Bulkhead gas regulators

[WatsonJohnG]

My friend is fed up with failed regulators and wants to revert to the regulator on gas bottle with different regulators for butane and propane

Are we right in thinking that the appliances on recent bulkhead regulator equipped vans have the same gas spec as the older vans and would be OK if reverted back to bottle fitted regulator?

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello John,

Each appliance will have data plate that will define the types of gas and at what pressure they are designed to be operated.

It is illegal to connect an appliance to an unsuitable fuel supply or pressure.

Some (but not all)appliances are manufactured for use with a range of gas types and pressures. Without checking the data plates you cannot make the assumption that it is legal or safe to change the pressure of the supplied fuel.

 

[Damian]

One thing you have to bear in mind is that whilst your van is under warranty you cannot change the current system as that is what the van has been approved for use with.

However, an alternative regulator is the Clesse, which is still bulkhead mounted, same pigtail connection, but is a single stage regulator as opposed to the GOK which is a two stage unit.

As far as appliances go, most of the appliances are , fortunately, not just made for the UK market (which are the only market to employ the bulkhead regulator as a standard item)so most will be built for a variety of pressures.

Most are plated as 28/37/50mb, witht the burner jets and bars being type specific.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Thanks for the replies

The vehicle is out of warranty

I will pass on the information

 

[TheTurk]

Another option is to stay with the original regulator and change the pigtail to the stainless steel Gaslow one. You can get these for butane and propane. They are more expensive but after five or more failures I invested 18 months ago and have had no problems since.

Ian

 

[J.Lo]

After two blocked bulkhead regs I cut it out over four years ago and went back to the old way, propane reg fitted to the bottle. I have heard all the stories that it should not be done but I use my van winter and summer without any problems. J.Lo

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Another option is to stay with the original regulator and change the pigtail to the stainless steel Gaslow one. You can get these for butane and propane. They are more expensive but after five or more failures I invested 18 months ago and have had no problems since.

Ian

Thanks we had discussed that and its good to know that it works

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello J.Lo.

What you have dome may be permissible provided all the gas appliances in your caravan are rated to use Propane at 37mb. but if they only comply to the most recent 30mb regulations then your action is highly illegal.

whilst I would not anticipate any serious damage or mechanical consequences for what you have done, Your action cannot be condoned, and it is irresponsible in the extreme to suggest any one else to copy your illegal procedure.

 

[cava55]

I take it that the failed reg was mounted verticaly on the pipe ? there is a fix now that they put an extra piece of pipe on to the vertical piece along with elbow the reg is now mounted horizontal and with the conection elbow fitted this is supposed to stop oil fouling up the reg

 

[joeby]

i caravan all year round , and i have had 3 vans with fixed bulkhead regulators , and i have never had any trouble with any of them , am i just lucky or is it the norm