Converting a Continental LPG regulator to Calor,can it be done?

N

Nicholas123

N/A
Joined
1 Aug 2011
Messages
2,010
Location
Maybe in a boat next to you?
Visit site
I have a pretty good combined Propane & Butane regulator with a gauge on it that came with the boat & it is marked "FAHRZEUGREGLER NICHE IN GESCHLOSSENEN RAUMEN VERWENDEN" on the back whatever that means.

The trouble is that it has a flat face with a 7mm spigot on it rather than the type that can be connected to a Calor bottle either propane or Butane.I did have it connected to a Butane bottle using a bit of rubber pipe to pad it out but it was'nt very satisfactory & now I intend to convert entirely to Propane it is simply impossible.
Is it possible to buy some sort of junction conversion piece anybody know?
 
Might be wrong but I thought Calor was Butane. Dont mess about trying to adapt or bodge adaptors / regulators with gas. Bad practise. Just buy the correct fittinngs. Not as if they are expensive.
 
Translation - Vehicle regulator not for use in closed rooms.

Calor supply both Butane and Propane and I believe some mixes as "patio gas".

Unless you can find a proprietary adapter, don't mess with a regulator - one mistake and you fill the boat with gas from the high pressure of the bottle! I'm not so convinced that new model regulators are so cheap, but it's not an area for amateurs and bodging!

Rob.
 
Remove the continental pigtail and replace it with a "standard" one. The pigtail unscrews from the regulator body (standard 1/8 bsp thread).
 
Using Gas PTFE tape or Loctite 557. There are whole threads on the difference between water and gas tape if you Google it.
 
Sandyman said:
Might be wrong but I thought Calor was Butane. Dont mess about trying to adapt or bodge adaptors / regulators with gas. Bad practise. Just buy the correct fittinngs. Not as if they are expensive.
Click to expand...

rob2 said:
Translation - Vehicle regulator not for use in closed rooms.

Calor supply both Butane and Propane and I believe some mixes as "patio gas".

Unless you can find a proprietary adapter, don't mess with a regulator - one mistake and you fill the boat with gas from the high pressure of the bottle! I'm not so convinced that new model regulators are so cheap, but it's not an area for amateurs and bodging!

Rob.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the translation.I have been both a qualified Gas Engineer (domestic) & a Precision Engineer in my time & like to think I know what I'm doing.
My boat has a dedicated gas locker & I don't intend to throw away a perfectly good regulator at the first hurdle.
It really rankles with me that despite all the metric conformity/Engineering standards/the Common Market EU call it what you like the German & British Engineers cannot get their act together & product a universally useful product.Maybe the Chinese can show us the way? :disgust:
 
Mercury Rising said:
Using Gas PTFE tape or Loctite 557. There are whole threads on the difference between water and gas tape if you Google it.
Click to expand...

This is far more fundamental than just sealing a gas joint that should'nt have PTFE tape or Loctite used on it anyway.It is about the actual connection standards that are clearly completely different between British & Continental manufacturers,Even though the thing is blessed with the "made in the EEC" inscription & outward appearances of conformity. :rolleyes:
 
KellysEye said:
Bear in mind Propane operates at a higher pressure than butane, I would use different regulators just to be safe. The different regulators are here https://www.calor.co.uk/shop/calor-essentials.html?cat=31t
Click to expand...

This regulator I have here is marked for both Propan & butan (no e on the end of this one).I know they operate at different pressures which is another strange conundrum.
They are much cheaper on Ebay incidentally :encouragement:
 
Nearly all of the marine regulators that I researched recently for my refit were combination for butane and propane. I believe new ovens/cookers can run on both without any adaptation whereas older ones need jets modifying for the different pressures. The problem arises when you try to use propane at the lower 30mb on these combi regulators whereas the ovens expect propane at a higher pressure. There are numerous adaptors available for the different bottle threads etc. See here http://www.whayward.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=519
 
Keith-i said:
Nearly all of the marine regulators that I researched recently for my refit were combination for butane and propane. I believe new ovens/cookers can run on both without any adaptation whereas older ones need jets modifying for the different pressures. The problem arises when you try to use propane at the lower 30mb on these combi regulators whereas the ovens expect propane at a higher pressure. There are numerous adaptors available for the different bottle threads etc. See here http://www.whayward.com/Details.cfm?ProdID=519
Click to expand...

My old Sepplefricke gas hob seems ok with both Butane & Propane & that was originally manufactured in East Germany!
My Force Ten Cozy Cabin Heater also seems ok with both though It states that it is a Propane heater & then goes on to add labels & various performance figures that make it all very complicated.I shall look into that one!

