Just wanted to warn fellow forum readers about a near catastrophic problem we had at the weekend at the Camping & Caravanning Club site at Oldbury Hill. Thanks to the Wardens prompt action our caravan did not go up in flames.
We were on our 3rd short break with our new caravan and had gone out for the day. On our return we saw a fire engine leaving the site and wondered whether one of our fellow campers had had some sort of mishap. Imagine our shock to find it was our caravan that had been the centre of attention.
The problem was that the pigtail gas hose from the propane bottle to the regulator had come apart where the hose fitted the gas regulator. This resulted in the entire contents of the 6kg propane gas bottle being emptied out at a rate of force that sent the robber hose flailing around inside the gas bottle.
It was fortunate that the gas locker had nothing in it apart from the two gas bottles, the entire contents of one ended up being dumped out of the vents in the bottom and disbursed outside.
Our caravan dealer was excellent and replaced the pigtail and gas bottle and repaired the damage that the hose did to the interior of the locker. The faulty pigtail is being returned to the manufacturer who will hopefully consider recalling other pigtails they have supplied.
Can I please ask fellow forum users to make sure you keep air vents clear in your gas lockers to make sure accidents like this result in the gas being dumped to the bottom and out of the caravan and not accumulate inside the locker. If it had met an ignition source the caravan would have gone up like a bomb.
------------- Bikes on roof and low car park barriers - not a good idea!
Nasty - thank goodness you weren't in the caravan at the time, and that it didn't find a source of ignition. A timely warning re. the vents.
Having spent a lot of time looking at replacing our caravan I have to say that the quality of components fitted to many modern caravans clearly indicate they are built to a price rather than for quality.
I would suggest that just one incident like this ought to be sufficient cause for a total recall of all caravans fitted with this component. You were lucky, the next folk may not be.
Thanks for the info. Are you able to give us any more details on the pigtail and what to look for to see if we might have a faulty one? If I remember correctly, this bit is supplied by each dealer rather than by the caravan manufacturer so it might vary a lot on which vans these pigtails could be on.
Our caravan dealer was excellent and replaced the pigtail and gas bottle and repaired the damage that the hose did to the interior of the locker. The faulty pigtail is being returned to the manufacturer who will hopefully consider recalling other pigtails they have supplied.
good to hear that, at least then it will be known if its a one off, or a faulty batch.
I always try and remember to turn off the gas bottle when not in use. I know, it is a bit of a pain, but my experience earlier on in the year when a tent went up at Conkers has made me more cautious. Glad no one was hurt and that your van is OK. Our storeage facility insists that gas cylinders are disconnected from the van while in storeage.
Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 14/7/2010
We always turn the gas off when not in use although in fairness I doubt it would have prevented the hose coming off.
David
Yes, I see what you mean David. I suppose if you are switching it on and off frequently, it at least gives you the opportunity to check it visually each time which means you have more chance of noticing if something doesn't look quite right.
With regards to switching off when not in use - I must admit after the incident I turned it off when I could, but if you are camping without a hookup and your fridge is runnning off the gas then you will need to keep it on. The system should be sufficiently safe not to have to.
I would never leave the gas connected at our storage facility.
------------- Bikes on roof and low car park barriers - not a good idea!
Quote: Originally posted by avctaylor on 14/7/2010
Thanks for the info. Are you able to give us any more details on the pigtail and what to look for to see if we might have a faulty one? If I remember correctly, this bit is supplied by each dealer rather than by the caravan manufacturer so it might vary a lot on which vans these pigtails could be on.
With regards to your request on what to look for ..... the faulty pigtail had a very small (inadequate) crimp, aluminium, about 1cm deep around the nozzle and nut that fits to the regulator. You would not be able to see that it was faulty, as when I examined it there were no obvious signs of damage. The replacement looks a far more robust construction.
I guess what might be an option would be to fit the pigtail with your own hose clips, but not being a mechanic or engineer I do not know how safe this is.
------------- Bikes on roof and low car park barriers - not a good idea!
I guess what might be an option would be to fit the pigtail with your own hose clips, but not being a mechanic or engineer I do not know how safe this is.
I wouldn't reccomend that personally, the gas in the pigtail is at bottle pressure, not low pressure, the bottle is capable of delivering 13BAR at 40 deg C, and 6BAR at 15 deg C, the regulator drops this to 50mB (50 millibar) hence the crimped connections.
the pressures involved are just too great, dont go there, please...
Quote: Originally posted by timtheenchanter on 14/7/2010
Quote: Originally posted by piggy on 14/7/2010
I guess what might be an option would be to fit the pigtail with your own hose clips, but not being a mechanic or engineer I do not know how safe this is.
I wouldn't reccomend that personally, the gas in the pigtail is at bottle pressure, not low pressure, the bottle is capable of delivering 13BAR at 40 deg C, and 6BAR at 15 deg C, the regulator drops this to 50mB (50 millibar) hence the crimped connections.
the pressures involved are just too great, dont go there, please...
Thanks for that Tim, like I said I am no machanic or engineer so am not doing that myself, my dealership has supplied a new, more substantial fitting which hopefully will not fail so dramatically.
------------- Bikes on roof and low car park barriers - not a good idea!
i agree with others, I turn off the gas at the bottle unless I am using it for cooking and especially at night
going to play devils advocate here but what was so wrong with the old system of having the regulator secured directly to the bottle with a good thread and big nut. then anything that goes can only be at low pressure. i know there was reasons why the bulkhead regulators became standard but 3 feet of high pressure gas hose isnt my idea off fun
Hi all have got a bailey 2008 model, last year could smell gas in front locker turned out small nut on pigtail to bulkhead regulator came loose ,pinched it up seems ok now but I do check it often.
ps does anyone use or recomend a non permanent sealant for gas union nuts
I have one of these MULTI-PURPOSE SAFETY FITTING on our 6kg bottle it has a reset button one it and fits directly to the bottle before the regulator, my understanding is that the above problem would not have leaked all the gas out as the cut out would have operated.
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Topic: Gas Pigtail Warning
