Hello
I attended FLA jets and while I was there Ed And Kevin from Great Northern Models, Simjet had a regulator on their propane tank. The good thing about this is you just turn it on and you get the proper amount of propane everytime. Does anyone know where I can get on of these regulators?

Thanks for all your help
Bill
NJ

Bill

I believe Ed and Kevin are using the "Century Camping" model 2118 with slight mods sold by Wal-Mart and others. ($18.00)(www.centurycamping.com/accessories/propane/)

It is modified as follows:

a. Remove the supplied Brass nozzle.

b. Remove the 1/4" long Galvanized pipe.

c. Drill and tap the supplied Brass nozzle for an 8-32 DuBro (or equal) Muffler pressure fitting.

d. Purchase a brass 1/4 pipe thread "Close Nipple".

e. re-assmble as follows: (use Teflon thread tape)

1. Thread the 1/4" MNPT Close nipple into the valve body.

2. Thread the 8-32 pressure fitting into the supplied Brass nozzle. (Use the supplied washer)

3. Thread the nozzle onto the close nipple.

**NOTE**
You could substitute a 1/4 MNPT x 1/8" barbed adapter fitting in place of modifing the supplied Brass nozzle.

Your done.

There are approximately 4 different valve types (styles). How they operate/function is different and with 2 of those types being used for the Coleman Powermax only.

The first type/style is the Standard Propane Valve:

This type of valve is the most widely used and is a needle valve. You will find many different styles and types in this catagory from different manufacturers and distributors. They may look different but all in this catagory function the same. You want more gas - you open the valve more. You want less - you close the valve more. These valves only regulate the propane flow from the canister - not the pressure from canister.

Standard Propane Valve - Needle type

The second Propane Valve type is a Regulated Pressure Propane Valve. This type of valve does regulates the pressure from the Propane Canister. If you dial in the regulator to 15 lbs. - then that is the amount of propane pressure (at all times) that will come out of the valve.

Most propane canisters on a hot sunny day - say around 80 degrees F., can have a pressure of anywhere from 100 - 140 psi in them. If in direct sunlight, that pressure can go higher inside the canister. With a Standard Propane Valve, you can regulate the flow only - not the pressure. For example, your using a solenoid gas shut off for your turbine. You turn your gas on at the propane canister - you may have just cracked open the valve, but over a few seconds, that pressure will build up until the pressure against that solenoid is the same as the Propane Canister pressure. When the solenoid opens you will get that inital rush of gas and pressure. It's not a real biggie, but sometimes you have to fiddle with the Standard Propane Valve to get that flow right in order to not flood the turbine - hence, no ignition or not enough propane and you get that lagging effect because there's not enough gas going into the combustion chamber to get your temps up in order to allow the Jet-A or Kero to ramp in.
A Regulated Valve always delivers the same pressure ALL the time, irregardless of the Propane Canister Pressure.

Pics of the Regulated style are up above.

The 3rd Valve type (style) falls into the Coleman Powermax catagory. This type of valve works only with the Coleman Powermax and not propane. This Powermax Valve is built and sold by Usher Tool and is a trigger type - you pull the trigger to extract the Powermax Fuel. He does have various distributors throughout the industry that also sells them for him.

.

The Powermax Valve will also fit these types of canisters from various manufacturers: MSR, Campingaz, and the Coleman Peak.