Can you start motorhome to warm engine while gas is turned on?

[thekindnesscoach]

Can you start motorhome to warm engine while gas is turned on?

 

[ChrisAndEmma]

That was my understanding too, hence the ability to isolate the fridge, oven & hob with their individual valves to enable just the heating to be on with the required regulator & hose.

Me too - the Truma info that I checked said using gas heating whilst driving was ok, with the crash protecting regulator. I don’t recall it specifying a fan assist flue being required. This was for the old S3002 heater. On a recent call to Gaslow, I was told their cylinder valve was sufficient on its own but I still intend to fit the crash protecting regulator.

 

[Pausim]

Me too - the Truma info that I checked said using gas heating whilst driving was ok, with the crash protecting regulator. I don’t recall it specifying a fan assist flue being required. This was for the old S3002 heater. On a recent call to Gaslow, I was told their cylinder valve was sufficient on its own but I still intend to fit the crash protecting regulator.

I think they gave you very bad information, the rupture valve in the cylinder only replaces the need for a rupture protected hose between the bottle and the regulator. The pressure on this side of the regulator is over 100 psi (6.9bar) the pressure on the other side of the regulator is only 0.435psi (30mbar) which needs a different type of protection device. Glad to hear you are ignoring their advice and fitting a crash protection regulator.

 

[ChrisAndEmma]

I think they gave you very bad information, the rupture valve in the cylinder only replaces the need for a rupture protected hose between the bottle and the regulator. The pressure on this side of the regulator is over 100 psi (6.9bar) the pressure on the other side of the regulator is only 0.435psi (30mbar) which needs a different type of protection device. Glad to hear you are ignoring their advice and fitting a crash protection regulator.

Thank you - advice and info appreciated!

 

[gus-lopez]

Hence in most modern (this century) vans you can leave the gas on all the time. (Just turn off when in storage or on ferries/long tunnels)

When the engine starts, the gas is cut off, and the fridge then runs on 12v electricity.

You can still purchase new 3 way fridges that are entirely manual. i.e if running on gas & 12v switch is turned on when you start the engine you have 12v as well; plug in & 220v switch in on position turns that on as well.& yes i can have all 3 operating at once on mine if switches all left on.

As a fridge flame can be seen burning via the ventilation grill I would consider that to be outside the device (the fridge) so it contravenes the regulation. That's the way I view it,

Mine can't ,nor can it be seen when the grille is removed as it has a galvanised cover all around that has 2 screws that need to be removed before you can get at the burner

Most fridges run on 12v when travelling so I don't understand why driving with the fridge operating on gas is necessary.

as above .mine will switch to 12v ,if turned on at the fridge , when the engine is running.
Trouble is most 12v barely maintain the temperature so i prefer to use gas most of the time.

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[Basildog]

Me too - the Truma info that I checked said using gas heating whilst driving was ok, with the crash protecting regulator. I don’t recall it specifying a fan assist flue being required. This was for the old S3002 heater. On a recent call to Gaslow, I was told their cylinder valve was sufficient on its own but I still intend to fit the crash protecting regulator.

Gaslow have given you incorrect information unfortunately.
Drive safe regulator is also required along with either an inbuilt cylinder excess flow valve or a rupture protection valve on the pigtail.

 

[ChrisAndEmma]

Gaslow have given you incorrect information unfortunately.
Drive safe regulator is also required along with either an inbuilt cylinder excess flow valve or a rupture protection valve on the pigtail.

Thank you - with those items fitted, is it then legal to drive with the heater on? It has a pilot light and the roof exit flue is not fan assisted. Incoming combustion mix air is from under the vehicle.

 

[Basildog]

Thank you - with those items fitted, is it then legal to drive with the heater on? It has a pilot light and the roof exit flue is not fan assisted. Incoming combustion mix air is from under the vehicle.

I don’t know your exact model but if it’s the same as this one then it certainly doesn’t say it can’t be used when travelling, it mentions the Crash safe regulators too
With most Gas related regulations / standards surprisingly Manufacturers instructions are king .
So very often something that’s normally not permitted is perfectly acceptable if the manufacturer states it’s ok
That’s in the U.K. .

https://www.truma.com/dam/jcr:b73218e1-2483-4884-8cf3-298ae36c30ce/truma-heating-trumatic-S3002P-S3002-S5002-operating-de-gb-fr-it-nl-dk-es(1998).pdf

 

[ChrisAndEmma]

I don’t know your exact model but if it’s the same as this one then it certainly doesn’t say it can’t be used when travelling, it mentions the Crash safe regulators too

https://www.truma.com/dam/jcr:b73218e1-2483-4884-8cf3-298ae36c30ce/truma-heating-trumatic-S3002P-S3002-S5002-operating-de-gb-fr-it-nl-dk-es(1998).pdf

Thanks - that was the Truma info I found, however the comments up thread about construction & use regulations, naked flames and fan powered flues made me question my reading of it.