Is gas still an option?

[Geek]

The exhaust for ours is on the side of the 'van. We have to keep the window on that side firmly closed when the diesel heater is on or fumes get in.

Professional installations like that generally have a microswitch that inhibits the heater if the window isnt closed.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I was wondering what swapping the 3 way for a compressor fridge would cost, plus what I'd need over and above what it has now.

Another thing jsut pooped into my head, is, I already have the fridge installed, is there anyone who does conversions to compressor, there must be a market for that.

 

[Okta]

Not at all.
Banning filling of bottles/cylinders is simply sensible. Forecourt staff can't be expected to be able to tell which bottles have a proper ullage valve.

'Transport use only' doesn't mean for 'transport motive power use only'. Heating and cooling in a transport situation is included.

I disagree but we are allowed to disagree and expressing different opinions is part of a healthy discussion.

 

[ProDave]

The noise of a diesel heater has already been mentioned.

I will now mention the noise of a compressor fridge.

Peaceful night in the middle of nowhere, the silence is periodically interrupted by the compressor starting and running for a few minutes. Yes it is a low level purr, but it is still a NOISE compared to the gas powered evaporator fridge that always remained totally silent.

I am just saying it is something to be aware of.

 

[barryd]

When I bought my van it had a huge underslung tank and an 11kg bottle in the locker. After several years, I realised that I was never going to use the bottle. So it moved to a shed in the garden. I assume it is still there.

I think the Alko kit underslung tank for this van was about £1500 or something like that but it was only 20 litres I think so wouldn't really solve my problem. The issue for us is we can be away from LPG stations for a long time and often in one spot for weeks. My other concern was the ever diminishing availability of LPG stations as well. Its mainly the UK where its an issue. Scottish islands, remote parts of Devon etc. I know ill always get a Calor bottle and I can carry them on the bike so thats what we do. Just use the Gaslow and if it runs out and cant be refilled, switch to Calor.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I'd have thought any decent compressor fridges insulation would have protected it overnight to allow it to be off.

 

[Okta]

Our 12V Thetford compressor fridge has a night mode which further reduces the noise level, we never bother to use it because it runs so quietly in its normal mode. It is right next our beds but we simply don’t notice it cutting in and out. Same with the Truma Combi diesel boiler, we leave it on all night at a low temperature and if it is needed it cuts in without disturbing either of us.

 

[mark61]

Still have a gas cooker, underslung tank. Haven't got round to it yet, but it's all coming out one day and going electric for cooking.

Next van, if there is going to be a next van, not even going to consider gas, in much the same way as I won't be considering a van with a starting handle.

 

[Boris7]

The noise of a diesel heater has already been mentioned.

I will now mention the noise of a compressor fridge.

Peaceful night in the middle of nowhere, the silence is periodically interrupted by the compressor starting and running for a few minutes. Yes it is a low level purr, but it is still a NOISE compared to the gas powered evaporator fridge that always remained totally silent.

I am just saying it is something to be aware of.

Never heard our compressor fridge in the day or night.

 

[marchie]

The bit about external fill points is probably not of general concern but the transport use only and no filing cylinders/bottles will affect many. It is basically banishing motorhomes.

I can only smell diesel if I stand with my nose by the flue when it first fires up and I only did it because some people wrongly say diesel is smelly. No one is breathing diesel fumes or gas fumes which come out of nearly identical balanced flues. We have 2 porthole windows on that side of the van, the one nearest the flue has always been fixed shut to comply with regulations and this applies to gas and diesel alike.

The external fill point is crucial! Charlie, of GasIt/Autogas 2000 Thrisk, led the lobbying of MFG [Morrisons] to permit the refilling of Gaslow/GasIt containers, *provided* they had the external fill point, so that the forecourt employees wouldn't have to inspect each vehicle for compliance. He agrees with the exclusion of gas locker door mounted refill points, because the regular flexing of the cylinder pipes is the 'accident waiting to happen' since they are not designed to be flexible

Steve

 

[mistericeman]

The noise of a diesel heater has already been mentioned.

I will now mention the noise of a compressor fridge.

Peaceful night in the middle of nowhere, the silence is periodically interrupted by the compressor starting and running for a few minutes. Yes it is a low level purr, but it is still a NOISE compared to the gas powered evaporator fridge that always remained totally silent.

I am just saying it is something to be aware of.

No reason for a diesel heater to be noisy (certainly combustion wise) if decent quality intake and exhaust silencers are fitted....

Granted IF I wind ours up to full tilt it CAN sound like a jet taking off inside... BUT it's installed behind the original carver gas fire front with no attempts at noise limitation...
And the be honest I think I've only had to put on that high a setting when I've gone out to the motorhome, in the depths of winter to work on something and wanted to be warm ASAP....

As for the compressor fridge.... I can barely hear the compressor in the end kitchen...
It's the slight metallic ping when the thermostat calls for cooling... THEN the brief hum from the inverter as it deals with the start up current...

Mind I'm usually so full of wine I don't notice lol