Isn’t this a regulator?

[Super8mm]

I just filled both bottles for the first time and when I put them back in and hooked it up I could smell gas on this time.

I shut the gas off and unscrewed the hose and looked at the fitting and all looked good. I tried it again and still could smell gas and while I was running my had down the hose and I could feel a bit of a breeze on my had and then put my had on this and could feel pressure coming out of the center where the little brass thing is.

If the tank is over filled will this bleed off the excess or something like that, or is the regulator shot?



Thanks

[Ford Idaho]

Leaking propane is very cold and can form a white frost at the leak.

Did you notice that?

Are the seals in place?

[Super8mm]

Thanks Ford Idaho, it has the same seals as the other side.

I did use soapy water and a brush and I am getting a slow big bubble from the center of the red valve.

[Kimber45]

Hard to tell by the photo but it looks like a regulator. I had a guy over fill a tank of mine once and it bled off the tank right away. (i think all tanks have an over fill valve in them) that would trip the second it was over filled not once hooked up.

[lesptr]

I just had one replaced for the same problem.

Propane was leaking from the small hole. The replacement looks like yours.

[Super8mm]

Thanks Kimber45.

That sounds reasonable but with all the new fangled stuff these days one just never knows "LOL"

[lesptr]

Not sure why the photo posted twice.
We lost an entire 30lb tank before discovering the leak.

[Super8mm]

Thanks lesptr, guess I will be running to the store in the morning "LOL"

[Super8mm]

Originally Posted by lesptr

Not sure why the photo posted twice.
We lost an entire 30lb tank before discovering the leak.

well this is the first time I have filled the tanks, I just picked up the Puma in January. guess I know why this one was empty "LOL"

[SailorSam20500]

I'm not an expert or certified in propane, but some observations.

Propane as it is filled into your tank is a liquid and the tanks should be filled to about 80% of the liquid volume of the tank. As propane is used, the liquid boils to a gas and the gas is dispensed. If the tank is overfilled, the issue is that the liquid can be dispensed. As the liquid boils to gas, the temperature plummets, often resulting in freezing in the regulator or piping. If the regulator freezes, it stops dispensing propane until it warms back up. Because the propane boils to gas as it is used, the pressure inside the tank stays relatively constant until the liquid is used up. So over-pressure isn't a common occurrence. That occurs when the tank itself is heated in some manner, it takes a lot of pressure to re-condense the gas back to a liquid. Also, the over-pressure relief valve is part of the tank valve.

I suspect your red/brass thing is a regulator and that somehow it was damaged, possibly while the tank was being filled.

[Retired JSO]

If you are feeling gas/ pressure at the tank valve, it could be the 20% screw along the tank valve. If so, use a flathead and tighten it. Of course if you are only feeling this pressure with a valve on, then that ain't the problem.

[Super8mm]

Thanks SailorSam20500

That red regulator stays on the trailer so I must be bad, the leak is not big but i can hear a small hiss and smell the gas. the soap test on the regulator would create a bubble about the size of a ping pong ball in about 10 seconds.

[Super8mm]

Thanks Retired JSO, I checked the screw, the regulator is attached to the back wall of that compartment.

[imabmwnut]

I have the same problem. Replaced the regulator and the new one leaks gas out of the weep hole is what I've always heard it referred to. And the new one does the same thing. So I guess it's upstream of the red regulator. Which would be the crossover valve?

[NMWildcat]

The smaller red regulator is usually used on rigs that have one tank on each side connected by a run of hose the width of the rig. They started being required a few years back. Always on the opposite side from the main regulator. The OEM versions are notorious for failing. I replaced several of them until I found a higher quality adjustable one at the local gas company. The other option is to just remove them, which I almost did. My previous rigs did just fine without them

[Super8mm]

Thanks NMWildcat

I will go see what I can find here in a bit as I leave in the morning for the weekend shakedown run.

[Super8mm]

Installed new regulator and all is good, for now

[NMWildcat]

Congrats!

[onetonford]

The red regulator is a set pressure (usually around 18lbs) to prevent gas to condense in the crossover hose. Because if you close the valves off any condensed gas in hose could build pressure and rupture the hose. Which the next time you turn on could be a leak inside trailer and there could be an explosion. So never run the system without it!!!

[TandSH]

I just had to have ours replaced yesterday. Was awakened at 3:30 AM a couple of weeks ago by the LP detector sounding off. Here is what it's all about...

The failed item is a high pressure regulator installed for the reasons explained by onetonford and NMWildcat. They also are supposed to have a high flow shutoff feature that will shut off the gas flow in the event of a system breach downstream like a severed hose or failed fitting, and thus need to be installed close to the remote tank. Residential tank regulators like these supply an 11" water column pressure to the low pressure regulator in your rig or residence.

I do not believe that there is any way the HPR could be damaged or otherwise affected by how the tank is serviced. Unfortunately there have been a spate of failures of these installed by all OEM's. The failure is a leak in the internal diaphragm which can be detected by gas flow from the vent hole in the body of the valve. My tech told me he even had a new replacement valve leak immediately when he replaced it for one that had failed. These are an approximate $20 component so don't get ripped off by a scare monger.