steve hill Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 On my new van there is a crash switch straight after the gas conection, which is good, however when i go to Spain it needs a new gas pipe for their cylinder conection to my regulator which I now have.However, my crash switch will not connect to the Spainish pipe does anyone know where to get one or does anyone still use one on their system. The crash switch thingy does seem like a good idea even when parked/camped, it will stop a major leak I believe. Ta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 I’m guessing that you are referring to the Truma gas hoses (‘pigtails’) that have an anti-rupture feature evidenced by the hose having a green button (examples here) https://caravanandmotorhomeparts.com/collections/truma-gas-pigtails In order to connect to a Spanish gas bottle you’ll either need a ‘Spanish specification’ Truma green-button gas hose, or an adapter that will fit between the gas-bottle end of your current Truma gas-hose and the Spanish gas bottle. Some adapters are shown here https://gasproducts.co.uk/gas-regulators/cylinder-adaptors-connectors.html and (if your Truma hoses have the UK-norm propane POL end) you'd probably require this one https://gasproducts.co.uk/gas-regulators/cylinder-adaptors-connectors/propane-pol-to-butane-adaptor.html plus another ‘full pressure’ connector to attach to the Spanish bottle itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 What are the regulations regarding driving in Spain with the gas turned on I believe in some countries that it's illegal with or without this device Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve hill Posted August 2, 2019 Author Share Posted August 2, 2019 Yes thanks,you are right, but I just need a "rupture connector" that fits on the Spanish pig tails I have for their cylinders in Spain and the Canaries which is not mentioned on those sites... I may have to wait til we arrive there. I do note Truma sell a regulator with a real crash protector for those using the gas whist driving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 The pigtail and regulator together make a system to have the gas on whilst driving, one without other is of little use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Steve Truma has marketed two types of ‘safety’ system that allow a suitably certified gas heater to be operated legally EU-wide in a moving vehicle, and both systems have included the rupture protection pigtails with the green button. The earlier system (called “SecuMotion” or “DriveSafe”) is described here https://www.truma.com/web/downloadcenter/files/truma-secumotion-operating-en.pdf and the specialised regulator had a ‘leak sensing’ capability. The later (and current) system uses a different regulator that comes in several formats. This link is to the vertical MonoControl CS variant https://www.truma.com/web/downloadcenter/files/truma-monocontrol-cs-installation-de-en-fr-it-nl-dk-se.pdf where “CS” indicates that the regulator has a ‘Crash Sensor”. I note that your “new van” is a 2013 Roller Team 707 model, but I’m not sure which regulator (SecuMotion or CS) it is likely to have been built with. (My 2015 Rapido has a CS regulator.) You mentioned a ‘crash switch’ in your original posting, which suggested to me that your regulator is the CS type, but you’ve now said "I do note Truma sell a regulator with a real crash protector for those using the gas whist driving” which suggests the opposite. Anyway, the significant thing is that it is NOT POSSIBLE to obtain a “rupture protection” fitting separate from a pigtail. As I advised above, you either obtain an adapter to go between your present Truma pigtail and the full-pressure fitting that will need to be attached to the Spanish gas canister, or you obtain a ‘rupture protection’ Truma pigtail that will connect directly to the full-pressure fitting so that an adapter need not be employed. In both instances, you’ll need a ‘full-pressure’ fitting like this for the Spanish bottle https://gasproducts.co.uk/gas-regulators/cylinder-adaptors-connectors/kosan-35mm-jumbo-cylinder-adaptor.html Then - if your present Truma pigtail has the UK-norm (propane) POL left-hand-threaded end-connection - an adapter like this https://gasproducts.co.uk/gas-regulators/cylinder-adaptors-connectors/propane-pol-to-butane-adaptor.html OR, if you want to avoid using a POL-to-butane adapter, you’d need the appropriate Truma rupture-protection hose, and I believe that would be a Truma 50410-06 (450mm long) or 50420-06 (750mm long). (It needs saying that I have no hands-on experience of using Spanish gas bottles, so if any other forum-member knows that what I’ve said above is incorrect, could they please say...) This 2018 thread referred to the ‘green button’ pigtail, so might be of interest https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Truma-Hose-rupture-protection/50055/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumpstart Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Why would you want the gas turned on,you can’t have it on during ferry journeys, it shouldn’t defrost whilst driving on 12v. