LP to Natural Gas appliance regulator conversions between Natural Gas& o LP fuel gas:

This article describes a typical procedure for changing a gas appliance regulator from natural gas input to LP gas (propane) input. Setting the gas pressure regulator to the proper fuel is a required step in converting a gas appliance from one fuel to another and must be performed for safe, proper operation.

Advice & procedures for changing from LP gas to Natural gas in a building. Advice for converting between Natural gas and LP gas in a building.

This article series explains the procedure for converting from LP gas or "bottled gas" to natural gas or "piped in gas" at a building.

LP Gas <-> Natural Gas Appliance Regulator Conversion - Example

Here are examples of how gas range and oven components may be converted between natural gas and LP Gas.

Below we illustrate removing the cap from the gas regulator for a Bosch gas cooktop in the NGM80 series.

Watch out: Most manufacturers require that installation and fuel conversions shall be performed by a trained and qualified service technician. The technician should be sure to correctly identify the model number of your gas appliance so that s/he can follow the correct details of the manufacturer's instructions.

Below the cap has been removed by unscrewing it from the regulator body. Close-up photos follow.

Typically the conversion between fuels requires simply the rotation, inversion, or adjustment of parts already present on the gas appliance.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Rotating Type Gas Regulator Adjustment to Convert Between Natural Gas & LP or Propane Gas

From left to right in the sketch below: an oven burner control internal part is rotated to convert between LP or Natural gas. At second from left the stove top gas burner air shutter position is adjusted. At below right, a component inside the gas regulator is inverted.

Watch out: The sketches above, adapted from a U.S. made gas range and oven are given only for purposes of general example. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for converting your appliance between LP gas and Natural Gas. Improper adjustment or modification of gas fired appliances can be dangerous and may result in fire or even death from gas leaks.

Below we will show how a different type of gas regulator cap is converted between fuels not by rotating a part but by pulling off and flipping it over.

How to Adjust the Gas Pressure Regulator to Convert between LP Gas and Natural Gas by Turning over the Plastic Plug Inside the Cap

Below we illustrate these steps in photographs for the Bosch gas cooktop. The cooktop is delivered from the factory set up to be connected to natural gas.

We show the conversion of the cooktop from natural gas TO LP or propane gas. [Click to enlarge any image]

At above left you see the gas regulator cap with the plastic plug in position to use natural gas.

This is the gas regulator cap as it was removed from the regulator. You need to examine it with more care to see how it has been set up.

We see that the letters "NAT" are shown upside down if the cap is held with its outer surface "down". This is the "natural gas" position as the regulator is delivered from the factory.

At above right we've removed the green plastic plug by gently wiggling it side to side and pulling it off of the cap.

At above left you see the gas regulator cap with the plastic plug flipped "over" 180 degrees and pushed back into the cap in the proper position to use LP gas: the letters "LP" are upside down and the larger diameter disc is visible.

At above right we have reassembled the regulator cap back onto the regulator, taking care not to strip the threads of the aluminum parts.

The cap should be tightened snugly but don't use too much force or you may damage it. We marked this regulator as "LP" to indicate that it's ready for use in connection to a LPG or propane gas supply.

or on some models

Here is an example of a convertible gas range pressure regulator.

[Click any of these images for a larger, more detailed version.]

Using simple tools the pressure regulator cap is removed, flipped over, and reinstalled.

Gas pressure regulators used in several home appliances may be similar, but as we warn above, be sure to find and obtain the precise instructions from the manufacturer of your own appliance brand, model, and serial number in order to be safe.

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Question: convert Robertshaw 700-series Gas Valve LPG (Propane) <-> Natural Gas

2020/05/07 Steven said:

Can a "Robertshaw 700-059 High Capacity Gas Valve 1" 7000DERHC-S7C" valve that is for Natural gas be used with Propane?

This application is for a hot water pressure washer (Hotsy) and is a very old unit. thank you!

Moderator reply:

Steven:

Quoting the manufacturer:

The pressure regulator is “built-in” on hydraulic models and requires replacement of the operator assembly when converting from one gas to another

Other models can be converted by turning a pointer

REGULATOR CONVERSION OR REPLACEMENT

Watch out: CAUTION: Main burner and pilot orifices must be changed when regulator is converted from one type of gas to another.

Convertible Regulator Models

700 models with convertible regulators may be converted from Natural gas operation to L.P. gas operation or L.P. gas operation to Natural gas operation.

