Gas Tanks for my Rig,

Mr B2 · Senior Member

Gas Tanks for my Rig,

bill12 · Guru

Are the gas bottles going to be 20lbs(9kg) or 75lb ones?I would recommend a gas fitter. In fact ,I think it would be illegal,and probably unsafe, not to have one.Do these go into the motor? How big is the genset? Sorry about all the questions, but I am an engineer. Thanks, Bill

SnowT · Guru

Ok here are my thought's..

"The Propane in the camper is for Cooking/heating etc"

If that is correct All I think is that a Gas Fitter is needed to make the connector's from the New gas system to the Old..

- But I would also get them to test the whole system to make sure that there is NO leaks or any problems..

As I have Said in previous topic's on this.. I want to know Why we can't use Large LPG tank's and fill up At Car cost's..

Personally, if we could get the Good stuff If I had to travel out of my way, I would do so..

https://supagas.com.au/about-us/location/

Juergen

oldbobsbus · Guru

Here ya go do yourselves a favour and buy a copy of this standard before doing and installation work...

http://infostore.saiglobal.com/store2/Details.aspx?ProductID=1675075

Mr B2 · Senior Member

bill12 wrote:
Are the gas bottles going to be 20lbs(9kg) or 75lb ones?I would recommend a gas fitter. In fact ,I think it would be illegal,and probably unsafe, not to have one.Do these go into the motor? How big is the genset? Sorry about all the questions, but I am an engineer. Thanks, Bill

5 X 9 Kgs bottles, I am only putting in the carrier, Gas fitter pipes it off, and certifies it,

It is illegal to fit your own up, And I have made the Tanks, DLI Welder, I am also an Engineer, Practising,

I want to go all 12 volt and gas, Solar, Same as my Boats set up, I really dont need the Genset,

Every thing I need can run off an Invertor from the Batterys, Except A/C, I dont use A/C,

Mr B2 · Senior Member

Here you go, A few more piccys of the gas tanks in position,

It will be all lined with 3 mm sheet steel,

I am trying to load it with as much weight as possible, with out being Rediculous, as with the big tank and gas out, I have a chronic weight shortage,

I had to cut the roof sheet in two to get it in, But it over laps, and a few zaps with the welder, Its permanent,

It was bit squeezy getting it past the gas pipes with out damage,

-- Edited by Mr B2 on Sunday 1st of December 2013 11:12:50 AM

Mr B2 · Senior Member

This is what it looks like from outside,

Mr B2 · Senior Member

This is what it looks like from outside,

Double post for some reason,

-- Edited by Mr B2 on Sunday 1st of December 2013 11:23:23 AM

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Upfront - I have no techie skills, little knowledge of gas stuff and even less about 'tricity but I am intrigued with this set-up.

Given my 'un-informed' situation, how do the five 9Kg bottles feed into the system? Are they all feeding into the one pipe which then feeds to the appliances? If so, does that mean they all empty at the same, or very similar, rate?

How do you fill the bottles? I assume from the photos they have some 'common' fill point? or do you have to remove each one and fill separately?

Cheers - John

SnowT · Guru

Sort of With John here..

except..
1 - how many bottles at once shall you have connected at the one time....?
2 - How have you secured the Bottle's, so they don't move while your on the Road..

Other than that it Look's Like a Sweet Job..

Juergen

Psst was thinking for the Weight issue could you not Put in say airBag Suspension to help even out the ride.. Or an EXTRA large Battery Bank in the Gen's Place..

j

-- Edited by SnowT on Sunday 1st of December 2013 11:39:03 AM

Mr B2 · Senior Member

rockylizard wrote:
Gday...
Upfront - I have no techie skills, little knowledge of gas stuff and even less about 'tricity but I am intrigued with this set-up.
Given my 'un-informed' situation, how do the five 9Kg bottles feed into the system? Are they all feeding into the one pipe which then feeds to the appliances? If so, does that mean they all empty at the same, or very similar, rate?
How do you fill the bottles? I assume from the photos they have some 'common' fill point? or do you have to remove each one and fill separately?
Cheers - John

Using one bottle at a time at present, Flexible hose connected to the system,

I dont like a solid bank with a solid pipe connection, If I can get flexible hoses to connect up with, I will run two bottles at a time only,

Depends on the laws involved, It has to be done right and Certified,

Change all bottles or one at a time, They are all easily accessible, Just have to pull it through the holes in the bay doors,

