Problem Regulator?

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

....
I am curious about your Suburban stove. Is it plumbed to the high pressure propane? Or, is it down stream of the trailers regulator?....

The popular Suburban SDN2 / SDN3. This Parts Diagram shows the regulator as item #6. The stove is still plumbed to the usual 11 inch water column system, downstream of the two-stage regulator. This was something I was not aware of until I started to learn how a manometer is used to check the propane system. When checking the system, it cannot be connected to the burner assembly because of the stove's built-in regulator. Instead a manometer to check the system pressure can be connected to the flair connection for the stove (item # 7 on the diagram).

[Rarebird]

Problem solved! So, redbarron55 stated that the valve on the tank has to be connected to something to let gas out. I hooked up the tanks again, really tight this time, and they work! I think maybe because it was a new hose (squirrels chewed through the old one, again) the threads were a little tight, or something, on the connecting end. Sorry, don’t know the correct terminology, but I fixed it!

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by gordon2

The popular Suburban SDN2 / SDN3. This Parts Diagram shows the regulator as item #6. The stove is still plumbed to the usual 11 inch water column system, downstream of the two-stage regulator. This was something I was not aware of until I started to learn how a manometer is used to check the propane system. When checking the system, it cannot be connected to the burner assembly because of the stove's built-in regulator. Instead a manometer to check the system pressure can be connected to the flair connection for the stove (item # 7 on the diagram).

The stove regulator is for 10" of H2O, one inch less then the main regulator. I am guessing it is for back up, in case the main one fails catastrophically.

[Thomcat316]

Just to add another failure mode to check...

Our system is tank>connector>hose>regulator>all that other stuff.

I just replaced our regulator with a brand new one, as we weren't getting gas into the system from a freshly filled tank that is known to be good.

Still didn't work. I know there is an excess flow preventer in newer Type 1/Acme connectors, designed to prevent large volumes of propane from escaping if a line fails in the system, so I disconnected the line from the regulator, opened the tank valve very slowly, and got....nothing. Cleaned it out, tried it again, got a little gas (like you'd get if the system wasn't up all the way) then nothing. More nothing later.

Went to the Happy RV Parts Store, got a POL (not Acme) to 1/4NPT hose, and all is well. The POL connector has an excess flow device in it, so we'll see how long it lasts.

Hope this helps someone out!

[spatrick]

Last year I replaced the two burner stove and water heater in my 16' Casita. At the same time I replaced the regulator and the hose that went from the propane tank to the regulator. Everything work fine at home. On the first night of a five week trip, I had a nice hot shower. For the the next few days, I could barely get the stove to light & it would go to an extremely small flame. I tried a different propane tank from a very friendly hardware store. Still nothing. Finally found a RV repair shop and had them test everything. Pressure was fine. Nice hot shower that night. Then nothing again. I finally gave up, bought electric kettle, one burner portable stove and enjoyed my trip. Got home & went back to local RV shop. Watched as the system was tested. Initially the pressure was perfect, but over a few minutes is fell to nothing. Both the new regulator and the hose were bad. Replaced both and no more problems.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by spatrick

...Finally found a RV repair shop and had them test everything. Pressure was fine. Nice hot shower that night. Then nothing again....

Sounds like the first shop did not do a compete check. Hope you didnt pay them.

I frequently recommend this web site for owners to get an idea of what to expect from a complete propane system check. Its good to know what they should be doing.

The RV Doctor: What the Pro's Do - Propane System

[mcmars]

Originally Posted by gordon2

Sounds like the first shop did not do a compete check. Hope you didnt pay them.

I frequently recommend this web site for owners to get an idea of what to expect from a complete propane system check. Its good to know what they should be doing.

The RV Doctor: What the Pro's Do - Propane System

Thanks for great link, I am going through my 14 year old bigfoot and cleaning up things, nice to find a good resource. I have a few specific questions but will start a new RV propane thread with my issues.