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Bryan Lyerly, Stuart, Florida
Propane Powered Generator Install
2007 GMC Sierra 2500HD
2012 Northern Lite 8-11 QSE
My wife and I travel around North America in our Northern Lite with our big Golden Retriever, Stetson. We were always limited during warmer times of the year to stay in campgrounds with electricity to run the air conditioner. Stetson does not do well in the heat.
The generator compartment on our Northern Lite can hold a small portable generator and, for years, we traveled with a 2,000-watt Yamaha. Unfortunately, it could not power our rooftop air conditioner.
This year we replaced our air conditioner with a Houghton 9500 BTU from Rec Pro, and found a 4,000-watt dual-fuel generator by Pulsar. The duel fuel generator is the same size and weight as our 2,000-watt Yamaha generator.
I wanted to connect the generator to the Northern Lite’s two 20 gallon propane tanks in order to extend the short run time from the generator’s one gallon gas tank. This would allow us to run the air conditioner while boondocking. If there’s a mechanical issue with the truck, it would also allow us to keep our big Golden Retriever cool.
I wanted to tap into our Northern Lite’s existing propane at a convenient location without causing damage to the fiberglass shell. There was no room for additional plumbing inside the exterior compartment where the two propane tanks are housed. I determined the easiest location was to tap into the 3/8 inch copper line that feeds our three-way refrigerator with propane.
The refrigerator’s propane line is accessed from an exterior vented door. This is a plus in case there is a propane leak as LPG would not accumulate inside the camper.
Brass fittings to accomplish the tap were bought at a local hardware store (one 1/4″ NPT female tee, two 1/4″ male NPT x 3/8″ male flare unions, one 3/8″ x 3/8″ swivel female flare), as well as a 12′ 1/4″ QD LPG hose from Amazon that had a 1/4″ NPT brass QD valve to fit into the tee.
I did not have to cut into the existing LPG line that feeds the refrigerator. I simply had to insert the QD tee that I built in between the existing line and the refrigerator’s gas input, and check for leaks once installation was complete.
I installed my quick disconnect tee in-line with the existing LPG plumbing and checked for leaks. Then I attached the 12′ 1/4″ LPG line to the QD fitting on the tee, bled the line, and connected it to my newly purchased Pulsar 4,000-watt generator.
The generator started on the first pull and easily runs my Houghton air conditioner (which does not require a soft start according to RecPro’s literature).
When the generator is attached to my Northern Lite, the exterior vent door on the refrigerator has to be cracked open to accommodate the hose exiting. And the generator has to be placed on the right side of the camper instead of the left.
Overall, I am very pleased with the ability to have an extended run time generator that will power my air conditioner.
Pulsar 4000 watt generator on Amazon
12′ 1/4″ LPG QD line on Amazon
The brass fittings were from a local hardware store for approximately $25.
It took me an hour to complete this modification and cost me approximately $657.
Disclaimer: The modifications above are submitted by Truck Camper Magazine readers. It is your responsibility to make sure that any do-it-yourself modification project you undertake is safe, effective, and legal for your situation.
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