What components do I need to operate gas equipment in the caravan and motor caravan while driving?

The following are required to heat a leisure vehicle while driving, for example: Pressure regulator and hose assembly. The type and quantity you require depends on the type of control device.

***Update***

The following article only refers to the wall-mounted gas pressure regulation systems from GOK, in order to be able to operate the vehicle with LPG during the journey. The newly developed Caramatic SafeDrive also has an integrated crash sensor, but has a completely different system design. More information here:

Requirements

In addition, according to the standard and the regulations, two special safety devices that protect against leaking LPG in the event of a traffic accident must be included. This requirement is met by a crash sensor for the hose assembly and all downstream components as well as an excess flow device for the high pressure hose assembly.

In the following, we provide you with an overview of which components you need to operate a one-cylinder or two-cylinder system and how the crash sensor and excess flow device function.

Operating a single-cylinder system

The Caramatic DriveOne consists of a pressure regulator with over-pressure safety device, crash sensor, test point and integrated wall bracket. The control device is installed on the caravan or motor caravan using the wall bracket and connected to the gas cylinder using the high pressure hose assembly Caramatic ConnectDrive.

Are you asking yourself why the control device does not attach directly to the gas cylinder, as with conventional single-cylinder systems? It is related to campers’ mobility. Gas cylinders abroad usually have a different connection. If you want to use such a system, you do not need to have a second control device suitable for the respective country connection; you simply have to replace the high pressure hose assembly with integrated excess flow device with a connection typical of the country.

Operating a two-cylinder system

Of course, the camper needs two high pressure hose assemblies, not one, if they want to use the Caramatic DriveTwo. The function, components and setup of the control device can be compared with the Caramatic DriveOne, except for two exceptions: the additional connection for a hose assembly to the second gas cylinder and the automatic changeover unit in the DriveTwo.

Safety devices

The DriveOne and DriveTwo are equipped with a crash sensor, recognisable by the addition “Drive” in the product name. The YouTube video illustrates the way it works:

The high pressure hose assemblies connecting the gas cylinder to the control device must be fitted with an excess flow device. This safety device prevents LPG from escaping uncontrolledly if the hose ruptures. See the function in this moving image:

Installation note

The hose assemblies should always be installed from the gas cylinder valve to the control device (see diagrams). This ensures that no LPG from the gas cylinder “floats” into the hose assembly during the journey, accumulates and enters the control device. Some of the liquid phase of a gas can cause massive damage in the control device as well as to the consumer equipment.

Recommendations

To protect the control device and connected gas equipment from contamination, we recommend using a gas filter. This is installed between the hose assembly and the control device.

For kink-free assembly of the hose assembly, we recommend a 90° angled fitting.