Advice regarding refillable Alugas system on our Niesmann + Bischoff Flair

[SurreyNick]

We're total motorcome novices but keen to learn. Our 1999 Niesmann + Bischoff Flair has a refillable Alugas system installed with an automatic change-over.

Am I right in assuming that in the upright position (pictured) the system drains one bottle first and then automatically draws from the second? And if I switch it to one side or other it will only draw from that bottle?

Should I leave it in the upright position, or is it better to only have it taking from one bottle at a time thereby alerting me when I have used 50% of the total volume?

Being German made the refill point does not have the standard UK connector. I do have an adapter (pictured) which screws into the refill point. Does this adapter work with all types of UK refill points? I have watched a few YouTube videos and there seems to be two types of refill pump system. One with a screw in attachment and another with a lever. Do both these fit onto my bayonet adapter?

Thanks

 

[Phill D]

That adapter is for all uk lpg a
gas fills . I have the same filler,
I have the same change over valve and I prefer to turn only 1 bottle on at a time when empty I turn the 2nd bottle on this I know I need a CV Refill well in advance.

 

[Basildog]

We're total motorcome novices but keen to learn. Our 1999 Niesmann + Bischoff Flair has a refillable Alugas system installed with an automatic change-over.

Am I right in assuming that in the upright position (pictured) the system drains one bottle first and then automatically draws from the second? And if I switch it to one side or other it will only draw from that bottle?

Should I leave it in the upright position, or is it better to only have it taking from one bottle at a time thereby alerting me when I have used 50% of the total volume?

Being German made the refill point does not have the standard UK connector. I do have an adapter (pictured) which screws into the refill point. Does this adapter work with all types of UK refill points? I have watched a few YouTube videos and there seems to be two types of refill pump system. One with a screw in attachment and another with a lever. Do both these fit onto my bayonet adapter?

Thanks

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Whilst you can move the changeover valve head through 180° it’s actually only got 2 positions in reality.
Either pointing to the left or right .
Middle position is doing nothing.
Personally I never leave both bottles on , just use the valve as a manual changeover.
If you wish to use the automatic option then point the indicator to the bottle you want to use first then open up both bottle control valves,indicator will show green , when your selected bottle is empty the valve will swap to the other cylinder and your indicator should show red , turn indicator over to the in use bottle and it will go back to green .

 

[Mike800966]

Re the UK adapter, it will screw into the wallplate with a RH thread ie normal.
Be sure to fully tighten it, perhaps wearing a leather glove , reason is that when you come to fill with gas the UK pump connector has a rotatable metal sleeve which can unscrew the adapter should you turn it the wrong way.
Sounds complicated, it isnt. The french saucer type allows the connection to rotate within the dish and avoids this possibility. Also the trigger on the pump handle will not latch until its all together properly. Hence you then stand away and hold in the fill button in on the pump until the pump stops automatically.
PS There can be a delay after you press the fill button until pumping starts, this may be perhaps the kiosk is authorising it? Dont release the button or it may all lock and you have to start again.
Justa few words of advice but really its usually quite simple
Mike

 

[SurreyNick]

Great advice, thank you. One more (probably dumb) question. Should I have the valves open or shut off when refilling, or does it not matter? I have been shutting them off when driving the vehicle.
Thanks

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[Phill D]

Off when refilling and I have mine off when driving.
If you have a certain auto shut off regulator you can drive with gas on.

 

[SurreyNick]

Thanks

 

[jongood]

Great advice, thank you. One more (probably dumb) question. Should I have the valves open or shut off when refilling, or does it not matter? I have been shutting them off when driving the vehicle.
Thanks

Have you got a better picture of the regulator? In particular does it have a reset button?

