Gas plumbing for my slide-out galley/gimballed hob

[VicS]

Daft question:

Gas hose, armoured or not, has a life of about 5 years. Flexible brake pipes on cars are replaced when needed, often after 10+ years of life in a hostile environment, being blasted by dirty water and gravel regularly. What's the difference? Is it just that brakes are relatively fail safe, while the consequences of a gas leak are very likely to be fairly unpleasant?

I think the experience of many is that it actually has a life well in excess of 5 years but the recommendation is that it is changed after 5 years from the date of manufacture which is the date printed on British Standard hose

From what I understand it the loss of the plasticizer in the tube due to the LPG flow that reduced the flexibility of the tube and thus the propensity to stiffen and crack due to the loss of the plasticizer.

Very probably due to loss of plasticiser but I had a length of unused hose which had been on the garage shelf for a number ( too many) years fail by splitting lengthwise when I tried to push it onto a Fulham nozzle. Cannot blame that on the lpg. There were no signs of it cracking or splitting when flexed though.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Very probably due to loss of plasticiser but I had a length of unused hose which had been on the garage shelf for a number ( too many) years fail by splitting lengthwise when I tried to push it onto a Fulham nozzle. Cannot blame that on the lpg. There were no signs of it cracking or splitting when flexed though.

I don't doubt that as the plasticizer can be lost due to temperature and time. I would suggest that LPG in the gaseous phase would accelerate the loss of plasticizer.

 

[vyv_cox]

Daft question:

Gas hose, armoured or not, has a life of about 5 years. Flexible brake pipes on cars are replaced when needed, often after 10+ years of life in a hostile environment, being blasted by dirty water and gravel regularly. What's the difference? Is it just that brakes are relatively fail safe, while the consequences of a gas leak are very likely to be fairly unpleasant?

In my motorhome I use metal flexible hose with no rubber at all. It has a recommended life of 20 years. https://www.gaslowdirect.com/epages...67/Products/01-6020-SS/SubProducts/01-6020-SS

 

[VicS]

In my motorhome I use metal flexible hose with no rubber at all. It has a recommended life of 20 years. https://www.gaslowdirect.com/epages...67/Products/01-6020-SS/SubProducts/01-6020-SS

I believe it is corrugated stainless steel with a braided cover. Is that suitable for use where it will be constantly flexed such as the connection to a gimballed cooker ?

 

[vyv_cox]

I believe it is corrugated stainless steel with a braided cover. Is that suitable for use where it will be constantly flexed such as the connection to a gimballed cooker ?

I would share your concerns, although I know of applications where there is more movement than between our gas bottles and regulator. I think they only make this type for the HP side, where movement is far more limited than for the LP, but of course we don't have gimballed stoves in motorhomes

 

[VicS]

I would share your concerns, although I know of applications where there is more movement than between our gas bottles and regulator. I think they only make this type for the HP side, where movement is far more limited than for the LP, but of course we don't have gimballed stoves in motorhomes

I assumed they'd be gimballed and counterbalanced. Otherwise you have to slow down to go round corners don't you ?

 

[colind3782]

I assumed they'd be gimballed and counterbalanced. Otherwise you have to slow down to go round corners don't you ?

That's what cruise control is for.

 

[vyv_cox]

That's what cruise control is for.

Yes, that's a great feature. Slip it into cruise control and sit down for a meal at the table.