Graham's Top Tips

[Penners]

Here's the answer to your problem, Graham

 

[skier-hughes]

Solves two problems, after mowing the grass I stand next to the tap and thaw it!!!!!

 

[DaveBrigg]

If you are miles from the nearest gas supply, propane cylinders are a cheap and convenient alternative. For even greater convenience it is possible to have a valve that links two bottles, so that one can be filled while the spare is in use. The valve switches automatically however, which is something I wish I had known before inviting the in-laws for Christmas dinner, safe in the knowledge that after 18 months I still hadn't needed to swap to the second bottle.
To add insult to injury, our gas supplier wasn't even open on Christmas day, let alone able to deliver a refill before the sprouts went cold.

 

[skier-hughes]

Oh dear, I feel for you.
I assume you now have a new supplier of bottled gas :wink:

 

[Flyfisher]

That's a classic example of built-in redundancy but with no indication of failure - i.e. useless!

Last time I came across a similar thing was when being shown around the equipment room supporting a large trading floor in a major merchant bank and being proudly shown that each equipment rack was served by two independent power supply units to help eliminate any systems failure. When I pointed out a number of PSUs with no indicator lights and asked how a failed power supply is actually reported, my guide suddenly went very quiet.

Not that I'm expecting any sympathy for merchant bankers, of course.

 

[Penners]

merchant bankers

Is that cockney rhyming slang?

 

[skier-hughes]

That's a classic example of built-in redundancy but with no indication of failure - i.e. useless!

Our one at the caravan had a guage on it so you could see which bottle was in use and how much was left. Unfortunately cheaper models don't have this and operator error in not checking an available guage or reading the manual, is well.......... deserving of cold sprouts :wink:

 

[Flyfisher]

merchant bankers

Is that cockney rhyming slang?

In that context, very probably.

 

[Lime]

If you are miles from the nearest gas supply, propane cylinders are a cheap and convenient alternative. For even greater convenience it is possible to have a valve that links two bottles, so that one can be filled while the spare is in use. The valve switches automatically however, which is something I wish I had known before inviting the in-laws for Christmas dinner, safe in the knowledge that after 18 months I still hadn't needed to swap to the second bottle.
To add insult to injury, our gas supplier wasn't even open on Christmas day, let alone able to deliver a refill before the sprouts went cold.

:lol: :lol: :lol:
I though those rich enough to afford two cylinders at the same time spent some of each day outside admiring them often keeping the neighbours (far away) entertained by chants of "We've got ga-a-a-as" repeated in a mocking sort of way.

Otherwise what is the purpose of the gauges other than to show guests with the added attraction and talking point in cold weather of the Christmassy snow around the cylinder in use at the time?

 

[MdB]

Our caravan must be middle class caravan then as we don't have any fancy gauges, just a little red flag that shows when one is empty. The bottles also came free so having two wasn't an issue. Unfortunately, the gas isn't free at £48 each. (Funny how the price went up as oil prices went up but hasn't come down as the oil price came down..)

At the moment, running out of gas just isn't an option to think about. It was 4 degs C inside the caravan when we got in this evening.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

If you are miles from the nearest gas supply, propane cylinders are a cheap and convenient alternative. For even greater convenience it is possible to have a valve that links two bottles, so that one can be filled while the spare is in use. The valve switches automatically however, which is something I wish I had known before inviting the in-laws for Christmas dinner, safe in the knowledge that after 18 months I still hadn't needed to swap to the second bottle.
To add insult to injury, our gas supplier wasn't even open on Christmas day, let alone able to deliver a refill before the sprouts went cold.

I've done that - twice, 2 years apart and both times on Christmas day! What are the odds of that? :shock:

I can now safely confirm that a 47kg propane cylinder lasts us exactly 2 years and one day (last year being a leap year). Fortunately this year I avoided the wrath of Mother of SWMBO and half-cooked turkey, by getting in a 2nd cyclinder on Christmas Eve - even though the little red flag was still white. It seems that the change to red happens after the gas runs out, and so is fairly useless as a predictive gauge. It is extremely useful, though, for confirming that the reason your gas rings/oven have gone off is because you ran out of gas five minutes ago.

Wonderful thing, technology. :roll:

 

[MdB]

If your changeover is working properly, the red flag should appear as the first bottle empties and the second bottle is started. If this doesn't occur, it suggests that there could be something wrong with the changeover valve which should be checked. The switchover is easy enough to test as you can pretend a full or half full bottle is empty by turning the valve on the bottle off. Run your gas ring for a few minutes and the change over flag should occur making the red flag appear. Opening the valve again should make the flag disappear. You shouldn't move the bottle in use lever until you change a bottle and it should always point to the bottle with the least amount in it.

We are going through a bottle a fortnight at the moment so are getting quite used to the above.

 

[DaveBrigg]

I though those rich enough to afford two cylinders at the same time spent some of each day outside admiring them often keeping the neighbours (far away) entertained

In an authentic, period property sort of way, we have carefully hidden the big red modern cannisters in the coal shed, even though piping it to the cooker caused the corgi man to suck in his breath so strongly I thought he would choke on his fillings. The advantage of not being able to see them was obvious, until the moment the flame went pop.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

You can see our orange monstrocities from space (well the Google Earth satellite anyway)!

 

[Penners]

It was 4 degs C inside the caravan when we got in this evening.

During our four years in a 30ft caravan (we'd planned for two, of course) I don't ever remember it being cold, despite at least one of the coldest winters on record. We had three-foot icicles hanging from the gutters of the van, but inside we were toasty. We just had a little solid fuel stove (the kind that was brown stove-enamelled, with twin doors), and this was so effective that we often found ourselves sitting with all windows open to try and cool the caravan down!

 

[Penners]

You can see our orange monstrocities from space

Well for goodness sake don't move them. By now, NASA astronauts will have become used to using them as a navigation aid.

 

[MdB]

During our four years in a 30ft caravan (we'd planned for two, of course) I don't ever remember it being cold, despite at least one of the coldest winters on record. We had three-foot icicles hanging from the gutters of the van, but inside we were toasty.

Can I borrow your caravan please?

Ours has minimal insulation which is why it gets so cold. Was not fun this morning.

 

[Penners]

Can I borrow your caravan please?

Sold decades ago, I'm afraid, otherwise I'd have rented it to you for a Rowes pasty a month.

We bought it for £300 and sold it four years later for £250. That's what I call cheap accommodation.

 

[AMc]

FWIW our red arrow on our gas works properly but being a belt and braces kind of person I sometimes lift them both up to make sure one is heavier than the other. If they weren't I'd be on the phone to Calor.

 

[MdB]

... I sometimes lift them both up ...

You are a stronger man than me. I can't lift even one when full ...