LPG Nightmare (1 Viewer)

[Wildbill]

Most of the threads relating to leaks I have seen have been due to defective cylinders rather than poor DIY fitting.
I had two Gaslow cylinders replaced under warranty due to leaking around the connector. My system was professionally fitted and always had an annual habitation service which included a Gas Safe inspection.

I had my van checked for gas safety just last month.
The guy says one pig tale neads replacing at sum point but apart from that he was very happy with my DIY bodge fitting
Bill

 

[tonyidle]

Yes think you did mention it soumwhare still waiting on the links to all the self fitted systems o thers a few threads apparently I can't find them ?
Bill

There are hundreds of postings about Gaslow - I'm not going through them all just to find a leak.

 

[Basildog]

My last motorhome was supplied by dealer with a shiny new habitation and gas check. Along with a tiny lpg leak caused by a cross-threaded pipe connection.

Always makes me laugh when people say they have had a professional fit their gas systems or have had a gas check !
Do they actually realise that most dealers don't have any gas qualifications.

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[gerry mcg]

Ok, thanks all for your constructive comments. Im near Otterburn at present and am heading North to Scotland, so will try in Glasgow. I won't post anymore on this, so thanks again for the helpful comments, they were much apprecieted!

If you are passing through Glasgow, I fill up at the South St filling station, just off the Clydeside Expressway, near the SECC on the north bank of the river Clyde with no problems. I filled up last week.

They also had LPG at Tore filling station,approx 10 miles North of Inverness and in Broadford filling station on Skye

I would second using https://www.filllpg.co.uk/?page=lpg.ph. I found it very good and accurate

 

[dave newell]

Always makes me laugh when people say they have had a professional fit their gas systems or have had a gas check !
Do they actually realise that most dealers don't have any gas qualifications.

Not true Basil, most dealers will have personnel certified for lpg to at least ACOPS level, some will have personnel certified to gas safe level, I will hopefully be starting my gas safe certification in June.

D.

 

[Basildog]

Not true Basil, most dealers will have personnel certified for lpg to at least ACOPS level, some will have personnel certified to gas safe level, I will hopefully be starting my gas safe certification in June.

D.

Well any that we have asked have been very cagey when you ask for details, ACOP is pretty much a joke .
Not saying that some aren't fully qualified but I get the impression that many aren't.

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[Bulleteer]

Thanks Gerry Mcg,

I managed to get some at a Shell Station just south East of Edinburgh this morning.

 

[mitzimad]

No worse than garages preventing motorcyclists filling their tanks unless they remove their helmets, elf n safety, you know.

nothing to do with health and safety its so they can get a face picture in case the run of without paying

 

[dave newell]

Well any that we have asked have been very cagey when you ask for details, ACOP is pretty much a joke .
Not saying that some aren't fully qualified but I get the impression that many aren't.

Why is ACOPS a joke?

D.

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[Basildog]

Why is ACOPS a joke?

D.

It is a one or 2 day course with very little required knowledge to pass .
There is also no requirement to provide auditable industry experience unlike Gas Safe acs
There is also a 100 percent pass rate on acops which tells me a lot !

 

[Reallyretired]

If Gaslow types of systems were not allowed to be DIY fitted then possibly these garages would be more inclined to allow filling. We see so many threads on here about failures and leaks on self fitted gaslow types of system but not for professionally fitted and tested tank installations.

Personally I think they should have to be tested yearly and a gas safety certificate issued. This gas safety certificate should be shown before garages turn the pump on.

We dont allow home gas systems to be DIY fitted and they dont store liquid gas under pressure so why allow vehicles which the gas system is subject to vibration and flexing in a vehicle to be fitted by anyone?

Working on that basis those using exchangeable bottles (eg Calor) would have to get a gas engineer to change the bottles.

 

[tonyidle]

nothing to do with health and safety its so they can get a face picture in case the run of without paying

You're right of course - but it targets one group of people. Hoodies are OK as are religious face coverings. As a motorcyclist I'm reluctant to remove my helmet unnecessarily - if it's raining the last thing l want inside it is wet hair and l don't want to handle it at any time if my hands are dirty or wet. So l find any request to remove it offensive.

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[tonyidle]

There is a problem with inexperienced DiYers connecting gas lines. Most critical fasteners are, these days, tightened using a torque wrench and, if guidance is followed, will be tightened safely. Gas (and brake) lines rely on an individuals care and experience to arrive at a satisfactory and safe joint. Flared connections and compression joints are very easy to get wrong because over-tightening is too easy. Even those with rubber (or a derivative) as a sealing medium are very easily damaged. I'm always worried when people ask whether they should, or how tight, or what is this type of connection, or should l tighten it a bit more to stop a leak. If you have to ask .................