They are only a foot off the ground, when in the Coach, So its not a big deal regarding the weight of the full bottles,

The Girlie at Bunnings put the last full one in, She thought it was too heavy for an Old Timer like me, Hahahahahaha

Swap and Go, Gas Bottles, Buy them anywhere, Servo's, Hardware stores, Caravan Parks, Middle of the Never Never's, Back of Beyond, Etc Etc Etc, I can never run out of gas,

No matter where I am, or have to travel miles to get resupplied,

Once its all set up, I will never have to touch it again, other than change bottles,

Mr B2 · Senior Member

SnowT wrote:
Sort of With John here..

except..
1 - how many bottles at once shall you have connected at the one time....?
2 - How have you secured the Bottle's, so they don't move while your on the Road..

Other than that it Look's Like a Sweet Job..

Juergen

Psst was thinking for the Weight issue could you not Put in say airBag Suspension to help even out the ride.. Or an EXTRA large Battery Bank in the Gen's Place..
j

-- Edited by SnowT on Sunday 1st of December 2013 11:39:03 AM

Your smarter than you look, Hahahaha, Thats a Bloody Great Idea, Ta, I didnt think of that, A extra battery Bank in there, Just the ticket I need for the extra weight,

I already have the Air Bag Suspension, It Floats along, But it does get a bit bouncy on some of our better quality roads, With out the full weight in it, The Otways, Etc, Hahahahahahahaha

The gas bottle retainers, I havent got that far yet, Possibly chain and and a lock lever,

It depends on where I put the upstands for the solid gas lines and Guages, Etc, Existing, They all need to be supported and fixed,

I want it all neat and tidy, Every thing easy to get at, All piping and electricals out of the way, So nothing can get damaged,

Vibrations and rattling, annoy the crap out of me, So I make sure it doesnt happen when I make some thing, Then its easy to track down other rattles and things that go bump in the night, Hahahaha

Mr B2 · Senior Member

oldbobsbus wrote:
Here ya go do yourselves a favour and buy a copy of this standard before doing and installation work...

http://infostore.saiglobal.com/store2/Details.aspx?ProductID=1675075

Did I mention that I did make Gas tanks, In all sizes,

This is one I was making, I rolled the Barrell and Welded it, Welded the end cap on, and a few Outlets,

Its all high pressure and 100% Welds, Thats what I did for a living, Gas, Steam, Fuels, Chemicals, Food,

I also set them up for testing under pressure for the Govt Inspector to approve them,

I am a Highly Skilled Individual with all my Govt Certifications, And Hazardous Certificates as well,

I also do cut and shuts on Truck and Mobile Crane Chassis's, Make them shorter or longer, All 100 % Guaranteed,

I also make the Cranes and the Booms too, And any repairs to them as well,

I am not your average Back Yarder, At least I have some idea on it, Hahahahahaha.

Mr B2 · Senior Member

And This installation I will Paint, The gas tank Carrier Under my Coach,

Instead of looking like Crap, Unpainted with rust and old paint and dirt on it,

Like the Pressure Vessel above or my Ramps, Which both look like Crap unpainted,

This one will look and be very Professionally Painted by me, and will look like a work of art,

That tank above when it was finished, It was painted white, And sits proudly in front of a gas station, Servo, or factory some where,

I only make them,

Mr B2 · Senior Member

Here.s the piccys of the Power steering Support I made for my Coach,

The one that was made for the R/H conversion didnt pass inspection,

So I made one up here at home, Stamped my name and weld number on it,

Got approved with out question,

oldbobsbus · Guru

Mr B2 wrote:
oldbobsbus wrote:
Here ya go do yourselves a favour and buy a copy of this standard before doing and installation work...

http://infostore.saiglobal.com/store2/Details.aspx?ProductID=1675075

Did I mention that I did make Gas tanks, In all sizes,
This is one I was making, I rolled the Barrell and Welded it, Welded the end cap on, and a few Outlets,
Its all high pressure and 100% Welds, Thats what I did for a living, Gas, Steam, Fuels, Chemicals, Food,
I also set them up for testing under pressure for the Govt Inspector to approve them,
I am a Highly Skilled Individual with all my Govt Certifications, And Hazardous Certificates as well,
I also do cut and shuts on Truck and Mobile Crane Chassis's, Make them shorter or longer, All 100 % Guaranteed,
I also make the Cranes and the Booms too, And any repairs to them as well,
I am not your average Back Yarder, At least I have some idea on it, Hahahahahaha.

