Gas bottle conversion - German to UK

Post by **Spiral** » 05 Jul 2008, 06:05

Bought my T3 last year in Germany. Been using the German gas bottle as it was pretty full. Alas the time has come to change it so went to my local Calor gas outlet and bought a new propane bottle, regulator and hose. Problem I found is that the existing German hose has a screw thread on the end that screws into a swivel nut near the on/off valves for the hob & fridge. Been trying to get a screw thread with a plain nipple on the other end so I can connect the UK hose and secure with jubilee clip. Failing that, a double nipple so the I can cut the German hose and connect the UK hose to it and secure with jubilee clips either side. Calor were unable to help

Any suggestions would be extremely welcome

Thanks in advance.

Post by **lloyd** » 05 Jul 2008, 07:50

Regulator end uses jubilee clip on ours, but don't know about other end. We have 2 regulators... one for French bottles and one for UK. Will look at our gas line and let you know.

Post by **Stefvan** » 05 Jul 2008, 08:05

Did you get the correct pressure regulator as many German vans run on 50MB. I used my existing regulator and hose and the Gaslow Easyfit Adapter 01-1674G which goes between the German regulator (21.8LH)and the UK propane bottle (POL). You should be able to find the adapter you require if your fridge and cooker work at 37MB at this website
http://www.motorcaravanning.co.uk/shopu ... alogue.htm
I would give them a ring or an email maybe with pictures and measurements as its all a bit confusing and there are normally quite a few ways of adapting stuff. FYI the normal metal screw fitting that goes on the slim metal pipes on German vans AFAIK is "8mm Copper" compression. Also the name of the ribbed push-on fitting for a hose is a " Fulham" nozzle.
Would you be interested in disposing of your German bottle as I would like to get hold of one ? I am in W London ?

Stefvan

Post by **peasant** » 05 Jul 2008, 10:05

Why change at all? Calor (at least in Ireland) refill the grey German bottles no problem.

Post by **lloyd** » 05 Jul 2008, 12:31

Looked at ours and can't see connection of pipe to hose.
Sorry.

Post by **Spiral** » 05 Jul 2008, 14:29

Thanks guys. Just looked at the German regulator and it is indeed 50MB. My new UK regulator is 37MB.....DOH!!!. Might it work? I've already bought a UK propane bottle so now gotta use it really. Never knew that Calor fill the German ones. They never told me that in the Calor Gas shop and were pretty unhelpful to be honest. If I can't get a UK 50MB regulator then gonna go with stefvan's suggestion and buy a Gaslow Easyfit Adaptor 01-1674G so that I can use the German regulator

Post by **lloyd** » 05 Jul 2008, 15:06

am using 37 on our van no problem, so you should be fine... and have Truma gas heater on ours it too. Did consider a 50 mbar regulator and found them on web somewhere.. but can't find them now.

Post by **lloyd** » 05 Jul 2008, 15:07

Found it:
http://www.bes.co.uk/products/060.asp

Post by **lloyd** » 05 Jul 2008, 15:08

Found it:
http://www.bes.co.uk/products/060.asp

Post by **Spiral** » 05 Jul 2008, 15:37

Thanks Lloyd. I'll have a look.........and I thought that converting a gas bottle, German to UK would be a piece of cake. My love/hate relationship with this van continues

Post by **Spiral** » 05 Jul 2008, 17:26

.......forgot to say that my new 6kg UK Propane gas bottle which was roughly one inch taller than the 5kg existing German bottle, wouldn't go in the cupboard due to the metal shield that is welded round the top of the bottle (German one doesn't have a shield). Perhaps I should have taken the camper with me instead of going in the works van.......BUT, the good news is that the new bottle now fits after a bit of internal modification......phew!

Post by **Spiral** » 10 Jul 2008, 20:23

I've now got a German conversion kit between the 50mb German regulater and UK propane gas bottle (thanks stefvan). Other question is: Can I buy a new German propane hose anywhere in the UK? If not then can anyone please recommend a good source in Germany?

Post by **Stefvan** » 10 Jul 2008, 22:43

I forgot to mention, did you get the special washer (Gaslow part 01-8030) and/or leak test the adapter ??

As for the pipe, I gave up crossed my fingers and used the (prolly 20 year) old one
I don't know if your fittings downstream of the rubber bit where it meets metal pipe are 8mm copper compression like mine (theres a pic below of an old reg/hose of mine) but I think give Gaslow a ring and if they don't have it I reckon this is the baby from Wynen in Germany http://www.wynen-gas.de/pages/gb/produk ... 2cd7822de6 if you get one get two and I'll buy it off you and split the postage !

[IMG:400:339]http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l122/ ... s/prop.jpg[/img]