Date:         Tue, 11 Nov 2003 09:21:17 -0800
Reply-To:     laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Delanty <laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Plumbing a second LP tank.. help!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Andrew, thanks for your input. I'll take it under consideration.

But I think your hysteria level seems a little high on this...

It seems to be commonly done in RV's and I don't see the
news reports filled with photos of flaming motor homes.

To start with, a POL fitting at the tanks keeps the propane
flow to a reasonable level in the event of a line rupture.
The POL is nothing more than a restriction with a tiny orifice in it
that limits the high pressure flow to a reasonable maximum amount.
ANY propane leak is dangerous, but with a correctly chosen POL
a high side rupture is little more dangerous than a low side rupture.

And you leave my flaring skills out of it... I'll bet I'm better than you
think. I've flared and double flared an awful lot of tubing.
Besides, I'd only use flares on low pressure LP stuff.
High pressure side gets only threaded or hard soldered fittings,
thank you very much.

I seriously believe that a well done high pressure LP line from one
side of the van is a hell of a lot safer than pumping gasoline at
30+ PSI through a bunch of plastic and rubber fuel hose.
I've seen plenty of torched VW's from THAT.

Besides, It works much better for me to connect the high pressure
side because I need to run a second high pressure (2PSI) regulator
to run an external appliance.
If I connect the low pressure sides, then I need FOUR regulators
and 2 runs of  line across the van. That gives much much more
opportunity for leaks.

Thanks for your input, but I think it's just fine from a safety point
of view and much better for my application to connect at the high
pressure side.

I never drive with the propane on anyway. No one cooks when I'm
driving, and my fridge works just fine on 12 volts. Switch to LP at
the campsite...

Steve

---------

At 08:13 AM 11/11/2003, you wrote:

>Steve and everyone else who might someday put in a second propane tank,
>
>DO NOT put the t before the regulator!  you do not want to run a high
>pressure copper propane line under the vehicle!  You need 2 regulators one
>for each tank!  Your skills in making the flares to connect the lines will
>not be perfect.
>
>If you dont beleive me have a nice fiery death and better luck next time
>around and stop reading this message, also please inform your next of kin
>to send the story of your van blowing up to this list to prevent others
>from making the same mistake.
>
>Ok, now that you have a regulator on both side (an extra $30 i know) what
>you want to do is replace the 2 outlet regulator on the drivers side with
>a 3 outlet or cross shaped "t".  One outlet will be pointing up in the air
>and one pointed torward the ground, with these you install a 90 degree
>elbow so all the outlets are facing torwards the front of the vehicle.
>This will take up only a little more space than the current 3 outlet t on
>that side.  Now on the pass side run a long piece of copper under the
>vehicle from the regulator on the pass side to that cross t on the drivers
>side.  there are some holes on the cross member either in fron or behind
>the gas tank, you can get some propane line "clips" to hold the line in
>place along that cross member.  You will need a flare tool kit and a
>copper pipe bending coils, i got a kit at harbor freight for >$10.
>
>
>On Tue, 11 Nov 2003, Steve Delanty wrote:
>
> > Well, I acquired a second propane tank from a fellow list member,
> > and now it's time to install it....
> >
> > Mounting the tank was easy, just replace 2 of the middle seat track
> > bolts with longer (M10-1.5 x 45mm) and bolt the tank in place to
> > the existing stock mounting points. Super simple.
> >
> > Now comes the fun part... plumbing.
> > I need to run a line to connect the 2 tanks together on the high
> > pressure side before the regulator. Conceptually simple, just
> > put a "tee" between the tank and the regulator and connect the
> > 3rd leg of the tee to the output of the second tank
> >
> > The problem is space. I already had to bend the copper lines
> > that go up to the "kitchen" in order to accommodate a new
> > and somewhat larger (Marshall 280) regulator and I don't think
> > there's enough give left to get a tee between the tank and regulator.
> >
> > I'm hoping that a few of you good folks have done this already and
> > could offer up some advise. (or photos!)
> > I'm sure I can figure something out, but I'd like some input from
> > those who've BTDT if possible...
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Steve
> > EJ22 -> '86 Westy "Escape Pod"
> >