Has my regulator failed ?.

[Bessy765]

Hi all, been away for 5 weeks no problems on an aire that allows genny within reason, been here a few days running the genny for an hour as others do. (Please this is not a debate about genies more a safety issue) ran it for about half an hour and it started surging, kettle was on and hob went outside regulator iced up.

Had this happened before where it had failed blew the seals on the hob and the Truma sounded like a jet engine. Filled up with lpg yesterday and this is the first time running the genny since. Turned genny off hob is working ok now but larger flame for a couple of seconds when lit. Wondered if it was just the demand of the genny Honda EU10i outside temp around 10c. Heater noise normal? Comments please.

 

[L' Hobo]

Hi all, been away for 5 weeks no problems on an aire that allows genny within reason, been here a few days running the genny for an hour as others do. (Please this is not a debate about genies more a safety issue) ran it for about half an hour and it started surging, kettle was on and hob went outside regulator iced up.
View attachment 989962

Had this happened before where it had failed blew the seals on the hob and the Truma sounded like a jet engine. Filled up with lpg yesterday and this is the first time running the genny since. Turned genny off hob is working ok now but larger flame for a couple of seconds when lit. Wondered if it was just the demand of the genny Honda EU10i outside temp around 10c. Heater noise normal? Comments please.

Do you have a pressure gauge, certainly, if it's 10c outside, somethings not right and my first inclination, if it's not a leak (which you can find with your detector) it's overfilled or pressured but I'm definitely NO expert!

 

[Bessy765]

We have 2 underslung tanks that should cut off at 80% wondered if the butane/propane mix is still the summer mix. Have got a gas sniffer no leaks found but all off and regulator still iced up? Thank you for your input. Just lit the hob flame is normal.

 

[Jabstatt]

If you are running the hob, generator together and it’s 10 degrees, and they are both fed through the same regulator, it’s probably quite a high flow rate.
If you end up with liquid going into the regulator then a lot of heat needs to be absorbed to vaporise the gas. The gas cools naturally when it passes through the regulator anyway.

I suspect the regulator capacity is marginal
In warm weather, bottle, liquid pipes at, say, twenty degrees, no problem. Cold ambient, high flow just too much.

Tony

 

[David and Sally]

Wow.

(deleted comment)

Edit....just realised you may have a gas conversion on the genny, not petrol

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[Bessy765]

I carry a new spare regulator as last time it failed at three years old it blew the hob seals the fridge flame melted the wind shield and the Truma sounded like a jet engine. So might just change it to be safe. We have been running the genny and the heater at the same time previously with no problems so a bit mystified

 

[L' Hobo]

I carry a new spare regulator as last time it failed at three years old it blew the hob seals the fridge flame melted the wind shield and the Truma sounded like a jet engine. So might just change it to be safe. We have been running the genny and the heater at the same time previously with no problems so a bit mystified

MIGHT you have the wrong regulator?

There are different ones for different gas mixtures I believe?
Might be worth having a word with a GOOD professional especially in view of your past and present experiences?

 

[Bessy765]

It’s the Truma secure motion one same as original equipment as I state it has been fine over the last two years and the original lasted three. Tanks were fitted as soon as we took delivery of the van new in 2019. Has been fine van is used all year round been away winters much colder worst was-17c. Just started the genny on light load ice is forming already.

 

[Lenny HB]

I carry a new spare regulator as last time it failed at three years old it blew the hob seals the fridge flame melted the wind shield and the Truma sounded like a jet engine. So might just change it to be safe. We have been running the genny and the heater at the same time previously with no problems so a bit mystified

Sounds like the over pressure valve didn't operate.
As others said probably down to the high flow rate you needed, have you considered fitting a regulator with a heater?
If the butane content was too high your appliances are more likely just to stop working, butane is not very good for high flow rate. Temperature won't really affect butane until below 10°.

 

[Basildog]

Almost certainly an overfill of LPG .
It may well have damaged your regulator, whilst they are very good at holding back liquid state LPG for a while it doesn’t do them any good.
If you want any help or advice don’t hesitate to call me
07549811501
Charlie
You really need to rule out an overfill before changing the regulator as you may well damage that one to
As we always advise customers who are going away it’s definitely worth taking a spare regulator

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[PaulW2]

As we always advise customers who are going away it’s definitely worth taking a spare regulator

How often do they fail? I haven't had one failing yet but may just have been lucky...

 

[Bessy765]

Almost certainly an overfill of LPG .
It may well have damaged your regulator, whilst they are very good at holding back liquid state LPG for a while it doesn’t do them any good.
If you want any help or advice don’t hesitate to call me
07549811501
Charlie
You really need to rule out an overfill before changing the regulator as you may well damage that one to
As we always advise customers who are going away it’s definitely worth taking a spare regulator

Hi Charlie, many thanks for your input (again) filled up yesterday have two underslung tanks (25) & (30) litres
Stopped as soon as the pump stopped. Been using a Honda EU10i to top up batteries for several weeks, this is the third top up this trip since we left UK Oct 20th. So ran the genny on tick over to use up some gas in case of overfill and alternated between tanks in case one had overfilled. Turned both off till gas stopped waited till ice gone from regulator, re lit fridge sounded much louder than normal, but rings on hob seemed ok. So now have changed regulator fridge much quieter. Ran genny at half load no icing up of regulator. Owned this van from new (2019) had a regulator fail about three years ago so have always carried a spare they are the Truma securimotion type and have an inline filter before the regulator with new element fitted.

 

[Basildog]

Hi Charlie, many thanks for your input (again) filled up yesterday have two underslung tanks (25) & (30) litres
Stopped as soon as the pump stopped. Been using a Honda EU10i to top up batteries for several weeks, this is the third top up this trip since we left UK Oct 20th. So ran the genny on tick over to use up some gas in case of overfill and alternated between tanks in case one had overfilled. Turned both off till gas stopped waited till ice gone from regulator, re lit fridge sounded much louder than normal, but rings on hob seemed ok. So now have changed regulator fridge much quieter. Ran genny at half load no icing up of regulator. Owned this van from new (2019) had a regulator fail about three years ago so have always carried a spare they are the Truma securimotion type and have an inline filter before the regulator with new element fitted.

The fact that you had just filled definitely points to liquid getting to the regulator, twin Underslung tanks are particularly prone to causing problems .
Another problem could be the length of high pressure pipe work to your regulator, maximum allowed is 750mm
Reliquefaction can occur in longer hoses , pipes , that’s why we always have separate regulators on each tank normally.
Glad you are sorted .

 

[Bessy765]

Yes I may well go to individual regulators when back home. The pipe from the tanks is quite short but belt and braces wins every time.

 

[Basildog]

Yes I may well go to individual regulators when back home. The pipe from the tanks is quite short but belt and braces wins every time.

Just sent the picture to our fitter with 40 years experience with LPG , he’s sure it’s liquid as I thought

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[Bessy765]

Much appreciated the tanks are secure so there is no sign of them turning so altering the shut of valve etc, I did notice when I filled them the lpg seemed to go in quicker than normal whether the pump pressure over came the shut off. I might convert them to individual fillers rather than the linked system though to be we used the van a lot out of season so have used a lot of gas in the 5 years we have owned it.

 

[L' Hobo]

Just sent the picture to our fitter with 40 years experience with LPG , he’s sure it’s liquid as I thought

and I thought in post #2.

Nice to have confirmed