Combining refillable and exchange LPG cylinders

[Lucky]

I've previously had one refillable LPG cylinder and one exchangeable cylinder in my mh and swopping the pigtail between regulator and cylinder was a chore whenever one was empty.

I'm about to get the same set up for my new mh and want to minimise the fuss of swopping between the two cylinders.

Is there a way of connecting both cylinders in such a way that I don't have to disconnect the refillable cylinder every time it runs out?

I was thinking of putting this T piece onto the regulator. Is there any reason it would not work or should not be done?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ejaydee]

Yes that is the sort of setup I have on my van. I do not know if it is exactly the same, and I cannot check as the van is not kept here, but I have a 11kilo Gaslow bottle and 6 kilo Calor bottle as a backup. When, or if, the Gaslow bottle runs out, I can open up the tap on the Calor bottle (the not had to do it yet).

 

[SandraL]

When the exchange cylinder is out of van for replacement you will have to turn the refillable type cylinder off, otherwise it will flow through the tee towards the missing exchange type cylinder and to atmosphere.

If you always turn refillable cylinder off while replacing the exchange then ok.

 

[Lenny HB]

Fit a changeover regulator & connect with the correct tail for each bottle.

 

[Cal54]

Lucky - yes there is a way. I’m not at all technical and have the same set up as you have described but it was installed for me by a fellow Funster. I do believe I have a T piece and as a consequence all I do is switch the gas supply on/off to each bottle as necessary. I certainly don’t have to do anything with the pigtail.
Originally I had planned to fit a second refillable bottle but have decided against it preferring not to put all my eggs in one basket!

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[Lucky]

Fit a changeover regulator & connect with the correct tail for each bottle.

Lenny HB , that seems logical but also a much more expensive solution as I already possess a regulator. Is my manual approach unwise if I remember to close all valves before undoing the exchange cylinder's pigtail?

 

[Manic]

I’m lucky in that my van is old , without a fixed regulator so I have a Y piece in the hose and then have a regulator on each bottle and just turn on the bottle I want to use.

 

[Lenny HB]

Lenny HB , that seems logical but also a much more expensive solution as I already possess a regulator. Is my manual approach unwise if I remember to close all valves before undoing the exchange cylinder's pigtail?

Yes but so much easier in use.

I’m lucky in that my van is old , without a fixed regulator so I have a Y piece in the hose and then have a regulator on each bottle and just turn on the bottle I want to use.

Had that on our first Hymer, much prefer the auto changeover.

 

[Debs]

Lucky - yes there is a way. I’m not at all technical and have the same set up as you have described but it was installed for me by a fellow Funster. I do believe I have a T piece and as a consequence all I do is switch the gas supply on/off to each bottle as necessary. I certainly don’t have to do anything with the pigtail.
Originally I had planned to fit a second refillable bottle but have decided against it preferring not to put all my eggs in one basket!

& I've got the same set up, fitted by the same funster haven't I.

Just seems to give the most flexibility.

 

[Gellyneck]

We've got one of these fitted. About £10.
Takes less than 30 secs to change over from our Safefill refillable to our Calor Lite.
Turn off empty, disconnect (no tools required), attach to full and turn on full.

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[Spriddler]

I installed one of each and don't have to change anything when swapping between cylinders - I just turn off one and open the other.

 

[Wagoneer]

I installed one of each and don't have to change anything when swapping between cylinders - I just turn off one and open the other.
View attachment 568028

Got the same setup with the Gaslow changeover pressure gauge. You can use the pressure gauge to check for leaks in the system.

I noticed a drop in pressure when using the refillable Gaslow (after numerous refills in mainland Europe where they use a mix of propane/butane). Refilled in UK where 100% propane is used and normal pressure was resumed.

 

[Lucky]

Yes but so much easier in use.

Well, decision made. I took the advice of Lenny HB , plumped for the lazy boy option and now have the Truma DuoControl CS crashproof regulator. When compared to the cost of a tank of diesel it seemed relatively good value.

Thanks to all for your input and to Autogas in Thirsk who supplied and fitted my new system this afternoon - yes, that quickly. A small Funster discount added to their great service.

 

[Lucky]

We've got one of these fitted. About £10.
Takes less than 30 secs to change over from our Safefill refillable to our Calor Lite.
Turn off empty, disconnect (no tools required), attach to full and turn on full.
View attachment 568027

I love these fittings but I think they're only suitable for UK exchangeable bottles and I am mostly in Europe.

 

[Lucky]

Post removed because I think I was mis speaking

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[Spriddler]

I've since learned there is a T piece available,..........which incorporates one way valves and so addresses that risk.

They're very effective.
My biker mate Thrifty Peter has one on his wallet.

 

[nicholsong]

I’m lucky in that my van is old , without a fixed regulator so I have a Y piece in the hose and then have a regulator on each bottle and just turn on the bottle I want to use.

I have a 2003 MH with 37mb regulator and 21.h LH thread connection and if I want to change from Gaslow to refillable I just uscrew the connector and refit to other cylinder.

Only had to do it once in 12 years, so not a hassle.

Geoff

 

[Wagoneer]

I have a 2003 MH with 37mb regulator and 21.h LH thread connection and if I want to change from Gaslow to refillable I just uscrew the connector and refit to other cylinder.

Only had to do it once in 12 years, so not a hassle.

Geoff

Don't wish to be pedantic but think you mean "Gaslow to exchange".

I just use the "exchange" bottle as an emergency reserve, like you, and very rarely need to use it. Although, I do favour the Gaslow manual changeover system (with pressure gauge) for leak detection, as mentioned in post #12.

 

[nicholsong]

Don't wish to be pedantic but think you mean "Gaslow to exchange".

I just use the "exchange" bottle as an emergency reserve, like you, and very rarely need to use it. Although, I do favour the Gaslow manual changeover system (with pressure gauge) for leak detection, as mentioned in post #12.

Quite correct, my fault.

Too late to edit now.

Sorry.

Geoff

 

[mikebeaches]

Yes that is the sort of setup I have on my van. I do not know if it is exactly the same, and I cannot check as the van is not kept here, but I have a 11kilo Gaslow bottle and 6 kilo Calor bottle as a backup. When, or if, the Gaslow bottle runs out, I can open up the tap on the Calor bottle (the not had to do it yet).

Almost identical for us too - 11kg Gas-it refillable and 6kg Calor lite as backup, which has so far remained unused.

System works well.

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[Arnside037]

Likewise.
Didn't bother with the auto swap. There was a danger that it would auto-swap, I wouldn't know, then I'd run out in both cylinders.
Just turn off the Gaslow and turn on the Calor. Swap done. Hopefully it will never need to be done, or maybe once in a blue moon when its hissing down in the middle of the night.

 

[Basildog]

Well, decision made. I took the advice of Lenny HB , plumped for the lazy boy option and now have the Truma DuoControl CS crashproof regulator. When compared to the cost of a tank of diesel it seemed relatively good value.

Thanks to all for your input and to Autogas in Thirsk who supplied and fitted my new system this afternoon - yes, that quickly. A small Funster discount added to their great service.

Glad we could help , you were the last customer of the year but we have someone with a gas problem at the workshop now that hopefully we will sort in the morning, couldn’t leave them without gas over Christmas
I can’t help myself answering the phone even when we’re closed

 

[Basildog]

Customer drove all the way from Bristol !
All sorted this morning, it was the fill stop valve not working do a fairly easy replacement valve as luckily he was almost empty .
Stayed open all morning in the end as apparently there was a shortage of LPG and a regular customer drove an hour to us for a fill
Definitely closed now and won’t be back until the new year