Posted: 4/8/2026 4:30:58 PM EDT
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I have a 500gal propane tank on my property. It has a few threaded fittings on top. I am wondering if 1) these fitting are standard on these tanks and 2) is there a way to attach my propane generator to this tank? (Predator 11500 trifuel). I am not very familiar with Propane and propane accessories 
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1: I'm not an LP expert, but I believe there are standard connectors based on the size and type. Supply to the regulator I believe is a simple flare connection. Someone way more qualified will be along shortly I'm sure (this is where I got my wet line info about 15 years ago...see below) 2: Yes, but...it won't be cheap. Most tanks have a fill valve, supply line, and wet line. I picked up a wet line hose and adapter to fill 20lb tanks from my bulk tank. All said and done, it was a couple hundred bucks. For your generator, you'd want to hook to the supply line, which usually has a regulator under the cover (but you'll probably need a second regulator at the device itself). |
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Probably. Pictures of the end of your generator feed line and pictures of the fittings under the cap of the tank would help. Is the generator portable, and does the generator currently have a fuel fitting for a portable tank, or is it designed to be hard plumbed? Is the tank being used for anything else, and is there a small regulator under the lid of the tank, and a larger one somewhere near your house? That would change how you would plumb it, and where the regulators for the generator (if needed) would go. |
It's true no matter who you are, the worst thing you can do for someone is give them something for nothing. - 3rdpig
Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy. - Heinlein
Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy. - Heinlein
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I have a 250 g Natural Gas and a 12k genny, yes the outlets on the tank are supposed there, mine has 5. One outlet to the regulator, one for a gauge, one blow-off valve (pretty sure), one for filling, and one for ??-maybe a second outlet? There are at least 3 different thread sizes. If I recall (I did mine myself), the regulator at the tank takes the pressure down to 10lbs, I have a regulator at the house that drops it to 5lbs. it branches off to the genny, which has it's own regulator at 5lbs again. When I bought the house the tank had a dual step down regulator, it took it from 10 to 5, then another 5 at the house, then another 5 at the genny, which was set up for propane, not NG. It was being over-regulated. Find out what pressures you need to run and get your regulator(s) off amazon, it's what I did. Saved thousands over what the 'professionals' wanted to do the job, |
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Originally Posted By bmarshall1: I have a 250 g Natural Gas and a 12k genny, yes the outlets on the tank are supposed there, mine has 5. One outlet to the regulator, one for a gauge, one blow-off valve (pretty sure), one for filling, and one for ??-maybe a second outlet? There are at least 3 different thread sizes. If I recall (I did mine myself), the regulator at the tank takes the pressure down to 10lbs, I have a regulator at the house that drops it to 5lbs. it branches off to the genny, which has it's own regulator at 5lbs again. When I bought the house the tank had a dual step down regulator, it took it from 10 to 5, then another 5 at the house, then another 5 at the genny, which was set up for propane, not NG. It was being over-regulated. Find out what pressures you need to run and get your regulator(s) off amazon, it's what I did. Saved thousands over what the 'professionals' wanted to do the job, You have a 250 gallon NG tank? High pressure NG? House supplied propane is usually regulated down to 11” which is approximately 1/2 psi. Natural gas is closer to 1/4 psi which is why NG needs larger lines for the same BTU. A two stage regulator on a propane tank will usually drop the propane pressure to about 10psi. The second stage regulator at the house drops it to around 11” (or about 1/2 psi). This allows a smaller line from the tank to the house. |
"It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things."
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
| The exiting pressure of a propane second stage propane regulator should be about 11 inches water column which would be equal to about .4 lbs pressure. 5 lbs of pressure for any residential natural gas or propane system is not standard and would be outside code (as well as a really bad idea). If there was a leak, the building would fill quickly to a vapor percentage where detonation or suffication could occur. It can still happen, but at a lower pressure there is more time to escape the closed area. |
It's true no matter who you are, the worst thing you can do for someone is give them something for nothing. - 3rdpig
Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy. - Heinlein
Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy. - Heinlein
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Originally Posted By ColtRifle: You have a 250 gallon NG tank? High pressure NG? House supplied propane is usually regulated down to 11” which is approximately 1/2 psi. Natural gas is closer to 1/4 psi which is why NG needs larger lines for the dam BTU. I am guessing there is a little confusion. He may be using the term natural gas instead of propane vapor not understanding they are different gasses. |
It's true no matter who you are, the worst thing you can do for someone is give them something for nothing. - 3rdpig
Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy. - Heinlein
Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy. - Heinlein
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Originally Posted By lumper: I am guessing there is a little confusion. He may be using the term natural gas instead of propane vapor not understanding they are different gasses. I thinking that but the rest of the post makes me unsure. I don’t think a liquid NG tank for home use exists like it does for propane (LPG). Natural gas vehicles use highly compressed natural gas tanks not LPG that propane vehicles use. The only use of LNG I am aware of is ship transport of LNG. Once it get to its destination it is off loaded and eventually returned to a vapor state for distribution. But, I don’t know everything about the NG system so maybe there is something new I’m not aware of. |
"It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things."
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
| I'd get your propane guy out there (whoever fills your tank) and ask him to run a line to where you keep the generator. They are used to stuff like this so it's not a crazy ask. Tell him you may want to fill small tanks off of it also. Our guy is awesome on stuff like this. |
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Originally Posted By lumper: I am guessing there is a little confusion. He may be using the term natural gas instead of propane vapor not understanding they are different gasses. Originally Posted By lumper: Originally Posted By ColtRifle: You have a 250 gallon NG tank? High pressure NG? House supplied propane is usually regulated down to 11” which is approximately 1/2 psi. Natural gas is closer to 1/4 psi which is why NG needs larger lines for the dam BTU. I am guessing there is a little confusion. He may be using the term natural gas instead of propane vapor not understanding they are different gasses. Yeah, I got all that backwards... DOH! I also got the pressures wrong too. I am currently replacing the regulator on the genny, let's hope I do better on that! |
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Originally Posted By bmarshall1: Yeah, I got all that backwards... DOH! I also got the pressures wrong too. I am currently replacing the regulator on the genny, let's hope I do better on that! All good. But if you had something new, I wanted to hear all about it!! |
"It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things."
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
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Just remember, the regulator on your tanks is a "first stage" regulator and reduces the pressure to about 10 pis You need a second stage regulator to get you to 11" Depending on your generator, you may also need a demand regulator. |
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