Propane Question

[hawk10eye]

I have a 2012 360-FWS and there is a propane outlet on the right side, which is commonly used for fueling a grille from the main tank. I am planning on an extended stay in one spot in the coach from January to April, and I was wondering if I could buy the appropriate hose/adapter, and hook up a 5 gallon external tank to that outlet, so that gas can be fed into the system for use by the heater and stove. That would then add/supplement the main 24.5 gallon tank, so I could run longer without having to refill the gas. Has anybody done this? Will that work?
Thanks for any feedback.

[Campin Cajun]

I would have to look at how mine if rigged up, but if that connection ties into the same system that feeds the stove and heater, then it is possible to close off the 24 gal. tank and feed the system from there. As long as the portable bottle has the right regulator on it.

[Black]

Not really, you need the gas to go through the regulator to lower the pressure first.
If you can do that, then it is possible

[gasman6674]

As long as there is a regulator on the spare tank you can back feed thru the quick disconnect. No regulator no work plus damaged appliances.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Black

Not really, you need the gas to go through the regulator to lower the pressure first.
If you can do that, then it is possible

Originally Posted by gasman6674

As long as there is a regulator on the spare tank you can back feed thru the quick disconnect. No regulator no work plus damaged appliances.

As others pointed out, you would need to regulate the tank backfeeding thru the BBQ grill low pressure connection, since it is downstream of the regulator at the RV cylinders

They make what are called propane extend-a-stay kits designed specifically for the purpose you have, and a simple solution. They serve a dual function, which will allow you to hook up an auxiliary propane cylinder.... as well as hook up to a grill/stove that has a built in regulator (which you may not have a use for that part)

EDIT: They make several types of these kits for different cylinder types and motorhomes/TT's. This is just an example to show the premise.

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/lp-gas/50525.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er_cFg1MRk0

[ADK-RVer]

The extend-a-stay kit is the easy answer (approx $90). We hook up a 30 lb auxiliary propane tank to the Berk for the 5 months we are in Florida. When we need a fill, just unhook and leave it in front of MH. Campground people pick it up, fill it and bring it back. Can't get any easier.

[lefaivre]

I would be amazed if this is possible since the Propane hookup is downstream of the pressure regulator. In order to fill the on board tank from a portable tank ... you would need to push backwards through a regulator.

Similarly ... In order to run barbecue etc off the coach you must first remove only attached regulators. I learned this one the hard way.

[Campin Cajun]

He's not trying to fill the onboard tank. He wants to rig up the portable tank to run his stove and heater.

[ADK-RVer]

Originally Posted by lefaivre

I would be amazed if this is possible since the Propane hookup is downstream of the pressure regulator. In order to fill the on board tank from a portable tank ... you would need to push backwards through a regulator.

Similarly ... In order to run barbecue etc off the coach you must first remove only attached regulators. I learned this one the hard way.

Sorry I wasn't clear. We run ONLY off the 30 lb portable tank for heat and cooking during our winter stay with the extend a stay hookup kit. I was referring to the ease of "filling" the portable tank when necessary.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by ADK-RVer

Sorry I wasn't clear. We run ONLY off the 30 lb portable tank for heat and cooking during our winter stay with the extend a stay hookup kit. I was referring to the ease of "filling" the portable tank when necessary.

This wouldn't work well to fill your on board tank.

Buy an extenda stay kit or buy another 30 lb tank to swap out.

Turbs

[I-RV]

Originally Posted by lefaivre

I would be amazed if this is possible since the Propane hookup is downstream of the pressure regulator. In order to fill the on board tank from a portable tank ... you would need to push backwards through a regulator.

Similarly ... In order to run barbecue etc off the coach you must first remove only attached regulators. I learned this one the hard way.

Agree with what you say and would also like to add more clarification:
***For Berks, the propane outlet on the passenger side is low pressure!
***The Extend-a Stay is high pressure (on the driver's side)
***Most Barbeques have a regulator and require high pressure and therefore if you connect to the low pressure, you need to remove the barbecue's regulator.

[mark0224]

The hook up for the grill on mine shows that the flow is one direction. I don't know if the quick connect impedes the flow or if they are just saying that that is the direction it should go. I would get one of the attachments that goes where the regulator is or disconnect one of the 20 # tanks and get a hose to connect to that side of the regulator out to the larger tank.

[Ecopco]

I found this video on You Tube answers the external propane set up.

http://youtu.be/jovTYfltUO0

Hope it helps!


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[I-RV]

Originally Posted by Ecopco

I found this video on You Tube answers the external propane set up.

HOW TO: Connect an RV to External Propane - YouTube

Hope it helps!


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

Ecopco; the video is certainly informative, but unfortunately (IMHO) it gives wrong advice for Berkshire owners.

First of all, by feeding an external low pressure source into the RV's low pressure side, the Berk's safety valve that is connected to the inside gas sensor will be compromised. If there was a gas leak, the gas sensor would shut off the RV's supply but not the external source.

Secondly, most people use propane tanks without regulators to connect to the Extend-a-Stay and do not have the problem depicted in the video.

Last of all, most Berk's at least from 2012 and up have a low pressure quick connect coupling on the patio side and don't have to run a mile of line from the driver's side for a barbecue. However, since most barbecue's require high pressure, the barbecue's regulator would have to be removed.

Hank

[lefaivre]

I love to muddy the water ...

It seems like your underlying problem is Propane storage capacity. It it possible to either swap out your on board take with a larger one ... or perhaps have a second on installed.

My first class a was a Triple E whos engine would run on either Propane or gasoline. That unit had the standard on board tank plus a second one that was about 3 times the size.

In the case of the Triple E the two Propane tanks were not piped together but why couldn't they be?

The only downside would be wet carrying capacity ... Although the reality is that most of use travel with tanks empty anyways.

Just a thought

Tim

[I-RV]

I thought that this is supposed to be a Berkshire forum! Granted, anyone can participate, but solutions for other rigs are often not necessarily applicable to the Berkshire.

Hank

[I-RV]

Sorry, I meant "a Berkshire Thread".
Hank


2012 Berkshire 390BH

[lefaivre]

I do own a Berkeley 390BH-60.
I am just trying to make the point that capacity appears to be the problem and a second or larger tank may be an option

[lefaivre]

I hate auto typing .... Should read Berkshire 390BH 60