TheSamba.com :: View topic - What pressure regulator for LP gas to stove / fridge?

Tue May 21, 2024 7:53 am

Hello, fellow Westy owners! I apologize for the rather 'newbish' question, but I have been unsuccessful in finding an answer. I'm looking to 'bench test' my refrigerator and stove from my 1981 Westy since the cabinet they are in is sitting in my garage. My plan is to pick up a propane tank to use as the gas source for the testing / diagnostics / repair of the Dometic fridge, since the stove is likely fine. As someone who has only grilled with charcoal and has zero experience with LP, I have a couple of questions that I'm hoping some of you can help answer:

1) Are there different types / pressures on pressure regulators, and if so, what should I be using for my temporary fridge and stove hookup?

2) Am I correct in assuming that a regular store-bought LP tank will work? It seems like some of you are using those tanks on an ongoing basis in your Westys.

3) It appears the fittings at the stove and refrigerator are 'standard'. Is that accurate, or are there adapters I should be using?

Thank you in advance for your help, and thank you to everyone who has posted on The Samba on refrigerator maintenance and repair. I'm confident that, thanks to your knowledge and experience, I'll have that fridge running in no time!

- Carsten

Tue May 21, 2024 8:43 am

CarstenR wrote: Hello, fellow Westy owners! I apologize for the rather 'newbish' question, but I have been unsuccessful in finding an answer. I'm looking to 'bench test' my refrigerator and stove from my 1981 Westy since the cabinet they are in is sitting in my garage. My plan is to pick up a propane tank to use as the gas source for the testing / diagnostics / repair of the Dometic fridge, since the stove is likely fine. As someone who has only grilled with charcoal and has zero experience with LP, I have a couple of questions that I'm hoping some of you can help answer:

1) Are there different types / pressures on pressure regulators, and if so, what should I be using for my temporary fridge and stove hookup?

2) Am I correct in assuming that a regular store-bought LP tank will work? It seems like some of you are using those tanks on an ongoing basis in your Westys.

3) It appears the fittings at the stove and refrigerator are 'standard'. Is that accurate, or are there adapters I should be using?

Thank you in advance for your help, and thank you to everyone who has posted on The Samba on refrigerator maintenance and repair. I'm confident that, thanks to your knowledge and experience, I'll have that fridge running in no time!

- Carsten

Hello!

any BBQ regulator sold will work.

The fittings are indeed Imperial, I forgot the flare size, somebody will chime in.

Tue May 21, 2024 8:58 am

2 stage 11 wc. I use one with QCC1 to 3/8” male flare hoses integrated for bench running.

Tue May 21, 2024 12:37 pm

This is the one I use. 290 Marshall

Tue May 21, 2024 2:57 pm

I used this

it fit the stock setup 100%

https://www.amazon.com/Flame-King-Horizontal-Gener...sccl_1_1_t

Tue May 21, 2024 3:13 pm

CarstenR wrote: Hello, fellow Westy owners! I apologize for the rather 'newbish' question, but I have been unsuccessful in finding an answer. I'm looking to 'bench test' my refrigerator and stove from my 1981 Westy since the cabinet they are in is sitting in my garage. My plan is to pick up a propane tank to use as the gas source for the testing / diagnostics / repair of the Dometic fridge, since the stove is likely fine. As someone who has only grilled with charcoal and has zero experience with LP, I have a couple of questions that I'm hoping some of you can help answer:

1) Are there different types / pressures on pressure regulators, and if so, what should I be using for my temporary fridge and stove hookup?

2) Am I correct in assuming that a regular store-bought LP tank will work? It seems like some of you are using those tanks on an ongoing basis in your Westys.

3) It appears the fittings at the stove and refrigerator are 'standard'. Is that accurate, or are there adapters I should be using?

Thank you in advance for your help, and thank you to everyone who has posted on The Samba on refrigerator maintenance and repair. I'm confident that, thanks to your knowledge and experience, I'll have that fridge running in no time!

- Carsten

Yes, there are different regulators but the vast majority operate at 11" water column. Look at the appliance to confirm, but as mentioned. the stock VW appliances operate at 11" wc.

Propane regulators do wear and eventually need to be replaced. Many can also be adjusted.Given the extent of the work you're doing you'll want to measure the output of your van's regulator. It's a fun science project:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=726525&postorder=asc
jimf909 wrote: My Propex 2211 seemed to be underperforming compared to what I’d heard from others. Overall, it didn’t seem to get the van as warm as others would say and the temp at the outlet was about 150* F, less than Karl Mullendore’s (WestyVentures) suggested 190 - 200* F.

Karl often recommends checking the propane regulator for 11” water column. So I checked the Marshall two-stage regulator that the PO installed about a decade ago.

Manometer setup: 8’ of 5/16” id x 7/16” od clear hose attached to a board with horizontal lines at 1/2”. (Choose any diameter hose, physics doesn’t care.)

The 7/16” hose fits nicely into a stove valve body with the stem removed (my Marshall two-stage regulator does not have ports where a manometer can be connected)...

Coffee tinted water (no food coloring in the house...I haven’t colored easter eggs in decades) at 0” with the main propane closed...

8” initial water column has the Propex delivering about 150* F at the outlet and sometimes cycling off...

Adjusting the Marshall two-stage regulator to a 12” water column has the Propex delivering 180* F at the outlet...

179.8 -185* F measured on three different thermometers...

I’ll still measure output temp at the furnace (I tested t briefly and saw 190* F) and add some insulation around the ducts to see if I can deliver more heat to the inside of the van.

Moral of the story, if your propane appliances aren’t working as expected, measure the regulator. Then track down the bugs and dust in the jets. (Moral #2, listen to Karl :) )

Now I just need to wait for some cold weather to give it a good test!