What can I keep in the gas locker? Possible daft question! (1 Viewer)

[Sandancers]

I did, and I designed a system that cannot and will not produce a spark

Stop digging a hole OR provide a real life situation wher you can make a spark from a N/C negative switching circuit

IE put up or shut up

I did, and I designed a system that cannot and will not produce a spark

Stop digging a hole OR provide a real life situation wher you can make a spark from a N/C negative switching circuit

IE put up or shut up

Or, tell me what happens to the voltage on the side of the magnet switch not tied to ground when the door opens.

 

[eddie]

Or, tell me what happens to the voltage on the side of the magnet switch not tied to ground when the door opens.

It stays at 0VDC

The same as the metal gas locker and the copper gas pipe connected to the regulator

It is NOT a 12 volt circuit

 

[Sandancers]

It stays at 0VDC

The same as the metal gas locker and the copper gas pipe connected to the regulator

It is NOT a 12 volt circuit

I admit it has been a few years since I was involved in designing electronic circuitry, but this has me baffled. You have a circuit that when when the switch opens the wire feeding it stays at the same voltage 0v as it did when the switch was closed to ground, again 0v, but the circuit sees a change of state.

Would it be possible for you to post a diagram (with component values) of the front end of this circuit ? It may have many applications beyond your alarm systems.

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[Sandancers]

I'd put more effort into making sure you don't have a leak and not worry about a bullet proof switch.
This DIY alarm won't have certification either unless you spend a lot of money so do you think the insurance company will accept it ?
Is there a CAT DIY ?

Obviously the DIY alarm would not be certified, but I could knock a decent one together, either using a Rasberry Pi or discreet components for about £50, which would be perimeter and internal protection. Maybe even experiment with an internal camera which gives an internal view of the MH via a smart phone on alarm activation. Given that my insurance is £400 per year and getting a good alarm fitted such as Eddie produces may cost £1000, then the 5% or thereabouts discount from the insurance Co. would not make economic sense. I would tell the Insurance Co that I had produced and fitted my own, but not expect them to give a discount.

Back in the day, the 80s, when cars really needed alarms we made a canny sideline producing and fitting car alarms.

 

[Techno]

My vanbitz alarm has been repaying the initial cost for 8 yrs without issue
Great value and peace of mind and nobody has ever blown up
Most insurance insist on a recognised alarm

 

[Tootles]

Most insurance insist on a recognised alarm

Is that true?? Never been asked.

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[eddie]

I admit it has been a few years since I was involved in designing electronic circuitry, but this has me baffled. You have a circuit that when when the switch opens the wire feeding it stays at the same voltage 0v as it did when the switch was closed to ground, again 0v, but the circuit sees a change of state.

Would it be possible for you to post a diagram (with component values) of the front end of this circuit ? It may have many applications beyond your alarm systems.

No, it would be copied by all the dealers.

 

[eddie]

Obviously the DIY alarm would not be certified, but I could knock a decent one together, either using a Rasberry Pi or discreet components for about £50, which would be perimeter and internal protection. Maybe even experiment with an internal camera which gives an internal view of the MH via a smart phone on alarm activation. Given that my insurance is £400 per year and getting a good alarm fitted such as Eddie produces may cost £1000, then the 5% or thereabouts discount from the insurance Co. would not make economic sense. I would tell the Insurance Co that I had produced and fitted my own, but not expect them to give a discount.

Back in the day, the 80s, when cars really needed alarms we made a canny sideline producing and fitting car alarms.

How would you turn the alarm on and off?

 

[Tootles]

Why would you need an alarm?? There's no-one ever around to hear it, and there are so many going off these days that even if it was heard, no one would give a damn. Is the object of the exercise just to stop a contents thief, or to stop the van being nicked??

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[Puddleduck]

I would tell the Insurance Co that I had produced and fitted my own, but not expect them to give a discount.

Most insurance insist on a recognised alarm

Our van won't be covered for theft (contents or whole vehicle) until the alarm is fitted. It has to be one from the insurance company's list. Okay, one view point is that this is "cash for the boys" but another is that it keeps standards up and rogue fitters out of business.

We are hoping to have an underslung LPG tank fitted and will then use the gas locker for the genny. At the moment there is only a small gas bottle in there plus the wheel chocks.

 

[Techno]

Why would you need an alarm?? There's no-one ever around to hear it, and there are so many going off these days that even if it was heard, no one would give a damn. Is the object of the exercise just to stop a contents thief, or to stop the van being nicked??

My alarm is integrated with my unique boiler controller and phone. If the alarm is triggered I will get a text immediately.
There is nothing better than sleeping in a van that is protected. Everyone will certainly know about it including me while I get my baseball bat.

 

[Robin McHood]

Our van won't be covered for theft (contents or whole vehicle) until the alarm is fitted. It has to be one from the insurance company's list. Okay, one view point is that this is "cash for the boys" but another is that it keeps standards up and rogue fitters out of business.

We are hoping to have an underslung LPG tank fitted and will then use the gas locker for the genny. At the moment there is only a small gas bottle in there plus the wheel chocks.