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teccer1234 Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 jumpstart - 2019-08-03 9:03 AM Why would you want the gas turned on,you can’t have it on during ferry journeys, ???? I always use the tunnel but I have friends that use Britiany ferrys the go to santander, 2 days 1 night onboard and they always leave their gas on to keep the fridge running, when I heard this I contacted the ferry company and expalined that some campers don't turn off their gas and got the reply that when they book they are told to turn off the gas for the journey but no checks are made unlike the tunnel when you are stopped and made to turn off the gas under supervision Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skaman Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 I always turn the gas off at the bottles when driving. I think it's crazy to leave them on in case of a crash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 teccer1234 - 2019-08-03 9:54 AM jumpstart - 2019-08-03 9:03 AM Why would you want the gas turned on,you can’t have it on during ferry journeys, ???? I always use the tunnel but I have friends that use Britiany ferrys the go to santander, 2 days 1 night onboard and they always leave their gas on to keep the fridge running, when I heard this I contacted the ferry company and expalined that some campers don't turn off their gas and got the reply that when they book they are told to turn off the gas for the journey but no checks are made unlike the tunnel when you are stopped and made to turn off the gas under supervision Brittany Ferries’s advice to travellers leaves no room for doubt https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/information/faqs/travel-information/can-i-transport-gas-cylinders-on-board It must be assumed that the ‘campers’ that ignore this common-sense prohibition are illiterate... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumpstart Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 teccer1234 - 2019-08-03 9:54 AM jumpstart - 2019-08-03 9:03 AM Why would you want the gas turned on,you can’t have it on during ferry journeys, ???? I always use the tunnel but I have friends that use Britiany ferrys the go to santander, 2 days 1 night onboard and they always leave their gas on to keep the fridge running, when I heard this I contacted the ferry company and expalined that some campers don't turn off their gas and got the reply that when they book they are told to turn off the gas for the journey but no checks are made unlike the tunnel when you are stopped and made to turn off the gas under supervision What I’m trying to say is what’s wrong with using your 12v when driving. When I used to camp I took a cool box with ice packs which kept everything cold for up to 4 days. So putting some in your fridge ,it is very unlikely to defrost within a couple of days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrad Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Very selfish risking other's safety for the sake of bit of food in the fridge! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teccer1234 Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Conrad - 2019-08-03 10:16 PM Very selfish risking other's safety for the sake of bit of food in the fridge! I agree that's why I contacted the ferry company, they told me it was impossible to check all camper vans going onto the ferries, so how come the tunnel can do it??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 skaman - 2019-08-03 12:14 PM I always turn the gas off at the bottles when driving. I think it's crazy to leave them on in case of a crash. What is crazy about leaving gas on when it has a specifically designed system to cut it off in the event of a crash? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve hill Posted August 4, 2019 Author Share Posted August 4, 2019 Thanks for all the replies, but I think some people are really not up to speed on these gas issues. Yes it does make sense to turn off the gas when on ferries etc as a pipe may rupture and it is THEIR rule. However, things have changed many vans are now equiped to switch automatcally between the 3 types of supply and have rupture and crash protector systems, also they can use the gas for heating the main van whilst in transit the fridge or even the hot water. The safety systems have been accepted as okay. Vehicles are moving bombs with their fuel tanks, they do rupture and leak from pipes and any fire in a tunnel, ferry or carpark area is deadly due to the quick spread of fire in close parked or stopped vehicles I have seen it happen, but I accept the small risk and am just trying to make sure I have the rupture protector in the system (that is already on my UK gas) for my spanish gas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 Connecting a Spain-norm gas-bottle to a motorhome with a UK-norm gas system was discussed in this 2017 MHFun forum thread https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/fittings-for-spanish-gas-bottle.151682/ If you want to continue to have a ‘rupture protection’ capability - which will not detect a minor gas leak - you now know what your options are. If you’ve bought gas hoses lacking the rupture protection feature, you might be able to add that capability by fitting appropriate adapters/fittings in series, or perhaps using non-Truma hoses with an integrated non-return/excess flow valve would be a possibility, but it would be simpler to stay with your Truma hoses and ‘adapt’ them to the Spanish bottle as I suggested above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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