Date:         Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:28:20 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
Comments:     RFC822 error: <W> MESSAGE-ID field duplicated. Last occurrence
              was retained.
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Replacing copper propane lines
Comments: To: Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <09d601c90aa9$7c36d990$0b00a8c0@mike2d93581d7f>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Let's see, gas stoves, clothes dryers, water heaters, Furnaces, Boilers,
etc. The hose issue is the safety of the supply lines since a propane leak
can be a bad thing indoors. Natural gas installations have a few more
requirements as the supply is endless. With propane the tank will
eventually empty. A main reason we only have a 2.5 gallon tank.

Now, appliance venting is a completely different issue. Most of these
above are vented directly outside. Some like our Dometic fridges even use
outside air for combustion. Stoves of course are usually not directly
vented but most kitchens have exhaust fans or direct vented rang hoods.

There is a reason our west stoves have such small burners. It is also
expected that windows and even the sliding door will be open when the
stove is in use. I believe the venting requirement is 12 square inches
cross vent for each 1,000 btu input. Our stove burners are ~5,200 btu
each.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Mike
Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 10:06 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Replacing copper propane lines

  Since when is it a good idea to operate any propane appliance 'indoors'?
  I'm under the impression that any propane appliance either needs to be
used outdoors, or at the very least, in an area that has good ventilation
to
the outdoors........
  An object that is 'rated for continuous exposure' to the elements is a
separate matter....

Mike B.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 3:00 AM
Subject: Re: Replacing copper propane lines


> This is an appliance hose. It is designed to connect indoor appliances.
> Yes, a 3/8 flare is what you should have. The major concern is the leak
> tightness when using a hose and fittings inside. There should be no
> problem with some of this hose outside.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of
> pickle vanagon
> Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 10:07 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Replacing copper propane lines
>
> I don't think I'm quite brave enough to run the fuel lines.. if only
> because
> there will only be two of us doing so...
>
> Anybody have any thoughts on these?:
>
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/product/propane-hose-assemblies/3787
>
> In particular, is "3/8 inch female flare" the right fitting?  I'm also
> having trouble finding confirmation that these are acceptable for
outdoor
> use.
>
> Thanks again!
> Wes
>
> On Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 9:34 PM, Jeffrey Vickers
> <jeff@vickersdesign.com>wrote:
>
>> I'll probably get flamed for this (ha!) but I run tight fitting rubber
>> fuel line and fuel line clamps after my regulator. The pressure after
>> the regulator is really low - like 2 lbs of pressure - so you don't
>> need any sort of pressure fittings. I have a 12V fridge so I only need
>> one line after the regulator and I sheathed the hose in another bit of
>> larger hose where it passes through the body to protect it. Much
>> easier to work with than copper line and after two plus years, its
>> never leaked. I would keep t-connections under the van. Good idea
>> about the solenoid.
>>
>> Jeff / San Anselmo
>> On Aug 29, 2008, at 3:53 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:
>>
>>  Date:    Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:57:31 -0400
>>> From:    pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
>>>
>>> Subject: Replacing copper propane lines
>>>
>>> I'm going to replace the service valve on my tank, and want to
>>> replace the
>>> propane copper lines while I'm there  (currently they're bent to
>>> allow for
>>> the larger new-style regulator).
>>>
>>> A couple of questions:
>>> Is the flexible copper tubing they sell at the hardware store the
>>> right
>>> stuff?  The lines on my van are much stiffer than this.  Is that just
>>> because of age?
>>>
>>> Is there an alternative to the rigid copper tubing?  Some kind of
>>> high-pressure rated flexible tubing?
>>>
>>> What I would most like to do, is run just one connection from the
>>> tank up
>>> into the van, and then split the connection at that point, to
>>> eliminate the
>>> length required by the T-adapter.  This because, apart from my longer
>>> regulator, I also have a solenoid shutoff valve between the
>>> regulator and
>>> the t-adapter which is connected to a detector in the cabin and
>>> shuts off
>>> the propane supply in case of a leak.  As a result, the stock t-
>>> adapter
>>> protrudes from the skid plate as I currently have it.
>>>
>>> Thanks very much for any help,
>>> Wes
>>>
>>