Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2005 19:50:57 -0600
Reply-To: jimt <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: jimt <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Subject: Re: Propane Fillup?
In-Reply-To: <454fec12c1034832c106a5d8ee423d70@comcast.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
This does bring up one note that I ran into today while trying to help
someone on his vanagon westy. While under looking at his hose entry I
noticed that the plate that is supposed to be welded on was missing. I
warned him that if he runs into a filling station that actually looks for
the plate they will refuse to fill. It is law that the id plate be attached
to the tank identifying it as meeting ASME requirements. If this plate is
not there the tank is automatically assumed to be one that requires the OPD
valves. As noted in the message below the ASME standard requiring OPD
valves on tanks still has not finalized. What is in the law is that all new
tanks must have two verifiable ways to check a fill.
Of the ways
1. weight TARE/filled
2. visual overfill port
3. fill gauge
4. autofill/stop valve (late westy have these)
Two of the above must be used after a certain date. In the case of an ASME
tank on the westy you obviously would not be able to weigh it. Early westy
only had the visual port. Later westy after the early 80s cutoff have the
autostop valve to meet the second check. Not completely sure but I believe
1jan84 was the date of the rule for two points.
On 7/29/05 5:11 PM, "Keith Ovregaard" <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> California and some other states have banned the refilling of the tanks
> that don't have the new OPD (overflow prevention device) valves to
> allow for expansion and prevent gas blow-off, a nice safety feature.
> But this law apparently does not apply to horizontal tanks or tanks
> under 4 gallons (westies hold about 3 gallons). Read on...
>
> I found this Q&A on <http://www.grillman.com/propane_tankregs.htm>
>
> " Q: I have a horizontal cylinder on my recreational vehicle. Are OPD's
> available for that kind of service?
> A: Presently, the Code does not explicitly address the issue of OPD
> valves on horizontal cylinders. This has presented some difficulty as
> horizontally oriented cylinders that were manufactured prior to October
> 1, 1998, are unable to be retrofitted with the OPD's that are available
> at this time. There is currently a proposal in the Code process that
> would exempt this style of a cylinder from needing an OPD if visibly
> marked that it has no OPD and was manufactured prior to October 1,
> 1998, and if none of these safety devices are available for this style
> of cylinder. While the foregoing is a proposal for the 2001 edition of
> the Code, it is not now known if this suggested amendment will be
> approved. Without question, OPD's are still required for these
> cylinders that have been manufactured after September 30, 1998. An
> attempt is regularly made to make propane marketers aware of changes in
> the Code. Any question that you have may be directed to your local
> propane service provider. "
>
>
> Keith Ovregaard
> 84 Westy "Brownie" Solar Charged Camper
> 90 Westy Syncro (No name yet for the pastel white box)
>
>
| 
