Disaster waiting to happen! Do you have this gas tap fitted?

[rod_vw]

Recently I have had a near disaster with a two way gas manifold.

One of the taps simply fell apart although this must have been caused by a knock to the knob at some time that would have never been with any force. Luckily this occurred when an item was removed from the cupboard where the manifold was situated. Had it occurred when the item was replaced into the cupboard the failure could have gone un-noticed with consequences that I don’t wish to even think about.

The failure is that the crimping of the top portion of the valve to the main brass casting was insufficiently made to retain the upper portion firmly. The second valve that has not come apart can also be seen not to be firmly crimped into the main body.

Here is the location of the manifold showing the broken valve --

This is the valve removed from the vehicle --

And detail of the only identifying marks on the valve body --

The vehicle is a self-build by me back in 2017, the manifold was supplied by a well known major motor home parts supplier. I have notified my supplier of this failure but do not intend to publish their name.

If you have a similar one, two or three way gas manifold please be aware of this failure. NOTE there are a number of similar manifolds so don't assume that yours is the same without a very careful inspection.

Rod

 

[ambulancekidd]

 

[Figaro]

As you say, they look very familiar, fitted to almost every van.
With no manufacturer name I'm not sure how anyone would identify if they had one similar to your faulty one ?

 

[The Wino]

As you say, they look very familiar, fitted to almost every van.
With no manufacturer name I'm not sure how anyone would identify if they had one similar to your faulty one ?

I think you are right however as the op has said I think theres little point saying who the supplier is they could well supply several makes and the maker probably sells through several suppliers . Worryingly theres no chance of a recall no-one will have records who bought one it would be different if it was on a manufacturer produced van. Lets hope its just a one off not a faulty batch.

 

[Geo]

I fail to see the logic of your reluctance to name the supplier
1. He is not at fault the Manufacturer is
2. The crimping looks to me to be normal
3 .The failure is more likely to have been caused by placing the manifold in an area that promotes damage by being hit by objects (your admission)
4. Your post may have a reversed and dramatic effect on those unable to asses the likelihood of faulty equipment
5, Sending people in droves to get replacement Manifolds possibly from your secret supplier causing many more future failures
If the point was to inform and prevent danger I think it's failed and is more than likely to cause alarm

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[chaser]

I fail to see the logic of your reluctance to name the supplier
1. He is not at fault the Manufacturer is
2. The crimping looks to me to be normal
3 .The failure is more likely to have been caused by placing the manifold in an area that promotes damage by being hit by objects (your admission)
4. Your post may have a reversed and dramatic effect on those unable to asses the likelihood of faulty equipment
5, Sending people in droves to get replacement Manifolds possibly from your secret supplier causing many more future failures
If the point was to inform and prevent danger I think it's failed and is more than likely to cause alarm

The thing that struck me, that the taps were fitted where they could be struck in a full cupboard, how do you get to them in an emergency, you are not going to be hanging about emptying a cupboard while something's on fire.

 

[gus-lopez]

The thing that struck me, that the taps were fitted where they could be struck in a full cupboard, how do you get to them in an emergency, you are not going to be hanging about emptying a cupboard while something's on fire.

All of mine are fitted in a cupboard immediately by the opening . 4 way & 3 singles
I personally wouldn't expect a low with anything to make it seperate. I'd expect to clump them with a lump hammer & still not have a problem?

 

[Wagoneer]

Thanks to the OP for the heads-up. The marking PN16 (as you probably realise) is just the nominal working pressure in bars.....16 bar or about 230 psi.

Just checked mine and noticed an earth wire attached - well, that's reassuring !!! Impossible to tell whether the knobs are securely crimped to the body of the manifold. Fingers crossed

 

[rod_vw]

Thanks to the OP for the heads-up. The marking PN16 (as you probably realise) is just the nominal working pressure in bars.....16 bar or about 230 psi.

Just checked mine and noticed an earth wire attached - well, that's reassuring !!! Impossible to tell whether the knobs are securely crimped to the body of the manifold. Fingers crossed

It won't be the nominal working pressure as these manifolds are always (as far as I know) located after the pressure regulator.
Propane regulators are 37mbar approximately 0.537psi
Butane regulators are 28mbar approximately 0.406psi

16bar may be the maximum tested pressure but certainly is NOT the nominal working pressure.

On the intact valve on my failed manifold movement can be seen between the metal portion below the knob and the main body when the knob is pressed from side to side with the fingers so a potential failure can be seen without removing it from the vehicle.

There are no more markings on the manifold either printed, etched or cast in.

 

[TinaLes]

I have noticed on most MH's that they are normally fitted just underneath the worktop inside a cutlery draw for easy access of isolation. This "usual" location may be to stop them getting bashed by anything also. However they are a bugger to work on, as I found out, I needed a mirror & a Torch to see what I was doing, when I extended the manifold for an external BBQ point, adding another Isolator valve in the process.
Les

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[tonyidle]

The thing that struck me, that the taps were fitted where they could be struck in a full cupboard, how do you get to them in an emergency, you are not going to be hanging about emptying a cupboard while something's on fire.

No - you'd go straight to the cylinder!

 

[pappajohn]

No - you'd go straight to the cylinder!

Agreed, the isolators are there to isolate one item for removal or if faulty while leaving others still working.

 

[tonyidle]

Agreed, the isolators are there to isolate one item for removal or if faulty while leaving others still working.

Agreed. And regardless of their intended function they are rarely easy to access or conveniently placed. Generally speaking the gas locker is accessed from outside. Which is where you need to be in the event of a fire.

 

[rod_vw]

The thing that struck me, that the taps were fitted where they could be struck in a full cupboard, how do you get to them in an emergency, you are not going to be hanging about emptying a cupboard while something's on fire.

Ah but you didn't have a complete overview of the location. The cupboard is for a Porta Potty which is quite a bit lower that the location of the taps. The location within the cupboard is such as to provide easy access for isolation of appliances but not to be vulnerable or easily obstructed by anything else.

The action that resulted in the actual parting of the tap portions was the removal of a plastic bowl (which 'lives' beside the Porta Potty ) which just touched the tap. Having examined the remaining tap it is obvious that it would take only a small pressure from the side to dislodge top from bottom.

There is of course a gas drop-out located in the bottom of this cupboard which may have been the saviour had the leak persisted.

My avatar will give you a clue as to the type of vehicle this is fitted in although that is my previous conversion and the failure occurred in my current one.

 

[romany]

My manifold is at the back of a cupboard but I have an isolation valve just inside the cupboard door for quick shut down

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[Basildog]

No - you'd go straight to the cylinder!

Which crazily most owners lock the gas locker which contains the ecv ??

 

[Minxy]

Had it occurred when the item was replaced into the cupboard the failure could have gone un-noticed with consequences that I don’t wish to even think about.

Been there, done that, definitely got a football team's worth of t-shirts!

Have you got a fire extinguisher!

I have recently been getting quotes for my campervan and was asked by one company if it had a fire extinguisher to which i replied "of course" :Wink: I expect you lucky people with shiney new vans will all have the said item but i was wondering if mabe some of the more 'mature' vans like mine...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[eddie]

Well to be honest, wherever the OP fitted it, regardless of if it had been clouted or not, and regardless of whether it was a decent brand or a cheap one, given that virtually every European caravan and Motorhome has two, three, four of this type of tap, failiure in inevitable and extremely uncommon. In fact 30 years in the business for me and I’ve not seen it before.

So thanks to the OP for his post, but I don’t think it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

It’s a failed gas connection, you should smell it, if not you should have a gas alarm, and it’s simply solved by turning the bottle off