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

[Nicholas123]

Have to agree that post #12 offers exactly what is needed. Even if the OP is determined to use his antique regulator the hose and fittings would connect to it.

How do you know exactly what is needed when you hav'nt seen my regulator or if it is possible to connect to any of those fittings? (I have looked myself & as far as I can see the information simply is'nt available).

Also how do you know my regulator is "antique?" (all I know for sure is that it is over five years old).I have no intention of spending out the sort of money that website charges on the off chance that something might fit.

 

[Nicholas123]

Socal have 30mb dual fuel regulators suitable for both butane and propane, hoses and connectors for both types of gas cylinder (and many others)

BES have 30mb dual fuel regulators of the type ( Annex D ) used in " Leisure vehicles" at somewhat lower prices than Socal's prices for Marine regulators. They also have suitable hoses, with a W20 nut at each end, although they may not have the full range of cylinder connectors.

To start with Vic my Propane heater requires 37 mbar according to the manual & I am not going to go down the individual regulator route because my gas locker does not have the space to house one safely.Nor would I consider spending £39 on that component alone,the whole system (I would need three other components as far as I can see) would be astronomical & the complexity would add to the danger of leaks,it simply is'nt viable.

 

[Nicholas123]

I even found adaptors and the special washers for his continental regulator that will enable him to fit it directly to butane or propane bottles

From what I can recall Vic you did give info about one adapter that even if viable (& I'm far from sure it would fit my regulator) was twice the cost of a whole new regulator & then I would need another entirely different one for the other gas.It simply did'nt seem viable.

 

[PaulRainbow]

How do you know exactly what is needed when you hav'nt seen my regulator or if it is possible to connect to any of those fittings? (I have looked myself & as far as I can see the information simply is'nt available).

You seem incapable of understanding what was posted. You simply connect the regulator in post #12 to the pipe that currently connects to your existing regulator. All of the other fittings connect to the hosetail from the new regulator.

You asked for a solution to your problem and you have been offered several. Rather than accept one, you choose to continue ranting that there is more than one type of connector.

 

[VicS]

From what I can recall Vic you did give info about one adapter that even if viable (& I'm far from sure it would fit my regulator) was twice the cost of a whole new regulator & then I would need another entirely different one for the other gas.It simply did'nt seem viable.

At the time you appeared to be heading towards the use of propane. I am reasonably confident that the adapter, together with the special washers I also located for you, would enable your regulator to be used with propane cylinders
I cannot take that any further. You are the only one who can check it out to confirm my belief, or otherwise, but you do not seem to want to bother to do this!

We already know from what you said early in the thread that your regulator will fit a Calor butane cylinder although needing some additional packing which you felt was unsatisfactory. Very possibly the "special washers" mentioned above will enable your regulator to be satisfactorily connected directly to a Calor butane cylinder without any additional adapter or unsatisfactory packing. Again only you can check this out,


However I do agree that spending a significant sum on an adapter for a regulator of unknown origin or age is not the best of ideas therefore starting from scratch with a new 30mb regulator, a high pressure pigtail hose and connector(s) for the cylinder(s) you wish to use is the logical way forward. I have pointed to a "suitable" motor-caravan type of regulator from BES but if you think you can find the same more cheaply on ebay then that is up to you. I am certainly not going to trawl through all the junk in the murky depths of ebay for you.


You do seem to want to find a single l regulator that can be use on either propane or butane without adapters but the reality is that the two have total different fittings.
They are different ... not the same .. therefore it is not possible for one regulator to directly fit either!

BTW I suspect your regulator may be a GOK regulator ... the markings you quoted in #1 at least seem to be the same as those on a GOK. The date of manufacture should also be marked on it

 

[VicS]

You seem incapable of understanding what was posted. You simply connect the regulator in post #12 to the pipe that currently connects to your existing regulator. All of the other fittings connect to the hosetail from the new regulator.

You asked for a solution to your problem and you have been offered several. Rather than accept one, you choose to continue ranting that there is more than one type of connector.

In fact I think his existing regulator is bottle mounted, If he does as suggested he will be able to connect his copper pipe directly to the LP outlet and use an HP pigtail hose to connect to the cylinders.

It is all illustrated in the link in #12 but for some reason he found it too complicated or complex.

 

[VicS]

To start with Vic my Propane heater requires 37 mbar according to the manual & I am not going to go down the individual regulator route because my gas locker does not have the space to house one safely.Nor would I consider spending £39 on that component alone,the whole system (I would need three other components as far as I can see) would be astronomical & the complexity would add to the danger of leaks,it simply is'nt viable.

Sorry I missed this post .

I don't recall any previous mention of a propane heater requiring 37mb but perhaps I missed that too. It's difficult to separate the facts from your rants at times.

