Propane redundency to run appliances

[debit.servus]

On my last road trip to Black Rock City, I had the van fridge in propane mode. Now not having enough propane for a week on the playa, I had to go to an RV park to fill the vans built-in propane tank, and made it 15 minutes before closing time. Now if I didn't make it to have the built in propane tank filled, I would have had no other option to run the fridge off of propane. I have a few questions about the built in RV-type tanks before I go onto a few possible soultions I am considering to provide van propane redundency. WHY does the built-in tank require specialized connections that only the propane filler has!!?? WHY does the tank have no option for you to connect a standard BBQ tank to the output or into the tank itself to keep those appliances running!!?? And WHY do they have to specialize the whole system to be as expensive and difficult to repair as possible??!!

I have looked into the Extend-a-stay for a solution, however I had to drill a hole in the guard so that the new, larger & supposedly safer propane regulator could connect to the propane system! So if I wanted to connect an extend-a-stay pre-regulator I would need a second guard (if I want the system armored right?) and drill the hole larger to fit the regulator through.

I recently thought of installing a T post-regulator and having a second regulator before the T, with the propane source being your standard BBQ tank.

It's no wonder many conventional RVs I've seen have a compartment which holds a standard BBQ tank, because it is many times easier to acquire more propane with a standard BBQ tank vs a built-in tank with the special connections!

Remember, Two is One and One is None!

 

[highdesertranger]

if you cut the main feed line and install a tee and a valve so you don't back fill your tank you could do it. however remember that all propane fittings must be pipe thread or flared fittings. it wouldn't be a hard fix. don't worry about your access door just leave it open when using the spare tank. btw you do know it's illegal to drive with your refer running in the propane mode, even more illegal to refuel with your refer running off propane. highdesertranger

 

[SternWake]

If/when your absorption fridge fails to do its job, with enough Solar and a 12v compressor fridge, the running out of propane issue, and the costs just to run the fridge, become moot.

Propane is for cooking, in my opinion, and the desert has plenty of sun.

 

[highdesertranger]

good point Stern. I tried the propane refer and found it very inefficient. instead of going for ice I was going for propane. another point I assume you went to Gerlach to get propane, we tried to get propane there once and the "guy" was nowhere to be found. the locals at the restaurant and gas station said that was quite common. I would imagine that he was there because burning man was going on, to make money of course. what was the price of propane during burning man? highdesertranger

 

[jimindenver]

What I'd like to see is a way to connect a 1 pound tank just to run the fridge if needed.

 

[compassrose]

This is the one we made for the Class C. It's still put together and in use. Only the rubber gas hoses have been replaced as they died due to the sun exposure. We only filled the 40 lb (not gallon, pound) permanent mount RV tank twice. Once when we first got it. Once a few years later when we left NM and got it filled on our way out of the campground. It's a PITA to fill. Much easier getting 20# tanks filled or swapped. The permanent tank is the equivalent of two 20lb tanks. I currently have six 20lb tanks for the bus. My daughter, who has the Class C now, has two 20 lb tanks and one 30lb tank.

http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss150/lornaschinske/Our RV/PIC_1936.jpg (3 pics)

Consists of a "T", LP gas fittings, LP gas hose, LP gas shut off valves (1/4 turn) and LP gas quick connect (not to be confused with air or water quick connects). One hose is quick connected into a "T" in the gas line BEFORE the regulator and the other hose goes to the gas grill. Made this one for a lot less than an "extend-a-stay". I particularly like the ACME handwheel (no tools to change tanks) and the shut off valves.


You can connect a 1lb canister with the right fittings AND it needs to be connected before the regulator.

 

[highdesertranger]

I posted recently where to get almost every propane fitting you could imagine. so I just did a search and couldn't find the thread. so I will post the links again http://www.propaneproducts.com/catalog/parts-fittings-hoses-35-1.html , http://protanksupply.com/product-category/fittings , http://www.propaneking.com/index.asp . highdesertranger

 

[debit.servus]

... btw you do know it's illegal to drive with your refer running in the propane mode,  even more illegal to refuel with your refer running off propane.  highdesertranger

...another point I assume you went to Gerlach to get propane,  we tried to get propane there once and the "guy"  was nowhere to be found. ...
...  what was the price of propane during burning man?  highdesertranger

I do not wait until the very last possible place (Gerlach) to get propane or anything if I can help it. I filled up in Reno at the Sparks Marina RV Park, and paid 12 something for 4.4 gallons of propane. After the burn I topped up again at the very same place, in the 10 days of running the propane fridge 3/4 turn from lowest setting (and running the heater on and off for several hours on the coldest nights), it burned 3/4 of the propane in the tank. Running the fridge off of propane is the best option for road trips right now because I have little house battery capacity. My goal is to have it in 12v mode drawing from a bank of deep cycle batteries, charged up by the alternator and a generator.

