How's your Pressure Regulator and your Voltage ?

[dcongram]

We have been RV'ng for eons. And one thing I NEVER thought about
was the propane PRESSURE REGULATOR.

Turns out it needs to be tested regularly (ie: yearly) to ensure
you are getting enough pressure to run everything correctly

VOLTAGE is also uber important. Without enough voltage at the fridge (for example) it won't open the propane valve AND start the igniter at the same time. Only one or the other.

Here's a nugget of information for you. Did you know that many 30 amp plugs (in the campgrounds) are UPSIDE DOWN?

[dcongram]

@ Old_Biscuit

Back at ya with a couple of things.

My (3 way) Dometic doesn't work (dry camping), below 11.5 volts, as demonstrated by the RV Tech. It was bad battery connections. Replaced them and it works great now. I'm not an RV tech, and can't say whether other models have different voltage requirements. (I now carry a multimeter)
I'm just trying to pass on that good voltage is essential.

The regulator testing info came from two different RV technicians.
When mine was replaced, everything worked soooo much better.
Faced with their years of practical experience and training, I'm not one to argue. After your comments, I think I will look for that 'manometer' you mentioned. (thanks)

And the upside down 30 amp plugs ? Yes, we know the ground
is at the top, but we have encountered them with the ground at the BOTTOM. When we come across one, we use a 15 amp adapter, to keep our shore cable from breaking. It's happened to others that we have met.

Maybe it's a North Western States phenom, but if you haven't seen it - you're luckier than us. We've also seen it in Western Canada. Keep an eye out.

When we find them, we advise the campsite operator or Camp Host, and they (hopefully) get fixed.

Regards

[time2roll]

And check that regulator for leaks. Replaced mine at ten years but I think it had been leaking for five.

[Old-Biscuit]

dcongram wrote:
We have been RV'ng for eons. And one thing I NEVER thought about
was the propane PRESSURE REGULATOR.

Turns out it needs to be tested regularly (ie: yearly) to ensure
you are getting enough pressure to run everything correctly

In all my years of camping the ONLY time I have tested the LP System pressure (regulator function) using a Manometer is when I had an ACTUAL issue....then replaced regulator

Simple test (W/O using a Manometer) is to turn on each stove top burner on high one at a time and watch/compare each burner flame.....then fire off the water heater/furnace and see if stove top burner flames stay steady/same as before


VOLTAGE is also uber important. Without enough voltage at the fridge (for example) it won't open the propane valve AND start the igniter at the same time. Only one or the other.

DC Voltage......
Fridge will function down to 10.5V DC that includes ignitor and gas valve solenoids.
Issue is circuit board only sends DC to gas valve solenoids for 6-8 sec....then no flame circuit board shuts down DC to gas valve
So it can seem like no DC to gas valve

Here's a nugget of information for you. Did you know that many 30 amp plugs (in the campgrounds) are UPSIDE DOWN?

In all my years of camping/RVng can't recall ONE that was 'upside down'
They have ground at top so that power cord plug goes right in W/O having to turn IT upside down



:B