If this is the case you have no alternative but to convert entirely to propane.

Your existing butane/ propane regulator will not be suitable as it almost certainly only delivers 30mb. but it should have the delivery pressure marked on it.

This simplifies things no end. All you now need is a simple 37mb propane regulator .......... £2.50 from BES ........ (although maybe you can find some junk on ebay for less) and a low pressure hose to connect to your system

If you wanted you could ( at extra cost) add a pressure gauge . Personally Id rather put the money towards a bubble leak detector.

 

[VicS]

To start with Vic my Propane heater requires 37 mbar according to the manual .......................................................................

Sorry I missed this post .

I don't recall any previous mention of a propane heater requiring 37mb but perhaps I missed that too.

OK so I have re read the earlier posts and have discovered that you did in fact refer to a Cozy Cabin Heater although you did not suggest that it needed propane at 37 mb .

So I have now down loaded the manual and I find that it says , of the regulator that, " It must be set at 11” water column. (In Europe this is sometimes expressed as .0274bar and is close to .5psi). "

27 mb it seems not 37 mb !

If this is so what I have suggested in # 247 is not appropriate although the heater may of course have been jetted for 37mb if bought in europe

We have not however considered the requirements of your cooker . That may not be suitable for operation at 37 mb.

 

[Nicholas123]

I'm fed up answering posts by people who simply hav'nt read this thread properly & keep making assumptions all the while accusing me of ranting while ranting themselves.So please go back & read this thread properly or don't comment at all.

My Cozy Cabin Heater manual makes no mention of setting the regulator to anything.Just the info I have already given which is suitable for this Country & goodness only knows what the cooker prefers.It is all in German & pressures are mentioned ranging from 7.5 mbar to 57.5 mbar depending on the gas used."Flussiggas" would appear to be 50 mbar,go figure!

I feel more rants coming on.

PS: By the way.I have looked again at that adapter you came across Vic & it definitely is not really suitable for my regulator.It poses the same problems I face in connecting it to a Calor Butane bottle,namely the need to pad out that great void in the centre leaving very little baring surface around the outside otherwise I would be delighted to buy it as it would solve all my problems & my regulator is made by the CAVAGNA group not GOK as you have surmised.

 

[VicS]

I'm fed up answering posts by people who simply hav'nt read this thread properly & keep making assumptions all the while accusing me of ranting while ranting themselves.So please go back & read this thread properly or don't comment at all.

My Cozy Cabin Heater manual makes no mention of setting the regulator to anything.Just the info I have already given which is suitable for this Country & goodness only knows what the cooker prefers.It is all in German & pressures are mentioned ranging from 7.5 mbar to 57.5 mbar depending on the gas used."Flussiggas" would appear to be 50 mbar,go figure!

I feel more rants coming on.

I have I think read all of this thread... I have been following it from the beginning . I may have missed, or forgotten, the odd point or two, but I have already read a good deal of it several times over.

I have spent a not insignificant amount of time attempting to find answers for you. More time than there is any evidence that you have spent trying to find answers yourself. Even when I have found possible solutions you have dismissed them without putting any effort yourself into following up possible "leads".

You have rejected all sensible suggestions from other contributors and insulted several of the more highly respected forum members into the bargain.

You now contradict yourself regarding the pressure required by your cabin heater. In #242 you say , " To start with Vic my Propane heater requires 37 mbar according to the manual". Now you say, " My Cozy Cabin Heater manual makes no mention of setting the regulator to anything" ........... ?????????????????

If your heater requires propane at 37 mb I thought a way forward would be to convert entirely to propane using a standard and very inexpensive (surely £2.50 is peanuts even by your standards?) propane regulator.

However on reflection propane at 37 mb may not be suitable for your cooker. The gas and the pressure that the cooker is set up to use should be marked on it. If you find that the cooker is set for butane at 29mb while the heater requires propane at 37 mb, ie different gases at different pressures, you have an almost impossible situation, from which the only escape route will be to replace either the cooker or the heater so that both use the same gas at the same pressure.

To return to the original question, namely, "Converting a Continental LPG regulator to Calor, can it be done?" The answer appears to be NO!

 

[Nicholas123]

I have I think read all of this thread... I have been following it from the beginning . I may have missed, or forgotten, the odd point or two, but I have already read a good deal of it several times over.

I have spent a not insignificant amount of time attempting to find answers for you. More time than there is any evidence that you have spent trying to find answers yourself. Even when I have found possible solutions you have dismissed them without putting any effort yourself into following up possible "leads".

You have rejected all sensible suggestions from other contributors and insulted several of the more highly respected forum members into the bargain.

