Gas leak bubble tester positioning

Little Dorrit

Little Dorrit

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Having nearly completed a gas installation I am faced with a practical but annoying problem. I decided, while purchasing the various gas fitting items, to buy a bubble tester. Having run all pipes in a logical way and ensured they out of harms way I can’t find a position for the bubble tester which is easy to view. I’m now trying to decide whether to either not bother, or put it where I can which will be in a place where viewing will mean having to remove most of the contents of the cockpit locker! Should I forget the idea of a gas leak bubble tester. put it where I can, or route pipes to enable it to be position easy view?
 
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Better to have than not to have.
If it were in an ideal place, how often (truthfully now) would you monitor it? every visit, every bottle change, once a season, only when you "smell gas"?
I would think that any of those except every visit then the bottom of the locker isnt sooooo bad. Probably ought to clean it out that often anyway.
 
No expert me, but given that the device will in itself introduce an otherwise avoidable and possibly vulnerable break in the gas tubing, the last place I'd want it is in an inaccessible locker. Either have it in a drained cylinder locker or in the cabin where you can see it.

Otherwise do without?

Hopefully there'll be an expert along shortly...
 
DownWest said:
The OP does have the gas bottle in a seperate locker draining overboard?... Or?
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Yes, all according to current regulations. Drain hole in an isolated gas locker. problem is I can site it in numerous places but none are very accessible. The gas locker is under the lazarette and it would require some considerable life changing contortion to view it !
 
Got a similar problem. Mine is in gas locker but right at the back where its near-as-dammit impossible to see. Owned boat two years and never been able to see if there's a bubble, despite numerous attempts.
 
Dave95979 said:
I would have thought the bubble tester has to be as close to the gas bottle as possible as a leak would not show between the bottle and the tester
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Leaks tend to come from joints, not usually from piping. So having a slightly longer pipe shouldn't be a problem.

Personally, I wouldn't bother fitting a bubble tester, it just introduces 2 more joints which might leak. If the gas is turned off at the cylinder when not needed, there's no significant risk.
 
I use mine every time after I turn the gas bottle on, i.e. every time I go down to the yacht. I'm finding it difficult to envisage a location where you can turn the gas on and off easily as required but where you cannot site the bubble detector.
 
pvb said:
Why check it when changing a bottle?
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That's when I check ours. Although the gas is turned on for 5 - 6 months at a time, bottles are changed roughly 3 weekly. It's just habit checking it as, if there was a leak, with being on board we would either have smelled gas or blown up in the meantime.:)
 
GrahamM376 said:
That's when I check ours. Although the gas is turned on for 5 - 6 months at a time, bottles are changed roughly 3 weekly. It's just habit checking it as, if there was a leak, with being on board we would either have smelled gas or blown up in the meantime.:)
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Sounds like you don't actually need a bubble tester at all!
 
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