I have a two year old Ace award-it was fitted with a truma gas regulator, used minimally; Last weekend it failed.I have contacted a main dealer who informs me there has been an issue with these regulators and it is considered not under guarantee due to too much oil being added to the gas!!! I replaced with a Gasflow with a 5 year guarantee; my question is "has anyone else had a similar problem" any comments would be appreciated is it the responsibility of the manufacturer(my van is still under guarantee) - Th regulator supplier or the gas supplier- it can't be me I only bought the product!
gas regulator
- Thread starter rfrancis
- Start date
Hello Ron,
Over the last two years or so there has been series of similar incidents as yours. At first the supplier Truma was as mystified as everyone and they were replacing the regulators. But subsequently and after considerable investigations they have come to the conclusion that the cause of the problem was not of their making, and are no longer offering free replacements.
The problem as I understand it, is that the LPG passes through a short length of hose (the pigtail) and as it does so some of the chemicals used to manufacture the hose are leached out of the pipe wall and because of the relative heights of the regulator and bottle the residue was finding its way into the regulators and causing them to malfunction.
It seems that the solution is to reposition the regulator so any residue falls back to the bottle rather than the regulator.
If this is the situation than it is not the regulator manufactures fault, which is why Truma have stopped free replacements.
As seems likely that the installation (designed and assembled by the caravan manufacture)has proven to be a faulty design, you have some leverage against your seller who is legally obliged under the sale of Goods Acts to not sell faulty goods.
Note: your rights are against the seller with whom you made a contract to buy, not the manufacturer.
I normally suggest people excersice thier legal under SOGA, but
in this type of case it may be far less hassle to arrange with your dealer to replace and reposition the regulator. who knows your dealer may offer a substantial discount on the parts or labour as a gesture of goodwill.
rightsI hope this helps, but in practice it may far less hassle to simply have a new regulator fitted in the new position.
Over the last two years or so there has been series of similar incidents as yours. At first the supplier Truma was as mystified as everyone and they were replacing the regulators. But subsequently and after considerable investigations they have come to the conclusion that the cause of the problem was not of their making, and are no longer offering free replacements.
The problem as I understand it, is that the LPG passes through a short length of hose (the pigtail) and as it does so some of the chemicals used to manufacture the hose are leached out of the pipe wall and because of the relative heights of the regulator and bottle the residue was finding its way into the regulators and causing them to malfunction.
It seems that the solution is to reposition the regulator so any residue falls back to the bottle rather than the regulator.
If this is the situation than it is not the regulator manufactures fault, which is why Truma have stopped free replacements.
As seems likely that the installation (designed and assembled by the caravan manufacture)has proven to be a faulty design, you have some leverage against your seller who is legally obliged under the sale of Goods Acts to not sell faulty goods.
Note: your rights are against the seller with whom you made a contract to buy, not the manufacturer.
I normally suggest people excersice thier legal under SOGA, but
in this type of case it may be far less hassle to arrange with your dealer to replace and reposition the regulator. who knows your dealer may offer a substantial discount on the parts or labour as a gesture of goodwill.
rightsI hope this helps, but in practice it may far less hassle to simply have a new regulator fitted in the new position.
Thanks John
Have now fitted a gas flow regulator who offer a five year guarantee providing a non rubber hose is used, maybe this is the answer.
Ron
Ron,
I have a 2004 sterling elite trekker and October last year I had exactly the same porblem. I have warrenty with the dealer as I bought secondhand they completed the work free of charge. They explained if positioned close to the top of the gas bottle the oil in the gas can migrate into the regulator. I am surprised you had no help from the dealer. This problem has been known about by manufacturers for 5 or 6 years and all they have to do is raise the position of the regulator when first installing. For them to blame the gas but continue to install the regulator low tells me its not fit for purpose by building in a widely known problem for the future. If there is a change in road laws or gas installation or electric wiring regs etc, the manufacturer would do their utmost to comply. I would go back to them and ask them to contribute the cost you've had to cover. Small change for goodwill, they may want you to buy from them in the future, to me thats an investment for them.
Hello Ian,
When a problem like this arises, and it is clearly a manufacturing fault, the fact is that the supply of the caravan is subject to contract law. Your contract is with your seller- not the manufacturer , and that is where you have to press your case under the Sale of Goods Acts.
A seller is legally obliged to supply goods that are fit for purpose and free from Design, material and manufacturing faults. If they supply faulty goods, they have broken the law, irrespective of whether the faults are of their own making or not.
