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Topic: propane slow/stop below -1 degrees C

slowly_does_it

20/12/2010 at 7:33pm
Location: Wetherby Yorks
Outfit: ABI Award Northstar 1995

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My propane hob is fine above -1c. -1 to -4c it gives a very small flame, like a pilot light. Below -4c nothing at all. This has happened repeatedly over several freezes.

Anybody know what is happening? What temperature should I expect propane to go down to?

Here's what I have tried already. None of them made any difference -
- lagged the cylinder
- used gas from 2 different companies
- used a full cylinder

My propane cylinder is a 47kg bottle standing on the ground. A long rubber hose connects up through a hole in the floor, to the usual connection point in the front locker.

It is an issue as I slept last night with a temperature in the van of -7.8c. Quite cozy compared to the outside temp of -9.5c. I woke in the morning to find my plastic jerry can of water was a solid block. Luckily the fridge (switched off) had kept the milk warm enough not to freeze, so I had that for breakfast. Before anyone suggests it, no I don't have mains electric! (-:

Best wishes
Nigel
Wetherby, Yorks

Francophile1947

20/12/2010 at 7:41pm
Location: Norwich
Outfit: Citroen Relay Campervan

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Are you sure it's propane and not butane? Propane should work well below those temperatures - butane won't.

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Cheers
John

Francophile1947

20/12/2010 at 7:42pm
Location: Norwich
Outfit: Citroen Relay Campervan

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Oops - just read the 47Kg bit

Have a look at THIS - maybe your cylinder is getting covered in frost as the gas comes out

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Cheers
John

dinkum

20/12/2010 at 7:47pm
Location: crewe
Outfit: Elddis Xplore 302 and Nissan Campervan

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Nigel, had this problem some time ago in the Lake District at - 10 C., whilst using an old pop top Bedford camper van. The gas cylinder requires heat to vapourise and drive off the gas for burning.The reason the flame shrinks is due to low vapourisation. We managed to get things going by using a hot water bottle wrapped to the gas bottle. In the longer term perhaps you could consider an insulated box around the cylinder with some safe form of heating to keep the cylinder above freezing point. Not easy. In the short term you need to remember to boil a kettle while conditions allow, so that you can get more gas to boil a kettle again and so on. You could fill 2 or 3 hot water bottles and keep 'em hot by wrapping in towels etc for subsequent use?

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cramming for my finals in the twilight zone

bordercaz

20/12/2010 at 8:09pm
Location: Shropshire North Wales borders
Outfit: Adria Win

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It might help if you could raise the bottle from the ground somehow and insulate it a bit - cardboard box?

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Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.

arc systems

20/12/2010 at 8:47pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: http: www.arcsystems.biz

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Nothing to do with the gas, propane is good down to -47C!

Regulator I'd say or perhaps water or some other fluid in the gas hose.

Regards the regulator, there is a small vent hole in the cap at one side of the base of the centre cone, if this gets a little water in it than freezes, then it can prevent the reg working.

When fitted correctly, the regulator should be on it's side with this hole facing down, a flat cover placed on the top of the guard should also be used to keep the worst of the weather off.

Opensauce

20/12/2010 at 10:38pm
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As stated, change the regulator & rubber pipe if its old. Calor do covers to fit over top of bottle to keep the weather off.

birder99

21/12/2010 at 9:21am
Location: Cambs
Outfit: Tin tent diddy tent BIG tent

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Almost definitely water in the gas line and as Gary says the reg is probably most likely culprit but could also be in the copper pipe if it forms a 'u' bend anywhere. If you have a portable gas appliance such as a bbq you could try the reg and hose on that (if you have a bottle reg) and then you will know if it is in that section of the supply or if it is in the cooper pipe part of the supply. Good luck!

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'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'

slowly_does_it

21/12/2010 at 7:13pm
Location: Wetherby Yorks
Outfit: ABI Award Northstar 1995

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Thanks for all your ideas. I'll do some experiments and let you know the results.

Happy Xmas

arc systems

23/12/2010 at 9:45am
Location: None Entered
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Quote: It is an issue as I slept last night with a temperature in the van of -7.8c. Quite cozy compared to the outside temp of -9.5c. I woke in the morning to find my plastic jerry can of water was a solid block. Luckily the fridge (switched off) had kept the milk warm enough not to freeze, so I had that for breakfast. Before anyone suggests it, no I don't have mains electric! (-:

I'm getting a bit worried, it's been two days now and the weathers no better! Not a word and you'd have thought it was sorted by now?
Or is it just living up to the name?

Bill Terry

23/12/2010 at 12:56pm
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Quote: Originally posted by arc systems on 23/12/2010
Quote: It is an issue as I slept last night with a temperature in the van of -7.8c. Quite cozy compared to the outside temp of -9.5c. I woke in the morning to find my plastic jerry can of water was a solid block. Luckily the fridge (switched off) had kept the milk warm enough not to freeze, so I had that for breakfast. Before anyone suggests it, no I don't have mains electric! (-:

I'm getting a bit worried, it's been two days now and the weathers no better! Not a word and you'd have thought it was sorted by now?
Or is it just living up to the name?

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Roughing it in style at Calloose caravan and camping holiday park nr St Ives.(seasonal pitch)
Its not a hangover, its wine flu!

nant mill.N/Wales
just dont go there.

slowly_does_it

04/1/2011 at 7:06pm
Location: Wetherby Yorks
Outfit: ABI Award Northstar 1995

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Happy New Year and thank you for your concern. Luckily I was not having to live in the van over Christmas, hence my slowness to reply. Here are the results of further investigations, which I did as a result of your suggestions -

I didn't find any water/ice in the flexi or solid pipe. Wrapping the cylinder itself in insulation made no difference.

Warming the regulator in my hands did the trick. This seems to restore full gas flow anytime it dwindles. So it seems to be the regulator that's the culprit. It is a cheap one, that goes directly on the bottle, before the flexible hose.

Have I just been unlucky with this regulator or do I need to buy one specially designed for low temperatures? When I wake up in the morning I want to start the gas fire while I'm still in my sleeping bag, not have to get dressed and go outside to warm up a sleepy regulator!

Thanks
Nigel

Opensauce

04/1/2011 at 9:15pm
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If the regulator is old, buy a new one, they don't last forever. The one you have appears to be faulty. Just buy a new one correct for your bottle, there are no good or bad ones particularly. If your rubber pipe is old, replace that also. It is not good to leave a regulator exposed to the weather. Put a plastic sack over the top of the bottle or better still buy a cover that is designed for the job.

michael

04/1/2011 at 10:27pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Caravan now Sold

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interesting on regulators

http://www.practicalcaravan.com/

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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.

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