You now contradict yourself regarding the pressure required by your cabin heater. In #242 you say , " To start with Vic my Propane heater requires 37 mbar according to the manual". Now you say, " My Cozy Cabin Heater manual makes no mention of setting the regulator to anything" ........... ?????????????????

If your heater requires propane at 37 mb I thought a way forward would be to convert entirely to propane using a standard and very inexpensive (surely £2.50 is peanuts even by your standards?) propane regulator.

However on reflection propane at 37 mb may not be suitable for your cooker. The gas and the pressure that the cooker is set up to use should be marked on it. If you find that the cooker is set for butane at 29mb while the heater requires propane at 37 mb, ie different gases at different pressures, you have an almost impossible situation, from which the only escape route will be to replace either the cooker or the heater so that both use the same gas at the same pressure.

To return to the original question, namely, "Converting a Continental LPG regulator to Calor, can it be done?" The answer appears to be NO!

I don't think I have contradicted myself at all Vic.You said the Manuel you downloaded says "So I have now down loaded the manual and I find that it says , of the regulator that, " It must be set at 11” water column. (In Europe this is sometimes expressed as .0274bar and is close to .5psi). "
Mine says no such thing.It gives the figures that I quoted previously & the Calor Propane regulator that my neighbour gave me & that I mentioned previously is set at 37 mbar so where is the discrepancy?

This is an interesting subject & I cannot agree with your conclusions.Both my cabin heater & my Sepplefricke cooker have run perfectly alright on both Butane & Propane delivered by my regulator which I think you correctly guessed delivered the gases at 30 mbar though I will need to confirm this next time I am down my boat.I therefore have no intention of changing either of them even though their manuals (& the labels stuck on the appliances) give an extraordinary incompatible range of mbar settings.Clearly things are not as fussy as they are made out to be.(if the flames of either were lifting off or they were yellow flames showing irregular combustion that might be a different matter).

I have listened to everyone's advice but it is supposed to be just that advice not something that justifies insults if not taken.I am sorry if anyone feels insulted.

 

[VicS]

I don't think I have contradicted myself at all Vic.

You certainly did contradict yourself. First you say your manual says propane at 37 mb then you say it doesn't.

You said the Manuel you downloaded says "So I have now down loaded the manual and I find that it says , of the regulator that, " It must be set at 11” water column. (In Europe this is sometimes expressed as .0274bar and is close to .5psi). ".

I think that manual is for the US version of the heater. In the US I beleive propane is used at 27mb whereas it is not in the UK and Europe. A bit of a red herring there.

Mine says no such thing.It gives the figures that I quoted previously.

Now you are say your manual does give figures again >>>> make up your mind!

& the Calor Propane regulator that my neighbour gave me & that I mentioned previously is set at 37 mbar so where is the discrepancy?.

37 mb is the normal pressure for propane in the UK so it is what I would expect for one your neighbour has given you

This is an interesting subject & I cannot agree with your conclusions.Both my cabin heater & my Sepplefricke cooker have run perfectly alright on both Butane & Propane delivered by my regulator which I think you correctly guessed delivered the gases at 30 mbar though I will need to confirm this next time I am down my boat.I therefore have no intention of changing either of them even though their manuals (& the labels stuck on the appliances) give an extraordinary incompatible range of mbar settings.Clearly things are not as fussy as they are made out to be.(if the flames of either were lifting off or they were yellow flames showing irregular combustion that might be a different matter)..

If both your heater and cooker run satisfactorily on butane at 30mb that's fine. If your heater is jetted for 37mb then you may not get as much heat output as you would if you ran it at 37mb. Attempting to run your cooker, if it is jetted for butane at 29/30mb, on propane at 37 mb will be a different kettle of fish and may rule out conversion to propane and the use of the regulator your neighbour has given you..

• You have a regulator that cannot be satisfactorily be connected to a UK cylinder, although I am not convinced that you have fully checked out the "special washers" that Gas Low sell apparently for this purpose.
  
• You refuse to spend what in the overall scheme of boat ownership is peanuts on a suitable new 30mb regulator.
  
• You may find your cooker is unsuitable for use on propane at 37mb. If so that rules out conversion to propane.
  
• You are not prepared to slightly inconvenience yourself by taking your regulator to Southampton Calor Centre to see if they can help.
  
  
• I think we have therefore reached the end of the road on this although for a modest sum there is a solution.
  
  
• Finally let me remind you that earlier in the thread you offered to stay away from "quivering jellies" like myself. Please make sure you do. I may longer care about your safety but I do care about mine.