It assumed ( but rarely happens in practice) that a seller will have in place a process to ensure their suppliers will supply satisfactory goods. This might include inspection of the goods on their receipt, or some other strategy for quality assurance.
The same basic contractual arrangement will exist between your seller and their supplier, and so on all the way back to the manufacture.
Whilst it may seem an illogical approach where clearly there is a design/manufacturing fault but that is the way it is under UK law.
When a problem like this arises, and it is clearly a manufacturing fault, the fact is that the supply of the caravan is subject to contract law. Your contract is with your seller- not the manufacturer , and that is where you have to press your case under the Sale of Goods Acts.
A seller is legally obliged to supply goods that are fit for purpose and free from Design, material and manufacturing faults. If they supply faulty goods, they have broken the law, irrespective of whether the faults are of their own making or not.
It assumed ( but rarely happens in practice) that a seller will have in place a process to ensure their suppliers will supply satisfactory goods. This might include inspection of the goods on their receipt, or some other strategy for quality assurance.
The same basic contractual arrangement will exist between your seller and their supplier, and so on all the way back to the manufacture.
Whilst it may seem an illogical approach where clearly there is a design/manufacturing fault but that is the way it is under UK law.
I thought the problem was with the connector pigtail hoses causing the oil in the regulator problem? Something to do with the plasticisers in the black rubber.
The fitting of the regulator higher above the bottles and the fitting of steel hoses is seen to be the fix.
Truma and the Calor have said its not them hence why the regulators are not exchanged under warranty,is it me me or have the price of the regulators nearly doubled?
I have had 2 fail,first cost was
The fitting of the regulator higher above the bottles and the fitting of steel hoses is seen to be the fix.
Truma and the Calor have said its not them hence why the regulators are not exchanged under warranty,is it me me or have the price of the regulators nearly doubled?
I have had 2 fail,first cost was
Damian
Moderator
The problem relating to the blockage of regulators has been laid at the door of Calor as following very extensive research it has been found that it is the gas ,or rather the heavy ends, which are causing the problem.
There have been quite a lot of instances whee totally stainless steel installations have also suffered from the same problem, so it is not down to pigtails.
The issue of a gas fitter having to change the regulator is correct as it involves breaking a gas union and remaking a gas union and follow up pressure testing to ensure the installation (which is what the regulator is classed as part of) meets the requirements of EN1949.
If you have been charged
There have been quite a lot of instances whee totally stainless steel installations have also suffered from the same problem, so it is not down to pigtails.
The issue of a gas fitter having to change the regulator is correct as it involves breaking a gas union and remaking a gas union and follow up pressure testing to ensure the installation (which is what the regulator is classed as part of) meets the requirements of EN1949.
If you have been charged
I had the Truma regulator changed on my 2006 Bessacarr last year free of charge when it failed.
As said previously it has now been mounted about 9" higher than the original mounting and there is also an additional 90 degree angle piece at the top.
Bill
As said previously it has now been mounted about 9" higher than the original mounting and there is also an additional 90 degree angle piece at the top.
Bill
All,
As said in my reply to Ron I was lucky enough to have it change under warrenty. But it still raises the question despite the issue being firmly laid at calors door to solve the problem means raising the regulator, and if done at the build stage requires about 6 inches of micro bore copper, 20p and no extra labour. I appreciate the manufacturer of the van is not to blame but such a simple thing to do to ensure customer satisfaction. isn't it.
As said in my reply to Ron I was lucky enough to have it change under warrenty. But it still raises the question despite the issue being firmly laid at calors door to solve the problem means raising the regulator, and if done at the build stage requires about 6 inches of micro bore copper, 20p and no extra labour. I appreciate the manufacturer of the van is not to blame but such a simple thing to do to ensure customer satisfaction. isn't it.
There is a sign in my local dealership which states 'all gas fittings must be fitted by a competent person'. No mention of them having to be Corgi certified etc. If you tried to find one it would probably take weeks to get one to do such a small job anyway. Also if you fit a gauge to the system you can check for leaks easily yourself by pressuring it up, and shutting the valves. Just watch the gauge, if it drops fast, you have a leak.
Hello Scotch Lad,
For some strange reason touring caravans have a section of their own in the gas regulations.
They are specifically exempt from requiring fitters to be registered (to CORGI or other approved schemes) BUT the regulations still require who ever does the work to be COMPETENT.
