Hi,My Cougar 5th Wheel (6 years old) has a stand alone 18psi (GR-618) red regulator on the street side propane bottle, which enters a pipe that crosses the front to the curb side. On the curb side is the standard switching regulator. I put the street side bottle on service and got a major leak from the vent hole on the GR-618 regulator. (Blowing propane). I read about the 2nd regulator on this "closed" topic:(http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23537608)I've also read on two other forums persons have had the same leak. (Google search: LP GR-618 LP regulator leak) But very limited additional information.I'm concerned this may be a common problem with these 2nd regulators. I'm thinking of just capping the pipe from the street side bottle and physically swapping bottles when needed rather than risk an un-controlled propane leak.Any input appreciated. And have others experienced this problem?edit: Here is a picture of the leaking regulator. Leaks at the vent hole below the "S" in "PSI"..

Yes there have been some reported failures of the regulators for the cylinders located on opposite side (roadside.Must have been a bad manufacturing batch. Instead of disabling that side........get new regulatorOn Edit:The GR-618 (18#) no longer available.Replacement is GR-630 (30#)Available via Dyers RV Parts.......LINKAlso check the cross pipe/line.....the check valves in line have been know to fail.

The RED regulators are a HI to lower pressure regulator that is a safety device. They decided to run the LP to the other standard regulator and NOT use the HI pressure thru the line to the other side. So, they use that RED regulator to drop the hi pressure to a safer low pressure before it connects to the other switchover regulator assbly. The USUAL cause of a regulator leaking is the tanks were overfilled and the liquid entered the regulator and the freezing liquid destroys the diaphragm. Overfilling is caused by NOT using weight when filling and using the 80% valve to signal full which is WRONG and allows overfilling and this is what happens. Doug

I don't understand the purpose of that single-stage regulator at that point in the system, but there must be one!In any case, here's a heads up that the symptom you're getting may in fact be unrelated to the regulator itself. Check out post number 7 at this link

Thanks for replies. I learned a lot on some basic RV LP stuff today. I replaced the failed GR-618 regulator with a new GR-630 regulator purchased from my RV Dealer. Cost was $11.99. (Also purchased pipe thread sealant for use on gas lines.) Tested and works fine.Here is a link to pictures of old and new parts, plus a video of the leak prior to replacement, in case others experience the same issue. It was a severe leak (but just slow enough to not active high flow rate check valve in the tank hose), and in my case was directly above my factory installed LP generator exhaust. Link: Parts and Video

Propane Regulator leaking on Street Side | Good Sam Community

Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Aug 04, 2013
wa8yxm wrote:
To the person who mentioned the not understanding the purpose of the single stage regulator

There are basically 2.1 types of regulator systems I have seen (this is the .1)

Single stage take gas from a variable pressure of around 100 PSI (can be 50 or 200) to a pressure of roughly 0.5 PSI in one jump, That's a lot to expect of a regulator. (O.5 PSI is about the pressure needed to hold 11" of water up, the exact outlet pressure is = to 11" of water least anyone want to argue with my 1/2 PSI round off).

Thus they came up with the 2 stage, Take it down to about 20-30 in one step, and 1/2 in the second.

usually the sequence is Tank-line-switchover valve-Stage 1-Stage 2-lines to appliances.

In this case it's Tank--Stage 1--Valve--Stage 2

NOTE that there are two tanks and two lines to the valve (And in this system two stage 1's)

That was me- I was actually wondering WHY there's a regulator on the offside tank plus a double autochangeover (two-stage?) regulator at the "main" tank. Most dual tank setups have only the latter.

Or did I get that completely wrong?
dougrainer
Nomad
Aug 04, 2013
Francesca Knowles wrote:
wa8yxm wrote:
To the person who mentioned the not understanding the purpose of the single stage regulator

There are basically 2.1 types of regulator systems I have seen (this is the .1)

Single stage take gas from a variable pressure of around 100 PSI (can be 50 or 200) to a pressure of roughly 0.5 PSI in one jump, That's a lot to expect of a regulator. (O.5 PSI is about the pressure needed to hold 11" of water up, the exact outlet pressure is = to 11" of water least anyone want to argue with my 1/2 PSI round off).

