BBQing in California

[macnkat]

I'm not sure, but suspect that here in California in either an effort to stop air pollution or perhaps as a safety because we can't seem to let Darwinism take it's course here, they have made the new propane bottles virtually useless. I bought a 5 gal tank from Wally World and a new hose to run to my Coleman Road Trip and it seems that either the hose, or the tank has a pressure limiter of some type. It will light and run for a few seconds, but then the propane shuts down to a trickle. I found an old hose for a camping stove I had stored away in the garage and hooked it to the tank and it works great. This hose goes inside the tank valve versus the new one that went on the outside. I have no idea if that made the difference or if the check valve was in the hose, all I do know is that it was quite maddening trying to sort it out.

Does anyone know where the problem was? I also suspected the regulator on the BBQ but since it works now I guess that wasn't the case.

[Wayneey]

If we're talking about the same type of hose (see image below), the new ones do have a sensor in the part that attaches to the propane tank. It's designed to detect excessive gas flow and shut off the gas if it does.

The problem is the sensor gets confused if the gas valve on the tank is opened quickly (which by my standards is normal!) which makes it think the sudden flow of gas is a leak and it'll shut off the gas.

The solution is to open the tank valve very slowly to gradually increase the flow of gas.

I've also found that some of then flat don't want to work and always shut off the gas flow. I gave my daughter a Weber-Q as a gift and had to buy three hoses to find one that worked.

Wayne

[macnkat]

Originally Posted by Wayneey

If we're talking about the same type of hose (see image below), the new ones do have a sensor in the part that attaches to the propane tank. It's designed to detect excessive gas flow and shut off the gas if it does.

The problem is the sensor gets confused if the gas valve on the tank is opened quickly (which by my standards is normal!) which makes it think the sudden flow of gas is a leak and it'll shut off the gas.

The solution is to open the tank valve very slowly to gradually increase the flow of gas.

I've also found that some of then flat don't want to work and always shut off the gas flow. I gave my daughter a Weber-Q as a gift and had to buy three hoses to find one that worked.

Wayne

That is exactly the hose Wayne. I have a friend that sells propane and he told me the same thing...open slowly, but no matter how slow I open it when I start the BBQ it shuts off. Gotta love "safety" features.

[wa8yxm]

What the problem was.. The old style is called POL (Means Prest-o-light but most folks say "Put On Left" since it's left handed thread..

The new big plastic nut is called an Acme connection (Think about where Wylie E. Coyote got all the stuff he tried to catch the Road Runner with,,,, and failed,, then when you staop laughing .. read on)

There is a safety device in the valve.. It is kind of like the little like valve in a throw away bottle . It needs to have the coupler tightened tightly.

Inside the coupler is a plastic meltable bit.. If it gets too hot it melts and lets the "inners" move out some, CLOSING that valve.

This is for your own safety or so they tell me.

Now if you want my opinion of it.

I grew up with a bunch of 100 pound POL bottles and I'm still alive.

[Wayneey]

Originally Posted by macnkat

but no matter how slow I open it when I start the BBQ it shuts off. Gotta love "safety" features.

In my educated opinion, I would say you have a defective hose ...

Wayne

[Arch Hoagland]

Why do you think that is unique to California?

[Piledrive]

It isn't?

[macnkat]

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

Why do you think that is unique to California?

The term "49 state legal" comes to mind...now I don't know if it's a California only thing or not, but my 54 years in the state has me thinking that anything that has to do with CARB, EPA or being safer, California leads the way...right or wrong.

[wa8yxm]

The change from POL to ACME is nation wide, federal regulation.. Just so you know.

How else would "John from Detroit" (Michign) know about it.

[macnkat]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

How else would "John from Detroit" (Michign) know about it.

Who's John? I didn't see him post.

Thanks for the heads up though.