There is no hard and fast way of defining competency, but it would need the person to fully conversant with the properties and dangers of LPG, to have the knowledge and the equipment to perform the statutory testing of the system.
It is highly unlikely that an end user will have all the requisite knowledge or specialist equipment to conform to the regulations,and therefore could be deemed as not competent.
Failure to comply with the regulations is a criminal (not civil) matter and if convicted may result in a custodial sentence.
It is therefore unsafe and irresponsible to suggest a course of action to anyone that may render them in breach of the regulations.
For some strange reason touring caravans have a section of their own in the gas regulations.
They are specifically exempt from requiring fitters to be registered (to CORGI or other approved schemes) BUT the regulations still require who ever does the work to be COMPETENT.
There is no hard and fast way of defining competency, but it would need the person to fully conversant with the properties and dangers of LPG, to have the knowledge and the equipment to perform the statutory testing of the system.
It is highly unlikely that an end user will have all the requisite knowledge or specialist equipment to conform to the regulations,and therefore could be deemed as not competent.
Failure to comply with the regulations is a criminal (not civil) matter and if convicted may result in a custodial sentence.
It is therefore unsafe and irresponsible to suggest a course of action to anyone that may render them in breach of the regulations.
I recently bought a caravan with a Carver cascade 2 installed and at first the heater seemed to work ok, then it would only work for an hour or so and since the time it will run for has gradually reduced to the point where it wont fire up at all. The unit used to light then splutter out with a lack of gas and I think the gas valve has given up. The other thing I have noticed is an oily residue coming out of the gas supply pipe, could this be the cause and where would it have come from?
That's an email I received only today, the last sentence being most relevant!
The van is many years older than 2004 when the new type bulkhead regulator was fitted and I've had many similar emails plus seen for myself 'oil' literally 'pouring' from said heaters gas connection.
So, the hose has nothing to do with anything, neither the Truma supplied GOK regulator, only though that it's design traps the 'oil' which then prevents the gas flow through the regulator.
Gaslows solution works because it uses a regulator similar in design to the old bottle mounted regulator, this allows the 'oil' through and in that respect the problem will be resolved.
However by fitting the 'Cleese' regulator as supplied by Gaslow and others as high as possible, will ensure what 'oil' 'may' be present, has the best chance of staying in the bottle, this then reducing the chances of the eventual problem as outlined in the above email.
That's an email I received only today, the last sentence being most relevant!
The van is many years older than 2004 when the new type bulkhead regulator was fitted and I've had many similar emails plus seen for myself 'oil' literally 'pouring' from said heaters gas connection.
So, the hose has nothing to do with anything, neither the Truma supplied GOK regulator, only though that it's design traps the 'oil' which then prevents the gas flow through the regulator.
Gaslows solution works because it uses a regulator similar in design to the old bottle mounted regulator, this allows the 'oil' through and in that respect the problem will be resolved.
However by fitting the 'Cleese' regulator as supplied by Gaslow and others as high as possible, will ensure what 'oil' 'may' be present, has the best chance of staying in the bottle, this then reducing the chances of the eventual problem as outlined in the above email.
John L,
I agree with your comments however, I am a sceptic when it comes to trusting so called 'trained engineers'. That is even the ones that have English as their native language. I am one (engineer that is) so have inside knowledge of the skills or otherwise of the profession, although not in that particular field of engineering but all types of gas, high pressures, low pressure/high volumes, yes, then I am your man. However I would never attempt to connect a gas installation in my home.
However, I have installed a 30 mb regulator and the high pressure hoses in my van as although it was 2005, it came with a hose nipple as the EU vans did not require the high pressure system until a year later. I checked carefully for leaks and there being none, was satisfied. I also installed a fridge in my old Mustang caravan as it did not have one, again doing the job carefully and no problems.
However, as there is no certification for such installations, who knows who has actually done the job. If a service is completed and no faults are found, then??? Now if they introduce 'green tags' then ok, but please do not tempt them.
There are 2 ways of looking at the issue. Yes, a trained engineer is wonderful, but if he/she is only a 'basic pass' person and is on a time bonus scheme, then is the job 100% right. Or does a non trained?? person, with sense, read things carefully, check carefully and take time and effort to do a good job, especially as they know they are the end user.
What do they say?? All parachutists pack their own chutes??
