LP fuel is a camper’s very best friend. It provides us with heat on a chilly working day, incredibly hot h2o to shower with, chilly food items in the fridge and the functionality to cook dinner on the street the identical way you do when you might be at home. When we will need it it truly is there, instantaneously giving us with all of the features and creature comforts we are accustomed to. We will not seriously even think about it, it’s taken for granted that when you push that button, pretty much like magic it responds to your needs.
But what is LP gas? Need to we be scared of it, or just continue on to take it for granted? Liquid propane, a lot more generally identified as LP gasoline will get its identify mainly because it is stored in a liquid state. When LP gasoline is made it is compressed and saved underneath tension, which brings about it to liquefy. When the tension is released the liquid turns back into a vapor. LP fuel is odorless, colorless and tasteless. To guide you in detecting a leak an odorant is included to it when it is produced. If you are not common with the odor of LP gas, the next time you go to a competent fill station ask the attendant to permit you smell it. Most individuals explain the smell as staying comparable to rotten eggs, or as having a garlic odor.
We’ll get back again to much more traits of LP gasoline in a minute, but very first let us handle the next dilemma. Really should you be afraid of it? You ought to regard LP fuel, due to the fact all gases have unsafe characteristics. If you test for gasoline leaks using an open flame you are selected to be in threat. I guess what I am making an attempt to say is that LP gas is 1 of the most secure of petroleum solutions if it is managed properly. Far more times than not, when there is an accident involving LP gasoline it is due to negligence or poor dealing with.
LP gas is transportable, protected when managed correctly and it is really extremely successful, so it only helps make feeling that it is used in RVs. I pointed out a second back that LP fuel is compressed in a liquid state and saved in containers. For the reason that of the volume of force concerned the containers are produced below really stringent codes. There are two fundamental kinds of containers, Division of Transportation (DOT), and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). The DOT containers, much more commonly identified as cylinders are the upright form that you see on Pop Up’s, vacation trailers, or your BBQ grill. The ASME cylinders are referred to as tanks and are mounted horizontally like the kind you would see on a motor house.
No matter of the sort, all LP gas containers are only stuffed to 80 p.c of their potential to allow for for enlargement when the temperature all over the container rises. LP gas cylinders are geared up with Overfill Protection Units or OPD valves to protect against them from staying overfilled.
LP fuel can be measured in body weight or in gallons. You may possibly have read any individual say that the gasoline cylinders on their journey trailer are 30 lb. cylinders, or they may perhaps say their cylinders maintain 7 gallons apiece. One particular gallon of LP gasoline weighs 4.26 lbs. The regular BBQ grill works by using a 20 lb. cylinder, so at 80 percent total it would hold 3.75 gallons of LP gasoline.
When you open the valve to the fuel cylinder the liquid fuel turns back into a vapor and goes into a two phase regulator. In the initial stage the pressure coming out of the cylinder is diminished noticeably shut to the good burning variety for the LP gas appliances. The 2nd stage reduces it to the demanded 11 inches of water column needed to run the appliances properly.
There is also an LP gas leak detector within the RV that will established off an alarm to notify you if there is a gasoline leak. It really is ordinarily positioned shut to ground stage simply because LP gasoline is heavier than air and it will settle to the flooring. If you at any time scent LP gasoline when you happen to be tenting, or if the LP fuel leak detector goes off you could have a leak somewhere in the program. If this transpires you need to:
*Extinguish any open up flames, pilot lights and do not smoke, or contact electrical switches.
*Evacuate the RV and transform off the major fuel provide valve.
Go away the door open up and do not return to the location until eventually the odor clears.
*Have the method checked out by a skilled technician before making use of it once more.
*False alarms can be prompted by hair spray, fragrance, cleaning solvents and small battery voltage.
Let’s consider a second and go over some dos and don’ts concerning LP gas.
*Do bear in mind to transform the principal gas provide on when you’re prepared to use a fuel equipment.
*Do have the program checked if you suspect a leak, disturb the fuel method, or at minimum at the time on a yearly basis.
*Do acquire the proper ways to securely transport, retailer and use LP gasoline cylinders.
*Do review all cautions and warnings on the LP gas system and appliances in your owner’s guide.
*Do not use an open up flame to look at for leaks.
*Do not use the selection burners or oven as a source of heat it is not vented outside the house and depleted oxygen can bring about asphyxiation.
*Do not go to a fuel station to refuel unless of course you extinguish any open flames and, or pilot lights and turn LP gas appliances off.
*Do not transport LP fuel cylinders inside of a automobile.
*Do not be frightened of LP fuel, but do respect it and cope with it effectively.
Satisfied Tenting!
Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk, proprietor of RV Instruction 101