 

[dave newell]

It is a one or 2 day course with very little required knowledge to pass .
There is also no requirement to provide auditable industry experience unlike Gas Safe acs
There is also a 100 percent pass rate on acops which tells me a lot !

when I did mine it was a five day course first time then a 2 day refresher every five years. As an industry professional we need to be able to prove our competence and that is the purpose of ACOPS. 100% PASS rate is not a problem, you take the tests during the course and redo them until you pass, it's not about failing people, it's about training them.

D.

 

[makems]

The local motorhome repairer that I used is Gas Safe registered.

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[Minxy]

It was a professional MH dealer's technician who installed the lethal BBQ point in a previous MH of ours ... since then I've always done my own Gaslow installations and will continue to do so.

 

[DavidG58]

They also had LPG at Tore filling station,approx 10 miles North of Inverness and in Broadford filling station on Skye

Is the Tore garage LPG back up and running? the pump has been broken for a few years, up to early last year at least

On my last trip I had to go to Dingwall, on Strathpeffer Road, nice easy access but not cheap

Bit of a rarity LPG in the highlands, the only pump on Lewis was out of action as well, but we topped up at Uig on Skye before crossing

I use the LPG map, but now often call to confirm, a good few have closed the LPG pumps

 

[gerry mcg]

Is the Tore garage LPG back up and running? the pump has been broken for a few years, up to early last year at least

On my last trip I had to go to Dingwall, on Strathpeffer Road, nice easy access but not cheap

Bit of a rarity LPG in the highlands, the only pump on Lewis was out of action as well, but we topped up at Uig on Skye before crossing

I use the LPG map, but now often call to confirm, a good few have closed the LPG pumps

Tore was working 2 weeks ago. I used it on the way North to Durness. It is to the side of the filing station, away from the fuel forecourt.
I saw someone using the Broadford lpg pump on Skye
Just checked and filllpg says Dingwall, Lairg, Strathcarron and Broadford are all out of service but Ullapool, Uig and Tore are OK

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[Basildog]

It was a professional MH dealer's technician who installed the lethal BBQ point in a previous MH of ours ... since then I've always done my own Gaslow installations and will continue to do so.

The thing is that you the customers expect that a so called professional is just that , but think about it for a moment and you are expecting the motorhome guy to be a qualified electrician, electronics expert, plumber , gas fitter , and many other trades too .
I doubt many motorhome repair guys are actually fully trained to do any of these trades .

 

[BusyBuilder]

Tore was working 2 weeks ago. I used it on the way North to Durness. It is to the side of the filing station, away from the fuel forecourt.
I saw someone using the Broadford lpg pump on Skye
Just checked and filllpg says Dingwall, Lairg, Strathcarron and Broadford are all out of service but Ullapool, Uig and Tore are OK

Dingwall is working, Tore was last week, Dornoch is working, Skiach nr Evanton may not be working. These are my local stations.

 

[jezport]

Working on that basis those using exchangeable bottles (eg Calor) would have to get a gas engineer to change the bottles.

No because its the connectors and joints that DIY installers over or under tighten that causes joints to crack or leak. But some people are unfit to fit an exchangeable gas bottle also!

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[jezport]

Most of the threads relating to leaks I have seen have been due to defective cylinders rather than poor DIY fitting.
I had two Gaslow cylinders replaced under warranty due to leaking around the connector. My system was professionally fitted and always had an annual habitation service which included a Gas Safe inspection.

Ive seen a lot on cracked nuts and leaking hose joints

 

[jezport]

I fitted my own never had a problems havent seen many threads on self fitted gaslow or any other refiling system com to think of it can you put up the links to the threads would like to she what problems theiy have had
Bill

Only have a minute spare but heres a few of the many






https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/dodgy-gaslow-filler-hose.45152/

 

[scotjimland]

Once upon a time we had craft apprenticeships.. lasting 4 - 5 years with college on day-release and a City & Guilds qualification on passing the exams.. Electrical fitting, Electrical Maintenance, Automotive, Mech Fitting and Turning, et al .. After that time you worked alongside a time-served journeyman to gain more experience.. that was how I was trained.. and after that went to college at night-school for higher qualifications.

you can now become 'qualified' to install , fault find and test LPG gas and 12v electrical systems in a 5 day course..


