Gas through BBQ point

[klaus Knaus]

We've noticed some vans seemingly hooking up a Spanish gas cylinder via their external BBQ point. Is this easy / safe ? Any snags to be aware of??

 

[hilldweller]

Perfectly normal but you MUST use a regulator.

 

[andyman]

As long as you have a regulator on the bottle then no problem. But there will be some who disagree.

 

[klaus Knaus]

Thanks for the swift replies. I assume the on-board cylinders have to be turned off?

 

[pappajohn]

Thanks for the swift replies. I assume the on-board cylinders have to be turned off?

The regulator should stop any gas getting into the empty bottle's but there's no reason not to turn the bottles off.

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[scotjimland]

Any snags to be aware of??

Don't drive away with the bottle still connected..

you may laugh.. but I've seen a lot silly things done..

 

[ubuntu1]

No you shouldn't do it. Its not the way the van was designed to be used and would breach the gas regs. You will probably find if you have a fire the insurance company will just walk away.

 

[tonka]

If you are running Butane at present you can unscrew the clip on UK adaptor, Buy a Spanish "Jumbo adaptor"... NOTE THIS IS NOT A REGULATOR..
Then use this and it will go through your bulkhead regulator thats already fitted to the van.. If your locker is big enough then you can stow the spanish bottle in there...

 

[bellabee]

If you are running Butane at present you can unscrew the clip on UK adaptor, Buy a Spanish "Jumbo adaptor"... NOTE THIS IS NOT A REGULATOR..
Then use this and it will go through your bulkhead regulator thats already fitted to the van.. If your locker is big enough then you can stow the spanish bottle in there...View attachment 53106
View attachment 53107

We've got an empty Cepsa propane bottle which we intend to take to Spain with us. It fits in our locker alongside the Calor bottle. Can this be fitted in the same way?
many thanks
chris

 

[andyman]

No you shouldn't do it. Its not the way the van was designed to be used and would breach the gas regs. You will probably find if you have a fire the insurance company will just walk away.

Can you show me what gas reg it breaches.

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[tonka]

We've got an empty Cepsa propane bottle which we intend to take to Spain with us. It fits in our locker alongside the Calor bottle. Can this be fitted in the same way?
many thanks
chris

Yes...
If you are using Butane (blue) then its just a simple change of the clip on UK to the Clip on Jumbo adaptor.
If you have Propane then you will have to buy a new butane "pigtail" and this will connect to your bulkhead regulator.
You can get an adaptor in UK off ebay or several leisure outlets or wait until you get to Spain.

 

[bellabee]

Thanks, Tonka

 

[wanderer]

If you do this wont you have to get a barbecue fitting to connect and if you only have one connector then you cant use your barby ??

 

[scotjimland]

If you do this wont you have to get a barbecue fitting to connect and if you only have one connector then you cant use your barby ??

correct.. but without gas you can't use anything .. barbie included..

 

[klaus Knaus]

Thanks for your views everyone

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[pappajohn]

No you shouldn't do it. Its not the way the van was designed to be used and would breach the gas regs. You will probably find if you have a fire the insurance company will just walk away.

I've seen this method used by a recognised NCC and SWIFT group mobile caravan engineer who is also a funster.

The customer was having Gaslow system installed at one of the shows, and as there was no autogas suppier to fill the new bottles on site the existing calo gas bottle was fed into the system via the BBQ outlet.

If this contravened any regulations i dont think the installer would risk their accreditation to the NCC or Swift by undertaking such an installation.

 

[Techno]

It's low pressure and can't possible make any difference which direction the gas goes through a BBQ point

 

[hilldweller]

It's low pressure and can't possible make any difference which direction the gas goes through a BBQ point

And therein lies the danger, already been said many times but YOU MUST USE A REGULATOR.

That Spanish jumbo adaptor is an easy trap to fall into.

 

[Bartyfixedit]

I haven't got a barbecue outlet so I'm no expert, but one thing concerns me. I thought that the barbecue outlet had a valve built into it such that when you disconnected the hose the gas would shut off?

If you are using the barbecue connection to feed gas into the van and you inadvertently disconnect with the cylinder valve open, or should it just fall out, you will end up with the dreaded hissy snaky hose emitting an explosive gas.

As I said I have no actual experience of a barbecue outlet, I'm just going by what I thought.

Cheers,

David.

 

[Techno]

You wont have a snaky hose with only 30mb coming out.

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[mitzimad]

barbeque outlets close when you remove the connector same as your domestic cooker bayonet fitting

 

[Techno]

barbeque outlets close when you remove the connector same as your domestic cooker bayonet fitting

Yes but the point he was making is the gas is going IN not coming OUT
Therefore you must isolate the bottle before unplugging it.
But who wouldn't?

 

[Glandwr]

I've used the system several times in Morocco. As has been said you MUST use a regulator and check it's pressure rating my van is 30mb. Regs are available up to 50mb. Can't see any safety issues ( apart from someone pinching the bottle)
One thing I have noticed as someone who normally burns autogas with a large proportion of propane in it. You will notice the much higher calorific value if you use a methane bottle.

Dick

 

[hilldweller]

But who wouldn't?

A very surprised FUNster smoking a cigarette.

Hey, I've driven off taking a hookup post with me. We all do stupid when distracted.

 

[ubuntu1]

The regs say that any van built after 2004 must have a 30mbar bulk head mounted regulator (UK built) connected by a pigtail which is no longer than 400mm plus fittings. Connecting a cylinder through the bbq point in no way complies with this.

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[funflair]

The regs say that any van built after 2004 must have a 30mbar bulk head mounted regulator (UK built) connected by a pigtail which is no longer than 400mm plus fittings. Connecting a cylinder through the bbq point in no way complies with this.

It would still have all that as well.

 

[tonyidle]

You will notice the much higher calorific value if you use a methane bottle.

Dick

You'll notice more than that! The only way you can buy methane is as CNG - or did you mean butane?

 

[DP+JAY]

TE="ubuntu1, post: 1288265, member: 1503"]The regs say that any van built after 2004 must have a 30mbar bulk head mounted regulator (UK built) connected by a pigtail which is no longer than 400mm plus fittings. Connecting a cylinder through the bbq point in no way complies with this.[/QUOTE]

That's odd, cant find a 400mm pigtail for sale, they seem to be mainly 500mm and upwards( to 1200mm) ?
Just bought an auto changeover valve, from a well known refillable lpg bottle supplier, & it came with two 500mm pigtails fitted?

 

[ubuntu1]

They are 400mm of rubber plus fittings So yes 500mm in total. (I'm a fully qualified motorhome engineer and have just completed my gas renewal certificate)

750mm is permissible in motorhomes with a slide out gas bottle tray. The 1.2 and 1.5m hoses are for engineers to use when testing with an external bottle.

 

[Techno]

So longer hoses are not legal? I think you will find they are available in a number of lengths. With stainless steel hoses especially it is preferable to use a longer hose if it gives a kink free connection. Either way it is just blowing smoke and nothing to do with temporarily feeding gas into the pipework via a regulated feed.

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