LPG decreased flow to cook top
Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008 at 21:34
ThreadID:
63978
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8
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3
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Member - Colin D (VIC)
Hi - I have a pop top caravan with two 4.5kg gas bottles that supply the 3 way fridge &
cook top/griller. The fridge is still operating on gas however the
cook top has only one jet in four operating (at a low flame) & if you fire up a second jet both jets go out due to insufficient gas flow. Gas bottles have a regulator attached. Any assistance to get flow back or detect problem would be appreciated? Gas bottles are full & gas flow from bottles appears normal. Thanks
Reply By: Angler - Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008 at 21:38
Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008 at 21:38
Get a gas guy to check it out. They can measure flow etc and check the jets as
well.
AnswerID:
337962
Reply By: ian - Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008 at 21:47
Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008 at 21:47
Colin,
I had a similar problem.
It was a blocked jet.
You really can't go wrong pulling the
cook top apart and looking.
ian
AnswerID:
337965
Reply By: Thylacine - Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008 at 21:55
Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008 at 21:55
Sounds like either a regulator or jet problem.
Turn off fridge and see if you get more gas to burners. If so it's the regulator, if not it's jet blockage in your burners.
ed
AnswerID:
337968
Reply By: Neil & Pauline - Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008 at 22:04
Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008 at 22:04
Colin
By the time you pay a gas plumber you might as
well put on a new regulator. That is the most likely cause.
I am not advising that you just srew in a new regulator yourself because it is illegal. You have to employ a gas plumber and pay $100 call out to install a $20 regulator.
Neil
AnswerID:
337970
Follow Up By: ross - Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008 at 22:34
Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008 at 22:34
I had a problem last year with what I believe was contaminated LPG which seemed to cause the hose to block up where it screwed into the stove.
Never got to the bottom of it ,but another hose and some fresh LPG and all was good.
FollowupID:
605514
Reply By: Member - Charlie M (SA) - Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008 at 22:40
Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008 at 22:40
Is the tap in the line partially turned off. Both the fridge and stove should have there own tap in the gas lines
Cheers
Charlie
AnswerID:
337983
Follow Up By: Thylacine - Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008 at 00:03
Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008 at 00:03
All valves should be only open enough to allow full gas flow (and really should all be ball-valves ie 90° open to close), but I see a lot of
gate valves as bottle isolation valves.
Gate valves (ie like house tap but with round handle and take several revolutions of the valve handle to completely open/close) should only be opened a turn or so, just enough to allow enough gas flow for all you'll use at once.
This way, if there's a leak, you can turn the supply off quickly rather than having to turn a valve fifteen odd times to shut off gas.
ed
FollowupID:
605526
Reply By: disco driver - Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008 at 00:05
Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008 at 00:05
Colin,
I had a similar problem with the stove in my van. The stove was the original (early 80's) and a right pain in the arse to keep alight. Replaced the regulator with no obvious improvement to the stove.
Ripped the stove out with the intention of replacing it with something new.
I thought that cleaning out the gas line might be a good idea before I fitted the new stove. So I disconnected the regulator from the gas line and applied compressed air from the stove end of the line.
Geez, the amount of liquid (
water) that blew out amazed me.
Dunno how it got in there as I never have the cylinders disconnected except for when I change cylinders, obviously.
Re connected all the fittings and the old stove, checked for possible leaks with soapy
water, and tried to light it.
All burners and the oven on full
bore, no problems with it now.
Fortunately I hadn't ordered the new stove. This was two years ago and the original stove unit still functions perfectly.
Might be worth doing before you spend lots of dollars.
Disco.
AnswerID:
337991
Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008 at 07:49
Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008 at 07:49
Colin,
Your post mirrors a problem we experienced with the Smev
Cook Top in our camper.
Recalling any number of posts re contaminated lpg I just went out and bought a new regulator which rectified the problem. The old regulator was full of a greasy gunk.
I'm given to understand that mounting regulators vertically rather than horizontally is a great help. I can't confirm this as I had no option but to remount the new regualator in the original horizontal position.
Ian
FollowupID:
605537
Reply By: bilgolabands - Tuesday, Dec 16, 2008 at 09:40
Tuesday, Dec 16, 2008 at 09:40
Colin,
Had the same problem on our
Camp-o-matic SS
Ranger last year, only thing ever to give the slightest trouble.
After the manufacturer replaced regulators and valves it turned out to be some sealing compound used on one of the pipe joints that had been applied a bit too liberally and found its way into the copper.
Picked out with a piece of wire all four burners and griller now
work perfectly simultaneously.
Happy
camping.
AnswerID:
339968
Reply By: rredbeak - Tuesday, Dec 16, 2008 at 19:55
Tuesday, Dec 16, 2008 at 19:55
our problem was identical to yours.we use hot
water to pour over the regulator,you'll find the gas will spring back to normal. If it does return to normal then replace the regulator as its seizing up inside...HTH.. Rod
AnswerID:
340016