Gas conundrum, help/advice needed please.

[Soycd]

Our current German built PVC has Webasto diesel heating which we really like. We usually carry one gas bottle of LPG for hot water/cooking. This frees up a bit of space in the cabinet for other bits and pieces and cuts down on weight. As most of our travelling is in Europe we have a German LPG bottle(s) which we tend to use most of the time, with a UK one with an adaptor that I switch too on the few occasions we travel in the van in UK.
The conundrum is this. We’ve ordered an RHD Adria Twin 640 SLB, delivery June 2023. This model does not have the diesel heating option but has Truma Combi 4E, so I’m wondering the best way forward. There seems to be a myriad of choices. (underslung tanks, refillable bottles etc)
I think the main criteria are:

Refillable system that is acceptable in Europe and UK.​

Prefer not to have to exchange bottles.​

Heating can be used ‘on the move’ to heat the habitation area.​

In the first instance I’ll probably stick to a couple of German 11kg which I have already and get a crash control fitted, if this is legal in UK?
The van will also be fitted with a solar panel and extra leisure battery. I'm aware that the Truma can runs off 12v?
Many thanks in anticipation!

 

[Soycd]

Any suggestions folks? Thanks in advance!

 

[Jev88]

Underslung LPG doesn't take internal or locker space and is more accepted for refilling than a stand lone refillable bottle.
Simple screw on adaptors for European fittings.

 

[Soycd]

Underslung LPG doesn't take internal or locker space and is more accepted for refilling than a stand lone refillable bottle.
Simple screw on adaptors for European fittings.

Many thanks Jev88. One of the problems with a PVC is you have to open up the back doors to access the gas bottles. The underslung option looks promising. I like the idea of a remote level gauge as well, no guessing when the tank/bottle needs refilling. I'm wondering is it possible/allowed to run the heating when moving with a crash sensor installed.

 

[Lenny HB]

I'm wondering is it possible/allowed to run the heating when moving with a crash sensor installed.

Yes the Combi can be run while driving, providing you have the crash sensor and anti-rupture valves.

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[Soycd]

I'm wondering is it possible/allowed to run the heating when moving with a crash sensor installed.

Just found the answer to my own question! Seems the system below has a crash sensor.

Underslung LPG Tank Kit for Motorhomes

Underslung LPG tank vapour Gas cylinder Kit for Motorhomes are perfect for long caravan trips as they hold a lot of gas while saving space in the living area.

lpgshop.co.uk

 

[Soycd]

Yes the Combi can be run while driving, providing you have the crash sensor and anti-rupture valves.

Oops, must have posted my reply to my question at same time as you! Many thanks, Lenny.

 

[Two on Tour]

I fitted an underslung gas tank to our MH and use a Mopeka Pro sensor to read the gas level. I also use Mopeka Pro sensors to give me an accurate reading of our fresh and grey water levels.

 

[Soycd]

I fitted an underslung gas tank to our MH and use a Mopeka Pro sensor to read the gas level. I also use Mopeka Pro sensors to give me an accurate reading of our fresh and grey water levels.

View attachment 686497

Brilliant, thanks, thats the sort of thing I'd like to do. I'm assuming they are pretty accurate?

 

[Two on Tour]

I'm assuming they are pretty accurate?

The sensors each have a menu where you can set the dimensions of your tank, and you can set warnings to send you a push message if the tank level reaches the low point that you have set.
The sensors are wireless and use a CR2032 button cell for power which lasts up to 4 years if your set the sampling time to every 10 seconds.

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[funflair]

I fitted an underslung gas tank to our MH and use a Mopeka Pro sensor to read the gas level. I also use Mopeka Pro sensors to give me an accurate reading of our fresh and grey water levels.

View attachment 686497

Would I be right to assume that the water tank sensors fits on the underside of the tank?

 

[Two on Tour]

Would I be right to assume that the water tank sensors fits on the underside of the tank?