I agree with your comments however, I am a sceptic when it comes to trusting so called 'trained engineers'. That is even the ones that have English as their native language. I am one (engineer that is) so have inside knowledge of the skills or otherwise of the profession, although not in that particular field of engineering but all types of gas, high pressures, low pressure/high volumes, yes, then I am your man. However I would never attempt to connect a gas installation in my home.
However, I have installed a 30 mb regulator and the high pressure hoses in my van as although it was 2005, it came with a hose nipple as the EU vans did not require the high pressure system until a year later. I checked carefully for leaks and there being none, was satisfied. I also installed a fridge in my old Mustang caravan as it did not have one, again doing the job carefully and no problems.
However, as there is no certification for such installations, who knows who has actually done the job. If a service is completed and no faults are found, then??? Now if they introduce 'green tags' then ok, but please do not tempt them.
There are 2 ways of looking at the issue. Yes, a trained engineer is wonderful, but if he/she is only a 'basic pass' person and is on a time bonus scheme, then is the job 100% right. Or does a non trained?? person, with sense, read things carefully, check carefully and take time and effort to do a good job, especially as they know they are the end user.
What do they say?? All parachutists pack their own chutes??
You don't buy your caravan from Trauma, you buy it from a dealer. If it is under warranty, it is Bailey, or Swift etc, not Trauma (your car is made up of parts made by numerous companies but your warranty is with Ford, VW etc). If the gas regulator in a caravan still under manufacturers warranty fails then it should be replaced free of charge. If they refuse, report them to trading standards and if necessary take them to the small claims court.
It is a crazy anomaly, and the sooner it is closed such that ALL gas systems must be installed and certified by a registered fitter the better.
Caravan dealers will have to employ people with a proper gas qualifications.
I have seen first hand and had to deal with the consequences of incompetent LPG gas fitting, and the dangers and consequences are quite worrying.
This view will not suit everyone, but given proper regulation there is at least a chance that the number of gas incidents will fall further.
Sorry, my mistake, but it does become a trauma if their product fails in normal use and you end up having to fight to get your rights 
John L,
I acknowledge your comments, but I am (as mentioned before) sceptical as soon as the word 'regulation' gets mentioned. It is always introduced for reasons of safety and nearly always ends up being a cost drain and usually having little effect on safety.
We are discussing installations of LPG in caravans and that is absolutely fine, but in the same world we have BBQ's on sites next to caravans where the cylinder is still connected by a piece of hose and hopefully a good jubilee clip. For many years we had similar systems installed in caravans and although there were indeed accidents I do not remember us having a 'plague' of them. We still have virtually the same number of gas installations but the number of electric ones has multiplied tremendously. However, the EU thought it would be a good idea to introduce a bunch of regulations and standardise everything across umpteen countries with totally different systems. A nice little earner if you were part of the gravy train, but as for achieving significant improvements? Well, I suspect the jury is still out on that one.
I acknowledge your comments, but I am (as mentioned before) sceptical as soon as the word 'regulation' gets mentioned. It is always introduced for reasons of safety and nearly always ends up being a cost drain and usually having little effect on safety.
We are discussing installations of LPG in caravans and that is absolutely fine, but in the same world we have BBQ's on sites next to caravans where the cylinder is still connected by a piece of hose and hopefully a good jubilee clip. For many years we had similar systems installed in caravans and although there were indeed accidents I do not remember us having a 'plague' of them. We still have virtually the same number of gas installations but the number of electric ones has multiplied tremendously. However, the EU thought it would be a good idea to introduce a bunch of regulations and standardise everything across umpteen countries with totally different systems. A nice little earner if you were part of the gravy train, but as for achieving significant improvements? Well, I suspect the jury is still out on that one.
Seems to me the points being missed, if you buy a Ford and the fuel you put in wrecks the engine, do you then tell Ford it's their fault or Shell, Esso etc???
It would be Ford's fault is perfectly ok fuel that has been being used for umpteen years in previous vehicles, and for which the new Ford car was sold to use caused the fault! In other words people have been using Calor gas cylinders for BBQs, blow torches, domestic gas appliances, older caravans which did not come with the regulator installed etc, without the Calor cylinders causing regulator failure. Or to put it another way if you make a regulator to work with Calor gas, then you should make it so that it can tolerate any oil or whatever the cause of the failures are - or to put it another way if a regulator for use with calor gas fails because you use it with calor gas then it is not fit for purpose and really should be replace regardless of warranty. It really is like the British Army rifles (SA80s) that when originally produced were superbly engineered but which if a speck of dirt/sand (the sort of stuff unavoidable in the field) would seize up. So again I say if you have a caravan under warranty and the regulator fails, then the dealer should replace it free of charge. It is up to the dealer to claim from the caravan manufacturer who supplies him, and ultimately the caravan manufacturer to claim from the regulator manufacturer. If your dealer refuses report him to the local trading standards office and if need be take him to the small claims court.