 

[Keith-i]

I think credit is due to VicS amongst others for being so patient and helpful amidst all the vitriol. I hope they are not dissuaded from giving help in the future to other forumites; and equally I hope future requests for help don't result in such stubborn and resistant responses from the OP's

 

[Humblebee]

I think credit is due to VicS amongst others for being so patient and helpful amidst all the vitriol. I hope they are not dissuaded from giving help in the future to other forumites; and equally I hope future requests for help don't result in such stubborn and resistant responses from the OP's

Well put Keith, I quite agree. I have followed the thread for entertainment rather than edification and can only express admiration for VicS and others for their patience and care.

 

[Nicholas123]

To start with Vic my Propane heater requires 37 mbar according to the manual & I am not going to go down the individual regulator route because my gas locker does not have the space to house one safely.Nor would I consider spending £39 on that component alone,the whole system (I would need three other components as far as I can see) would be astronomical & the complexity would add to the danger of leaks,it simply is'nt viable.

You certainly did contradict yourself. First you say your manual says propane at 37 mb then you say it doesn't.

I think that manual is for the US version of the heater. In the US I beleive propane is used at 27mb whereas it is not in the UK and Europe. A bit of a red herring there.

Now you are say your manual does give figures again >>>> make up your mind!

37 mb is the normal pressure for propane in the UK so it is what I would expect for one your neighbour has given you

If both your heater and cooker run satisfactorily on butane at 30mb that's fine. If your heater is jetted for 37mb then you may not get as much heat output as you would if you ran it at 37mb. Attempting to run your cooker, if it is jetted for butane at 29/30mb, on propane at 37 mb will be a different kettle of fish and may rule out conversion to propane and the use of the regulator your neighbour has given you..

• You have a regulator that cannot be satisfactorily be connected to a UK cylinder, although I am not convinced that you have fully checked out the "special washers" that Gas Low sell apparently for this purpose.
  
• You refuse to spend what in the overall scheme of boat ownership is peanuts on a suitable new 30mb regulator.
  
• You may find your cooker is unsuitable for use on propane at 37mb. If so that rules out conversion to propane.
  
• You are not prepared to slightly inconvenience yourself by taking your regulator to Southampton Calor Centre to see if they can help.
  
  
• I think we have therefore reached the end of the road on this although for a modest sum there is a solution.
  
  
• Finally let me remind you that earlier in the thread you offered to stay away from "quivering jellies" like myself. Please make sure you do. I may longer care about your safety but I do care about mine.

Where have I said it dos'nt? You seem to be living in a fantasy land inventing stuff just like vv cox & "a bit of a red herring" is an interesting way to describe something that is completely irrelevant & on which you base 'your knowledge.'

Now to get back to something of real substance: I have been down my boat now & interestingly my regulator is a 50 mbar one so my cooker & cabin heater have now run perfectly alright on both Butane & Propane delivered at that rate.Clearly the way they are jetted is the important thing & a lot of the other statements you have made are quite frankly baloney.

I don't think you need worry about me compromising your safety you quite clearly live on another planet anyway

 

[Nicholas123]

I think credit is due to VicS amongst others for being so patient and helpful amidst all the vitriol. I hope they are not dissuaded from giving help in the future to other forumites; and equally I hope future requests for help don't result in such stubborn and resistant responses from the OP's

Well put Keith, I quite agree. I have followed the thread for entertainment rather than edification and can only express admiration for VicS and others for their patience and care.

If you two & the others here that have criticized me want to gives your lives over to 'experts' & stop thinking for yourselves that is perfectly alright by me but I will not do it & want to check the facts for myself.
If this thread proves anything it is that the 'experts' ar'nt always right & sometimes it is necessary to check all the facts.

 

[vyv_cox]

You seem to be living in a fantasy land inventing stuff just like vv cox

I have been called all sorts of things but that's a first for 'inventor'.

 

[PaulRainbow]

interestingly my regulator is a 50 mbar

Make your mind up.

 

[davidej]

Surely this thread can't still be running!

 

[VicS]

Now to get back to something of real substance: I have been down my boat now & interestingly my regulator is a 50 mbar one so my cooker & cabin heater have now run perfectly alright on both Butane & Propane delivered at that rate.Clearly the way they are jetted is the important thing

50mb was the standard used on older German and American caravans .. but as an experienced gas fitter you must have realised that.

If you intend using propane you can, for only £5.72 replace it with one of these
https://www.marine-chandlery.com/partnumber.asp?cid=40887&pnid=459277
which will connect your system directly to a Calor propane cylinder.

This is cheaper than any adapter which might enable you to use your existing regulator and surely must satisfy your requirements.

The only snag might be that if in the fullness of time it becomes necessary to replace either your cooker or your cabin heater finding another 50mb appliance will be difficult if not impossible, but that is a bridge to cross if and when the time comes.

What a pity you did not tell us this important information at the outset.