propane set up

[Kendall restoration]

I am about to run plumbing for propane on my home built camper and was wondering what ya'll use for piping. Hard pipes? I heard people use copper, I also thought about running the rubber extension hoses you use for bbq grills. I will be running a small shower, a cook stove, and a Mr Buddy heater in the winter.

 

[Alloy]

Steel/copper(Type K)/hoses(Type 1, 2, 3) will all work. It comes down to how complex the system is and making sure the soft (copper and hoses) lines are protected.

Other than to the appliance don't make any connections/slices inside the vehicle.

I have a Mr. Buddy heater but I don't run it inside. Do some research on the amount of venting needed and how CO monitors work so you know what the dangers are.

 

[old_CWO]

Copper hard lines. It's how RVs are plumbed.

Believe it or not, rodents (squirrels) will chew on your rubber propane lines. I learned this the hard way when the little turds chewed through the rubber line connecting the propane tank to regulator on my trailer and also my BBQ connection.

 

[Teardropper]

On my newest build, I installed a Propex heater and a Partner stove. The stove needed a high-pressure regulator and the heater the standard 11" WC like your BBQ uses.

Plan A was black pipe. But I recruited a friend of mine that was a propane installer for thirty years. He suggested rubber propane line. He said copper can work harden with vibration and wasn't enthused about all the fittings it would take for pipe and the possible leaks. I'm quite glad I followed his advice.

Any propane store can cut the rubber and add the 1/4" female pipe fittings.

The line coming off the red regulator which is 27 PSI is motor-vehicle propane line which is reinforced with steel mesh.

It's easy to fish the line wherever it's needed.

Tony

 

[Buddha.]

My big rv is black pipe most of the way until it splits into several copper, the kind that comes on a roll.

 

[john61ct]

Be sure to regularly inspect and test for leaks.

Iron for long runs, copper for short.

Even the best flex hose needs routine replacement, I would only use where necessary.

 

[old_CWO]

But I recruited a friend of mine that was a propane installer for thirty years. He suggested rubber propane line. He said copper can work harden with vibration...

I wager that rubber lines will dry out and crack or start leaking long before any properly installed copper "work hardens" on a trailer. Hose is easier to install and makes tight installations simpler for sure. That may be a good reason to use it, but I will respectfully take exception to your friend's advice. Not buying it.

RVs, food trucks, etc. are commonly made with main hard lines and short flex hose or flex pipe for connections where needed. Some of these things can be decades old and still in perfect service.

You wouldn't plumb your brakes in all hose for fear of work hardening the steel or Ni-Copp lines would you?

 

[taliv]

i'm not an expert on this, but there are apparently codes that address this. when i imported my trailer from south africa, and took it to a specialist to have them make some changes for me, they refused to work on it because none of the other connections were to spec. they said if they worked on it, they'd have to replace every connection and hose on the whole thing.

 

[john61ct]

depends on jurisdiction

financial liability is the enforcer in the US

 

[Teardropper]

I wager that rubber lines will dry out and crack or start leaking long before any properly installed copper "work hardens" on a trailer.

I guess this means that you think manufacturers and propane retailers sell hoses for residences, barbeques, and vehicles that are bound to fail and are a gross liability to them? Sounds like a lawyer's retirement dream.

Tony

 

[Alloy]

I wager that rubber lines will dry out and crack or start leaking long before any properly installed copper "work hardens" on a trailer. Hose is easier to install and makes tight installations simpler for sure. That may be a good reason to use it, but I will respectfully take exception to your friend's advice. Not buying it.

RVs, food trucks, etc. are commonly made with main hard lines and short flex hose or flex pipe for connections where needed. Some of these things can be decades old and still in perfect service.

You wouldn't plumb your brakes in all hose for fear of work hardening the steel or Ni-Copp lines would you?

Steel is used because it cheap, can be built to suit and doesn't need to be protected.
Copper is used because it is cheap and it can be buit to suit.

Hose is expensive and each assembly needs to be certified and tagged......but hose is easy to install. I've seen/replaced some really cheap Type1 hoses though.

It's the fittings/connections where leaks occur.

Was reading today about someone that installed a quick disconnect inside for a Buddy heater. That's a no no.

FYI....The amount of hose used for brakes is limited because hose expands under pressure.

 

[john61ct]

I guess this means that you think manufacturers and propane retailers sell hoses for residences, barbeques, and vehicles that are bound to fail and are a gross liability to them? Sounds like a lawyer's retirement dream.

If you buy a rubber hose specifically marketed as for propane usage, I bet you find fine print about regular inspection and proactive replacement.

I know plenty of professionals that say 2-3 years max.

Just use one and you will see for yourself how quickly the break down.

Any code, whether RVs, marine or for homes. read what it says.

 

[old_CWO]

I guess this means that you think manufacturers and propane retailers sell hoses for residences, barbeques, and vehicles that are bound to fail and are a gross liability to them? Sounds like a lawyer's retirement dream.

Tony

Don't be obtuse Tony, of course hoses fail that's why they are commonly sold as replacement parts. You've never seen a dry, cracked hose on a gas grill or RV regulator connection? Lots of things are bound to fail and need replacement from time to time without being a "gross liability." Sheesh.

Hose isn't bad or wrong, it's just a higher maintenance option for the application. It's easy to install and convenient, that's great. Is it a best practice? Absolutely not.

 

[Teardropper]

Don't be obtuse

I wasn't meaning to sound that way. I asked my propane guy about hose longevity during the planning phase and he said he has not seen any in his decades of installations that have degraded. He's talking about the stuff they sell, not the hoses you might buy at Walmart.

Tony

 

[Alloy]

Walmart, HD and the ones supplied with RVs are Type 1. They start to leak is around the hose crimp.

Best thing to do is replace the high pressure hose with Type 2 or 3. When I do I make sure the hose is long engough to reach a propane tank sitting on the ground.

Propane outlets carry Type 2 and 3. I always ask for Type 3 but tagged assemblies are not always available in the lengths I need.