One Awesome Inch said:
My question is very similar.
I need to hook my 20LB tank to my Wave 3 and coleman 'powerpack' stove. I have a hose with a regulator. Can "T" off that and into my stove? What connectors do I need?
I already bought the wrong connectors for this stuff off Amazon so I need to absolutely sure this time.
If you aren't sure about what connectors you need, then you need to stop buying off of Amazon. Look at your appliances. Do they take the little green bottles? That is a "throw away fitting"
Various fittings:
This is a "new style" OPD Valve. It is threaded into the top of 20lb tanks (and various other sizes)
ACME Type 1 Nut: good no tools needed connection. Often called a "hand wheel" connection. Threads onto the refillable LP tanks (from 1 lb up to 100 lb) with the "new style" OPD valves.
This is a throw away or disposable bottle fitting. The bottle itself has a "male" fitting
Your appliance has a "female" fitting. Most appliances with fittings like this do not need, nor should they be on a regulator.
Sometimes you will find grill regulators with the female disposable bottle fitting built into them.
Figure out what fittings you need to hook up each appliance (you should need the nut plus two male disposable bottle fittings based on your description if no regulator appliances are needed to be hooked up) then draw up a diagram and do a little measuring as to how long you need your hoses to be. When buying hoses, keep in mind that hoses wear out and need to be replaced whereas the brass fittings do not so much. The exception is the male disposable bottle fitting tends to wear out. I would not buy hoses with the fitting crimped on. You want a plain hose with the iron pipe thread fitting attached. That way you can simply replace the hose (or the fitting) as needed. If you are going with threaded fittings, you will need a "T" with 1/4" iron pipe thread on each leg. This will allow you to thread the nut onto one leg and a threaded hose end connects to each of the remaining two legs or you can add another "T" to one leg. You may need a short threaded nipple to make the connections... depends on your hose. You will definitely need a short iron pipe threaded nipple if you add another "T". I personally like to put quarter turn gas shut off valves in each leg of the T except for the one with the ACME nut.
Look at the fittings and pay attention as to which ones you need
http://www.propaneproducts.com/catalog/parts-fittings-hoses-35-1.html
You can buy Mr. Heater fittings at ACE and Tru Value stores as well as limited in Wal-mart with the gas grill stuff, if you want to actually work out what you need while holding it in your hand. Pay attention to the sizes of the pipe thread ends on your fittings.
Don't forget to use teflon tape that is made specially for gas. The stuff for water will deteriorate from gas. Gas teflon tape is often yellow. Only use gas valves and gas quick connects when using with gas. You can use any copper, brass, iron/galvanized fittings (pay attention to the flared ends!!) Always check your fittings for leaks with a bit of soapy water. Any bubbles that grow or multiply mean you have a leak. If a mild tighening doesn't stop the leak, then pull it apart and start over.
Best hose I have found is a COMBO Nat gas/LP that we got from a fireplace shop that was being auctioned. DO NOT USE NAT GAS ONLY HOSES ON LP. LP pressure is to too high and it will blow the hose. HIGH PRESSURE is what you are looking for to be stamped on the hose. LP gas does not mean Low Pressure gas. It is high pressure. If you need a really long hose then check with the LP distributor to see what they charge to make you up a hose.
Hope this makes sense.