William, I assume you meant 'if' and not 'is'? which is fair enough provided the fuel is unquestionably not at fault, however as I'm sure you know, now and again a 'dirty' batch hit's the pumps....and the national headlines!
Do Ford get the blame for that??
Odd batches of bottled gas have always been dirty, the fact it didn't until 04 effect the regulator is irrelevant, surely Truma/Gok cannot, like Ford, be expected to manufacture parts to take account of someone else's poor quality control.
So all Truma/Gok are really guilty of is showing up those short comings!!
Do Ford get the blame for that??
Odd batches of bottled gas have always been dirty, the fact it didn't until 04 effect the regulator is irrelevant, surely Truma/Gok cannot, like Ford, be expected to manufacture parts to take account of someone else's poor quality control.
So all Truma/Gok are really guilty of is showing up those short comings!!
Sorry to bring this thread back to life but it seems to be the one closest to my problem.
Have had my Senator Series 5 Arizona for 3 1/2 years and over the past year to eighteen months have found increasing problems with the gas supply. Initially it just seemed to be a problem with using the oven at the same time as the top burners but on my last outing last weekend it reached the point where even one burner could not stay on even though I had two gas cylinders connected both of which have definitly got liquid left in them.
I suspect that the problem of a blocked regulator has eventually caught up with me although I had hoped to escape this as the bulkhead regulator is mounted reasonably high but possibly not high enough.
From the thread I have used it is obvious that I will not be able to get the regulator changed free of charge but does anyone have any idea what the cost is and whether a move to the gaslow stainless steel pigtails has helped anyone.
Alun
Have had my Senator Series 5 Arizona for 3 1/2 years and over the past year to eighteen months have found increasing problems with the gas supply. Initially it just seemed to be a problem with using the oven at the same time as the top burners but on my last outing last weekend it reached the point where even one burner could not stay on even though I had two gas cylinders connected both of which have definitly got liquid left in them.
I suspect that the problem of a blocked regulator has eventually caught up with me although I had hoped to escape this as the bulkhead regulator is mounted reasonably high but possibly not high enough.
From the thread I have used it is obvious that I will not be able to get the regulator changed free of charge but does anyone have any idea what the cost is and whether a move to the gaslow stainless steel pigtails has helped anyone.
Alun
Damian
Moderator
Alun, it certainly sounds like the regulator has blocked and will require changing.
When you get it done make SURE it is fitted as high as practically possible in the locker and that it has a 90 degree elbow fitted to it for the pigtail to connect to.
As an alternative to the GOK regulator, which is a two stage regulator, you could opt for a Clesse bulkhead regulator, which is a single stage and so far does not seem to suffer blockage in the same numbers as the two stage type.
A Clesse regulator is about
When you get it done make SURE it is fitted as high as practically possible in the locker and that it has a 90 degree elbow fitted to it for the pigtail to connect to.
As an alternative to the GOK regulator, which is a two stage regulator, you could opt for a Clesse bulkhead regulator, which is a single stage and so far does not seem to suffer blockage in the same numbers as the two stage type.
A Clesse regulator is about
Being a new boy I have just read the forum item on gas regulators. This is not a new problem and in August 2006 I wrote a letter in the Caravan Club Magazine the gist of which is as follows:-
"The 'Regulator Irregularities' article in the August issue of the Club Magazine prompted me to send in a theory based on years of experience with Gas Industry regulators. I hope it may inspire thought among manufacturers and constructors leading to a solution.
When gasses drop from a higher pressure to a lower they are subject to the Joule Thompson Effect. When gasses are thus expanded in volume they absorb heat from their surroundings. This is exactly the principal utilised in compression type domestic refrigerators and freezers.
The same effect occurs when pressure is reduced through a caravan regulator causing cooling particularly in the vicinity of the valve and valve seat.
In the days of manufactured Town's gas dropping pressure through regulators over approximately the same range as LPG under some conditions led to the deposition of naphthalene in the area of the valve causing complete shut off. This was largely because of the cooling effect causing constituents to separate out, and it is likely that the deposition of oily substances in LPG regulator valves is a similar happening.