Thus they came up with the 2 stage, Take it down to about 20-30 in one step, and 1/2 in the second.

usually the sequence is Tank-line-switchover valve-Stage 1-Stage 2-lines to appliances.

In this case it's Tank--Stage 1--Valve--Stage 2

NOTE that there are two tanks and two lines to the valve (And in this system two stage 1's)

That was me- I was actually wondering WHY there's a regulator on the offside tank plus a double autochangeover (two-stage?) regulator at the "main" tank. Most dual tank setups have only the latter.

Or did I get that completely wrong?

READ my post. It is to prevent HI pressure gas from going from one side of the RV to the other. IF you have a break in the supply line from the RED regulator side to the other side which has the regular LP regulator, it will be low pressure and not as much as a danger. Yes, leaking LP is a danger, but better to have low pressure smaller leak than a HI pressure leak. The reason to have a 2 stage regulator is you get a better constant 11.5 inches pressure. A Single stage can possibly have low pressure fluctuations. You will see single stage on Gas Grills and such as that type appliance can handle fluctuations and the LP regulator is only handling that one appliance. Doug
sgrol
Explorer
Jan 17, 2016
Old topic I know. Just ran into this problem today. My question is why is the propane not regulated to 30 pounds(in my case with the GR 630 on the street side) on both sides? The curb side tank goes directly into the switching regulator with no pressure drop.
red31
Explorer
Jan 17, 2016
sgrol wrote:
Old topic I know. Just ran into this problem today. My question is why is the propane not regulated to 30 pounds(in my case with the GR 630 on the street side) on both sides? The curb side tank goes directly into the switching regulator with no pressure drop.

distance.

RVIA adopts NFPA which calls for regulation (min of 30 psi) within 60".
sgrol
Explorer
Jan 18, 2016
Still doesn't make sense. The unregulated tank is 12" from switching regulator and it's pressure is not decreased prior to entry to the switching regulator. In other words, far tank is regulated and enters switching regulator at 30 psi. Close tank is not regulated and enters switching regulator at tank pressure (around 100 psi depending on temp).
sgrol
Explorer
Jan 18, 2016
changing my notification option.
time2roll
Nomad
Jan 18, 2016
sgrol wrote:
Still doesn't make sense. The unregulated tank is 12" from switching regulator and it's pressure is not decreased prior to entry to the switching regulator. In other words, far tank is regulated and enters switching regulator at 30 psi. Close tank is not regulated and enters switching regulator at tank pressure (around 100 psi depending on temp).
The switching regulator is two stage and will handle 30 psi or 100 psi just fine on each side with no effect on operation.

Safety calls for no longer than 5' hose at full tank pressure so what is the issue?

If you want a 30 psi regulator on both that is fine but redundant.
sgrol
Explorer
Jan 18, 2016
Ok, I get it now. Guess I just didn't understand Red31's reply. Thanks for clearing it up.
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Jan 18, 2016
The reason for the regulator is that under some conditions liquid could recondense in the crossover pipe if it is at tank pressure. Lowering that to the 30 psi range keeps that from happening.
Rvpapa
Explorer
Jan 18, 2016
Posted By: Chris Bryant on 01/18/16 05:38am

The reason for the regulator is that under some conditions liquid could recondense in the crossover pipe if it is at tank pressure. Lowering that to the 30 psi range keeps that from happening.

There you go again - - confusing the issue with fact. :B
Art.

Forum Discussion

Propane Regulator leaking on Street Side

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Leaking Propane Regulator

propane regulator leaking

propane regulator leaking

Propane High Pressure Regulator Leak.

Leaking Propane Regulator