Truma Gas Filter

[Nixdorfer]

Doh! Posted in the other thread by mistake

Article here mentions the same problem

Practical advice: Fitting a Truma gas filter

Preventing your caravan’s gas system from gumming up by fitting a Truma gas filter

www.outandaboutlive.co.uk

Based on what others have said and for the relative low cost and easy fitment its worth fitting a filter by the looks of it. There aren't really any down sides apart from the cost.

 

[rupert]

I think the answer may be for Truma to make the regulator fit for purpose, by changing the rubber seals to something that won't be affected by the small amount of oil present in LPG, such as nitrile that some O rings are made from

 

[andy63]

I think the answer may be for Truma to make the regulator fit for purpose, by changing the rubber seals to something that won't be affected by the small amount of oil present in LPG, such as nitrile that some O rings are made from

Hi Alan.. You would think they have and new regulators should fare better .there is not really a lot to go wrong in a regulator..
Andy

 

[Basildog]

As far as I understand the material that was used in the regulators and/or the tolerance have been changed many years ago .
Regulators are considered to be a consumable item to be honest and should be replaced at 10 years old regardless.

 

[Nixdorfer]

As far as I understand the material that was used in the regulators and/or the tolerance have been changed many years ago .
Regulators are considered to be a consumable item to be honest and should be replaced at 10 years old regardless.

Read my mind. Hoses are supposed to be changed so wondered if the same went for Regs

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[TerryL]

Mine was changed at 10 years, but probably only because the spare I carry was there! Keeping the old one now as a spare.

 

[Ingwe]

When Autogas 2000 fitted our twin 11kg Alugas tanks they said a filter wasn’t necessary so long as the pipes looped down from the regulator then back up to the bottles. Any contamination staying in the loop.

I've been and had a look at the regulator in the van. Attached is a photograph. As can be seen, the tube out of the regulator goes up before looping down to the bottle. This suggests that the gas leaves the bottle then goes up into a loop then down to the regulator (the white corrugated tubing is irrelevant; it is to allow connection from the waste outlet to gutters/hedges etc.).

Does this configuration indicate that a filter would be a good thing?

 

[rupert]

Regulators are considered to be a consumable item to be honest and should be replaced at 10 years

why OH why does everything have to be considered consumable. why can we not buy new diaphragm and seals to repair a perfectly serviceable unit (designed to be repaired) we have to stop all this landfill
I still have a regulator that fits atop the bottle and you can undo screws for access

 

[Lenny HB]

Just checked my filters, no sign of any residue in them. I only fitted them in April so even the one on the primary bottle has probably only had 80-90 Lt (45kg) of gas pass through it.
I think Michael sallylillian had some residue in them on his last van.

As I said I had regulator fail under 2 years old it was the changeover indicator that failed, don't know if residue was the cause of it but at £200 for a regulator I thought it was worth fitting the filters.
I also carry a bottle top regulator with a hose to bypass the Truma in an emergency.

 

[Lenny HB]

I've been and had a look at the regulator in the van. Attached is a photograph. As can be seen, the tube out of the regulator goes up before looping down to the bottle. This suggests that the gas leaves the bottle then goes up into a loop then down to the regulator (the white corrugated tubing is irrelevant; it is to allow connection from the waste outlet to gutters/hedges etc.).

Does this configuration indicate that a filter would be a good thing?View attachment 349716

Yes but I would be inclined to move the regulator higher up, I think you can mount them horizontally, that would mean you could get it even higher.
The regulator should have never been mounted below the top of the bottles.

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[sallylillian]

Just checked my filters, no sign of any residue in them. I only fitted them in April so even the one on the primary bottle has probably only had 80-90 Lt (45kg) of gas pass through it.
I think Michael sallylillian had some residue in them on his last van.

As I said I had regulator fail under 2 years old it was the changeover indicator that failed, don't know if residue was the cause of it but at £200 for a regulator I thought it was worth fitting the filters.
I also carry a bottle top regulator with a hose to bypass the Truma in an emergency.

Yes Lenny, at the last filter change I did see some oil at the bottom of the filter holder and a sheen on part of the cartridge. As an aside I have read on a German forum that they wash and dry their filters for reuse? What's the collective opinion on that?
Also there is a removable filter holder for tank filling, one came with my Morelo.

 

[jockaneezer]

Ingwe, can't really tell from your pic, but I assume the pipe after the regulator (behind the blue tarp) is steel or copper rigid piping ? Makes it a bit harder to resite the regulator, but not impossible.

 

[irnbru]

Those of you that have the regulators costing around £200, are they laced with gold? I thought £45 -50 was standard price.

 

[Ingwe]

Ingwe, can't really tell from your pic, but I assume the pipe after the regulator (behind the blue tarp) is steel or copper rigid piping ? Makes it a bit harder to resite the regulator, but not impossible.

jockaneezer-yes; there is rigid copper piping connecting the regulator. Hence moving the regulator, as suggested is a more difficult exercise. I'm surprised that it would appear that the fitting of the regulator below the bottle is wrong as it was fitted by Autogas and I've every confidence that they know what they're doing.
I think I'll email Chris and get his view. He's a very helpful fella!
Thanks all.