That link of yours just seems to add more complexity & I can't actually see an adaptor that looks like it could connect this regulator to a Calor bottle without adding some more gubbins :ambivalence:

PS: I'm now finding that the natty little gas taps that I had intended using also use some sort of different olives :disgust:
 
Last edited:
Nicholas123 said:
I have a pretty good combined Propane & Butane regulator with a gauge on it that came with the boat & it is marked "FAHRZEUGREGLER NICHE IN GESCHLOSSENEN RAUMEN VERWENDEN" on the back whatever that means.

The trouble is that it has a flat face with a 7mm spigot on it rather than the type that can be connected to a Calor bottle either propane or Butane.I did have it connected to a Butane bottle using a bit of rubber pipe to pad it out but it was'nt very satisfactory & now I intend to convert entirely to Propane it is simply impossible.
Is it possible to buy some sort of junction conversion piece anybody know?
Click to expand...

Is it really that much hassle just to fit a new regulator. During the last insurance survey the surveyor advised me to change the regulator as it was of unknown age. I walked over to the chandler across the road, bought one, and fitted it in 20 mins. I think the new one was well under £10 (Camping Gaz).
 
Is it a 30mb bulkhead regulator. If it is you can buy pigtails for both butane and propane cylinders, and the new fancy bayonet type too from caravan shops The regulator end is a w20 union
 
lpdsn said:
Is it really that much hassle just to fit a new regulator. During the last insurance survey the surveyor advised me to change the regulator as it was of unknown age. I walked over to the chandler across the road, bought one, and fitted it in 20 mins. I think the new one was well under £10 (Camping Gaz).
Click to expand...

The answer to your question is yes,I do not like waste.I do not like having to buy two regulators to do the same job.I do not like having to store the old regulator among my large stock of 'stuff that might come in useful' & I do not like having to cut off the purpose made pipe to fit a jubilee clip & repeating that move every now & then when I change from Butane to Propane & visa versa.
Nor will I like having to buy a new piece of pipe every now & then to accommodate the jubilee method which is not as satisfactory.

Above all I do not like stupidity.
 
maxi77 said:
Is it a 30mb bulkhead regulator. If it is you can buy pigtails for both butane and propane cylinders, and the new fancy bayonet type too from caravan shops The regulator end is a w20 union
Click to expand...

The regulator is not 'bulkhead'.It connects directly to the gas bottle & says Propan/Butan.Reading 0 to 16 bar.It connects to a "pig tail" if that is the phrase that has Propane stamped on it.

The problem is that there seems to be no universal conformity standards between gas bottles from the continent & here.Nor gas fittings if the problem I am having with different types of olives is anything to go by though the type of gas tap I am having trouble with seems to have it's origins in the UK so there are olives & there are olives & presumably the chance of explosions because everyone seems to have their own idea about what makes the perfect type of gas fitting & what they can make money from.
 
Nicholas123 said:
The answer to your question is yes,I do not like waste.I do not like having to buy two regulators to do the same job.I do not like having to store the old regulator among my large stock of 'stuff that might come in useful' & I do not like having to cut off the purpose made pipe to fit a jubilee clip & repeating that move every now & then when I change from Butane to Propane & visa versa.
Nor will I like having to buy a new piece of pipe every now & then to accommodate the jubilee method which is not as satisfactory.

Above all I do not like stupidity.
Click to expand...

Gas bottles vary over Europe, that is reality. Your best option as you need a new fitting would be to fit a bulkhead regulator then have appropriate pigtails for the gas bottles you use.
 
maxi77 said:
Gas bottles vary over Europe, that is reality. Your best option as you need a new fitting would be to fit a bulkhead regulator then have appropriate pigtails for the gas bottles you use.
Click to expand...

+1

Also remember that the recommended maximum life for the regulators is only 10 years so it should to be changed sooner or later anyway.
 
maxi77 said:
Gas bottles vary over Europe, that is reality. Your best option as you need a new fitting would be to fit a bulkhead regulator then have appropriate pigtails for the gas bottles you use.
Click to expand...

I completely agree; it's what I've done and never regretted it for a moment. As for waste, I hate it too, but regulators do not last forever: the safe working life of regulators is only 6 years (was 10 I believe). The relevant standard (so the OP might care to look for this writing on the regulator) is EN 12864 Annexe M or, from 2013 onwards, EN 16129 Annexe M.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top