04 LP Gas System
Liquid Propane (LP) Tank
The Allegro Red might be equipped with an American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)-approved LP tank (Figure 4-1), which is equipped with an automatic pressure regulator. This tank contains liquid petroleum fuel under high pressure.
An LP gas-distribution system distributes the gas to those appliances using such in the motorhome.
The “heart” of this LP gas distribution system is the regulator and it should be adjusted only by a qualified service technician. Most of the problems encountered in lighting the pilots of these appliances are caused by regulator misadjustments.
The major component of the LP gas supply is a manifold pipe, which runs underneath the motorhome floor. From this manifold, the various gas appliances are connected by a rubber supply line.
Should any of the secondary tubing develop a leak, do not attempt to splice any of the lines. Instead, have a qualified service technician run a new length of tubing to the appliance of concern, and then have that line leak-tested before placing it in normal operation.
LP Tank Filling and Monitoring
Any LP gas tank associated with the motorhome must never be filled to more than 80 percent of its total capacity. Filling should always be done only when the motorhome is leveled. If the motorhome is not level, the tank might be overfilled (i.e., more than 80 percent of capacity) and, thus, present an unsafe situation.
LP Gas Regulator
The LP gas regulator (Figure 4-2) is the “heart” of the LP gas distribution system.
This regulator reduces and controls the pressure of the gas on the outlet end to provide a constant supply of gas at a constant pressure to the gas-operated appliances. The regulator has a vent to relieve excess pressure on the inlet side of the regulator, should excess pressure develop in the gas tank and connecting gas line to that regulator inlet. The vent would normally release the excess LP gas to the atmosphere until the overpressurization condition is eliminated.
This vent should be regularly checked to ensure that it is not clogged or obstructed. If that vent is blocked from normal operation, component or system failures might result. If periodic visual inspection indicates any sign of corrosion or degradation, contact a qualified service technician to repair the regulator as soon as possible.