This is the one we made for the Class C. It's still put together and in use. Only the rubber gas hoses have been replaced as they died due to the sun exposure. ...

http://i570.photobucket.com/albums/ss150/lornaschinske/Our RV/PIC_1936.jpg (3 pics)

Consists of a "T", LP gas fittings, LP gas hose, LP gas shut off valves (1/4 turn) and LP gas quick connect (not to be confused with air or water quick connects). One hose is quick connected into a "T" in the gas line BEFORE the regulator and the other hose goes to the gas grill. Made this one for a lot less than an "extend-a-stay".  I particularly like the ACME handwheel (no tools to change tanks) and the shut off valves.
...

I like this, I can keep the original tank regulator, and still have it run through the guard hole (maybe needs to be drilled a little bit larger) only adding about 2" in between the regulator and the built in tank valve. Connect a standard tank when needed, can disconnect it before the van goes in motion. Is there a ready made version of what you fashioned available to buy somewhere? If not I will need to fashion this myself. Honestly if I could just refill the built-in tank in the same way someone refills the little propane bottles from a standard BBQ tank, I would be happy.

I like the standard 20lb BBQ tanks as they can be exchanged in nearly every small town in North America, and fittings are cheaper and common). I like even more zero-point Toridal energy so every car can perpetually run on todays electric motors, vandwellers have every appliance electric with no more need for propane or primitive explosion control engines, batteries, & propulsion systems.

 

[highdesertranger]

debit wrote "On my last road trip to Black Rock City, I had the van fridge in propane mode. Now not having enough propane for a week on the playa, I had to go to an RV park to fill the vans built-in propane tank, and made it 15 minutes before closing time". so you drove from the playa all the way back to Reno to fill your tank? so I just reread this like 6 times, in the first post it sounded like you needed to refill part way through your trip. but after reading your last post 6 times it might be taken you filled up on the way there. true? so you were driving with the propane refer lit? highdesertranger

 

[BC Guy]

"Running the fridge off of propane is the best option for road trips right now because I have little house battery capacity."

I think you may have a misunderstanding of the way the DC mode on a RV fridge works.  When you are traveling down the road, the fridge is running off the alternator rather than the batteries.  If you are going to stop for more than an hour, then you should switch to propane so that you do not run your batteries down.
A HVAC tech told me that you should always turn the propane on full, rather than partially.

 

[compassrose]

Is there a ready made version of what you fashioned available to buy somewhere? If not I will need to fashion this myself. Honestly if I could just refill the built-in tank in the same way someone refills the little propane bottles from a standard BBQ tank, I would be happy.

You cannot refill the permanent tank with the extra tank. You need to turn off the valve on the permanent tank when you hookup the extra tank. When we made ours, the only ones available was the commercial Extend-a-stay which was a bit too pricey for our pockets. Now more companies make various styles of the adapter that allows you to hook up an extra tank (from 1lb up to 100 lb tanks as long as it has the POL valve and you have enough hose.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...words=extend-a-stay&sprefix=extend-a-,aps,392

 

[debit.servus]

CompassRose, I looked at that and found a kit for an affordable price and minimal prolonging. http://www.amazon.com/Camco-59123-P...&qid=1443201665&sr=8-1&keywords=extend-a-stay

 

[compassrose]

Make sure you pay attention to the hoses. If the fittings are crimped on and not threaded on, you may want to plan on replacing the crimped hoses and fittings with hoses that have threaded ends crimped on and buy the threaded fittings. Over the years I have found that I can get hoses made or bought with threaded ends far easier than I can find a hose with both ends just as I needed them. Use the yellow gas teflon tape when hooking up. Makes it easier to tke apart again. Especially if you are someplace for a few months. Makes a huge difference.

 

[highdesertranger]

Teflon tape should never be used on compression fittings. only use Teflon tape on pipe threads and pipe threads are meant to be permanent. highdesertranger

 

[compassrose]

Teflon tape should never be used on compression fittings.  only use Teflon tape on pipe threads and pipe threads are meant to be permanent.  highdesertranger

Highdesertranger... none of the fittings I'm referring to are compression fittings.