Well I can recommend Eddie's system, they did a lovely job of the install (once I got there.. See separate post on trials and tribulations of Garmin Gerhardt). Oh and it hasn't blown us up yet.... Now if Eddie could rig it to blow up any imps pimps or banjo players trying to nick stuff out of RH, I might go for that upgrade...

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[Sandancers]

No, it would be copied by all the dealers.

If you get them built in China then the circuit is known to many !! But if it is unique then why not apply for a patent ??

 

[Sandancers]

How would you turn the alarm on and off?

Don't want to tell you as all the dealers would copy it.

 

[Sandancers]

Our van won't be covered for theft (contents or whole vehicle) until the
alarm is fitted. It has to be one from the insurance company's list. Okay, one view point is that this is "cash for the boys" but another is that it keeps standards up and rogue fitters out of business.

We are hoping to have an underslung LPG tank fitted and will then use the gas locker for the genny. At the moment there is only a small gas bottle in there plus the wheel chocks.

Luckily our van is cheap enough that the Insurance Co do not insist on an alarm fitted by a dealer.

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[Puddleduck]

Luckily our van is cheap enough that the Insurance Co do not insist on an alarm fitted by a dealer.

the last one was cheap enough so the insurance co wasn't worried but with a new van ..... Eddie's boys did a fantastic job. Martin pulled a face when I told him how much I expected it to cost but even he is impressed with the system and the install.

Cornish Farm is a lovely site ..... we will be back!!!!

 

[Enword]

So is it wrong of me lifting gas locker door & using it as a smoking shelter?

 

[evira]

intresting thread, as one qualified poster has already noted; the gas locker, given it's design and that of the bottles, is regarded as a safe area and therefor you don't need certified electrical equipment in there. you wouldn't have regulator heaters or automated valves never mind an uncertified alarm circuit, regardless of how well encapsulated or intrinsically safe the vanbitz one is.
the manual probably does say keep nothing else in there for a reason though. using a competent gas fitter and maintaining and inspecting the system is probably a more important consideration for safety.

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[wigster]

Is it ok if i keep my canary in gas locker , i come from a mining family .

 

[tankintugger]

Just one thing about your gaslow system. When you fill the bottles from your external point the bottles should actually be turned off. This is made clear on the gaslow Web site. The rest is fine if it does not spark it's OK.

 

[Louis]

intresting thread, as one qualified poster has already noted; the gas locker, given it's design and that of the bottles, is regarded as a safe area and therefor you don't need certified electrical equipment in there. you wouldn't have regulator heaters or automated valves never mind an uncertified alarm circuit, regardless of how well encapsulated or intrinsically safe the vanbitz one is.
the manual probably does say keep nothing else in there for a reason though. using a competent gas fitter and maintaining and inspecting the system is probably a more important consideration for safety.[/.
Need to find another place for my gas bottles now !

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[Wildbill]

Just one thing about your gaslow system. When you fill the bottles from your external point the bottles should actually be turned off. This is made clear on the gaslow Web site. The rest is fine if it does not spark it's OK.

O deer Ben doing it wrong for for years and three vans

 

[hilldweller]

So no danger whatever, hence my first post

I thought the same, then thought of the pathetic wiring going into the reed. How well is that protected in the average installation ? Certainly not to intrinsic safety standards.

 

[Louis]

Going to find somewhere else to keep my gas bottles now

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[eddie]

But it is a sensing connection

Normally Closed to 0 volts

If the door is open the connection goes to infinity and the alarm will trigger

It's not like a car alarm circuit designed to go on a pin switch and has 12vdc either side

No switching voltage at all

 

[Louis]

But it is a sensing connection

Normally Closed to 0 volts

If the door is open the connection goes to infinity and the alarm will trigger

It's not like a car alarm circuit designed to go on a pin switch and has 12vdc either side

No switching voltage at all

I have no doubt in your expertise, not going to change a long time habit ,

 

[Minxy]

But it is a sensing connection

Normally Closed to 0 volts

If the door is open the connection goes to infinity and the alarm will trigger

It's not like a car alarm circuit designed to go on a pin switch and has 12vdc either side

No switching voltage at all

Eddie ... MHF's very own "Buzz Lightyear"!!!

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[davethespark]

Beleive me there is a HUGE amount of energy in static electricity. One of the demonstrations on one of my courses was done using a nylon shirt (remember them) hence a ban offshore on such clothing materials..
The thing with gas though is you have to have enough but not too much so don't make it possible for it to accumulate and then it doesn't matter a hoot how many pairs of nylon jockstraps your nearest and dearest is wearing tonight, the flashing lights you see will probably be caused by something else entirely..

Never Heard of a nylon shirt ban offshore, I have worked offshore for 30 plus years and have never had my skiddies inspected

 

[Louis]

Never Heard of a nylon shirt ban offshore, I have worked offshore for 30 plus years and have never had my skiddies inspected

Were you wearing any ?

 

[hilldweller]

No switching voltage at all

Don't be silly, you can't sense an open/closed switch without some voltage driving a small current.

Granted it might be in the microamp region but there is voltage and there is current.

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