Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: VXL V6 on 08 May 2010, 23:04:15

Title: LPG question
Post by: VXL V6 on 08 May 2010, 23:04:15
Purely out of interest, how is the system earthed to stop a static discharge happening?

Is there some earth bonding point on the tank otherwise if the tank is painted / powder coated surely the tank straps/frame/bolts to chassis aren't doing a lot?
Title: Re: LPG question
Post by: Lazydocker on 08 May 2010, 23:11:36
Interesting thought... The frame is bolted through the floor but I've never fitted an earth strap and it's not a requirement in COP 11... Mind you, there's no earth strap on petrol tanks either ;)
Title: Re: LPG question
Post by: Kevin Wood on 08 May 2010, 23:16:25
IIRC, someone told me an earth connection to the tank is a good idea.

The main issue will be between the filler and the nozzle, and that makes electrical contact before any gas can be delivered.

Kevin
Title: Re: LPG question
Post by: VXL V6 on 08 May 2010, 23:16:34
Omega petrol tank has one, but then being plastic I guess it's more suceptable to static.

Just strikes me that there could be a Potential Difference between the tank and the car.  :-/
Title: Re: LPG question
Post by: tidla on 08 May 2010, 23:21:16
slightly off topic, these tanks take up a lot of room in the boot. is there any new designs to fit in the almost redundant fuel tank space?
Title: Re: LPG question
Post by: VXL V6 on 08 May 2010, 23:28:24
Quote
slightly off topic, these tanks take up a lot of room in the boot. is there any new designs to fit in the almost redundant fuel tank space?

Only seen torodial tanks that sit in the spare wheel recess as an option to the normal design. I guess (plenty of people will know on here for sure!) that they need to be constructed as a cylinder for the inherent strength in case of an accident.
Title: Re: LPG question
Post by: Lazydocker on 08 May 2010, 23:32:28
Quote
slightly off topic, these tanks take up a lot of room in the boot. is there any new designs to fit in the almost redundant fuel tank space?

If you had a custom made petrol tank then it's perfectly acceptable to mount a tank in that space :y
Title: Re: LPG question
Post by: tidla on 08 May 2010, 23:32:43
working on trucks i know that the air tanks come in all shapes and sizes, slightly different i know with sender units etc to accomodate. if a tank was designed to fit within the average fuel tank space...
Title: Re: LPG question
Post by: Lazydocker on 08 May 2010, 23:35:47
Quote
working on trucks i know that the air tanks come in all shapes and sizes, slightly different i know with sender units etc to accomodate. if a tank was designed to fit within the average fuel tank space...

LPG tanks have to be ellipsoidal in shape, ie no sharp edges, much the same as air tanks. There are tanks designed to fit in the space (sort of) vacated by a petrol tank if it were removed... However, the LPG COP 11 states that there must be a minimum 150mm (IIRCC) ground clearance :y
Title: Re: LPG question
Post by: VXL V6 on 08 May 2010, 23:37:06
Mad Max style!

(http://www.madmaxmovies.com/cars/mad-max-interceptor/images/Xb3.jpg)
Title: Re: LPG question
Post by: tidla on 08 May 2010, 23:41:30
how much space/ volume on average would you need for petrol start up/ reserve?
Title: Re: LPG question
Post by: Lazydocker on 08 May 2010, 23:44:29
Quote
how much space/ volume on average would you need for petrol start up/ reserve?

To give you an Idea, I tend to use 3 full tanks of petrol/year ;) Last filled up on 28th February and got between 1/3 and 1/2 a tank still :y
Title: Re: LPG question
Post by: tidla on 08 May 2010, 23:56:51
one thing that always put me off was the reduced space and that, at the time the omega was "not a good candidate for lpg due to the plenium chamber design".ps (kit costs)
Title: Re: LPG question
Post by: Lazydocker on 09 May 2010, 00:01:23
Quote
one thing that always put me off was the reduced space and that, at the time the omega was "not a good candidate for lpg due to the plenium chamber design".ps (kit costs)

Must be going back to when it was all single-point/mixer style, which isn't suitable really although I have heard of them running OK (until they go bang!)

Multi-point Sequential Injection systems are fine and work well :y :y

The Stag kit a lot of us run comes in at under £700 with a 4-hole cylinder tank in the boot, a little more with toroidal (spare wheel) tank :y
Title: Re: LPG question
Post by: tidla on 09 May 2010, 00:05:49
thanks for the info :y
Title: Re: LPG question
Post by: feeutfo on 09 May 2010, 11:46:20
mine passed a safety inspection with no earth on the tank, it was noted by the inspecter, and he did say it was a cop 2 requirement but he thought it ott as "its electricaly connected to the front end kit which is earthed anyway" at that point i tried to remember an earth point at the front but couldn't.

He passed it though. :-/