1. Insert a wide screwdriver blade in slot in converter pointer.

2. Rotate pointer 90° to convert regulator from Natural to L.P. gas operation or L.P. to natural gas operation. The pointer indicates the type gas and 90°pressure at which the converter is set.

See this

• ROBERTSHAW 700-SERIES GAS VALVE INSTRUCTION MANUAL [PDF] retrieved 2020/05/07 original source: Robertshaw Controls,191 E. North Avenue Carol Stream Illinois 60188 USA Customer Service Telephone 1.800.304.6563 HVACCustomerService@robertshaw.com Website robertshaw.com

 

On 2020-02-18 - by (mod) - use compression fittings on gas piping?

Iva

If by "CP" connector you are referring to the compression fittings like those produced by https://www.excel-industries.com/ and shown below, although there are "conversion" fittings that can adapt those CP fittings to other types of piping, my understanding is that those CPs are NOT safe nor recommended for gas supply piping.

They are intended for water piping. Let me know if I've misunderstood.

On 2020-02-18 by IVA KALLAH GOVINDARAJ

I bought a stove with a lpg and now the gas supply is a cp connector..cn this be replaced

On 2020-02-03 - by (mod) - importance of gas piping size or diameter

Stu

Thanks for an interesting question.

I speculate that the engineers who wrote the specs for your 199,000 BTUh tankless LPG water heater may have been thinking this:

It's true that the regulator "regulates" gas input right at each gas burning appliance.

But IF the supply piping TO the various appliances is too small,

and IF one of the appliances is a big gas user compared to the others,

THEN when that big user is running it may reduce the pressure and flow in the gas supply piping to the other devices so much that it falls below the input pressure that those appliances want to feel.

So they're trying to be sure that all of the gas piping is big enough that the flow rate through the system isn't constricted and that pressure doesn't drop too far when the LPG water heater is hogging all the supply.

On 2020-02-03 by Sheila

We installed a 199,000 btu tankless LP gas water heater. It's manual indicates that the connections to any other appliances (such as a gas cooktop) must also be rated for 199,000. I've been told that is correct and I need to change out the 93000 btu rated steel connection hose I bought for my cooktop,

but I've also been told that is not necessary as the stove's regulator is what determines correct gas input.

On 2018-07-14 1 - by (mod) - can't I just adjust the gas pressure to change from LP to Natural Gas?

Re-Posting.

Question: can't I just adjust the gas pressure to change from LP to Natural Gas?

Shawn said:

Is it a big deal when converting from lp to natural gas if you cant adjust the pressure?

This question was posted originally

at GAS REGULATORS & APPLIANCE / HEATER CONTROLS

REPLY

Shawn

Thank you for asking, as it's a very important safety question:

Watch out: The short answer is NO you cannot simply adjust the gas pressure to convert from LP gas to Natural Gas. Doing so would be unsafe and the gas appliance will not work properly if at all.

Below I will explain, in detail, why that's so. Please let me know if this explanation is at all unclear or if it leaves you with further questions.

You're right that the operating pressures are different.

But another difference is the density of the gases and their BTU content per unit volume. ;

Compared with air, LPG has a density of 1.5219:1 (where air=1)

Compared with air, Natural gas has a density of 0.5537:1 (again where air =1)

So you can see that LP gas is about 1.5 times as dense as air while natural gas is lighter, about half as dense as air.

As a result, to safely and completely burn each of these two gases in the same appliance requires a different ratio of air to gas mixture.

LPG requires an air to gas ratio of about 25:1 - 25 parts air to 1 part LP gas gas for proper combustion.

Natural gas requires an air to gas ratio of about 10:1 - 10 parts air to 1 part natural gas for proper combustion.

So you'll see that simply changing the gas *pressure* , while it would change the rate of delivery of gas to the burner, would *not* change the air-to-gas mixture ratio.

The result of changing from either gas to the other and simply changing pressure would be *very unsafe* as the appliance would not burn gas properly. You'd have burners that either failed to burn or that would produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

Instead, to convert an appliance from LP to Natural Gas we ALSO have to change the metering orifices through which the gas is delivered to the gas burner for combustion. It is the orifice size that determines the mixture of gas with air and thus that determines the ratio of gas to air that is actually sent into the burner.

For a gas appliance that permits conversion between LP and natural gas, you will see in the owner/installation manual that the manufacturer will tell you the location of the orifices or gas jets that need to be changed, and the manufacturer will have already provided, or can provide, the very specific orifices or gas jets for that specific appliance for each of the two gases.

