LPG Bubble Tester essential?

[Porthandbuoy]

nonsense.

Exactly. The gas between the bottle and cooker is pressurised, and stays pressurised for days and weeks after the both are isolated. So that brief hiss of gas is a good indication my system is leak tight.

 

[waynes world]

When boating on inland waterways as in CRT waters bubble testers are part of the BSS, so cant be bad thing, they are for safety or they would not be part of the BSS.

Easy enough to fit if you have a big enough lpg locker, so its a choice of the boat owner, no big deal.

 

[Plum]

When boating on inland waterways as in CRT waters bubble testers are part of the BSS, so cant be bad thing, they are for safety or they would not be part of the BSS.

Easy enough to fit if you have a big enough lpg locker, so its a choice of the boat owner, no big deal.

You are right that bubble testers are in the BSS for inland waterways but they are not required, just one of a choice of requirements. "It says:- All LPG systems must be fitted with one of the following means to determine gas‐tightness:
 a readily accessible proprietary test point on an appliance; or,
 a readily accessible proprietary test point fitted in The pipework; or,
 a bubble tester installed in a cylinder locker or cylinder housing."

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Corribee Boy]

Exactly. The gas between the bottle and cooker is pressurised, and stays pressurised for days and weeks after the both are isolated. So that brief hiss of gas is a good indication my system is leak tight.

Well, that's in direct contradiction to Gaslow's instructions on my pressure gauge mentioned on my earlier post. It might even be an indication of some leak past your isolation system!

 

[pvb]

When boating on inland waterways as in CRT waters bubble testers are part of the BSS, so cant be bad thing, they are for safety or they would not be part of the BSS.

Easy enough to fit if you have a big enough lpg locker, so its a choice of the boat owner, no big deal.

Bubble testers are not required by the BSS.

 

[Caer Urfa]

Proves my point, another boat owner who's irrationally frightened of LPG. If it's that dangerous, why do you only check it once a month? Why not weekly? Or daily? Or every 5 minutes just in case a leak has suddenly appeared in solid copper pipework?

I just love experts!

 

[pvb]

I just love experts!

But you haven't said I'm wrong. If you're vaguely sensible, LPG is totally safe on a boat.

 

[KREW2]

Re: Bubble tester testing?

While bubble testers are in the spotlight is perhaps a good time to remind users that the function of the bubble tester itself should be tested from time to time. They can become blocked and fail to indicate a leak . Details of the function test are in the instructions

Indeed, I started a thread last March about bubble testers, http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?475617-Gas-leak-detector

Test it yourself every so often, easy enough to do. If it is not functioning properly it is a liability.

 

[VicS]

Re: Bubble tester testing?

Indeed, I started a thread last March about bubble testers, http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?475617-Gas-leak-detector

Test it yourself every so often, easy enough to do. If it is not functioning properly it is a liability.

Probably your thread that alerted me to the possibility of a bubble detector failing ...... as often the case, I saw it here first!

 

[PCUK]

Re: Bubble tester testing?

The regulator with built-in pressure gauge sounds good. Not come across them before as it's over 30 years since I did my last LPG installation. Who sells them please?

 

[VicS]

Re: Bubble tester testing?

The regulator with built-in pressure gauge sounds good. Not come across them before as it's over 30 years since I did my last LPG installation. Who sells them please?

Gaslow; both combined with a regulator or as adapters that can be added to existing systems. http://www.thegaslowcentre.co.uk/lpg-gas-level-indicator-gauges.html

Available from Socal, and other sources no doubt, https://www.socal.co.uk/toolbox/regulators-adaptors/gaslow-gauges.html

Other makes too, eg http://www.whayward.com/Results.cfm?category=23&secondary=45
http://www.intergasmarine.co.uk/regulators

They are high pressure gauges and IMHO very limited in their usefulness for leak detection compared with a bubble detector

 

[Corribee Boy]

Re: Bubble tester testing?

The regulator with built-in pressure gauge sounds good. Not come across them before as it's over 30 years since I did my last LPG installation. Who sells them please?

They're sold by a company called 'Gaslow'. Mine's on camping gaz but i'm sure they do others. Unfortunately they're not really marine grade, but I use them because it's very difficult to achieve a sealed gas locker on my little boat and so I need to be able to check the entire system from bottle to cooker.

The idea is to turn the system off at the bottle and check the gauge is showing that pressure is remaining in all of the system.

They're available in most caravan shops and online, and I replace them every few years.

 

[VicS]

Re: Bubble tester testing?

They're sold by a company called 'Gaslow'. Mine's on camping gaz but i'm sure they do others. Unfortunately they're not really marine grade, but I use them because it's very difficult to achieve a sealed gas locker on my little boat and so I need to be able to check the entire system from bottle to cooker.

The idea is to turn the system off at the bottle and check the gauge is showing that pressure is remaining in all of the system.

They're available in most caravan shops and online, and I replace them every few years.

But marine versions are available eg. http://www.thegaslowcentre.co.uk/gaslow-butane-regulator-and-gaslow-no-outlet.html
https://gasproducts.co.uk/gas-regul...s/gaslow-marine-gas-regulator-with-gauge.html

or you can add a gauge on an adapter to a system with an existing annex M regulator.

See the links in my earlier post

 

[Corribee Boy]

Re: Bubble tester testing?

Thanks for that link, Vic.

I use the tiny camping gaz bottles and the regulator and gauge are integrated - I couldn't see a marine version though so perhaps it's a gaz thing. I'll have to keep replacing as a precaution.

 

[bikedaft]

Re: Bubble tester testing?

Indeed, I started a thread last March about bubble testers, http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?475617-Gas-leak-detector

Test it yourself every so often, easy enough to do. If it is not functioning properly it is a liability.

i've lost the instructions for the bubble tester - so how do i test it? i do remember reading never to try it whilst the cooker has a burner lit. thanks

 

[VicS]

Re: Bubble tester testing?

i've lost the instructions for the bubble tester - so how do i test it? i do remember reading never to try it whilst the cooker has a burner lit. thanks

http://www.alde.co.uk/downloads/alde_4071_instruct.pdf

 

[bikedaft]

Re: Bubble tester testing?

http://www.alde.co.uk/downloads/alde_4071_instruct.pdf

thanks. alas i have nothing that uses a small amount of gas eg a fridge. will use old hose to make a small leak eg pinhole. cheers (then i will put the new hose on stop panicking!)

cheers

 

[Giblets]

Re: Bubble tester testing?

Surely if everything is turned off and the bubble tester is bubbling that would indicate a leak.

 

[VicS]

Re: Bubble tester testing?

Surely if everything is turned off and the bubble tester is bubbling that would indicate a leak.

Yes , but you press the top to observe the bubbles.

However the last few posts have been about testing that the device actually works correctly

Both procedures are described in the instructions liked to in #36 ..... q.v.

 

[Boathook]

I would fit one if it is easy to use and see. As others have said it is another 2 joints to leak. Best gas detector is the Mk1 nose unless you know that you have problems in 'smelling' through it.