 

[SurreyNick]

Is the regulator the thing labelled "automatic change-over Type 924C" ? If so, I can't see any button on it and couldn't feel one at the back either. Here's a couple more pics

 

[jongood]

Is the regulator the thing labelled "automatic change-over Type 924C" ? If so, I can't see any button on it and couldn't feel one at the back either. Here's a couple more pics

View attachment 650223

View attachment 650224

I don't think that is a crash sensitive reg, not hard to change it if you wanted to, have a look at

Truma/GOK Regulators & Fittings Archives

autogasshop.co.uk

btw, if you use the reply function people will know who you are answering.

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[SurreyNick]

I don't think that is a crash sensitive reg, not hard to change it if you wanted to, have a look at

Truma/GOK Regulators & Fittings Archives

autogasshop.co.uk

Thanks for the advice. I would be interested in changing it, but wouldn't have a clue which one to buy!

 

[Phill D]

Is the regulator the thing labelled "automatic change-over Type 924C" ? If so, I can't see any button on it and couldn't feel one at the back either. Here's a couple more pics

View attachment 650223

View attachment 650224

The regulator is the silver object with the yellow label on.
The cercimotion ( I think they are called) regulator is expensive and have habit of gumming up.
Had and replaced it when it started to play up.

 

[SurreyNick]

The regulator is the silver object with the yellow label on.
The cercimotion ( I think they are called) regulator is expensive and have habit of gumming up.
Had and replaced it when it started to play up.

Ah, got it. Thank you for clarifying
Still wouldn't have a clue which replacement to get

 

[Phill D]

Ah, got it. Thank you for clarifying
Still wouldn't have a clue which replacement to get

I would stick with what you have and just open 1 gas bottle at a time.
There is little need to leave the gas on while travelling the alternator will power the fridge so unless you have a specific need I would leave it as is.
But , it’s your van your choice.

 

[jongood]

Thanks for the advice. I would be interested in changing it, but wouldn't have a clue which one to buy!

We got used to secumotion with our previous Mh and found turning it off the manual one with this one a faff, we have a tank so it's behind 2 flaps so I changed it with some advice from Autogas 2000 and we now have one with a crash sensor and a remote switch - brilliant!!.

When you start using it you will see whether it annoys you or not, if it does then you can get Autogas or someone like them to do it.

Yes Phill D totally agree about secumotion went through 3 in 9 years, but there are other choices.

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[SurreyNick]

Many thanks for all the advice. For the time being I will stick with what's there and will adopt the one tank at a time usage.

 

[Ingwe]

Off when refilling and I have mine off when driving.
If you have a certain auto shut off regulator you can drive with gas on.

From Alugas site is the following which suggests that it is safe to travel with the gas on.

“The Alugas MV cylinder also incorporates in the gas off take valve a rupture protection (excess flow device) as a further safety feature which replaces the need for special “rupture protection” pigtails with this valve fitted to them. This allows for safe travel with gas turned on and, in some cases, where allowed, operate the vehicles heating while driving.”

 

[SurreyNick]

From Alugas site is the following which suggests that it is safe to travel with the gas on.

“The Alugas MV cylinder also incorporates in the gas off take valve a rupture protection (excess flow device) as a further safety feature which replaces the need for special “rupture protection” pigtails with this valve fitted to them. This allows for safe travel with gas turned on and, in some cases, where allowed, operate the vehicles heating while driving.”

That's reassuring just in case I forget to shut them off. Thanks

 

[Basildog]

From Alugas site is the following which suggests that it is safe to travel with the gas on.

“The Alugas MV cylinder also incorporates in the gas off take valve a rupture protection (excess flow device) as a further safety feature which replaces the need for special “rupture protection” pigtails with this valve fitted to them. This allows for safe travel with gas turned on and, in some cases, where allowed, operate the vehicles heating while driving.”

You would only be complying with the requirements for travelling with your gas on if you also have a crash safe regulator fitted .
Alugas , Gaslow, and most modern underslung LPG tanks have excess flow valves built in, Gasit and Safefill etc would also require the rupture protection hoses as they don’t have any excess flow valves.