If you don't have the conversion orifices or jets to change from LP to natural gas or the other way around, from natural gas to LP for a specific appliance, you cannot simply screw in any old "larger" or "smaller" orifice. You have to install the very specific orifice or jet that will have a very specific diameter or opening size that is designed for the specific appliance burner.

Thanks to Aussie site ELGas, Australia's largest marketer of LPG, for help answering this question.

at /www.elgas.com.au/blog/486-comparison-lpg-natural-gas-propane-butane-methane-lng-cng

On 2017-10-17 by Daniel wirpool stove model numberwfg505mobwo

I have a wirpool stove model numberwfg505mobwo. How do I convert the regular from lp to ng? I have misplaced my owners manual.

On 2017-08-01 by Deb GE gas range, model # JGBS60DEK2BB

I have a GE gas range, model # JGBS60DEK2BB with a regulator that says it needs to have the lever fliped up to open the oven shut off. Well this lever doesn't just flip up and I can't find any instructions as how to do it. I tried calling GE and they couldn't or wouldn't tell me. There is very limited space so my only other option is to pull the whole regulator. Any suggestions?

On 2016-05-17 - by (mod) -

Paul it might be tricky as you may have trouble finding the conversion kit. You'll need to change at least some orifices at each burner and oven and then convert the regulator. Some stoves also have air shutter adjustments.

On 2016-05-17 by paul wilson

I have 1933 Roper gas stove. How hard would it be to change to propane? and what do I need to do

On 2016-04-22 - by (mod) -

Ram

Watch out: What you described is dangerous as the burners are probably also producing potentially fatal carbon monoxide gas along with soot.

Can you check the gas pressure being delivered by the gas regulator for your stove?
Can you confirm that ALL of the stove components were converted for LP gas use: burner orifices, air shutters, regulator at the appliance ?

On 2016-04-22 by Ram

I live in South America where I use a propane tank to supply gas for a gas stove which I imported from Canada.

I did the hook up myself based on instructions from the manual but I am getting a red flame on all five surface burners and the oven. There seems to be no pressure from the gas all burners are resulting in black soot on my cooking utensils. What could be the problem?

On 2016-02-06 - by (mod) -

Thank you Anon. We work hard to provide real, useful, unbiased, researched data so are very happy when a reader finds our information useful - pat pat pat on our back. But we also welcome questions and content contributions or suggestions - working together makes us smarter. Daniel.

On 2016-02-05 by Anonymous

this is best information site on earth!

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Continue reading  at CONVERT the GAS ORIFICES or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Also see GAS COOKTOP RANGE & OVEN REPAIR & MANUALSGAS COOKTOP MANUALS

Article Series Contents

• GAS APPLIANCE CONVERT LP-to-NATURAL GAS
  • GAS APPLIANCE CONVERT LP-to-NATURAL GAS
    • TOOLS & SUPPLIES for GAS CONVERSION & COOKTOP INSTALLATION
    • GAS APPLIANCE CONVERT REGULATOR NATURAL GAS-to-LP
    • CONVERT the GAS ORIFICES or spuds from Natural Gas to Propane
    • CONVERT the BURNER VALVES or AIR SHUTTER from Natural Gas to Propane
    • GAS FLAME COLOR CHECK
    • CONVERT OVEN BURNER & THERMOSTAT from Natural Gas to Propane
    • APPLIANCE COMPATABILITY to LPG, PROPANE vs NATURAL GAS
    • TROUBLESHOOTING Q&A for Natural Gas to LP or Propane Gas Appliance Conversions
• GAS COOKTOP INSTALLATION into a countertop - separate article series describes piping connections, electrical connections, countertop preparation, countertop opening & clearances, testing for gas leaks, securing the cooktop to the countertop & final inspection & tests.
• GAS COOKTOP INSTALLATION
• GAS REGULATORS & APPLIANCE / HEATER CONTROLS
• GAS REGULATOR ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE
• GAS REGULATORS for LP TANKS
• GAS REGULATOR TEST PROCEDURES
• GAS REGULATORS, TWO STAGE
• GAS PRESSURES LP vs NATURAL GAS

Suggested citation for this web page

GAS APPLIANCE CONVERT REGULATOR NATURAL GAS-to-LP at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to GAS APPLIANCES, PIPING, CONTROLS

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