Propane gas regulators not to be used in caravsns or motor carsvans!

philgb

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We usually use a dumpy calor butane ( blue bottle) in the campervan and have just purchased a dumpy calor propane (red bottle)
To use over the colder months.
Also purchased a new red regulator from our local caravan dealer, on reading the leaflet that was with regulator it stated NOT FOR USE IN CARAVANS AND MOTORCARAVANS
Phoned the shop and they replied we have sold hundreds of them!

So who is right cavegna group who ma ke the regulators or the caravan shop.
We do have a drop vent but I feel a bit unsure now about using this standard regulator

Any thoughts?
 
i wouldn't worry about it, but if you're concerned, fill a plant sprayer half and half with fairy liquid and water and after fitting and turning on,give it a good squirt of mist and look for bubbles. any small leakage will escape through the drop out vent.
maybe the manufacturers would like to absolve themselves of any responsibility by suggesting the bottle is kept outside,which in the case of caravans,it usually is
 
philgb said:
We usually use a dumpy calor butane ( blue bottle) in the campervan and have just purchased a dumpy calor propane (red bottle)
To use over the colder months.
Also purchased a new red regulator from our local caravan dealer, on reading the leaflet that was with regulator it stated NOT FOR USE IN CARAVANS AND MOTORCARAVANS
Phoned the shop and they replied we have sold hundreds of them!

So who is right cavegna group who ma ke the regulators or the caravan shop.
We do have a drop vent but I feel a bit unsure now about using this standard regulator

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

I don't think you will have any issues , the reason for the warning is assumptive on my part but hopefully makes sense.

From 2002 ish motorhomes and caravans have been fitted with 30 mbar regulators, it is an EN standard and possibly the reason for the "warning " ...Prior to 2002 butane (blue used 28 mbar regs Propane 37 mbar regs which is what you have purchased.

This is the only logical reason i can think of .Lpg appliances are jetted to run on both propane and butane at the 28/37 mbar pressures indeed static caravans still do

Channa
 
My 2006 build motorhome has the manufacturer stickers on the gas appliances saying they will run on both butane and propane and at 28 / 37 mbar.

The original 30 mbar bulkhead regulator blocked up and was replaced 4 times in 2 years and always at a most inappropriate time :mad2:

After the forth time which thankfully was at the Peterborough show i took the bugger off and replaced it with some orange LPG hose and a on bottle 37 mbar regulator.

That was in 2009 and the same regulator is still working fine today without any problems what so ever.

I now have Gas It installed so i fixed to the bulkhead a UK POL fitting with twin inlets so i can still use the same type regulator.
 
Older vans work off the old BS3016 standard which was superceeded by BS EN 12864/ 13786. in reality no difference other than LAV (leisure accomodation vehicles froom 2002 where to be fitted with 30 mbar regulators.

There is no difference in ventilation requirements etc, the 30 mbar was introduced so in theory you could run off either gas. only having to change pigtails for the bottle.

If i were testing, I would remark not to current standards , that is a world apart from failing a system. to my knowledge a system NCS doesnt invalidate insurance but worth checking the small print ....and again the above would explain the manufacturers caveat.

Permissable deviation of outlet pressure for max/minimum flow do differ slightly.

I hope this helps more than confuses

Channa
 
I think the reason for not using the regulator is that it has to be bulk mounted WITH a test point. How are you otherwise going to test the system for gas safety?

Technically there is no reason why you can't use it.
 
Teutone said:
I think the reason for not using the regulator is that it has to be bulk mounted WITH a test point. How are you otherwise going to test the system for gas safety?

Technically there is no reason why you can't use it.
Click to expand...
Not at all , you connect a t piece low pressure side of the regulator for testing , standard practice

Channa

Where there is no test nipple, which on any older van always applies
 
Last edited by a moderator:
channa said:
Not at all , you connect a t piece low pressure side of the regulator for testing , standard practice

Channa

Where there is no test nipple, which on any older van always applies
Click to expand...

thanks for clarifying.
 
swiftcamper said:
Well similar but just the 2 ,categories to deal with now.
My guess would be that with the pressure change the manufacturer now states not for use in caravans or motorhomes.
No gsr operative could give you a safety certificate not that any privately used need to be certified only if used for hire or reward.
Click to expand...

That makes sense , permissable deviation from nominal set out let pressures (unless that has changed)

BSEN 13786 Propane +13 mbar i.e 37- 50 mbar
BSEN 13786 LAV +10 mbar i.e 30-40 mbar

Channa
 
swiftcamper said:
I had 60 mbar on Tuesday on natural gas .
New regulator fitted by the utility company within an hour.
Static van leak this morning, they had used 6 compression fittings to rigidly pipe in a cooker so replaced with soldered and cookker hose and bayonet.
Now just 2 joints compared to 12 .
Click to expand...

And that will have ( or should have been done by gas safe? ) final connection is a hose, also a retaining chain shorter than the hose. To be honest statics are what I worked on in the main, However upon my return to the uK my quals fell short hence i made the decision to go Air con and reefers....My lpg up for renewal this year i won;t be bothering

Our regs were in the main clesse and pretty good only one occasion i recall where it sent the manometer through the roof. on a reg change.....I thought it wa sme at first !!! ..Morco D61 B's part of my make up lol ..

Air con compression fittings are illegal everything needs to be brazed


Channa.
 
I once bought a reg from Carrefour in Spain off the shelf. Fitted it to the barbecue and got flames a foot high. Turns out the reg was for a roof felt heating gun. Good for flame grilled stuff!
 
The regulator leaflet states outlet pressure 37mbar and is not bulk head mounted, just screwed into the dumpy bottle 20160214_100342.jpg
 
Not a motorhome its my self built camper, standard new smev hob and spinflo oven/ grill fitted last year, with the gas bottle located under the sink unit, with a drop vent.

Reading the posts I take it the 37mBar regulator sold to me is not to be used and a 30mBar regulator to be purchased?
20160214_102711.jpg
 
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