Bad propane regulator? Resetting it?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by yinzer, May 15, 2012.

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  1. yinzer

    yinzer Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2006 Pennsylvania

    So I wanted to brew Sunday but had to abort. At first I had no propane at the burner. After playing around I could get some to flow but it was always a yellow flame. Googling gave me this adivice:

    1. Turn off the gas at the propane tank
    2. Disconnect the hose from the propane tank
    3. Open the lid of your BBQ Grill
    4. Turn all the burner valves to high
    5. Wait for 2 minutes (just time enough for a soda)
    6. Turn off all the burner valves
    7. Connect the gas line back up to the propane tank
    8. Turn the gas on slowly on the propane tank
    9. Light the grill using your normal lighting procedures
    If the regulator was stuck, it should have been reset using these steps.

    If you always turn off your burner valves first before turning off the gas at the tank, you will keep the regulator from sticking again.

    Now I have the Blickmann setup. It's only been used twice. But this setup has a variable regulator that serves as the on/off. There is no easy way to stop or add pressure to the output. So:

    1) it looks like I need to have some way to let pressure build up on the output. I'm sure I can figure something out. But is that how these are reset?

    2) will this be an on going issue? My current burner had a set psi regulator and an on/off fitting. I imagine that I could add one on.

    3) do i just have a bad regulator?


    TIA
     
  2. clearbrew

    clearbrew Initiate (0) Nov 3, 2009 Louisiana

    Sounds to me like a restriction in your line somewhere. I would start by pulling the entire assembly apart, visually inspecting, then blow through and clean everything as much as possible.
    In my experience, a stuck regulator will often be stuck open and not let you reduce your flame.
    Also, I'm not familiar with your setup. Post a link or picture. Might help diagnose a problem.
     
  3. toastw

    toastw Initiate (0) Aug 16, 2008 Texas

    The top two issues off the top of my head:

    1. Did you turn the gas tank on before you turned the regulator on? The order that you do these things matters.
    2. You might very well have a faulty propane tank. Right now I have one that's very frustrating. The valve doesn't work properly, and a symptom of that is you can turn it counterclockwise forever without it ever stopping. But if I over-turn it, it won't work. So I have to turn it enough to pretend/estimate it's at full on, and then work the regulator.

    You should be able to hear the gas the more you open your regulator. Have you tried switching out the propane tank and trying it with a different one? I'd trouble-shoot for the tank before assuming there's an issue with the regulator. Maybe a friend has a propane tank you can borrow?
     
    midworken likes this.
  4. mikehartigan

    mikehartigan Maven (1,397) Apr 9, 2007 Illinois

    I use natural gas. The environmental police haven't figured out how to break this yet. I'm free to vent as much of it to the atmosphere as I want! And, since I'm not an idiot, I don't want to do that, despite my obsession with p*ssing them off as blatantly as possible (I drive a Hummer, e.g.)
    ...and I don't have to deal with issues like you're experiencing.
    :wink:

    (sorry. That wasn't very helpful, was it?)
     
    kjyost likes this.
  5. yinzer

    yinzer Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2006 Pennsylvania

    Like the man said, "I hope that your homebrew makes you belly hurt." Maybe some day I'll do natural gas too. I'd like too. Propane is a PITA and bad things do happen.

    Well I got it fixed. I disconnected the hose from the burner. Then I put my thumb over the exit and turned on the tank, then the regulator, let the pressure build up, let the gas flow then stopped it again. Turned off the regulator then the tank. IT seems that the regulator is last when turning on and first when turning off.
     
    inchrisin likes this.
  6. midworken

    midworken Initiate (0) Sep 20, 2009 Nebraska

    I've had the same problem, but instead of having nothing in terms of flow, I had a very small flame that would take hours to boil 5 gallons of water. After playing around with things I finally got a full flame. Later on, I actually read the directions and it specifically said to turn things on in a certain order and to gradually open each valve. Works like a charm now!
     
  7. yinzer

    yinzer Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2006 Pennsylvania

    I guess that I need the GPS version.
     
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  8. JudoCruise

    JudoCruise Initiate (0) Nov 22, 2012

    Here's an article about safely and properly dealing with various propane regulator problems. Maybe it'll save somebody an arm or two :wink:
     
  9. Naugled

    Naugled Pooh-Bah (1,882) Sep 25, 2007 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Did you check the orifice on the tank? Every time I have propane issues it ends up being the tank. I store my tanks outside and some sort of insect makes the orifice their home. They fill it up with mud. I clean it out with a wet q-tip and everything works after that.
     
  10. kvammen

    kvammen Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2013 Iowa

    Ok, my LP tank is full- it's all the way on. I turn the grill on- - it lights for 3 or 5 seconds and then it goes out. I have a regulator on the LP tank - it's green when it's on/good and red when it's off/bad/empty. It goes from green to red instantly. I purchased a new regulator and it does the same thing- turns on for 5 seconds- then shuts off. After 5 minutes or so, it goes back to green by itself - but once I light the grill- within 5 seconds, it turns off - and the indicator goes back to red.. HELP!!!
     
  11. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,689) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Interesting. I always turn the tank on my grill off first. The only time I ever had an issue was when I forget to turn off the knobs on the grill itself when turning it on next time. I haven't yet had a problem with my turkey fryer brew set up ( knock on wood) at least from that end of things.
     
  12. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,689) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Have you tried shutting the valve on the tank off, disconnecting everything, the reversing? It sounds like there is gas in the hoses, and then it runs out. You're sure the tank is on, not off? Is that regulator at the tank a separate part? Try taking that out of the mix. And finally, you're sure the tank really is full? Did you heigh it or are you relying on the gauge?
    Sorry if I'm asking stupid questions, but sometimes we over think problems. (I'm the first to admit I'm as guilty of this as anyone)
     
  13. inchrisin

    inchrisin Pooh-Bah (2,013) Sep 25, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    We're going to take your RO system first. Watch your back!
     
  14. inchrisin

    inchrisin Pooh-Bah (2,013) Sep 25, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    Glad you got it reset. I wouldn't be afraid to write or call Blickmann. They should have good customer service, considering how expensive their stuff is.
     
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