I need an "RV propane system 101" lesson

faithie999

Senior Member
Joined
May 18, 2021
Posts
239
our 2021 surveyor came with a Suburban propane griddle which we love. it connects to the propane system with a quick-disconnect fitting.
i sometimes like/need to cook outside on our OneGas single-burner stove, which uses a 1# propane bottle.
i would like to use the propane system by putting together a hose connecting the trailer propane to the OneGas. my question: since the trailer's propane system has what i presume is a regulator at the exit of the 20# tank, is the propane system pressure too low to run an appliance designed to run from a 1# bottle?
i know i could "just try it" but i don't want to invest in fittings and hose only to find out the trailer's propane pressure is too low.
thanks!
Ken
 
If the burner has its own regulator you may have to eliminate it and rig a direct connection or else there may not be enough flow. Double regulators are usually a no go. The issue with that is if you turn want to use it portable on the 1 lb bottle you'll have to switch the line again. Main reason I haven't rigged my BBQ and triple burner grill to run off the trailer. I'm on a permanent site with a 420 lb tank so it'd be cheaper for me.
 
I converted a grill and a propane campfire to run off the RV propane. Very convenient but would require reinstalling the regulator to back to portable.
 
I'm echoing the other comments.
I have a Weber Q portable gas grill designed to run off 1 pound bottles. The grill comes with a "regulator" that regulates the pressure in the tank down to a level suitable for a gas appliance.
You must remove the regulator, but save the gas valve that controls the size of the flame. Replace the regulator with a male "Quick Connect" and a 12' female/male quick connect hose.

The trick with removing the regulator and replacing it with the male quick connect is no big deal. You may need some brass fitting (nipple/coupler, etc.) to make the connection, and the quick connect may need to be male thread or female thread...every setup is unique. But the job is very easy. Two photos attached showing the regulator about to be removed and the new male quick connect fitting.

The important thing to know is that your rig already has a regulator, and that the lines to your rig's appliances are "low pressure" after the regulator...including at the aux connector for outdoor appliances. Stacking two regulators in a row reduces the pressure to be unusable.
Weber Grill Propane 1.jpg
Weber Grill Propane 4.jpg
 
thanks. we have a hand-me-down weber Q from my dad but it's too big for what room is left in the surveyor's storage compartment after the "essentials" are loaded.
i will take a look at my OneGas burner to see if the regulator is easily removed.
thanks!

Ken
 
Just keep in mind... some gas "STOVES" use a pressure higher than the low pressure side of a R/V regulator.
They have a regulator pressure all to their own.
While they will light and burn with the modification discussed, they will not get hot.
Coleman LP stoves are famous for this and I've run across others too.
Grills, griddles and most fire pits convert just fine.
 
thanks for the warning. i'll see if OneGas has a responsive customer support web page.

i should have looked at the burner first. the regulator isn't made to be removed.

i'll go with a 20# to 1# adapter hose, since i normally carry a spare 20# on longer-duration trips.
 
Last edited:
in case OneGas asks, what is the nominal pressure downstream of the regulator mounted at the 20# tank?
 
From a web search, on RVshare.com:

1. Your RV has a two-stage propane regulator to maintain proper pressure.​

The RV propane regulator is a component that fits between your propane tanks and the rest of the system. It takes the fuel coming out of the tank at high pressure (or PSI) and brings it down to a manageable flow. The first stage lowers the pressure to around 10 to 15 psi from a much higher number, sometimes 250 or more. The second stage takes it down to around 11 water column inches, which is the right flow for your RV’s appliances.
 
thanks for the info. i have always wondered about the "2-stage" regulator, as well as the final pressure entering the appliances.
 
thanks for the warning. i'll see if OneGas has a responsive customer support web page.

i should have looked at the burner first. the regulator isn't made to be removed.

i'll go with a 20# to 1# adapter hose, since i normally carry a spare 20# on longer-duration trips.
I suggest you look again. You may be right, but propane regulators fail, and they need to be replaced. The most common setup is that the regulator has female thread on the appliance side and either a "close" nipple or a fitting on the appliance with male thread. There are exceptions to everything, of course.

When I did my mod, the first thing I needed to do was remove some "bodywork" on the grill to enable me to get at the regulator to remove it. If you aren't able to rotate the regulator to remove it, it's possible that some minor disassembly of the appliance will allow removal and replacement...or the mod...unless it one of those exceptions. :facepalm:

ONE OTHER VERY IMPORTANT POINT.
Some folks will run a propane fire pit off their AUX port.
This is possible, but it's a bad idea. A propane fire pit burns at about 58,000 BTU/HR. This pretty much maxes out the flow rate through your regulator...AND the propane delivery rate of a conventional 20# or 30# tank. When I run my fire pit, ICE forms on the outside of the tank in summer in the very low humidity of the Colorado Rockies. The tank often freezes itself to the ground. The evaporation rate in the tank can barely keep up with demand. If you shop fire pits, you'll see that many, if not most, are rated at that magic 58,000 BTU...and that's why.

What's the big deal? If you want to run other propane appliances in the rig while running the fire pit off the AUX port, everything might starve for propane. Trying to make dinner while running the fire pit...your freezer fries might end up limp and nasty. In my case, we have an absorption fridge, and when boondocking it runs on propane. It doesn't use much fuel, but it gets unhappy if the propane pressure in the lines drops much...and it sounds an alarm. In spring and fall, we can see snow in CO, which means that we can be outside at the fire pit while the three pampered chihuahuas are inside with the furnace running. Our furnace is rated at 20,000 BTU. There ain't no way that the propane system can deliver 78,000 BTU. The furnace won't be happy, and the fire pit flame will be very low. Separate tank and regulator for the fire pit is essential.

So, technically you "can" run a fire pit off the AUX port, but I strongly recommend against it. Plus, one of the beauties of a portable propane fire pit is that it's, well, portable. I generally setup mine well beyond the reach of a 12' hose. Sometimes, but rarely, I'll have it under my awning, but usually it's under a pop-up canopy that might be 50 to 100 feet from the rig (we boondock, so we have lots more room than at an RV park). (And, yes, you CAN safely run a propane fire pit under an EZ-up or awning.)

That's kind of far afield from discussions about regulators, but then again, not. :ROFLMAO:
 
thanks for the warning. i'll see if OneGas has a responsive customer support web page.

i should have looked at the burner first. the regulator isn't made to be removed.

i'll go with a 20# to 1# adapter hose, since i normally carry a spare 20# on longer-duration trips.
That's a good solution. That way you can still use a 1 pounder if you want. This is what I do with my Buddy propane heater I use in my gazebo. I always have extra tanks for the BBQ anyway.
 
i did a little more searching and found this: Koblenz PSK-200S 2-burner stove. (they also make a 4-burner version). i contacted their customer service and they confirmed there is no regulator built in. they attached the owner's manual to the reply, which clearly shows the regulator, that is downstream of the 20# tank, as not supplied. amazon has it so if it's not as advertised i can send it back. if it is as advertised, i'll be very happy!
 
success ! i purchased the stove mentioned above, through Amazon. it is a basic stove, no regulator, manual ignition. just what i wanted!

it came with a brass adapter for 3/8" pipe to 3/8" male flare. i purchased a propane hose with a propane quick-connect male fitting on one end, and a 3/8" female flare fitting on the other end. i attached the hose to the stove, plugged into my trailer's propane system, and all is good.
 

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