Faulty changeover valve?

[Robert Clark]

Hi Guys
Just traveling back through France having been in Spain where I last refilled my Gaslow bottles

Have noticed that my auto changeover has switched bottle even though the float level indicates that the bottle is less than half empty.

Went to a filling station one only managed to add 7 litres to an 11kg bottle which normally takes 22 litres when empty.

So Is the changeover faulty ?

Or is the gas not vaporising because it’s cold outside (about 5 deg) ?

The changeover valve also has a built in heater, should this be turned on?

Thanks

 

[pappajohn]

Probably the valve.
Propane (lpg) has a very low 'freeze' point.....
It doesn't freeze as in solidify, it simply stops vaporizing at -42°c
It freezes solid at -188°c.

 

[Robert Clark]

Probably the valve.
Propane (lpg) has a very low 'freeze' point.....
It doesn't freeze as in solidify, it simply stops vaporizing.
It will continue vaporizing many, many degrees below 0c.

I was wondering if Autogas in Spain has more Butane in it?

 

[pappajohn]

Possibly, but the ratio of butane to propane will be very low.
Don't forget, central Spain can be under snow and very cold in winter.

 

[BwB]

If it's cold weather maybe the propane has gassed off leaving you with butane - depends on the autogas mix (I seem to remember warmer could tries have a higher mix of butane to what we get in the UK).

Or it could be something else. Never seen a changeover valve on a motorhome with a heater built in so can't help there.

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[pappajohn]

If it's cold weather maybe the propane has gassed off leaving you with butane - depends on the autogas mix

The op said he only got 7ltrs in the 22ltr bottle so if that was the case it means the propane to butane ratio would be around 65% butane.
And the valve would still work as normal regardless of what gas was used.

 

[2657]

I was wondering if Autogas in Spain has more Butane in it?

Yes it does and if you are now in the cold then the butane not gassing would be my guess.

I googled the lpg ratios a while back but can't remember the figures, might be worth a look.

Just checked:
Spain C 35%/65% from 1/11 to 31/03, propane/butane.

https://www.mylpg.eu/useful/lpg-mixture#mixture

 

[2657]

The op said he only got 7ltrs in the 22ltr bottle so if that was the case it means the propane to butane ratio would be around 65% butane.
And the valve would still work as normal regardless of what gas was used.

That is exactly what the ratio is, bit of a coincidence.

I do not know how automatic changeover valves work but it would seem logical to me that they work off pressure, no gassing.......no pressure.....changeover valve operates?

 

[BwB]

The op said he only got 7ltrs in the 22ltr bottle so if that was the case it means the propane to butane ratio would be around 65% butane.
And the valve would still work as normal regardless of what gas was used.

Unfortunately, campsite wifi took a while for my reply to be posted but thanks for the comments.

Residual butane can compound over multiple fillings which can mean slightly less refill despite what an empty bottle should be able to be refilled to. Have know an "empty" bottle to be virtually full of butane given the right mix of weather/country-of-filling.

Hope its only a temperature problem, always like an easy fix

 

[tonyidle]

The heater is to prevent water vapour (from the atmosphere) freezing inside the c/o unit and causing it to malfunction. As the LPG expands it cools the c/o unit and cold, damp, weather exacerbates the problem. Switch on the heater.

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[Just smiffy]

Did you try and put the valve to the supposedly empty bottle Robert to see if it worked ..?

I have an automatic change over but tend to do it manually so when one bottle empties I know to look out for a top up..

 

[pappajohn]

That is exactly what the ratio is, bit of a coincidence.

I do not know how automatic changeover valves work but it would seem logical to me that they work off pressure, no gassing.......no pressure.....changeover valve operates?

You learn something new every day.

 

[Ivory55]

I think it needs a generator running a hair dryer to warm the bottles up. Haha

 

[Robert Clark]

The op said he only got 7ltrs in the 22ltr bottle so if that was the case it means the propane to butane ratio would be around 65% butane.
And the valve would still work as normal regardless of what gas was used.

I actually had the same thing happen twice on this trip

First time got 14 litres in
Refilled today and only got 7 litres in.

Both times the regulator had switched over, despite the float indicator showing the bottle being part full

Next trip out in the van is in May so hopefully everything will work as normal then