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[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

We have a problem with our  gas fire. It runs off 47kg gas bottles.

When the fire is on full, for no apparent reason it will either cut out completely or suddenly burn at a much slower rate.

I have checked there is sufficient gas in the bottle ........and it is turned on.

It seems to me that a valve is either being shut off completely or restricted in some way. But where and which valve?

Any ideas chaps?

[Marks DTM Calib]

Does it only occur when the boiler or another gas appliance kicks in?

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Does it only occur when the boiler or another gas appliance kicks in?

We don't have any other gas appliances apart from the fire Mark. The boiler runs on oil.

[cem_devecioglu]

lack of oxygene/ventilation ?

[Marks DTM Calib]

Sounds like a potential reg fault then (they are supposed to be replaced every 5-10 years as they clog up with the 'smell agent')

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Sounds like a potential reg fault then (they are supposed to be replaced every 5-10 years as they clog up with the 'smell agent')

Regulator fault?. Sounds feasible. Where would this regulator be situated........close to the bottles or is it an integral part of the fire?

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

lack of oxygene/ventilation ?

Thanks Cem. This is the first time we have experienced this problem. We have lived here for seven years.

[Andy B]

....
Regulator fault?. Sounds feasible. Where would this regulator be situated........close to the bottles or is it an integral part of the fire?

If similar set up to caravanning gas, it's on the bottle 

[Marks DTM Calib]

Sounds like a potential reg fault then (they are supposed to be replaced every 5-10 years as they clog up with the 'smell agent')

Regulator fault?. Sounds feasible. Where would this regulator be situated........close to the bottles or is it an integral part of the fire?

Its normaly close to the bottle (as you dont want Bottle pressure gas traveling to far!)

I suspect if it was a lack of oxygen, you would have felt light headed long before the fire showed sypmtoms

[Entwood]

How old are the flexible gas pipes There is a known problem in the caravanning world where newer spec pipes ( last 5-7 years ) have caused problems that the older spec pipes didn't and as pipes should be replaced every 3 years it has become quite common. It is caused by the plascticiser ( spelling ??) in the pipes being leached out by the gas flow then being deposited inside the regulator, so causing regulator problems. When mine failed it gave similar fault to yours .. worked fine at low flow but useless at high flows.

Solution was a new regulator and stainless steel braided pipes, for some reason the rubber inside those pipes does not suffer the same problems ...

[STMO123]

But that would cost money and Opti is a tight bstard 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

How old are the flexible gas pipes There is a known problem in the caravanning world where newer spec pipes ( last 5-7 years ) have caused problems that the older spec pipes didn't and as pipes should be replaced every 3 years it has become quite common. It is caused by the plascticiser ( spelling ??) in the pipes being leached out by the gas flow then being deposited inside the regulator, so causing regulator problems. When mine failed it gave similar fault to yours .. worked fine at low flow but useless at high flows.

Solution was a new regulator and stainless steel braided pipes, for some reason the rubber inside those pipes does not suffer the same problems ...

Thanks Entwood. That's interesting.

We have lived here for seven years and and have not replaced anything at all .......regulator pipes etc..etc..

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

But that would cost money and Opti is a tight bstard 

You're the one who lives in the North.... The further North you go ........the tighter they get.


 

[Entwood]

How old are the flexible gas pipes There is a known problem in the caravanning world where newer spec pipes ( last 5-7 years ) have caused problems that the older spec pipes didn't and as pipes should be replaced every 3 years it has become quite common. It is caused by the plascticiser ( spelling ??) in the pipes being leached out by the gas flow then being deposited inside the regulator, so causing regulator problems. When mine failed it gave similar fault to yours .. worked fine at low flow but useless at high flows.

Solution was a new regulator and stainless steel braided pipes, for some reason the rubber inside those pipes does not suffer the same problems ...

Thanks Entwood. That's interesting.

We have lived here for seven years and and have not replaced anything at all .......regulator pipes etc..etc..

This article explains the problems in touring vans ....  now I don't know if your regulator is the same .. but my guess is your pipes might be longer !!!

http://www.nationalcaravan.co.uk/images/news/gas_regulator_blockages_rev1.pdf

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Here is a picture of our current regulator. It services 2 x 47kg propane bottles. I can't see another one exactly like it on Ebay or the internet in general.

Any ideas which regulator would be suitable to replace it, Chaps?