Date:         Tue, 8 Jul 2003 20:01:01 -0700
Reply-To:     laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Delanty <laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Propane
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              t5QRvXY4WkMKAAAAQAAAA5aapLp8laka72FWrVovPFAEAAAAA@shaw.ca>
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Eric wrote:
>I am looking into some way I can bring a 20lb propane tank and patch it
>into the system to either refill the tank on the van or having it as an
>extra. The trick I believe is in moving the liquid propane between
>tanks..
>
>Anyone ever tried this?

Yes.
I tie my spare tank in on the low pressure side of the regulator.

I modified my system so the output of the westy's regulator
goes to a shutoff valve (valve A), then to a tee.
One leg of the tee goes to the regular westy appliances. The other
leg of the tee goes to a second shut off valve (valve B), then to a
female quick disconnect fitting located under the van.

In normal operation valve A is open and valve B is closed and
the fridge and stove run off the westy propane tank.
I can also open valve B and plug "external accessories" into
the quick disconnect fitting. I use this sometimes to run a
coleman style propane stove outside but off the the westy
propane tank.

I also have a 20lb propane bottle with a regulator and quick
disconnect fitting that I can drag along if I want. I can hook
this into the westy system by closing valve A, opening
valve B, and hooking a hose with a male fitting on BOTH ends
between the quick disconnect on the van and the one on the
external bottle. This feeds low pressure regulated gas to the
westy appliances.

I found a nice rubber boot that slips over the quick disconnect
fitting under the van so it doesn't get full of dirt.

I've tested the system in the driveway, but never had to hook
up the external tank while camping. The stock westy tank
lasts for quite a while...

Steve
EJ22 -> '86 Westy "Escape Pod"