Hi Brian,

I can see you are very qualified to do any work you undertake...

But you have to remember that you are not the only one that has qualifications..

The link I gave you was to the Aust Standards code for gas installations in caravans and motorhomes..

You can go ahead and do whatever you like and I personally couldn't give two pinches of salt..

But when you take your very well done work to a licensed LP Gasfitter to finish the job and what you have done doesn't comply with the code under which he has to work then thats your problem..

My concern is the amount of gas you are planning on carrying and I don't have the current code available to me and as you can see it isn't cheap to buy.. but I do know that according to the code as it was in 1998 the max was 20kgs.. except under special conditions..

I just offer this info as advice and as I said I personally dont friggen care what you do..

Feral Errol · Veteran Member

Bob,
How would that standard relate to LPG powered vehicles then as they carry considerably more than 20 kg's of LPG.

I have been looking at having auxiliary gas tanks fitted under my off road van, to extend the range of my duel fuel tug. Does the standard you mentioned mean the gasfitters cannot do this conversion for me???

http://www.esv.vic.gov.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=LmJV9WlzAts%3D&tabid=123&mid=2068

The above link may also be relevant Juergen.

-- Edited by Feral Errol on Wednesday 4th of December 2013 12:06:46 PM

Mr B2 · Senior Member

Gas Fitter is a Licenced LPG Installer,

Not as in a Licenced Plumber, Licenced Gas Fitter, EG; Plumber, They cant touch it,

oldbobsbus · Guru

Feral Errol wrote:
Bob,
How would that standard relate to LPG powered vehicles then as they carry considerably more than 20 kg's of LPG.

I have been looking at having auxiliary gas tanks fitted under my off road van, to extend the range of my duel fuel tug. Does the standard you mentioned mean the gasfitters cannot do this conversion for me???

http://www.esv.vic.gov.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=LmJV9WlzAts%3D&tabid=123&mid=2068
The above link may also be relevant Juergen.

-- Edited by Feral Errol on Wednesday 4th of December 2013 12:06:46 PM

Automotive LPG comes under a completely different code Errol,

It is covered by Aust Standard AS 1425..

SnowT · Guru

Feral Errol wrote:
Bob,
How would that standard relate to LPG powered vehicles then as they carry considerably more than 20 kg's of LPG.

I have been looking at having auxiliary gas tanks fitted under my off road van, to extend the range of my duel fuel tug. Does the standard you mentioned mean the gasfitters cannot do this conversion for me???

http://www.esv.vic.gov.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=LmJV9WlzAts%3D&tabid=123&mid=2068
The above link may also be relevant Juergen.

-- Edited by Feral Errol on Wednesday 4th of December 2013 12:06:46 PM

I have to Ask...

So you want a tank to extend your range..

Are you think'n of adding the Tank under the Van[Caravan] then I think you will run into problems.

I'm pretty sure that the Tank for your vehicle Must be in the Vehicle.. [You can have more than 1 tank on your vehicle]

Juergen

Mr B2 · Senior Member

Caravan to car, Forget it, They just wont allow it, Explosion risk is too great,

If you want extra Gas tanks in your vehicle, Any LPG Conversion Place, will will give you a costing for the whole installation, Including the extra tanks,

Including, Combining it with your current system, And Certificates for it,

A generator with its own Huge Gas sSupply system piped, Both onboard, Is a whole different story. Thats what mine was, It also runs the fridge, the stove, The heaters, Hot water,

Which is Totally Illegal here,

My Genny is out, So is the Huge Gas tank, I dont need either,

So every thing else runs, either on one 9 KG Bottle of Gas or two, Depending on the law, when I get to it,

The other 3 bottles are just there as spares, If needed, I can weld a sheet across and separate the tanks,

My gas detectors work, I have tested them, That noise would wake a corpse,

Mr B2 · Senior Member

oldbobsbus wrote:
Mr B2 wrote:
oldbobsbus wrote:
Here ya go do yourselves a favour and buy a copy of this standard before doing and installation work...

http://infostore.saiglobal.com/store2/Details.aspx?ProductID=1675075

Did I mention that I did make Gas tanks, In all sizes,
This is one I was making, I rolled the Barrell and Welded it, Welded the end cap on, and a few Outlets,
Its all high pressure and 100% Welds, Thats what I did for a living, Gas, Steam, Fuels, Chemicals, Food,
I also set them up for testing under pressure for the Govt Inspector to approve them,
I am a Highly Skilled Individual with all my Govt Certifications, And Hazardous Certificates as well,
I also do cut and shuts on Truck and Mobile Crane Chassis's, Make them shorter or longer, All 100 % Guaranteed,
I also make the Cranes and the Booms too, And any repairs to them as well,
I am not your average Back Yarder, At least I have some idea on it, Hahahahahaha.

