GMC Motorhome Digest V2 #317 Propane Leak

claude brousson

New member
Jan 20, 1999
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[Admin note - Claude, you need to be sure not to quote the entire
digest volume when replying as the resulting message will exceed the
10,000 character limit and "bounce". Thanks! Patrick]

Dan in Portland--

The manometer is very simple to make and I first learned how to make one
from an article authored by Wes Coughlan, done some years ago. It's
harder to explain than just look at a picture, but I'll try. Get apiece
of board or plywood about 6"x 24".Using a ruler mark off in 1"
increments, horizontal lines across the board from bottom to top.You may
want to put a hole in the end or a bit of string on the end so the board
can be hung or at least made to stand vertically when you take your
measurements. Starting from the bottom end you should have a minimum of
12" marked off in your horizontal lines.

Get a 5ft. length of 3/8" clear plastic tubing and afew staples or small
nails to hold the tubing against the board. Tack one end of the tube
along the right side of the board with the tube extending about 18" up
the board.(I'm describing the setup as if the board is standing on it's
end as it will be when you use it).Then curve the tube up the left side
of the board for about 10" and leave the rest free for hook up to your
propane system.Your Manometer will now look like a lop sided "U".

Put about 6-8" of water into the tube,hang your manometer up vertically
near the stove and hook it into the propane system.
In my system I was able to lift my stove top, remove one burner and push
the free end of the tube directly on to the connection. Be sure you get
a nonleaking connection.

With all other appliances off,open your burner to the manometer,and
light 1-2 other burners or the oven. The water in one leg will drop and
in the other leg will rise. Now count the number of inches between the
two levels of water. If your system is correctly set in the summer time
it should read 11" and about 10.5" in the winter. Depending on altitude
this might affect it also. Outside of these readings you may need to
adjust your regulator at the tank.

Testing for leakage: shut other burners off,leave the burner on for the
meter,and shut off the propane tank.Very carefully lower presure say to
10" (a line so it's easy to observe any pressure loss) and relax and
have a coffee for 10 mintutes or so.If water column drops there is loss
somwhere-between the source,in your lines,or in one of your
appliances.In my case it was in the automatic shut off valve in my
Suburban furnace.

If any of this isn't clear perhaps you could Email me directly.

Claude in Victoria, BC.

>
> GMC Motorhome Digest Tuesday, March 16 1999 Volume 02 : Number 317
>
> In this issue of the GMC Motorhome List Digest:
 
Suggestion -- put a few drops of red food dye in the water -- it makes
reading the manometer - much easier

I use to service Scuba regulators (as a hobby)and used a similar
device to check the amount of vacuum required to open the second stage
regulator (what you put in your mouth)



==
Pete Papas-Daytona Beach--land of Hard Beaches & Soft Women
. Home Phone- (904) 672-0571
.1973 GMC Painted Desert---She's old..but she sure is PRETTY
.1976 Aniversary Iron Head Harley Davidson M/C
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.
.Home Page> http://members.tripod.com/~mehawk_ii/index.html
_________________________________________________________
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Gene fisher has a couple of pictues on his web page. I did mine and am elated
that I do not have to heft the hose etc. You might want to look at the pictures
to get some ideas.
Al Chernoff

> [Admin note - Claude, you need to be sure not to quote the entire
> digest volume when replying as the resulting message will exceed the
> 10,000 character limit and "bounce". Thanks! Patrick]
>
> Dan in Portland--
>
> The manometer is very simple to make and I first learned how to make one
> from an article authored by Wes Coughlan, done some years ago. It's
> harder to explain than just look at a picture, but I'll try. Get apiece
> of board or plywood about 6"x 24".Using a ruler mark off in 1"
> increments, horizontal lines across the board from bottom to top.You may
> want to put a hole in the end or a bit of string on the end so the board
> can be hung or at least made to stand vertically when you take your
> measurements. Starting from the bottom end you should have a minimum of
> 12" marked off in your horizontal lines.
>
> Get a 5ft. length of 3/8" clear plastic tubing and afew staples or small
> nails to hold the tubing against the board. Tack one end of the tube
> along the right side of the board with the tube extending about 18" up
> the board.(I'm describing the setup as if the board is standing on it's
> end as it will be when you use it).Then curve the tube up the left side
> of the board for about 10" and leave the rest free for hook up to your
> propane system.Your Manometer will now look like a lop sided "U".
>
> Put about 6-8" of water into the tube,hang your manometer up vertically
> near the stove and hook it into the propane system.
> In my system I was able to lift my stove top, remove one burner and push
> the free end of the tube directly on to the connection. Be sure you get
> a nonleaking connection.
>
> With all other appliances off,open your burner to the manometer,and
> light 1-2 other burners or the oven. The water in one leg will drop and
> in the other leg will rise. Now count the number of inches between the
> two levels of water. If your system is correctly set in the summer time
> it should read 11" and about 10.5" in the winter. Depending on altitude
> this might affect it also. Outside of these readings you may need to
> adjust your regulator at the tank.
>
> Testing for leakage: shut other burners off,leave the burner on for the
> meter,and shut off the propane tank.Very carefully lower presure say to
> 10" (a line so it's easy to observe any pressure loss) and relax and
> have a coffee for 10 mintutes or so.If water column drops there is loss
> somwhere-between the source,in your lines,or in one of your
> appliances.In my case it was in the automatic shut off valve in my
> Suburban furnace.
>
> If any of this isn't clear perhaps you could Email me directly.
>
> Claude in Victoria, BC.
>

> >
> > GMC Motorhome Digest Tuesday, March 16 1999 Volume 02 : Number 317
> >
> > In this issue of the GMC Motorhome List Digest: