Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 09, 2025 ...

LP circuits help please .

July 24, 2017, 08:51:37 pm

 I have the 300# LP tank . The LP  gen set runs fine. The stove and water heater get zero pressure.  It appears that there are two output hoses,  and that one circuit has an electric controller on it . Is there a controller switch that allows this solenoid to open  when the stove is turned on or the water heater is turned on?  Both devices also have some sort of controller at the fuel inlet. 
 My books dont show the plumbing details  and the search went dead.  TIA,MM

Quote Selected

Re: LP circuits help please .

Reply #1 – July 24, 2017, 09:08:02 pm

One possibility - has your propane detector inside the coach been beeping lately?  Most of the older coaches came with a safety solenoid valve on the propane line.  If your propane detector goes off, it will shut the solenoid valve and cut off the propane flow.  You have to have the correct voltage at the solenoid to OPEN the valve.  When the alarm goes off, it cuts the voltage to the solenoid, and it closes.  So if the alarm is beeping, first make sure there isn't really a gas leak.  If all clear, then reset the alarm so it stops beeping, and the safety valve should open back up.

See the 3rd and 4th paragraphs in the post linked below:

hard starting generator Propane valve - Fixed

Here's another thread with some info:

U280: Propane fill - Now NO Heat, no stove, no water heater

Quote Selected

Re: LP circuits help please .

Reply #2 – July 24, 2017, 09:28:49 pm

 I have one  but dont know how it works.  Sound like it controls the solenoid on the one circuit?  Thanks a lot, MM

Quote Selected

Re: LP circuits help please .

Reply #3 – July 24, 2017, 09:32:40 pm

Yes, the propane detector does control the solenoid for the vapor port which is what supplies your house systems.  The liquid port supplies the generator.

Quote Selected

Re: LP circuits help please .

Reply #4 – July 24, 2017, 10:47:16 pm

If it's the same kind that was in my 91 here's how it works:

When you first turn on the detector, it will flash the LED and beep about once a second, for 30 seconds (or so, I never timed it) and the solenoid at the tank will stay off during this time.  I think its sniffing the air to make sure it's safe to open up the valve.
Once it's done that it will open the solenoid valve (you'll hear a "tink" sound), the beeping will stops, and the LED flashes every so often from then on.

BTW, these detectors have a finite life even though it may appear to be working.  I believe it's something like 5 to 7 years.

Quote Selected