Split propane ???

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

Full-timing, I tend to go with a hook-up to a 125 gal. propane tank
when I land where I'm going to stay for a long period of time.
Had one hooked up to the driver's side here in Ut. when I first
bought this trailer. Then when I landed in N.M. for this past winter I
had one hooked up to the passenger side.

Problem I have now is, when the tank on the pas. side becomes empty,
the drivers side doesn't take over.

Yes I have done the steps of open slowly, for pass side, open slowly the
driver's side, wait 1 minute, close then re open (slowley).

One thing I did notice was when the large tank was disconnected in N.M. I
heard what sounded like water flowing thru thr pipe that connects the driver side
to the pass. side when I was putting something in the front storage compartment...???

Any ideas ???????

thanks for your thoughts.

hankaye

[hankpage]

Hank, Have you turned the lever on the auto-switch over valve to make the passenger side the primary tank????? Just a thought, The other Hank

[hankaye]

Hank, Howdy;

yep..... still no happiness :(

hankaye

[f6bits]

I don’t think the auto-switch would matter, as it’ll always look for a non-empty tank.

Are you sure the tank works? Can you switch the tank to the other side? Maybe even reversing the hoses at the regulator. Do you have a spare regulator? Certainly the problem is somewhere between (or at) the regulator and the tank.

[geo]

Hankaye -

The water flowing noise sounds weird. But I'm wondering if you might have the same problem I have had with the connection pigtails.

See: http://www.keystonerv.org/forums/showthread.php?p=40445#post40445

Since I'm not really that familiar with the setup, do you have connection pigtails on each side? As Scott suggested, and I know this is a pain, but does the good passenger side tank act the same way on the driver's side? And does the port tank work OK when put on the starboard side? I know the regulator has been suggested, but with the lousy experience I have had, I would look at the connection pigtails first if they are present. I had one of the original pigtails just stop supplying gas - the high flow valve inside the pigtail "froze" shut. I also had that happen with a Mr. Heater pigtail from CW. But all of them, except the Trident so far, after several months would kick the high flow preventor valve in to limit the amount of propane flowing to below spec limits.

Just a suggestion, and all that . . .

Ron

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

My ‘split’ system has one of these;

http://www.rvlifestyles.net/p-221262-20-psi-high-pressure-regulator.aspx?magic=FKTBVX0710140047480&affiliateid=10704


located on the driver’s side. (I double checked to be sure it's the HIGH pressure one.)
That tank, is connected with one of the hand tighten (Green knob),
hoses and it in turn is connected to a ‘black pipe’ that runs across to the passenger side.
Then another hose to the 2 stage auto changeover regulator. Only a pigtail (Green knob),
connects the passenger side tank to the 2 stage …
Each propane tank WILL work when connected to the passenger’s side. So…….
I’m looking at either a new regulator (see link), a pigtail for the Driver’s side, BOTH,
OR the auto change over isn’t working……
Any ideas on how to troubleshoot without having to buy all the parts ???

Take your time and ponder on it… I’ve got 3-4 weeks before I’ll have to swap tanks again.

Thanks for your thoughts…

hankaye

[f6bits]

Waaaiiiittt…are you saying that you have a regulator feeding another regulator? Why?
Shouldn’t a tank be pigtailed straight to the switching regulator?

I’d think that if you’re feeding a regulated tank to the auto-switching regulator that the auto-switch would think that the regulated tank is (near) empty and switch over to the other side.

And I don’t know how your system would react if you had two regulators in series. If it’s anything like plugging a regulated Weber Baby-Q into the regulated quick-connect, it’d be pretty pathetic.

[geo]

Hankaye,

If you will PM me your address, I'll send you a couple of Mr. Heater pigtails originally from CW. These pigtails will fire everything but will not start an LP generator. You are welcome to them if you want to try them.

Ron

[hankaye]

geo, Howdy;

Appericate the offer. They're not that expensive
and it never hurts to have a spare.
Actually, I should have a spare of each of them on
hand so I reckon I'll shell out now rather when I really
need'em.

Thanks again for the offer. Means a lot.

hankaye

[hankaye]

sdayman, Howdy;

I'll answer your questions

Waaaiiiittt…are you saying that you have a regulator feeding another regulator? Why?
Yes, The Factory designed the system with a 30psi regulator on the driver's side. It in turn
is connected to the black pipe then another hose, then into the 2 stag Auto change regulator.

Shouldn’t a tank be pigtailed straight to the switching regulator?
Only if it was set up like a TT. Or designed that way with both tanks next to each other
in one compartment.

I’d think that if you’re feeding a regulated tank to the auto-switching regulator that the auto-switch would think that the regulated tank is (near) empty and switch over to the other side.

And I don’t know how your system would react if you had two regulators in series. If it’s anything like plugging a regulated Weber Baby-Q into the regulated quick-connect, it’d be pretty pathetic.
It's NOT the same. Quite a different critter altogether.

Thanks for your intrest in my problem. I hope that I didn't come across as condensending. Not my intent.

hankaye

[f6bits]

Thanks for the answers. If that’s what the factory wants, then that’s what the factory gets. Good luck tracking down the kink in the system. I see that you have a border collie. They’re pretty smart. Maybe he can help. Have you asked Rascal?

[hankpage]

I see that you have a border collie. They’re pretty smart. Maybe he can help. Have you asked Rascal?

Of course he did ...... who do you think told him to join the forum??? "bouncey:
Rascal's specialty is security and squirrels not maintenance.

[hankaye]

sdayman, Howdy;

I see that you have a border collie. They’re pretty smart. Maybe he can help. Have you asked Rascal?

As one of my brothers once remarked, "Scarey Smart" ...

He offers opinions ... can't help with the maintance ... no thumbs :rolleyes:

hankaye

PS. I'll keep ya'll up to date with me search for an answer...

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

Well, it took untill the 4th before I ran out of propane. Alot longer
than the 3 or 4 weeks I origianaly thought...
This time when I ran out BOTH tanks were empty.???? went to hook up
my spare and nada, zip, zilch, squat ... get the idea???
Called my local (56 miles away), RV shop, bought 2 pigtails, a 2 stage
auto changeover reg and the 30 to 10 psi reg. They had everything I needed
so off Rascal an I went.
Before we left I took the old stuff off the system and bagged them in zip-locks
just to be sure that what the kid at the parts desk thought were what I
needed were really what I needed. Everything matched up and I got the last
30-10 reg. they had as well as the last Marshall 245 2 stage, auto change.

When I dissambled the system, I noticed some oily residue around the crimped
edge of the 30-10 reg.

See: http://www.keystonerv.org/forums/sho...0445#post40445


and when I looked up the bottom hole of the 2 stage reg.
there was also an oily sheen.

When we got back home I took some rubbing alcohol and filled the black pipe
that goes across the front of the trailer then blew it out with the compresser.
(Alcohol will disperse oil. pour a small amount on your bench and then pour
some alcohol on it then wipe it up. see what's left ;) )
Then I used some yellow teflon tape (made for propane and other gas
systems), Reassembled the system, sprayed with copious amounts of soapy water not a bubble out of place ... Works like it's supposed to "bouncey:

hankaye & Rascal (arf)

[byrdr1]

Howdy All;

Then I used some yellow teflon tape (made for propane and other gas
systems), Reassembled the system, sprayed with copious amounts of soapy water not a bubble out of place ... Works like it's supposed to "bouncey:

hankaye & Rascal (arf)
:thewave: yeah!
rb