Hi Brian,
I can see you are very qualified to do any work you undertake...
But you have to remember that you are not the only one that has qualifications..
The link I gave you was to the Aust Standards code for gas installations in caravans and motorhomes..
You can go ahead and do whatever you like and I personally couldn't give two pinches of salt..
But when you take your very well done work to a licensed LP Gasfitter to finish the job and what you have done doesn't comply with the code under which he has to work then thats your problem..
My concern is the amount of gas you are planning on carrying and I don't have the current code available to me and as you can see it isn't cheap to buy.. but I do know that according to the code as it was in 1998 the max was 20kgs.. except under special conditions..

I just offer this info as advice and as I said I personally dont friggen care what you do..

Dont get Cranky Bob, I am not here to get up any ones nose,

This just to show people what I am doing in my coach,

I am a Professional, And I have been on gas since the early 80's,

I also did two of my Effies myself and had no problems getting them Certified,

My work trucks were Bombs,

25 litres of petrol in the mobile welder.

70 litres of petrol in the trucks tank,

140 litres of LPG in two tanks underneath the truck to run the truck,

Two G size Bottles of Acetylene and Oxygen,

It was all connected and working, Hahahahaha

And it was all legal, It had to be,

-- Edited by Mr B2 on Wednesday 4th of December 2013 07:18:15 PM

Feral Errol · Veteran Member

Thanks for the comments on the auxiliary tanks all. I will have to look at extra tanks in the patrol then.

It appears gas installation is a very sensitive business in either vehicles or in vans/motorhomes

It would make an interesting read to go through the standards.

Mr B2 · Senior Member

Gas is very very dangerous, Especially in enclosed area's.

Its heavier than air, So it sits in any nooks and crannys,

Like the bottom of all your cupoards,

Then you light a match,

The explosion can be a small Whoof,

Or it can be big enough to kill you and totally destroy your Van,

And over the last few years the Regs and Laws have changed,

In your Patrol its easy, They will look in it and tell you straight away, what you can and cant have,

And tell you on the spot what its worth, To install it,

You only need a tank and a Tee Fitting, You already have the convertor, electrics, Etc,So it shouldn't be too expensive, T o put in an extra tank,

Shop around for prices, They do vary a lot,

LPG Conversions, Is the place you need to ask, They are all over the place,

Mr B2 · Senior Member

Check out the weather today,

My Yards a Bog hole,

Feral Errol · Veteran Member

Thanks Brian,
I will do some investigation on the weekend. I appreciate the comments.
Are you in the Lilydale area?

Mr B2 · Senior Member

Feral Errol wrote:
Thanks Brian,
I will do some investigation on the weekend. I appreciate the comments.
Are you in the Lilydale area?

Yes Mate, I am, Near the York on Lilydale,

Feral Errol · Veteran Member

With the price of gas rising from 77.9c/ltr to 89.9c/ltr yesterday in Warburton I am starting to think about the break even point for LPG vs petrol. The break even point must be getting close if it goes up to around a $1:00/ltr.

Mr B2 · Senior Member

I believe the price of gas is pegged to a Max of half the price of Petrol, By Law, But it could have changed, The Grubs are desperate for money, So it could change to a

higher price as well,

I paid off my gas conversion on my V8 Monaro in 6 months driving to work and elsewhere, Family car as well. Then, it was a third the price of petrol,

My first F350, V8 361, Paid it off in four months, With the savings on Gas versus Petrol,

Once you have paid your Gas installation off, The difference in the gas versus the petrol price, You put the difference in your pocket,

If gas is $1-00 a lire, and Petrol is $1-60 a Litre, and your using Gas, You put 60 cents per litre in your pocket every time you fill up,

At 60 cents a litre saved on gas, On a 70 litre tankfull. Thats a saving of $42-00 per tank if I am not mistaken, It is late,

Approx at one 70 litre tank of gas a week, 6 Months you have saved a Grand, The difference on the petrol price,

That will certainly put an extra tank in your Wagon, with Change, Then its a Case of Beer a week your saving, and paid for,