Propane line questions

[RazorCityDen]

I'm running a twin cylinder system with the doner RV regulator and mount and that's all I have right now for plumbing except the appliances. I need to provide propane to a 24"X60" Dometic fridge/freezer , Vision range/oven and a 10 gallon Suburban water heater. All the appliances are on the same side of the bus so I was thinking of using a straight section of 1/2" copper pipe mounted to the bus side wall, though the framing, behind paneling and cabinets in rubber protected hangers "T"ed and valved where it passed the appliance and then running a flex hose off that to the appliance.

I'm not sure what diameter lines I should be running though and can't seem to find any information regarding sizing them. I was also thinking of soldering the "T"'s and elbows in the trunk line but haven't found anything about soldering propane lines or even if it's kosher for RV's.

Anybody got any scoop on this?

Take care,
Den

[RazorCityDen]

Thanks Smitty sounds like a plan.

What's the advantage/disadvantage of copper vs. steel?

For the sake of FYI what's the deal with soldering copper propane lines?

Take care,
Den

[madpsalmer]

Smitty you should write an encyclopedia of your knowledge, I was considering copper myself glad for the post thx!

[paul iossi]

another reason not to solder copper for a gas system is, imagine the potential for disaster if someone indvertently or unknowlingly tried to solder on a copper line that was fulled with gas under pressure, even low pressure could have epic results

[madpsalmer]

No exploded Skoolie's aloud!

[Eric von Kleist]

I have black steel pipe in my bus. I sleep comfortably at night because of it. Do be sure to put individual cut-off valves on each appliance, preferably where you can reach them conveniently if the appliance were on fire.

[RazorCityDen]

Thanks all! Black pipe it is!

Also, yesterday I found out our Farmers Co-op makes flexible, rubber coated propane lines to order.

Take care,
Den

[RazorCityDen]

I was considering the black rubber propane lines for the hook-up to the appliance from the black pipe since they wouldn't be as vibration damage prone. The stainless steel flex I have seen (Home Depot) doesn't recommend RV installation, I assume it's a vibration issue. Whatever I use from the pipe to the appliance won't be passing though anything but air and will be under 12" long. I guess burning though will have to be weighed against cracking

I've also thought about just using good ol' copper to do the hook up off the black pipe trunk, that's how the gas was run in the 07' fith-wheel I looted for parts.

Take care,
Den

[paul iossi]

If you go with the rubber lines like you have in the tanks youwill be in overkill mode, by the time that fire would compromise the integrity of the lines your buss will be a total loss. If you use soft copper with the DOT flarenuts or SS lines spport the lines with a clamp at/near the ends to support the tubing at the connecters you should eliminate any chance of stress at the fittings