Here is the problem. A while back I got a camper and bought a brand new tank and two-stage regulator for it. I didn't have a battery yet, but I used 120v and converter to test furnace, and the burners worked too. Now, that regulator is restricting flow and the burners light for 30 seconds, and then dwindle to near zero flow. I thought it was the regulator, so I bought another. This one doesn't restrict flow, but when I turn burners on and the furnace, it leaks propane out of the vent on the regulator at an alarming rate. The copper comes straight out of the propane box and goes to a 4-way connection which then goes to fridge, range, and furnace. I also started to notice with the furnace on it smells like propane in the camper. I sprayed all the connections I can see, and none of them are leaking. I have read as much as I can online and I am at my wits end. It might be time to take it to the RV place. Thoughts?

When you got that new cylinder and had it filled...did the propane place 'purge' it of AIR? DId you tell them it was a NEW cylinder?If not properly purged first filling then air is mixed with propane and can causes issues.Propane coming from vent on regulator....regulator diaphragm is cracked. Regulator is junk.1st reg may have not been bad....restricted flow was probably due to 'excess flow device' being tripped inside the BIG Green Nut on pigtail hose from 'cylinder' to regulatorTo reset you close cylinder valve....wait 30 seconds and then SLOWLY open valve again.

Could be OPD stopping flow.Turn tanks off then turn them back on very slowly.

One of the problem might be ACME valveThose things have lot of safety gizmos and they are very touchy. I had issue with one on my BBQ and had to revert to oldfashion connection. What you are doing doesn't sound safe. Propane leaking here and there. Would you consider calling professional?

Kayteg1 wrote:Could be OPD stopping flow.Turn tanks off then turn them back on very slowly. I tried that. I am considering taking it to my local RV service

OPD (Overfill Protection Device) STOPS flow INTO the cylinder WHEN filling.....not when using propaneRead all about them HEREExcess flow device......when tripped they limit flow of propane They are internal component of ACME nut

Propane Issue | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2017
Kayteg1 wrote:
It makes a mess when new replies are made without reading previous conclusion.
ACME valve is what prevents the propane flow in case of malfunction.
From the description this is the 1st suspect.

The valve itself has nothing to do with it- the excess flow device is the ball bearing labeled 86 and the spring behind it. The safety in the valve is the shutoff- no LP flows if the is nothing connected. There is a heat sensitive collar on the nut- in a fire, it melts quickly and lets the connector back out of the valve, shutting off the flow.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2017
It makes a mess when new replies are made without reading previous conclusion.
ACME valve is what prevents the propane flow in case of malfunction.
From the description this is the 1st suspect.
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2017
Ten below is tough on a properly working system- LP doesn't want to vaporize well. A single 20 pound cylinder won't do hardly anything
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Feb 03, 2017
enblethen wrote:
OPD has a float valve as part of it. Good description in lower portion of this.
OPD valve

From your link.....

The new OPD valves prevent overfilling of gas cylinders,......

OPD valves solve this problem by using a special float (shown right) which rises during refilling to block the filling process when the tank is 80% full.

From my link at Propane 101.....

The OPD valve is simply a protective device that, as the name implies, prevents overfilling of a propane cylinder.

The OPD valve is only actuated during the filling process, not during operation..........it will not stop the flow of gas out of the cylinder

OPD..stops filling at 80% liquid level but will not stop flow of gas out
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Feb 03, 2017
How old is the pigtail hose?
Might be time for new hose

Did you have new cylinder 'purged' before first filling?
MontanaSolar
Explorer
Feb 03, 2017
Old-Biscuit wrote:
OPD (Overfill Protection Device) STOPS flow INTO the cylinder WHEN filling.....not when using propane

Excess flow device......when tripped they limit flow of propane
They are internal component of ACME nut

I'm going to try the reset on the old one a few more times. I've tried it about 8 times already. I'm gonna take back the regulator that is leaking out of the vent since I just bought it. If I can't make any headway I will take to my RV dealer and see if he has another spare regulator to see if we can't get a different result. -10F this morning so I won't be working on it for very long I can tell you that.
enblethen
Nomad
Feb 03, 2017
OPD has a float valve as part of it. Good description in lower portion of this.
OPD valve
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Feb 03, 2017
OPD (Overfill Protection Device) STOPS flow INTO the cylinder WHEN filling.....not when using propane

Read all about them HERE

Excess flow device......when tripped they limit flow of propane
They are internal component of ACME nut
MontanaSolar
Explorer
Feb 03, 2017
Kayteg1 wrote:

Could be OPD stopping flow.
Turn tanks off then turn them back on very slowly.

I tried that. I am considering taking it to my local RV service
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2017
One of the problem might be ACME valve
Those things have lot of safety gizmos and they are very touchy.
I had issue with one on my BBQ and had to revert to oldfashion connection.
What you are doing doesn't sound safe. Propane leaking here and there.
Would you consider calling professional?

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Propane Issue

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