Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:11:36 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Replacing copper propane lines
In-Reply-To: <6F1DD6E2-8FB4-46E9-968A-67774292DD66@vickersdesign.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Instead of flaming consider this an attempt at education. Since a Westy is
designed to used for sleeping and other short term living, it is a
dwelling. As such the electrical and propane systems have to comply with
NFPA and any local codes. It also needs to comply RVIA standards. That is
why even though it was made in Germany, it uses US propane system
components. Some state even required the RVIA seal to be on the vehicle in
order for it to be sold there.
All components used in the propane system need to be UL or FM listed and
approved for the intended use.
Yes, the pressure after the regulator is low, but is the rubber hose
compatible with the propane and the odorant? How long before it permeates?
Nothing may never go wrong but this is not a good installation. Copper
tube is not all that hard to work with. A good tubing bender, flare tool,
and tube cutter make it quit easy to work with.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jeffrey Vickers
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 9:34 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Replacing copper propane lines
I'll probably get flamed for this (ha!) but I run tight fitting rubber
fuel line and fuel line clamps after my regulator. The pressure after
the regulator is really low - like 2 lbs of pressure - so you don't
need any sort of pressure fittings. I have a 12V fridge so I only need
one line after the regulator and I sheathed the hose in another bit of
larger hose where it passes through the body to protect it. Much
easier to work with than copper line and after two plus years, its
never leaked. I would keep t-connections under the van. Good idea
about the solenoid.
Jeff / San Anselmo
On Aug 29, 2008, at 3:53 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
> Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:57:31 -0400
> From: pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Replacing copper propane lines
>
> I'm going to replace the service valve on my tank, and want to
> replace the
> propane copper lines while I'm there (currently they're bent to
> allow for
> the larger new-style regulator).
>
> A couple of questions:
> Is the flexible copper tubing they sell at the hardware store the
> right
> stuff? The lines on my van are much stiffer than this. Is that just
> because of age?
>
> Is there an alternative to the rigid copper tubing? Some kind of
> high-pressure rated flexible tubing?
>
> What I would most like to do, is run just one connection from the
> tank up
> into the van, and then split the connection at that point, to
> eliminate the
> length required by the T-adapter. This because, apart from my longer
> regulator, I also have a solenoid shutoff valve between the
> regulator and
> the t-adapter which is connected to a detector in the cabin and
> shuts off
> the propane supply in case of a leak. As a result, the stock t-
> adapter
> protrudes from the skid plate as I currently have it.
>
> Thanks very much for any help,
> Wes
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