Still repairing minor winter damage around the ol’ Secret Lair…
Early in the winter the kitchen’s propane regulator froze up one frigid morning. Being on the sunward side of the cabin it probably would have been fine a little later but I don’t need coffee “a little later.” So I went out to the powershed for my old camping stove, then later in the day I swapped out the bypass regulator for the original Plan B regulator – which has never let me down, and which should have been my first clue that I was doing something wrong.
The second clue: This is the second time in two winters that a nearly-new regulator has frozen up at that spot. Coincidence? I think not. But I was struggling for an explanation when a TUAK commenter just up and told me what it was. (This will come as a huge surprise to regular readers who have grown dependent upon my near-omniscience and incredible skill, but) I was doing it wrong.
What’s more, I did it wrong ON PURPOSE, way back in 2011 when I drilled the hole through the wall for that pipe to the kitchen stove. I don’t recall exactly why I wanted fluid to drain back toward the regulator, but that’s what I wanted and that’s what I got. It didn’t start causing trouble until I started using a bypass regulator in that spot – but apparently a little frozen moisture goes a long way in a bypass regulator. So – I got the fittings I needed to re-set the regulator more-or-less vertical, and hopefully that will be the end of early winter morning stove failures as we carry on.
Unfortunately, now I find that the regulator no longer fits under the simple cover I have always stood on top of the bottles to protect the regulator from rain and drips – of which that side of the cabin sees lots during the rainy season – so I’m going to have to do something more elaborate before Monsoon.
Boaters cover propane bottles with some marine grade acrylic fabric like Sunbrella. It isn’t cheap, but it looks good, and holds up pretty well. It is even fairly water-proof if you keep it stretched tight.
For the Secret Lair, I would guess a tarp would work if you could anchor it securely.
The big-box home improvement centers sell a selection of weather-proof housings for electrical connections that I have used for various applications. If you don’t mind gray, they can work pretty well. I’ve also jury-rigged stuff with Tupperware or other containers. They don’t last in the sun, but they’re cheap.
Good luck
Being a simple guy, just scrounge a couple or four 12 X 12 pavers, put them under the tanks and raise the whole shebang, allowing the “roof” you made to continue in use.
Terrapod, I like the way you think.