for propane gas that well, I figured that at least one size bigger fittings and the larger ID hoses would probably be a good idea to make sure the generator did not starve for fuel.
I do have tables for natural gas, so I used them for a rough idea. For Natural gas piping, even a pipe elbow counts as quite a long pipe for size and distance calculations and design purposes, and smaller diameter pipes cannot be used for appreciably long distances. So. bigger I went, in accordance with the "Overkill Engineering Department" general processes and techniques. (grin)
Please be aware that I am NOT an expert on propane fuel systems, piping design, and safety-related parameters. The stuff I am writing about is what I did, and I do not assume any liability whatsoever for what you or any other person or entity might do with your propane and generator system design, use of such systems, or results therefrom. When in doubt, consult an expert in such matters--they get paid to know what they are doing.
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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08-28-2018, 04:41 PM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
2018 27' International
Conroe
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 28
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I run two Honda 2200 generators off the propane port on my Airstream. 1/4" quick connect fitting at the trailer with a 1/2" propane hose that is 20 feet long with a tee at the end with 3/8" quick connect fittings to each generator. Works perfectly!
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09-09-2018, 12:42 PM
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#14
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Swanstreaming
2014 28' International
Zionsville
, Indiana
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AirMiles
I frequently run my Champion 3400W Dual Fuel generator off my Airstream quick disconnect fitting all day long without any issues. Here is a post that describes what I've done. Basically, I removed the small pressure regulator from the Champion hose but keep the large fuel controller in the line. Pictures and description in the following post.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ml#post1996143
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So, I am running a 12’ hose off my Airstream low-pressure quick-connect ¼” fitting, into the regulator (minus the low-pressure piece you took off), then into the 3400.
I can get it to run sort of smooth with the choke all the way out, but if I put the choke in, it bogs down. It won’t run my AC—but it did with the stock connector that goes straight to the tank.
If I let it warm up for a minute or two, I can close the choke sometimes, but when the AC turns on, the 3400 bogs down and quits.
Any ideas?
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09-09-2018, 12:55 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2018 27' Globetrotter
Apollo Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,401
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swan
So, I am running a 12’ hose off my Airstream low-pressure quick-connect ¼” fitting, into the regulator (minus the low-pressure piece you took off), then into the 3400.
I can get it to run sort of smooth with the choke all the way out, but if I put the choke in, it bogs down. It won’t run my AC—but it did with the stock connector that goes straight to the tank.
If I let it warm up for a minute or two, I can close the choke sometimes, but when the AC turns on, the 3400 bogs down and quits.
Any ideas?
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It sounds like you have it connected exactly like mine. I have never had it do what you are describing. Mine even works from the Airstream quick disconnect port even at 8500' of elevation. It sounds like a gas volume problem. Is your propane tank knob turned up enough? Do you have multiple tanks? Does it act the same from both tanks?
__________________
2021 Northern-Lite 10-2 & F350 DRW PSD, 600W Solar/Victron/600A BattleBorn
146 nights 31,000 miles (first 10 months!)
Sold: 2018 GT27Q, 74 nights 12,777 miles
Sold: 2017 FC25FB, 316 nights 40,150 miles
Sold: 2013 Casita SD17 89 nights 16,200 miles
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09-09-2018, 12:56 PM
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#16
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Swanstreaming
2014 28' International
Zionsville
, Indiana
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AirMiles
It sounds like you have it connected exactly like mine. I have never had it do what you are describing. Mine even works from the Airstream quick disconnect port even at 8500' of elevation. It sounds like a gas volume problem. Is your propane tank knob turned up enough? Do you have multiple tanks? Does it act the same from both tanks?
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I’ll try the other tank. I’m using ¼” piping, do you think that makes a difference?
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09-09-2018, 01:03 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2018 27' Globetrotter
Apollo Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,401
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I also bought this hose that I could connect between my 12' hose and propane tank (without the 1/4" quick connect fitting).
https://www.amazon.com/DOZYANT-Unive.../dp/B01GZPBCPU
You can buy a similar hose at Home Depot or Lowes and the fittings to connect it. I would buy this hose and test it directly to the propane tank. Then you will know if the problem is your Airstream quick disconnect port or the hose that you made.
__________________
2021 Northern-Lite 10-2 & F350 DRW PSD, 600W Solar/Victron/600A BattleBorn
146 nights 31,000 miles (first 10 months!)
Sold: 2018 GT27Q, 74 nights 12,777 miles
Sold: 2017 FC25FB, 316 nights 40,150 miles
Sold: 2013 Casita SD17 89 nights 16,200 miles
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09-09-2018, 01:12 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2018 27' Globetrotter
Apollo Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,401
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swan
I’ll try the other tank. I’m using ¼” piping, do you think that makes a difference?
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What do you mean by 1/4" piping? I used 1/4" rubber high-pressure propane hose. Like this one: https://www.amazon.com/SHINESTAR-Pro.../dp/B07F1QN9TH
__________________
2021 Northern-Lite 10-2 & F350 DRW PSD, 600W Solar/Victron/600A BattleBorn
146 nights 31,000 miles (first 10 months!)
Sold: 2018 GT27Q, 74 nights 12,777 miles
Sold: 2017 FC25FB, 316 nights 40,150 miles
Sold: 2013 Casita SD17 89 nights 16,200 miles
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09-09-2018, 01:17 PM
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#19
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Swanstreaming
2014 28' International
Zionsville
, Indiana
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AirMiles
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Sorry. ¼” quick disconnect hoses. I notice the hose that connects to the generator, after the regulator, is thicker—even though it terminates in a ¼” male quick connect. The hose on the bottom is the hose going into the gen, on top is the diameter of the one coming out of the trailer.
I think you can get ⅜” hose with ¼” fittings.
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09-09-2018, 01:22 PM
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#20
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Swanstreaming
2014 28' International
Zionsville
, Indiana
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 30
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