Yes, and Mopeka have been working on a top-mounted tank sensor that is due to come to market later this month so I understand.

 

[funflair]

Yes, and Mopeka have been working on a top-mounted tank sensor that is due to come to market later this month so I understand.

Thanks for that, I see they list a TD40 top mount but it looks like it needs a hole in the tank.

 

[Soycd]

The sensors each have a menu where you can set the dimensions of your tank, and you can set warnings to send you a push message if the tank level reaches the low point that you have set.
The sensors are wireless and use a CR2032 button cell for power which lasts up to 4 years if your set the sampling time to every 10 seconds.

Sounds like something I’ll investigate. How would the sensors fit to an underslung tank?

 

[Soycd]

The sensors each have a menu where you can set the dimensions of your tank, and you can set warnings to send you a push message if the tank level reaches the low point that you have set.
The sensors are wireless and use a CR2032 button cell for power which lasts up to 4 years if your set the sampling time to every 10 seconds.

Many thanks, really useful stuff. Motorhomes, eh. Like boats, a big hole into which you can chuck more and more money!

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[Two on Tour]

Many thanks, really useful stuff. Motorhomes, eh. Like boats, a big hole into which you can chuck more and more money!

The sensor has two strong magnets on its base that hold it to the steel underslung cylinder.

Although the sensor grips well, I decided to go for belt and braces just in case hitting a pothole or a sleeping policeman jarred it off.
The photo is while I was making the retaining cover, so a selftapper replaced the "G" clamp.

 

[Old Gibber]

Why do you need to use the heater when on the move? I have a 6.4m van and even in winter the cab keeps the whole van warm. Indeed last winter I had ice building up on the wing mirrors when driving through freezing fog in France but the van was lovely and warm. I don't know about Adria, but when driving my van the habitation 12v system shuts down so you cannot drive with it on. My van incidentally has an underslung gas tank.

 

[Soycd]

Why do you need to use the heater when on the move? I have a 6.4m van and even in winter the cab keeps the whole van warm. Indeed last winter I had ice building up on the wing mirrors when driving through freezing fog in France but the van was lovely and warm. I don't know about Adria, but when driving my van the habitation 12v system shuts down so you cannot drive with it on. My van incidentally has an underslung gas tank.

Personal choice really. To get the whole van warm I find the heat in the cab gets unbearable. We currently have Webasto diesel heating which when it’s cold we have on in the hab area at about 19/20, so it keeps the whole vehicle warm. We have had LPG heating before and we’re able to keep it on when in southern Germany in winter as we had a crash sensor. I don’t recall the 12v system shutting down? If it did this surely the fridge would also not function?

 

[Old Gibber]

Personal choice really. To get the whole van warm I find the heat in the cab gets unbearable. We currently have Webasto diesel heating which when it’s cold we have on in the hab area at about 19/20, so it keeps the whole vehicle warm. We have had LPG heating before and we’re able to keep it on when in southern Germany in winter as we had a crash sensor. I don’t recall the 12v system shutting down? If it did this surely the fridge would also not function?

On mine, fridge still runs as does sat nav which runs off the hab battery, but the rest shuts down. The gas heating (I have a Whale system) uses a significant amount of gas.

 

[Reallyretired]

The shutting down of the hab 12v is a peculiarity of British motorhomes due to some odd regulation of The NCC for trailer caravans. There are posts on here telling you how you can disable it.

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[Old Gibber]

The shutting down of the hab 12v is a peculiarity of British motorhomes due to some odd regulation of The NCC for trailer caravans. There are posts on here telling you how you can disable it.

Cheers but not really bothered, Never need it on when travelling.

 

[Basildog]

Why do you need to use the heater when on the move? I have a 6.4m van and even in winter the cab keeps the whole van warm. Indeed last winter I had ice building up on the wing mirrors when driving through freezing fog in France but the van was lovely and warm. I don't know about Adria, but when driving my van the habitation 12v system shuts down so you cannot drive with it on. My van incidentally has an underslung gas tank.

