|
|
Post by millard1399 on Sept 8, 2012 21:46:49 GMT 10
G'day All, Can somebody post a photo showing where their gas regulator is positioned to comply with the new regulations, please? I've read of a couple of different interpretations of the new regs. I'm a bit confused about whether the inlet pipe of the regulator has to be above the outlet valve of the bottle, or whether equal (level) with the outlet valve is ok or not. I've put the dual regulator versions on both the Millard and the Windsor. This picture shows the one that was put on the Millard...  ...but you can see in this photo how it was bolted to the clamp ring, which is below the gas bottle outlet...  If the regulator has to be equal to, or above, the bottle outlet, I'd have to get some extra metal welded to the gas bottle bracket to fix the regulator higher. I'm interested in seeing how others have had their regulators fitted. cheers, Al. |
|
|
|
Post by kiwijim on Sept 9, 2012 0:01:22 GMT 10
G'day Al, I've spent the last couple of hours hunting down the regulations for the position of regulators on caravans, not much luck as yet, although I did come across a report which recommends the placement of Gas regulators above the gas cylinders........ CLOGGING OF GAS REGULATOR PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION! Information www.dariocaravans.com.au/page.asp?parentid=11&productid=1164I haven't had a chance to check with Standards Australia as to the amendments to AS 1596, AS 5601 & AS 1869 as yet but, will inform you as soon as something comes to hand. kiwijim ;D |
|
|
|
Post by bobt on Sept 9, 2012 13:35:20 GMT 10
When did the regulations come in?   this was built March 2011 |
|
|
|
Post by millard1399 on Sept 9, 2012 20:48:07 GMT 10
That's a pretty interesting link to the Dario's website, kiwijim. That LPGA information is dated 27 Sept 06, and this is the diagram that accompanies that info...  The intention of the LPGA was to propose that copper pigtails be the preferred connection between bottle and regulator, and that the pigtail be positioned so that LP gas vapour is always travelling uphill to the regulator inlet. Flexible hoses could substitute for the copper pigtail, if the flexible hose meets an "extractable free" test (which I gather is a test to determine if the gas extracts anything from the lining of the flexible hose as it passes through). Now we fast-forward to 28 February 2012, and the new revised Standard is published: AS/NZS1869:2012 - Hose and hose assemblies for liquefied petroleum gases (LP Gas), natural gas and town gas. It only took six years from the proposal being made, to the new Standard being published.  But you would think the caravan industry would keep abreast of the proposed changes, and be including them in their designs even before the changes were published in a new Standard, wouldn't you?? Well, by coincidence, I'm in the midst of reading a few caravan magazines from the end of 2011, which I picked up cheap from a Charity shop the other day. After reading the LPGA info in kiwijim's link, I went back through the magazines to see how the regulators were fitted to vans at the end of 2011. The following photos are from advertisements or stories about different brands... In this first photo, you can't see any of the regulator above the bottles, but you can see the reflection of it in the prop plate on the front of the van...  These next photos show the top of the regulator above the bottle outlet, but the bottom of the regulator is well below the bottle outlet...   This one has the top of the regulator pretty much level with the bottle outlet...  And the only one I found in the magazines that seems to be trying to conform with the proposals, in terms of having a steep slope from the bottle up to the regulator, is this one...  bobt's photo above is a pretty darn good attempt to match the original LPGA proposal, so full marks to that brand.  I presume that because the new Standard was published in Februarly 2012, then caravans made after that date would have the regulator positioned the same as in the diagram above. Now I'm keen to see a few vans that were built recently, and see if that's the case or not. The bottom line for me is that the regulator on my Windsor and Millard vans are both way too low, and I need to have the bottle holder frame remodelled, and some extra steel welded onto it to allow the regulator to be positioned above the bottle. Looks like my brother hasn't finished doing some welding for me.  cheers, Al. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2012 20:55:48 GMT 10
Hi Al I just had the chesney plumbed and certified for the new frig and stove and the gas regulator is positioned the same as yours. For me it raises the question of being damaged by rocks ect on the gravel roads ect that i travel on. I read on a earlier post about water in some gas lines which makes me think if the regulator was placed slightly higher than the gas bottle and on a angle as not to allow water to ingress when disconnected. When i get to the chassis i will look to see if the regulator can be mounted behind the gas bottle possibly offering a bit of protection from stones ect . Here in tassy ice can cause a few problems as well.Will post a few pics of our camping trip last week when we had 5 inches of snow and the waterline inside the sunwagon froze brrrrrr cheers for now oggy
|
|
|
|
Post by Caprinut on Sept 9, 2012 21:12:42 GMT 10
One other aspect that no-one has mentioned is that with the new regulator that I fitted from Sherwood they mention that the regulator should not be exposed to weather, in particular rainwater.  I did ask my gas fitter to fit a copper pigtail but he insisted on using a s/steel mesh lined flexible connector. Luckily I did mount my reg. higher but I used a scupper vent cover as a weather shield as well . Obviously if others are mounting their regulators onto the gas bottle brackets its a bit more difficult to shield it from the weather ( possibly a inverted box ) |
|
|
|
Post by bobt on Sept 10, 2012 20:05:53 GMT 10
Hey Al
I ratted through some of the photos of my long gone caravans to see where the regulators were located, on account I could not remember. The ones I could see were mounted below probably explains why I use to get a build up of black liquid in my pipes.
I had a little look at the standards today to see if I could gleen anything, I do understand now why the caravans in the mags your looking at have the regs set where they are. Its one word in AS/NZS 5601.2:2010 APPENDIX H (page 64)
METHOD OF LOCATING GAS PRESSURE REGULATORS
NOTES:
1 Only copper pigtails or flexible hoses with low extractable content should be used.
2 The regulator should be mounted above the cylinder valves (to allow any liquid to flow back to the
cylinder).
I think if I was doing mods to my draw bar I would be following the standards.
bobt
|
|
|
|
Post by kiwijim on Sept 11, 2012 2:40:15 GMT 10
It looks like raising the Regulator to above the top of gas bottles will be a good move for those who have them low down at present.
I recall a couple of years before I left the trade, I had a continual job of replacing regulators, some had only been on vans for a matter of weeks before they became blocked with residue,
At that stage we thought that the contaminants was from the gas, but it now seems that the inner lining of the flexible tube is the main culprit.
There is advise I have read that flexible piping to the regulator from the bottles should be replaced regularly, about every 12 Months, where they are exposed to extreme heat.
The other answer is to cover the regulator and pipes such as you see on many English vans.
kiwijim ;D
|
|
