Gas

[Andy Norfolk]

Gas not flowing properly. Thought maybe the bottle was going so got a new one. Connected and seemed ok. Went to start cooking later and the issue is back, a few seconds of gas then nothing. Caravan 2 years old.

Went through the manuals, possibly the gas regulator has failed? Looks like an issue for the hab check. Any other ideas?

 

[Mr Plodd]

My first thoughts would be regulator. If tgphe caravan I only 2 years old that shoukd be covered under the new warranty.

 

[Hutch]

Does the gas heating work, or is it just the cooker ?

It has been known for the gas hose to "close up" internally, if your confident enough to disconnect the pigtail hose from the regulator, and open the gas bottle to see if the supply from the bottle is coming through.
DO NOT CHECK WITH A NAKED FLAME.

 

[Andy Norfolk]

Does the gas heating work, or is it just the cooker ?

It has been known for the gas hose to "close up" internally, if your confident enough to disconnect the pigtail hose from the regulator, and open the gas bottle to see if the supply from the bottle is coming through.
DO NOT CHECK WITH A NAKED FLAME.

Thanks. I haven't tried the heating on gas. It's our last day here and I don't have the knowledge or confidence to try what you suggest myself. I know my limitations so I'll get it sorted when the hab check is done but I appreciate your comment.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Are you using Butane or Propane LPG?

With the low temperatures we have seen over the last few days Butane cylinder can stop working becasue they are too cold. When your caravanning and the ambient temperatures are below about 5C you should be using Propane which will continue working in ambient down to about -40C.

 

[Andy Norfolk]

We're using Calor propane. So I guess it's the regulator.

 

[ProfJohnL]

If you are using Propane, then it does tend to suggest a regulator problem, and as Hutch has suggested it should be a warranty job.

 

[ProfJohnL]

...
It has been known for the gas hose to "close up" internally, if your confident enough to disconnect the pigtail hose from the regulator, and open the gas bottle to see if the supply from the bottle is coming through.
DO NOT CHECK WITH A NAKED FLAME.

In all the years I have worked with LPG, the only flexible hoses that I have seen become clogged and thus unusable were some that were when a caravaner used a piece of laboratory Bunsen burner gas hose for hose BBQ. Or when another component in the system had been disolved and the residue had collected at the lowest point and blocked the pipe work or appliance jets.

LPG will dissolve natural rubbers which is why LPG hoses should be marked in the UL with a BS number and date, class of hose with maximum working pressure, inside diameter of pipe, gas identification and an expiry date.

 

[Buckman]

It was a common issue with Truma bulkhead regulators becoming clogged up due to some sort of residue in the gas. Apparently it was some sort of reaction between the has the rubber in the connection. A quick Google will probably throw up many results.

 

[ProfJohnL]

It was a common issue with Truma bulkhead regulators becoming clogged up due to some sort of residue in the gas. Apparently it was some sort of reaction between the has the rubber in the connection. A quick Google will probably throw up many results.

That is true, but either the flexible, pipes, components or the gas were not fully compliant which caused the residue to block the pipes and burners.

 

[Buckman]

That is true, but either the flexible, pipes, components or the gas were not fully compliant which caused the residue to block the pipes and burners.

The cause was never established as both complied with all regulations?

 

[RogerL]

The cause was never established as both complied with all regulations?

Part of the issue was material from the high pressure pipe lining draining down into the regulator rather than down into the gas cylinder - so the work-around was to ensure the regulator mounted at the highest point with the pipe run no higher so that any residue ran back into the cylinder.

 

[Buckman]

Part of the issue was material from the high pressure pipe lining draining down into the regulator rather than down into the gas cylinder - so the work-around was to ensure the regulator mounted at the highest point with the pipe run no higher so that any residue ran back into the cylinder.

Don't you mean ran back to the bulkhead regulator?

 

[IanB1485]

Cooker lid may have shut off valve/thermocouple microswitch(s) which cutouts off the gas (shuts the gas valves) if the lid is not at 90 Deg to hotplate. I've seen a few where the window blind/flyscreen mechanism stopped the cooker lid from fully opening unless the lid was pressed against it or the microswitches were intermittent. One thing to check , Unlikely to be a faulty hose or regulator at two years old.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Don't you mean ran back to the bulkhead regulator?

No as Roger correctly stated the "Work around" meaning the solution to the problem.

 

[Mr Plodd]

The problem arose where tue regulator was lower than the cylinder take off, so any gunk ran downhill into the regulator.
Once that issue was identified the location of the regulators was moved so they were mounted higher than the gas cylinder, so gunk ran downhill and away from the regulator.

 

[RogerL]

Don't you mean ran back to the bulkhead regulator?

I thought that's what I posted.