Date:         Sat, 11 May 2002 19:25:41 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Propane Heresy - Can you retrofit Westy for alternate use of
              Coleman fuel?
Comments: To: Chris Earl <vw_traveler@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2002051118322843@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 06:32 PM 5/11/2002, Chris Earl wrote:
>Thanks for the warning regarding regulators. Would it be correct to say
>that if one wished to use Coleman fuel one could install a regulator
>similar to what is used on a Coleman stove and thereby avoid turning the
>Westy into a fireball?

?Coleman fuel -- you mean the liquid stuff in cans?  I suspect you're just
talking about small propane bottles as used in propane torches and so
forth.  In that case, no, you have to use exactly the same type regulator
as the one already on the system (Marshall Brass 260 or 290).  You can do
this by connecting your high-pressure feed between the Westy tank service
valve and the excess-flow-preventing POL spud on the regulator, or you can
add a second Marshall brass regulator with excess-flow POL fitting and an
adaptor to take the small bottle.

Note -- I don't see any reason that adding a second regulator would be a
problem as long as it is a two-stage regulator set to 11" WC pressure, and
has an excess-flow POL fitting -- but I have no idea whether the practice
is allowed by the safety codes governing RV installations (which you can
buy from the NFPA for significant amounts of dough).

david


--
David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"