One might well ask why this is happening with the new-style 30mBar system and not with the older system, after all the pressure drop is similar. The answer might lie in the fact the regulator is no longer in metallic hence thermal contact with the cylinder which, acting as an absorber of heat, would absorb some of the 'cool' from the area of the valve allowing it to run 'hotter', above the drop out temperature of contaminants. The newer type connecting hose thermally separates regulator from cylinder and acts as a very good insulator.
Many other factors are involved. Higher flow rates, for instance, would cause more cooling and low ambient temperatures would have an effect. Additionally the metallic mass of the regulator and it's efficiency as a radiator would be a factor and, of course, the constituents in the LPG. I know little of the construction materials used in the latest caravan regulators but if plastics have replaced metal in the valve area that would certainly add to the problem because of the relatively poor heat conductivity.
One solution which could be tried is a pre-heater replicating the conditions at the regulator inlet to those existing with the older connection method. A simple finned radiator pipe on the inlet to the regulator would probably be sufficient utilising ambient heat allowing the valve to run 'hotter'. A, probably less effective, alternative might be to mount the regulator on a generous 'heat sink'. Any use of plastic should be reconsidered".
The suggestion that oils leached from the reinforced hose seem in the meantime to have been put to rest,however no one yet seems to have given much consideration to the cooling effect. My theory has been in the public domain since it's original publication but does not seem to have been taken seriously. Cooling during pressure reduction is taken very seriously in the gas industry and pre-heaters are installed in pressure reduction stations so that the regulators run at a temperature above freezing. Not,however in this case, with the intention of preventing drop out of constituents but preventing frost heave around outlet mains which could cause very serious defects to buildings and road surfaces. Thermal effect need to be taken seriously even in the small scale of a caravan regulator.
Fernley Heath C. Eng.MIGEM.
"The 'Regulator Irregularities' article in the August issue of the Club Magazine prompted me to send in a theory based on years of experience with Gas Industry regulators. I hope it may inspire thought among manufacturers and constructors leading to a solution.
When gasses drop from a higher pressure to a lower they are subject to the Joule Thompson Effect. When gasses are thus expanded in volume they absorb heat from their surroundings. This is exactly the principal utilised in compression type domestic refrigerators and freezers.
The same effect occurs when pressure is reduced through a caravan regulator causing cooling particularly in the vicinity of the valve and valve seat.
In the days of manufactured Town's gas dropping pressure through regulators over approximately the same range as LPG under some conditions led to the deposition of naphthalene in the area of the valve causing complete shut off. This was largely because of the cooling effect causing constituents to separate out, and it is likely that the deposition of oily substances in LPG regulator valves is a similar happening.
One might well ask why this is happening with the new-style 30mBar system and not with the older system, after all the pressure drop is similar. The answer might lie in the fact the regulator is no longer in metallic hence thermal contact with the cylinder which, acting as an absorber of heat, would absorb some of the 'cool' from the area of the valve allowing it to run 'hotter', above the drop out temperature of contaminants. The newer type connecting hose thermally separates regulator from cylinder and acts as a very good insulator.
Many other factors are involved. Higher flow rates, for instance, would cause more cooling and low ambient temperatures would have an effect. Additionally the metallic mass of the regulator and it's efficiency as a radiator would be a factor and, of course, the constituents in the LPG. I know little of the construction materials used in the latest caravan regulators but if plastics have replaced metal in the valve area that would certainly add to the problem because of the relatively poor heat conductivity.
One solution which could be tried is a pre-heater replicating the conditions at the regulator inlet to those existing with the older connection method. A simple finned radiator pipe on the inlet to the regulator would probably be sufficient utilising ambient heat allowing the valve to run 'hotter'. A, probably less effective, alternative might be to mount the regulator on a generous 'heat sink'. Any use of plastic should be reconsidered".
The suggestion that oils leached from the reinforced hose seem in the meantime to have been put to rest,however no one yet seems to have given much consideration to the cooling effect. My theory has been in the public domain since it's original publication but does not seem to have been taken seriously. Cooling during pressure reduction is taken very seriously in the gas industry and pre-heaters are installed in pressure reduction stations so that the regulators run at a temperature above freezing. Not,however in this case, with the intention of preventing drop out of constituents but preventing frost heave around outlet mains which could cause very serious defects to buildings and road surfaces. Thermal effect need to be taken seriously even in the small scale of a caravan regulator.
Fernley Heath C. Eng.MIGEM.
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