Adding 2nd calor gas bottle - what do i need?

[ldillon]

Hi, new motorhome owner here, im looking at making some "simple" upgrades to the motorhome (sunlight T-68) namely adding a 2nd gas bottle and maybe a 2nd leasure battery, so we can be more self reliant and spend a bit more time off the grid.

I was thinking since we are probably going to be touring around the UK this summer, i'd go for what probably is the cheapest option (my assumption anyway) is just to buy another calor gas bottle and connect in parallel to the 1st...

I suppose the cheapest option is just to buy another calor bottle and manually swap over the regulator, but i would prefer a system where both bottles are are "inline" so i dont have to swap over the bottles in the middle of the night for example if i have the heating on.

So my question is what cost of cable setup would i need for this, a regulator per bottle plus some sort of mixer hose?

I've seen other posts about adding a refillable bottle (Glasgow), but those kits are £300+, where im hoping a another calor bottle plus regulator bits and pieces will be less than 1/2 that. Thoughts apperiated and where people would recommend i buy this kit.
Thanks,
Liam

 

[Stealaway]

Sorry I'll be back

 

[Eggs]

Hi, new motorhome owner here, im looking at making some "simple" upgrades to the motorhome (sunlight T-68) namely adding a 2nd gas bottle and maybe a 2nd leasure battery, so we can be more self reliant and spend a bit more time off the grid.

I was thinking since we are probably going to be touring around the UK this summer, i'd go for what probably is the cheapest option (my assumption anyway) is just to buy another calor gas bottle and connect in parallel to the 1st...

I suppose the cheapest option is just to buy another calor bottle and manually swap over the regulator, but i would prefer a system where both bottles are are "inline" so i dont have to swap over the bottles in the middle of the night for example if i have the heating on.

So my question is what cost of cable setup would i need for this, a regulator per bottle plus some sort of mixer hose?

I've seen other posts about adding a refillable bottle (Glasgow), but those kits are £300+, where im hoping a another calor bottle plus regulator bits and pieces will be less than 1/2 that. Thoughts apperiated and where people would recommend i buy this kit.
Thanks,
Liam

If you google 'auto change over regulator kit' you will find what you need.

I'm not trying to spend your money but if you are planning on keeping the van any length of time I'd be fitting a refillable system, it will save you money in the long run.

 

[DandG5515]

Done 11years on a single bottle, just upgraded the hose, so it is hand screw not spanner connection, a lot easier to do in the dark.

 

[Vipar]

Wow that’s cheap just 1 bottle in 11 years. Do you live on sandwiches

Greetings peeps welcome from Bexley

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[Ivory55]

If it’s a manual switch over then the amount of gas left is known, not both bottles empty by mistake.

 

[Compactliner]

We have one of these changeover valves...large rotary knob controls which cylinder is being fed to the built in regulator, a simple fit.
Just attach the hose of each bottle to the input points and use the knob to manage the bottles.

 

[Stealaway]

I've never had a problem with turning one bottle of and the other on. In my experience it mostly happens overnight due to the fridge.
Its also a fool proof way of knowing when you have emptied a bottle and now need a refill

 

[tonka]

I've never had a problem with turning one bottle of and the other on. In my experience it mostly happens overnight due to the fridge.
Its also a fool proof way of knowing when you have emptied a bottle and now need a refill

My thoughts as well.
My van has auto changeover BUT never used it as I like to know when a bottle has run out.
As both bottles are connected it a simple operation of opening the gas bottle top and flipping the switch over.
I also use Safefill bottles so a compromise of the re-fillable option, suits me as I have a local LPG supplier only 1 mile away.

 

[Compactliner]

Agreed, the manual changeover I posted above allows just that..it also has an 'indicator' window that shows when the active bottle is low.

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[xsparks]

My son picked up a couple of bottles at our local tip. He wasn't charged for them but they will probably only ask for a fiver. Then just swap in for full ones.

 

[Vipar]

Not allowed to take anything from our tip. Bloke came in with a lovely little child’s bike. They would not let him give it to me. So he drove out with it and gave it to me outside the tip gates. Bloody jobs worth

 

[bigwood]

I had thought about some sort of change over valve as per the suggestion. Considering they cost £87 I think swapping the pipe from bottle to bottle is simpler and considerably cheaper.
As others have found it’s during the night it runs out or half way through cooking tea when it’s raining. Last time I spent ages trying to figure out what the ticking noise was when I woke up. It was the fridge trying to light.

 

[Compactliner]

While I agree is is cheaper to do it yourself, I wouldn't want to be out there with a spanner at night in the rain....
So, to make it easier an easy use 'handwheel' POL hose would be good, but they're £15 and you need two...
having used the above changeover, which takes seconds to switch, I'd rather invest £87 there than £30 for something that's still a lot more fiddly....and I'm a tight wad!
Good luck.