Truma Gas Regulator

[Happy-Lappy]

My Regulator packed in whilst I was in Spain (last week) so I had to rely on the George Foreman for a few days. When the new neighbours arrived on the opposite pitch, he said I could run the regulator under a hot tap and then clean through with a foot pump and this would be a short cure. I did as suggested and this worked, so we were able to use the cooker again for the 2nd week.

Is there a way around clearing a blocked regulator, or do they need to be replaced. As from past experience I shall now always carry one as a spare, but I would like to be able to clear the blocked one, as to replacing each time.

This is a common problem with this type of regulator and is caused by the residue from the pigtail forming on the daiphragm,

best regards, Martin

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Martin,

It's better to cure the cause of the problem rather than fix it when it goes wrong.

If you've got a UK caravan where the regulator is mounted below the top of the gas bottle, then:

1. I'd approach the supplying dealer with a view to having the regulator re-positioned to the top of the gas locker under warranty - it's a defect caused by what is now understood to be a poor implementation of the EN 1949 regulation

2. See if you can arrange the flexible pigtail so that any leachant will flow back into the gas bottle.

3. Consider replacing the rubber pigtail with a new pigtail - these should now be the correct grade of rubber and will no longer leach the "oil".

4. Consider replacing the rubber pigtail with a Gaslow stainless steel lined pigtail, and no possibility of leachant at all.

Curing any single fault (of the 4 most UK manufacturers introduced) in the gas system will fix the problem - it's a cascade fault and all of the faults need to be present for a regulator problem to occur.

If you would prefer to clean the regulator after it has blocked, then doing as you did won't cause any harm.

Further, it should be possible to dissolve the "oil" with a suitable solvent and really clean the regulator, then use your heat and foot pump technique to finish the job. But I'd need to research the appropriate solvent - one that will dissolve the "oil" without damaging the regulator diaphragm - but the best solvent may not be freely available to DIYers.

Robert

 

[Happy-Lappy]

Hi Martin,

It's better to cure the cause of the problem rather than fix it when it goes wrong.

If you've got a UK caravan where the regulator is mounted below the top of the gas bottle, then:

1. I'd approach the supplying dealer with a view to having the regulator re-positioned to the top of the gas locker under warranty - it's a defect caused by what is now understood to be a poor implementation of the EN 1949 regulation

2. See if you can arrange the flexible pigtail so that any leachant will flow back into the gas bottle.

3. Consider replacing the rubber pigtail with a new pigtail - these should now be the correct grade of rubber and will no longer leach the "oil".

4. Consider replacing the rubber pigtail with a Gaslow stainless steel lined pigtail, and no possibility of leachant at all.

Curing any single fault (of the 4 most UK manufacturers introduced) in the gas system will fix the problem - it's a cascade fault and all of the faults need to be present for a regulator problem to occur.

If you would prefer to clean the regulator after it has blocked, then doing as you did won't cause any harm.

Further, it should be possible to dissolve the "oil" with a suitable solvent and really clean the regulator, then use your heat and foot pump technique to finish the job. But I'd need to research the appropriate solvent - one that will dissolve the "oil" without damaging the regulator diaphragm - but the best solvent may not be freely available to DIYers.

Robert

Robert, Thank you for replying to my query.

The Regulator is Bulkhead mounted and this sits above the Gas Bottles, as do the majority of UK caravans manufactured after 2004.

I have just ordered a new Regulator, but did not think of replacing the Pigtail as this is only 1yr old, but I will change this for a Gaslow one if it happens again in the future,

thanks again for your advice and best regards, Martin