Propane bottles & gaslow easy-fit

[Damian]

Quote " does allow me to create a loop lower than the top of the cylinder which acts as a trap preventing any oily residue "
And as soon as you open the first appliance to draw gas, the collected residue is drawn into the regulator.
The pigtail should run downhill allthe way to the cylinder to allow the residue to drain back into the cylinder.

 

[Surfer]

We never had any issues with the longer hose, but we had a regulator on the gas bottle itself and also the bulkhead regulaqtor. As per advice on a forum we removed the one on the gas bottle and within about a week the bulkhead regulator seized up on us. It was better and cheaper to have the two regulators!

 

[ChrisUK]

I have now got a shiney new Gaslow Easy-fit 750mm stainless steel pipe fitted by my dealer and it has three advantages, it means that I can pull the bottle forward to get at it, I don't need a spanner, and an additional bonus is that the open end of the bottle handle now faces forwards which make the tap on the bottle much easier to get at. I found it very difficult before as it is above the level of the locker opening. With a 45cm hose the open end had to face the regulator and the tap was difficult to get at.
Part of my problem is that on my Eldiss, the locker is not very tall, something that I have not looked for on other vans?
I note that on the Gaslow web page, listed under caravans and motor home, they list 45, 75, 150cm pipes for the UK market, but only 45cm for other European countries.

 

[MichaelE]

I do agree i do find it strange that they sell the longer ones and will sell you one without asking what it is for, but the regs are in black and white.
What would be the liabilty on the side of the dealer if anything went wrong gas wise?
A 19kg cyclinder must be awful to transport about they are so heavy, i struggle with a 13kg which i leave outside the front locker, the biggest issue with a 19kg outside would be stabilty.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Michael,

The regulations and liability fall on the person who fits the appliance or part, not the person who sells it.

Consider the fact that most cars are more than capable of breaking the 70mph speed limit, but it is the driver that is prosecuted for speeding not the car sales person.

 

[Guest]

Where is it stated you will be shot if you use more than 450mm?
To my knowledge the regulation has always said 'keep length as short as is reasonably practical', 450mm might be considered the shortest practical length in most cases, but that's not to say you cannot use longer.
The reasoning is simple, the shorter it is the less chance of being damaged or indeed becoming a hazard in itself, there is no reason in demanding 450mm is the limit

 

[Damian]

It is not stated in any of the regulations that you will be shot , for anything.
It does however state in EN1949:2002 that for High Pressure pigtails the Maximum hose length is 400mm (Then add 50mm for the end fittings gives 450mmm overall) unless the cylinders are on a pull out tray when the maximum is 750mm .

Whatever arguments are given as to why people "need" longer pigtails, as an AWS Mobile and Gas qualified, those are the regulations to which I HAVE to work to, not a case of want to or not, HAVE to.

Even taking "as short as practical", that excludes anything outside the gas locker, as the cylinders SHOULD be INSIDE the gas locker. and not outside.

 

[Guest]

Hi Damian, I would really like the actual wording on this, albeit 2002 means I must have read them?, but even from what you say, the maximum is 750mm, and I doubt very much the bottles 'must' be in the locker.
After all, gas bottles must be stored outside, when not in use?.
When before on this subject I've searched through all the papers I had given on my gas course, and nothing has changed, not one word about actual lengths, recommendation, yes, but not hard and fast rules.
Not the way I read it anyway?!

Edit; Should be in the gas locker you said, not must as I said and I think that's the whole point, ones an ideal... the other a rule

 

[Surfer]

We had an external BBQ point on the caravan and the length of the hose to the skottel was about 2 - 3 metres.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Surfer,

The Thread relates to high pressure pig tales, the bbq point you use will be low pressure.