Propane regulator

[GraniteStaters]

After Paula and I ordered our 2019 LEII we both spent considerable time reviewing the forums for the tips, techniques, and trouble descriptions that folks have contributed.  I remember some posts about having ready spares on hand, particularly on longer trips, and we had plans to do that so I purchased some ready spares, tools required and recommended, and additional materials to facilitate repairs.  As it turns out, We are camping in Pittsburgh, NH today and for the next few days near the main source for the Connecticut River which runs between NH and VT through western Massachusetts, central Connecticut and onto the Long Island Sound.  This is our first trip this far north in our home state of NH.  We get to Ramblewood Cabins and Campground, find our site and proceeded to setup.  We eventually started thinking about supper.  Paula was prepping ingredients when she noticed the Truma light flashing on the control inside our Ollie.  I went outside to review the flashing light pattern, got the manual out and read the description which indicated a propane issue.  I had already turned on the propane tanks, but checked again to be sure.  I had recently filled the tank that we had emptied on our last trip.  I asked Paula to try the stove and she reported no propane at the burners.  I checked to see if both tanks to insure that we had propane in the tanks and we did, but the regulator showed red aka empty on the tank we used last and when I manually switched to the recently filled tank, it also showed red.  I remembered a post from folks about having a bad Fairview regulator either on the Oliver forums or one of the Fulltime RV forums on FB.  One of my ready spares was a Marshall dual HC regulator.  I found it in the basement and pulled the bag with the pipe dope and leak testing fluid.  I removed the offending regulator.  I installed the new regulator, reconnected the propane, leak tested and gave Paula the heads up to light the stove.  Voila, all is well.  I will open a service incident with Jason as we are still under warranty and get a new ready spare.

[Overland]

Yes it definitely pays to have a few key spares on hand. My regulator has gotten stuck a few times as well, but so far I’ve had good luck with either the whack-it-with-a-wrench or the open-and-close-the-tanks-a-dozen-times methods.

Edited July 21, 2020 by Overland

[Ray and Susan Huff]

Recommendations for spare regulators?  

A DIY video for trouble shooting and emergency replacement of offending regulator would be nice for those of us who are less mechanically minded 😀

[WhatDa]

Also worth pointing out than many regulators have a safety in them that can be triggered if you turn the gas on too quickly on an uncharged system.  So a "bad" regulator may have functioned as designed.  Usually shutting off the gas at the tanks, disconnecting them, closing all the stove valves/turning off truma/fridge/etc...  Then reconnecting and slowly turning the (primary) tank on.

[GraniteStaters]

I did try a few of the suggestions on this list including disconnecting all the supply cables and reconnecting them after hefting the tanks to insure they still had propane.  I gave the regulator a whack or two too because I had a regulator on a grill that use to get low flame occasionally until I whack it a bit.  I will describe the issue to Jason Essary and see if he has any ideas to fix the "bad" regulator.  There isn't much going on in there other than reducing pressure.

[mossemi]

9 hours ago, Susan Huff said:

Recommendations for spare regulators?  

A DIY video for trouble shooting and emergency replacement of offending regulator would be nice for those of us who are less mechanically minded 😀

YouTube has several videos about propane regulators that I find useful.

Mossey

[Boudicca908]

My first propane tank flagged "empty" about a few days ago, so I decided to get it filled today. It's definitely NOT empty, and the other tank (also not close to being empty) has a partial Red Flag on the regulator. I'm not using that much propane, only for cooking, as I'm on shore power for the fridge, and not using any heat or hot water. 

Reading here that some recommend turning tanks off and disconnecting the system before reconnecting. I will try that first. But I also am reading recommendations to "whack the regulator".... how hard? I don't want to damage it.  

On 7/20/2020 at 10:05 PM, Ray and Susan Huff said:

Recommendations for spare regulators?  

A DIY video for trouble shooting and emergency replacement of offending regulator would be nice for those of us who are less mechanically minded 

And if someone could respond to this earlier request, that would be great. I would go ahead and order a spare if I had tips on a decent one to use.

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, Boudicca908 said:

And if someone could respond to this earlier request, that would be great. I would go ahead and order a spare if I had tips on a decent one to use.

Years ago, OTT installed the Marshall Excelsior MEGR-253 regulator which was highly reliable. Later they went with a Fairview product which is not as good. I had installed a Fairview to replace our MEGR-253 by suggestion on another post here. The new Fairview regulator failed immediately. Then I installed a new MEGR-253H (high capacity) which has worked flawlessly (the MEGR-253 is good too).

If you have a Fairview regulator, replace it with one of these: MEGR-253 Series

I enjoy having apps to level our trailer, to read Ah consumption, Ruuvi sensors for temps and humidity, and about everything else. We use Mopeka to read tank level. I purchased this kit a couple years ago. We always know when a tank is near empty.

https://www.amazon.com/Mopeka-Pro-Check-Universal-Bundle/dp/B0CNKX9DRC/

[Townesw]

I replaced the original Gas-Flo regulator by Fairview Fittings and Mfg. Ltd. with a Marshall Excelsior 2-stage automatic changeover regulator model MEGR-253 in September of 2020 and have not had any problems with it. I replaced the original because it didn’t do what it was supposed to do one time and I didn’t want to give it a second chance. 

Marshall Excelsior MEGR 253 regulator with weather guard removed 

 

I used the mounting bracket off of the original regulator but you’ll have to order the weather guard (MEGR 862) as an extra item. It probably isn’t necessary because our regulators are covered but I put it on my regulator anyway.

 

 

In May of 2026 I replaced the original pigtails with new MB Sturgis inverted flare 20” pigtails (Mfg # 100575-20) ...
 

 

 

…and added 90 degree fittings on the inlet ports of the regulator.

This removed the “S” in the pigtails. The hoses don’t actually stick out as much as the photo shows. They don’t reach the inside of the propane tank cover.

I can’t find a “before” picture but this is the “after” picture.

I ordered the brass 90 degree fittings (1/4 inch female 45 degree inverted flare x 1/4 inch male pipe thread) from McMaster Carr (item 6432T127).  I ordered a couple extra to carry as spares.

 

You’ll need to use pipe dope (sealant) on the pipe threads. Don’t use pipe dope or tape on flare fittings. 
 

Also, use the correct size open end wrenches on brass fittings. Adjustable wrenches (Cresent style), adjustable pliers (Channel Lock style), and pipe wrenches may slip and leave the wrench flats rounded or marred.

Turn the tanks on and use soapy water in a spray bottle to check for leaks. Be sure to flip the changeover lever to both sides when checking for leaks. Also check the 3/8 inch female pipe thread outlet on the bottom of the regulator where the supply line goes to the trailer.

 

 

Bill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Townesw