Gas on/off? (1 Viewer)

[PG’s trips]

I know the manual recommends turning the propane gas off at the bottle when driving but I was wondering if all established members are strict about this or do some ignore that recommendation? Sometimes turning it off at the bottle affects my fridge ...even with the 12v left on, I occasionally need to switch the fridge off then back on again when parked up for a while to stop it flashing with the 15 minute time delay kicking in. Interested in views ....is there a serious risk of exploding or is it more to do with safety as a result of an accident?

thanks

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

We always switch our gas off when driving if we stop for a break we let it bleep and it stops after a few mins,but the fridge is still cold enough.if we are stopping for any length of time then we will turn the gas on.only takes a minute.

 

[cmcardle75]

It is accident safety. I always turn off. I don't want to be blamed for fire and injury resulting from my laziness. As mine is underslung in the centre line of the vehicle and is not close to reachable without clambering underneath, I've installed an electronic valve, with a switch reachable from the driver's seat, so I can turn everything important off without undoing my seatbelt.

Some people install automatic crash valves instead so they can use their fridge on gas. My fridge is compressor, so this would be unnecessary for me. The electronic or manual valve is slightly safer as it is embedded into the tank, whilst the crash valves available tend to have a short unprotected tail.

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[BigDean]

I know the manual recommends turning the propane gas off at the bottle when driving but I was wondering if all established members are strict about this or do some ignore that recommendation? Sometimes turning it off at the bottle affects my fridge ...even with the 12v left on, I occasionally need to switch the fridge off then back on again when parked up for a while to stop it flashing with the 15 minute time delay kicking in. Interested in views ....is there a serious risk of exploding or is it more to do with safety as a result of an accident?

thanks

We used a Truma DuoControl CS on our last MoHo which we have spare if you are interested for a fair price . New MoHo came with one already installed. Nice to be able to leave it on and have the protection of the CrashStop.

Just don't forget to turn it off when unused and without hookup and the with the fridge still on in auto mode! Ran out of gas more than once with that!

BigDean

 

[TheAleMan]

We do it without thinking. Always turn it OFF.

 

[tonyidle]

Always on. Although this mh has a crash safety cut-off we've left it on on every previous one. In Winter running the hab heating is the only way to stay warm.

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[knickam]

If I understand correctly the Truma DuoControl CS isolates gas to the van in the event of a crash/bump.
The feed line (pigtails) to the regulator can also be rupture protected.

My question is if you are travelling and you get some kind of failure of a gas line after the regulator.
Would the flow through the regulator be high enough to trigger the pigtail shut offf or would the gas just continue to flow?

 

[Charlie9038]

I leave it on as there is a crash sensor fitted, but reading this I am thinking it should be off even with the crash sensor fitted
If there was no sensor would deffo turn off

 

[BillandHelen]

It is accident safety. I always turn off. I don't want to be blamed for fire and injury resulting from my laziness.

Could you explain a bit more about the electronic valve please. Our van is similar, under slung tank, would be great to be able to turn on and off from inside!
Thanks
Bill

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[cmcardle75]

Could you explain a bit more about the electronic valve please. Our van is similar, under slung tank, would be great to be able to turn on and off from inside!

You need the valve:

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This replaces the manual shutoff valve. These are pretty standard for 4 hole tanks. However, it is a pig to replace, I suggest you get help with it! The torque required is immense.

However, you also need an ECU to power it. You could just not bother and give it 12V direct from a switch, but it will waste a lot of electricity. An ECU to drop the current is essential unless you are always on EHU.

Unfortunately, they don't even seem to be listing the required ECU at the moment. No idea if there are other suppliers. All it has to do is drop the voltage efficiently to about 2V once the solenoid has opened. I bet there are many other industrial applications for such a device.

 

[Off da Grid]

Always off when driving. Propane is more flammable than petrol.
Doubt a crash sensor would work if the van caught fire.
Wouldn’t want the gas to make any fire worse.

 

[Snoopy]

Always off for us when driving, if we pull over for a break, like jimhorlicks said fridge stays cool enough..

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[monzer]

I leave mine on. The firemen might want a cuppa after they pull me out the burning wreckage.

 

[63720]

Off

 

[Andy1954]

On

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[Odd job]

Always OFF when driving, it is like wearing a seatbelt, I have been doing that since it became compulsory, it has not been any use on all that time, but I still do it. The same with the gas being off.

 

[Landy Andy]

Leave it on.

 

[Gaston aires]

Off if I remember, on if I don’t.
Phil

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[Gerby]

Leave it on, but as others have said we have crash protection built into the LPG system, if we didn't I would isolate every time.

 

[Vic. Parsons.]

On.
Why do Dometic and other fridge manufacturers making 3 way fridges incorporate a 15 minute delay into the gas ignition while making fuel stops if the gas is meant to be off when travelling?

 

[poppycamper]

So how do you turn your gas off?
As OP says "recommend to turn off at bottle"... simple if you do have bottles.
What about underslung tanks.. yes they also
have tank isolating valves but how many of us clamber under van every time you want to turn gas on/off. And how many rely on the on-board manifold... yes that will isolate gas to appliances but what about the exposed pipe run between tank and manifold which is still suseptable to crash damage. I appreciate some say they have remote/automatic shut off valves... but again how close are they fitted to tank?
PS I travel with gas on

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[Reallyretired]

Off for the tunnel and when stored, otherwise usually on. I can see the advantages in it being off but am a lazy bugger.

 

[Pausim]

On but only because I have the crash sensing regulator and the pigtail rupture protection. You need both, one protects the low pressure side and the other the high pressure side. My Alugas cylinder also has an excess flow valve. My AES fridge has a 15 minute delay before switching to gas after stopping the engine to avoid inadvertently firing up when fuelling.

 

[Podney]

Off.

Its gas.

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[kevenh]

Off.
It doesn’t take more than 3min47s to open the locker & turn the bottle’s valve and it’s next to the EHU cabinet so I’ve usually been to that part of the MH

 

[peterc10]

If I understand correctly the Truma DuoControl CS isolates gas to the van in the event of a crash/bump.
The feed line (pigtails) to the regulator can also be rupture protected.

My question is if you are travelling and you get some kind of failure of a gas line after the regulator.
Would the flow through the regulator be high enough to trigger the pigtail shut offf or would the gas just continue to flow?

The pigtails should be protected by anti rupture valves at the bottle end. In case of a sudden increase in gas flow they turn it off.

 

[Clarky]

About the only time I turn ours off is when going through the tunnel.
Van has been sitting on the drive for the last two weeks and the gas is still on.
We do have the Truma crash thingy fitted though.

Richard.

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[peterc10]

We used a Truma DuoControl CS on our last MoHo which we have spare if you are interested for a fair price . N

BigDean

How much is a fair price and is it the horizontal or vertical version please?

 

[Hellski]

Truma CS regulator installed so confidentially left on unless using the tunnel

Plenty of petrol cars, taxi's and buses running on LPG that wouldn't get very far if their tanks were switched off......

 

[tonyidle]

Petrol vs LPG. The vapour of each is effectively equally inflammable. In an accident sufficiently dramatic to cause a leak of either petrol will stick around and present a serious fire risk until it is either neutralised or evaporates. LPG will, given the slightest breeze, disappear harmlessly. If the accident is enough to rupture a gas tank or cylinder no valve or shut-off device will help. Diesel is of course relatively safe when spilled.

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