Gas systems in mobile homes provide the energy for the cooking area, heating and hot water supply. This article provides all the important information about gas in motorhomes and what things to watch out for.
How does gas work in a motorhome?
The gas is in the gas tank or in gas bottles. The gas bottles should be stored in the gas locker of the motorhome.
In most cases, the gas tanks are located below the vehicle. Shut-off valves, which are used to open and close the gas bottles, are attached to the gas bottles. A pressure regulator attached to the gas cylinder ensures a standard pressure for the escaping gas. So all devices can be used with the gas.
The gas box contains steel pipes that run to the devices.
In the motorhome, safety valves should be available for all consumer devices, which regulate the gas flow for each device. The heating can be operated with gas and the gas stove can be separated from the gas.
The consumption devices are switched on and are supplied with the gas from the gas cylinder or the gas tank.
Which gas is used in the motorhome?
The gas cylinders usually contain butane, propane or a mixture of both.
In northern areas, propane is more common because butane remains liquid at sub-zero temperatures and is then no longer ready for use. Propane also works at around -40 ° C and is therefore preferable.
The gas locker in a motor home
Usually there is a gas locker in the motorhome. This is an extra storage compartment for the gas cylinder, which has a ventilation near the floor.
The gas locker is provided with a seal for the construction of the motorhome, as this is for safety. Since gas weighs more than air, if the gas cylinder leaks, the gas would escape from the vent instead of entering the interior of the motorhome.
In most mobile homes there is space for 2x 11kg bottles in the gas locker. Often only one gas bottle can be stowed in a dismantled van.
Operate devices with gas
To operate a device in your mobile home, you first have to open the gas bottle in the gas locker. Then the gas valve belonging to the respective device is opened in the interior of the motorhome. The device is then switched on.
The flame of standard gas stoves is ignited with a lighter or a gas lighter. The first step is to activate the gas supply, then to operate the regulator on the stove to allow gas to escape. This is followed by lighting the flame with a gas lighter.
High-quality gas stoves have piezo igniters and do not depend on ignition aids.
Standard heaters have a regulator and a button to ignite.
Modern heating systems can regulate the radiator electronically. The desired temperature is set using a control panel.
A controller ignites and extinguishes the flame.
What should I do after using gas-powered appliances?
After use, the respective device must be switched off and deactivated.
In the case of gas stoves, the rotary controls are set to the zero position.
The control panel is switched off for the heating.
The heating is switched off with the respective control panel.
All valves and gas bottles in the motorhome must be closed.
Gas is a popular energy source in mobile homes
For a long time, gas was a standard energy carrier due to its high energy density. It's convenient because you carry large amounts of energy.
A gas bottle is sufficient for cooking for a very long time. An absorption refrigerator can also be operated for several weeks. Heating causes a significantly higher energy consumption.
What speaks against the use of gas in mobile homes?
There are many newbies in the RV space who are introducing themselves Gas when camping fear and would rather avoid its use. Yes, gas accidents in mobile homes do happen from time to time. This usually happens when proper handling and maintenance are not observed. A tested gas system that is used properly will usually not cause any problems.
Is Propane Dangerous?
Propane and butane are dangerous because of their flammability. If the gas concentration in the air is between 2 and 10 percent, even the smallest sparks can cause a gas explosion. Dangerous gas leaks must therefore be avoided as a matter of urgency.
Propane should not be inhaled. It's dangerous because it lowers the amount of oxygen in the air.
Install gas detector
Some campers swear by gas detectors in their motorhomes because they fear gas raids. However, these are unlikely.
A gas detector can still be a useful helper because the gas supply in the motorhome can sometimes be defective. Gas leaks can also occur due to material damage or accidents.
These gas leaks can be detected by a gas detector and this can send out an alarm. It's not difficult to assemble a gas detector. You only need a 12 V or USB connection.
Editor's tip: As an experienced motorhome user, I definitely do not save on a decent gas warning device, but you should make sure that the warning device is suitable for propane or butane when buying.
What about the gas supply abroad?
A lack of availability of gas is of course a plausible reason to decide against gas in the motorhome. In most of the countries you can get gas, but the bottles and connections are not standardized everywhere. Fortunately there is for little Money adapter sets*, this allows the various connections to be bridged. Some types of bottles are not available in other countries.
What is an alternative to gas in a motorhome?
Diesel heating has been popular with campers for some time. Heating plus hot water use the most energy and so diesel is advantageous because it is easily available in every country.
Electric heating only makes sense in operation with shore power.
For cooking, a gas cooker is still installed in many motorhomes that have built-in diesel heating.
Electric compressor refrigerators are a suitable alternative to refrigerators.
So only small gas bottles of 3,5 kg are necessary for cooking, which also last for a long time. In this way, there is no need for space for the gas locker and the huge gas bottles.
Are gas bottles or a gas tank in the motorhome better?
A gas bottle can be removed. It can be filled and exchanged in this way.
A gas tank is permanently installed in the motorhome and takes up more space than the gas bottle. A gas filling station is required for refueling. This can be inconvenient, but the gas will last a little longer.
The middle solution is the gas tank bottle. It is a gas tank in the shape of a bottle.
Choosing the right gas cylinder for motorhomes
When choosing a gas cylinder, it is important to remember that you are buying cylinders from a specific system. Bottles from one supplier cannot be exchanged for those from another supplier. So you always have to buy from the same provider.
What is the correct gas cylinder size?
A common gas bottle size is 5 kg and 11 kg. There are also gas bottles with 3 kg, which are suitable where gas is only needed for cooking. These small gas bottles are internationally standardized and therefore very popular.
What material are gas cylinders made of?
They are made of plastic, aluminum or steel.
Aluminum or plastic gas cylinders are also called light cylinders. They are suitable for heavily loaded motorhomes and are easier to swap because they weigh less.
What prices are charged for gas cylinders?
Gas bottles are available as returnable bottles and as purchase bottles.
The returnable bottles (mostly red bottles) can be returned when you no longer need them.
Buy bottles (mostly gray bottles) can no longer be bought from retailers. They must then be properly disposed of. Otherwise you have to keep them.
In the meantime, however, there is a bottle exchange for both variants.
If you don't have a bottle yet, you must of course borrow or buy one first. There are different flat rates depending on the respective system.
The deposit amounts are between 30 and 50 euros, depending on the provider.
So it makes sense, as a beginner in the mobile home sector, to deal extensively with the subject of gas in order to avoid wrong decisions.
Last updated: 29.02.2024