 

[Nixdorfer]

Odd that when you speak to some of these firms they recommend a filter

Then fit a system and don't bother themselves, and when you look at the kits they all sell they don't include one

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[Hettie's Crew]

I've been and had a look at the regulator in the van. Attached is a photograph. As can be seen, the tube out of the regulator goes up before looping down to the bottle. This suggests that the gas leaves the bottle then goes up into a loop then down to the regulator (the white corrugated tubing is irrelevant; it is to allow connection from the waste outlet to gutters/hedges etc.).

Does this configuration indicate that a filter would be a good thing?View attachment 349716

I’d fit a much longer pig tale pipe that leaves the bottle, goes down to the locker floor then back up to the regulator, connecting with a 90 degree fitting.

 

[Basildog]

Read the Manufacturers installation instructions page 19

http://www.motorcaravanning.co.uk/pdf/duocontrol_cs_installation_operating_en.pdf

It’s also in the gas regulations and was actually a question in the last Gas safe Register lpg renewal I did so I am positive that the regulator on any lpg systems should always be mounted higher than the cylinder shut off valve .
I say should as we all know many regulators aren’t higher ?

 

[Basildog]

why OH why does everything have to be considered consumable. why can we not buy new diaphragm and seals to repair a perfectly serviceable unit (designed to be repaired) we have to stop all this landfill
I still have a regulator that fits atop the bottle and you can undo screws for access

But ⚠
Do you really want to be parked next to someone ( Silicone Bob and his band of ptfe bandits) who has replaced the diaphragm in a gas regulator ⚠??☹?
And do you want to pay someone to change the diaphragm when I think the last box of propane bottle top regulators I bought were around £3 ??

 

[Lenny HB]

Those of you that have the regulators costing around £200, are they laced with gold? I thought £45 -50 was standard price.

 

[rupert]

[/QUOTE]

But ⚠
Do you really want to be parked next to someone ( Silicone Bob and his band of ptfe bandits) who has replaced the diaphragm in a gas regulator ⚠??☹?
And do you want to pay someone to change the diaphragm when I think the last box of propane bottle top regulators I bought were around £3 ??

did anyone really want to change a bottle top regulator that reduces pressure to around 30mb
for a high pressure flexible pipe & unions that will have to contain about 350lbs per square inch
leaving "trusted silicone bob" to change it when its 10 years old?
but the powers that be did

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[andy63]

I am positive that the regulator on any lpg systems should always be mounted higher than the cylinder shut off valve .

not read through the whole thread but ive got a question ... if the above is the case then the regulators on a lot of underslung tanks are mounted around the middle of the tank so certainly not above the tank or the shut off valve and they seem to function ok
Andy

 

[irnbru]

View attachment 349765

Whats the main difference between the one in the photo and a £45 one, minus the gold obviously?

 

[Basildog]

not read through the whole thread but ive got a question ... if the above is the case then the regulators on a lot of underslung tanks are mounted around the middle of the tank so certainly not above the tank or the shut off valve and they seem to function ok
Andy

Like this contained in cop 306 Motorhome
Fixed LPG tanks for Habitation

 

[andy63]

Like this contained in cop 306 Motorhome
Fixed LPG tanks for Habitation
View attachment 349824

I'm sure the regulators on a lot of tanks are similar to the attached photo.. Its poor but I'm sure you will see what I'm on about..
The regulator is mounted on the off take pipe from the tank just after the tank valve which is behind the alloy cover on the right..

 

[Ingwe]

Well have to say, not yet had a problem despite the regulator being below the bottle. But that's not to say there won't be a problem.
Have now received the Truma filter and guess what? Now need to a buy a 90° adaptor! Why they don't just supply a filter with an optional adaptor. Another £10 and a week's delay unless I go and collect it (25 miles away). But, as I'm on a never-ending spending spree on the van, going to follow Hettie's Crew's advice and get a longer pigtail and fit as suggested. Easier than moving the regulator.

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[Nixdorfer]

Won't a long pigtail end up working like a U bend with any residue or liquid gas?

Where did u get the filter and how much

 

[irnbru]

Won't a long pigtail end up working like a U bend with any residue or liquid gas?

Where did u get the filter and how much

Surely that would be good if the u bend stopped the oils getting to the regulator?

 

[Ingwe]

Won't a long pigtail end up working like a U bend with any residue or liquid gas?

Where did u get the filter and how much

I got the filter from Autogas 2000 (who fitted our 14kg Alugas refillable bottle) for £40 plus £5.28 for first class recorded delivery postage. It's quite a substantial thing i.e. heavy.
One thing I've just noticed is that in the Practical Motohoming article on fitting a Truma filter, the position of the filter would appear to suggest that the bottle is much higher than the regulator. At least to me it does.

 

[Nixdorfer]

Thought they prefer it to run back to the bottle rather than sit in the pipe, but you're choices are limited with the reg where it is.

This is ours, regs high so gives a drop to bottle. A bit shorter pigtail would give a better sweep.

Looked at Autogas, thought they were out of stock when I checked. Will have another look as cheapest I've seen

 

[irnbru]

Nixdorfer Wouldn't it be better to have the regulator fixed on its side?

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