natural gas propane conversion ?

[David0725]

My Sister in law just bought at new TT that she will be living in. only 2 propane tanks in the front. Doesnt last very long. what about converting to natural gas? she does have natural gas on the property.

[Old-Biscuit]

NMDriver wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Residential oven/stove are NOT RV Appliances.
Also vintage of appliance comes into play....how old is this stove/oven?

MANY newer residential models are not converter-able as they are 'gas specific'

I did not STATE it was an RV appliance but it would fit into our 5er and it is definitely convertible.

"MANY" is not all and as I stated there are kits on line.

SOME current year stove models are Natural Gas and fit into the 20 in space of MOST RV's (Amana for one). I am sure if you google Natural Gas RV appliances you can find "MANY". Many being a relative term. The Amana comes with the LP conversion kit included BTW.

AS I stated. Converting is possible but generally not worth the money.

Off topic for OP......as it was about RV Appliances


Sure one can find some residential stove models that can be converted propane to gas/gas to propane
And some of those could be placed in an RV

But now you have a stove that works on natural gas and all other appliances still work only on propane.

Larger stand alone propane tank is best option for extended stays

[drsteve]

2112 wrote:

westend wrote:
Old-Biscuit,
Please, don't ever leave the Forum. Your replies to appliance/gas/plumbing questions are the best!

X2

X3

[NMDriver]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Residential oven/stove are NOT RV Appliances.
Also vintage of appliance comes into play....how old is this stove/oven?

MANY newer residential models are not converter-able as they are 'gas specific'

I did not STATE it was an RV appliance but it would fit into our 5er and it is definitely convertible.

"MANY" is not all and as I stated there are kits on line.

SOME current year stove models are Natural Gas and fit into the 20 in space of MOST RV's (Amana for one). I am sure if you google Natural Gas RV appliances you can find "MANY". Many being a relative term. The Amana comes with the LP conversion kit included BTW.

AS I stated. Converting is possible but generally not worth the money.

[ktmrfs]

as others have said get a BIG propane tank. Virtually all home appliances can be set to run on either natural gas or propane with the proper orifices. That's because for sticks and bricks houses there are lots running on propane so the mfg have designed them to be dual fuel with the proper setup.

Same with BBQ's etc. our firepit and BBQ run on either, and we had them configured for NG. However a NG BBQ doesn't get quite as hot or heat as quick as the same unit on propane. big difference in energy content. The BTU rating on the firepit and BBQ is slightly lower on NG than on propane.

RV appliance are not that way. I have not seen any that can be converted to natural gas.

[westend]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

NMDriver wrote:
We have a full size propane oven/stove in our shack in the hills. It came with jets for conversion to natural gas. They are setting in a tray under the range top. Our propane supplier said it is no big deal to switch the oven/stove to natural gas if we wanted to. For safety/liability sake it should be done by a trained tech although you can find instructions and kits on line.

Even so, it is way easier, but not cheaper, to get a larger supply bottle.

Residential oven/stove are NOT RV Appliances.
Also vintage of appliance comes into play....how old is this stove/oven?

MANY newer residential models are not converter-able as they are 'gas specific'

I have never seen an RV range with the extra set of gas orifices. I have changed out residential stove/oven orifices, like NMDriver states.

Gas specific sounds about right. It is just an extra cost to the Mfg to setup a dual-fuel alternative and there could be parts that do not work well with a different gas fuel.

[Old-Biscuit]

NMDriver wrote:
We have a full size propane oven/stove in our shack in the hills. It came with jets for conversion to natural gas. They are setting in a tray under the range top. Our propane supplier said it is no big deal to switch the oven/stove to natural gas if we wanted to. For safety/liability sake it should be done by a trained tech although you can find instructions and kits on line.

Even so, it is way easier, but not cheaper, to get a larger supply bottle.

Residential oven/stove are NOT RV Appliances.
Also vintage of appliance comes into play....how old is this stove/oven?

MANY newer residential models are not converter-able as they are 'gas specific'

[ScottG]

2112 wrote:

westend wrote:
Old-Biscuit,
Please, don't ever leave the Forum. Your replies to appliance/gas/plumbing questions are the best!

X2

X3 and he is able to post these helpful bits without the level condescension and rudeness some others here seem to have to employ.

[Scottiemom]

I had major back surgery in March. Knowing we were going to get cold in Indianapolis in March, DH bought an "extend-a-stay" for on the propane tank on our Phaeton motorhome. He purchased a 30-lb tank, filled it and set it outside by the coach. In the two months we were sitting still, he had to fill it 2 more times, but preserved our on-board propane. We drew off the auxiliary tank only. We didn't want to move the coach to go get propane because I could not help with anything. It worked perfectly.

I do think having the larger tank placed would be the answer. And then have it filled by a propane delivery company.

Dale

[2112]

westend wrote:
Old-Biscuit,
Please, don't ever leave the Forum. Your replies to appliance/gas/plumbing questions are the best!

X2

[edatlanta]

I use a 150 gallon (yes gallon, not pound) external propane tank and have it filled typically twice each winter. I hook it in to my RV propane system right after the onboard regulator since the external tank has it's own regulator. I did have the propane company check the pressure on the external tank when I first started using it during the winter. Works great.

[NMDriver]

We have a full size propane oven/stove in our shack in the hills. It came with jets for conversion to natural gas. They are setting in a tray under the range top. Our propane supplier said it is no big deal to switch the oven/stove to natural gas if we wanted to. For safety/liability sake it should be done by a trained tech although you can find instructions and kits on line.

Even so, it is way easier, but not cheaper, to get a larger supply bottle.

[westend]

Old-Biscuit,
Please, don't ever leave the Forum. Your replies to appliance/gas/plumbing questions are the best!

[Old-Biscuit]

First off
Natural gas regulators need to be set for 7" WC (0.25 psi) vs propane which is set at 11" WC (0.4 psi)
This is due to natural gas orifices being larger because of the lower btu content of natural gas vs propane

Secondly...
Natural gas btu is only 1,030BTU per 1 cubic foot
Propane is 2,516BTU per cubic foot
So propane is more efficient due to higher btu content

BUT...
Natural gas is WAY less expensive then propane
$15 for 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas is equal to 11+ gallons of propane and at $2.50/gal that would cost $27.50 for same energy content
Natural gas wins in the cost category

Thirdly...
*Main regulator would have to be changed out for natural gas requirement (or attempt to adjust one to lower system pressure of 7"WC)
*All propane appliances.....water heater, fridge, furnace, stove top burners and oven....would need orifices changed to larger sizes for natural gas
*Stove top and oven regulator would need to be changed/adjusted...propane reg for stove top/oven set for 10"WC.....
*Air shutters.......critical for mixing to create correct fuel/air ratios
Several RV propane appliances do not have shutters......fixed position based on system pressure/fuel flow-

Fourthly......
MANY appliances are designed for specific fuel and are not to be converted



So instead of reinventing the wheel........just get larger propane cylinder(s)

They come in 30#, 40# and even 100#

[pappy437]

You maybe able to use the natural gas with the propane orifices,well head gas is hotter than what you get in town.We have used it in a propane furnace at home with very little difference in heat output.But check about regulators with someone that knows what they are doing.It worked for us but that's all I can say.If it's just a gas line and not a well then all bets are off.