I can’t understand why manufacturers don’t install rear heaters that use the engine coolant, we’ve had them on a Laika and a Winnebago.
Our Tag axle Swift was freezing in the rear , Hymer Tag thing had Alde heating with a heat exchanger do theoretically it would heat the rear but in reality needed assistance from Gas heating .
Many vans are still as well insulated as an open cow shed
Look behind the trim in our Autotrail and it’s an absolute joke .

 

[Soycd]

The shutting down of the hab 12v is a peculiarity of British motorhomes due to some odd regulation of The NCC for trailer caravans. There are posts on here telling you how you can disable it.

I'll have to look into that when we get the new van, Its an Adria 640 Twin (UK spec) so I wonder if it will be the same, being European built? I've never come across this issue as all the motorhomes/vans we have had have been imported LHD, two with diesel heating and 3 with LPG with gas bottle crash sensors. I'm then wondering why you can buy a crash sensor such as the one below in UK if the regs say you can't?

Truma MonoControl CS - Inform now

The Truma MonoControl CS has an integrated crash sensor and allows safe heating while the vehicle is travelling. Find out more about the gas pressure regulator.

www.truma.com

 

[Soycd]

The shutting down of the hab 12v is a peculiarity of British motorhomes due to some odd regulation of The NCC for trailer caravans. There are posts on here telling you how you can disable it.

I'll look into that, thanks. What a strange thing. As I said earlier never had this issue as always had LHD vehicles.

 

[Soycd]

I may consider a Webasto/Eberspacher diesel system and just carry a small bottle of gas for hot water. I like the idea of the underslung LPG bottle but if I then have to faff around to be able to have the heating on whilst on the move it may be more trouble than its worth? With our present PVC we just fill up with diesel and we have fuel for driving and heating throughout the van when we want it. I'll trial the existing heating system when we get the van and see what the best way forward is.
Some really good advice/comments, thanks to all. Keep them coming!

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[GeoffnDee]

If you have a look at www.swiftgroup.co.uk their British built PVC select vans (and Motorhomes) have Truma heating fitted that can be used for en-route heating and hot water as standard , with the Truma crash sensor system fitted. (This system has been in use for a few years now with most Swift built Motorhomes/Campers)

 

[Orion]

Yesterday we went and viewed the Adria we are due to take delivery of in a couple of weeks time from a U.K. dealership. I’ll be installing the Alugas refillable cylinders myself, but here’s the Truma regulator it comes with, which has the crash sensor/cut-off and is common to other vans from Adria (?)

 

[Soycd]

Yesterday we went and viewed the Adria we are due to take delivery of in a couple of weeks time from a U.K. dealership. I’ll be installing the Alugas refillable cylinders myself, but here’s the Truma regulator it comes with, which has the crash sensor/cut-off and is common to other vans from Adria (?)

View attachment 686924

Thanks for that. I'm assuming our Adria Twin will have the same. Bit strange though that they install them if you can't have 12v on in cab area to run the fan when travelling though. Anybody know how that would work with Webasto/Eberspacher? They would need power to operate their fans. I don't know as mine is LHD and 12v always on in hab area, I think.

 

[Old Gibber]

Thanks for that. I'm assuming our Adria Twin will have the same. Bit strange though that they install them if you can't have 12v on in cab area to run the fan when travelling though. Anybody know how that would work with Webasto/Eberspacher? They would need power to operate their fans. I don't know as mine is LHD and 12v always on in hab area, I think.

If the engine is running then there is power to the USB socket and cigarette socket on the front dash as it runs from the engine battery.

 

[GeoffnDee]

If there is a Truma combi heater fitted designed to be used for en-route heating it will have 12v supply to it that will allow the Truma heating controls to be used when the van is being driven and it will operate as normal , including its fan blower heating through the habitation area vent outlets.

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