I'm not saying they are all bad, I'm sure Dave Newell is very competent, with years of experience and I would trust him., but that said, you cannot learn or get the experience in 5 days what you would get in 5 years .. and it's people with none or very little experience who are getting these qualifications..

I wonder how long it will be until we see people trained as nurses and doctors on a 5 day course ?

No, that will never happen because we wouldn't let them near us.. yet we are quite happy to let a 5 day course fitter work on our pride and joy.. ? I don't think so.

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[Basildog]

Once upon a time we had craft apprenticeships.. lasting 4 - 5 years with college on day-release and a City & Guilds qualification on passing the exams.. Electrical fitting, Electrical Maintenance, Automotive, Mech Fitting and Turning, et al .. After that time you worked alongside a time-served journeyman to gain more experience.. that was how I was trained.. and after that went to college at night-school for higher qualifications.

you can now become 'qualified' to install , fault find and test LPG gas and 12v electrical systems in a 5 day course..


I'm not saying they are all bad, I'm sure Dave Newell is very competent, with years of experience and I would trust him., but that said, you cannot learn or get the experience in 5 days what you would get in 5 years .. and it's people with none or very little experience who are getting these qualifications..

I wonder how long it will be until we see people trained as nurses and doctors on a 5 day course ?

No, that will never happen because we wouldn't let them near us.. yet we are quite happy to let a 5 day course fitter work on our pride and joy.. ? I don't think so.

That's why I said ACOPS is a joke .
Try and get Gas safe registration in 5 days
They won't let you do the ACS initial training without auditable industry experience.
Not saying that it makes every Gas Safe person good but it is a step in the right direction.
Most Gas Safe registered people won't have the lpg component anyway as they won't need it , I have let mine lapse a year ago but I know my little finger has more Gas experience and knowledge than the monkey that did a habitation certificate for us to make the motorhome more appealing to a potential buyer.
They do a basic air test but there was no proper gas tightness test and certainly no standing or working pressure tests carried out ,
£180 was a joke .

 

[Reallyretired]

Although loads of stations in France have LPG (GPL) some only have access to one side, probably not a problem with a car but the hoses aren't long enough to reach round even a small motohome.

 

[scotjimland]

That's why I said ACOPS is a joke .
Try and get Gas safe registration in 5 days
They won't let you do the ACS initial training without auditable industry experience.
Not saying that it makes every Gas Safe person good but it is a step in the right direction.
Most Gas Safe registered people won't have the lpg component anyway as they won't need it , I have let mine lapse a year ago but I know my little finger has more Gas experience and knowledge than the monkey that did a habitation certificate for us to make the motorhome more appealing to a potential buyer.
They do a basic air test but there was no proper gas tightness test and certainly no standing or working pressure tests carried out ,
£180 was a joke .

you can get an Electrical Test and Inspection qualification in 2 days .. or 4 days if you take follow-on "advanced" 2 day course ..

" Do I need previous experience?
The course is suitable for both first time learners"


" Following the successful completion of the course and assessment, the technician will receive the NCC Certificate of Competence in Electrical Maintenance of LV/ELV Systems, Equipment & Circuits. "

yup.. 4 days and fully qualified http://www.nccacademy.org.uk/electrical-test-and-inspection-for-caravan-service

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[gerry mcg]

Although loads of stations in France have LPG (GPL) some only have access to one side, probably not a problem with a car but the hoses aren't long enough to reach round even a small motohome.

My filler is on the rear bumper , so no problem!

 

[icantremember]

mu filler is on the rear bimper , so no problem!

Isn't that a bit vulnerable in case someone bimps into it! ... sorry.

Edit .. you corrected your post before I got in.

 

[Basildog]

you can get an Electrical Test and Inspection qualification in 2 days .. or 4 days if you take follow-on "advanced" 2 day course ..

" Do I need previous experience?
The course is suitable for both first time learners"


" Following the successful completion of the course and assessment, the technician will receive the NCC Certificate of Competence in Electrical Maintenance of LV/ELV Systems, Equipment & Circuits. "

yup.. 4 days and fully qualified http://www.nccacademy.org.uk/electrical-test-and-inspection-for-caravan-service

The scarey thing is that these are the courses that the dealers etc send their fully qualified staff on ?
Not saying all are unqualified but a huge number are really not what the customers think they are getting.
I always laugh when you hear people talking about their builder and they say "Oh yes he is fantastic he can do everything "

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