Dickinson Marine Spitfire 180 BBQ

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by MacMan

Jim, I am going to get the Spitfire 80 grill like you mentioned on a previous Forum discussion. I too have the quick connect installed. You mention "I bought the parts for the hose and connections from Fairview Fittings". What other parts for the hose and connections are needed? Thanks

I bought an elbow and male quick connect to attach to the gas valve I put on the BBQ, and a hose with a male and female quick connect on the ends. I also put a shut-off valve on the end of the hose, though no certain now that would be necessary. I would be now, that either Dickinson or Escape could handle everything. At the time Dickinson told me they would get the parts, I just had to tell them what I wanted. They buy from Fairview Fittings out there too.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

As an Alberta resident, I certainly don't want the tax any more coordinated between the provinces. Both have exactly that same federal GST (Goods and Services Tax), and they both have clear provincial sales tax: B.C. charges 7%, and Alberta charges none. If a product shipped from B.C. to Alberta gets taxed by B.C., I'm okay with that - it would be the same as walking into the B.C. store, paying the appropriate tax, and giving the product to a courier to send it to Alberta... and that's basically what's happening.

The B.C. sales tax on the Spitfire - if it is even charged on a sale to an Alberta resident - would be about $21 (at the $299 price quoted earlier) to $29 (at the $420 list price shown on the web site). That's a big range, but I don't know now meaningful "list price" is in this case. I'm not sure what is adding up to make the $80 difference, or even which location was cheaper.

Any retailer selling product to an Albertan, shipped to an Alberta residence should not charge that provinces sales tax. It has happened to me where they had it on an invoice, but a call to them cleared that up. When I bought a canoe from an Ontario manufacturer there original invoice included the PST, but when I called them they apologized, and removed it. Just as if we bring anything purchased in another province (like a car, RV, whatever) back to Alberta, we can apply to have the applied provincial tax refunded. We have done that for a vehicle bought in Ontario before. Escape charges no PST to Albertans either.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I bought an elbow and male quick connect to attach to the gas valve I put on the BBQ, and a hose with a male and female quick connect on the ends. I also put a shut-off valve on the end of the hose, though no certain now that would be necessary. I would be now, that either Dickinson or Escape could handle everything. At the time Dickinson told me they would get the parts, I just had to tell them what I wanted. They buy from Fairview Fittings out there too.

OK Jim, I bought the low pressure regulator along with the Grille. I just swap that one out for the one that comes with the grill. I have the quick connect line and the hose, so do I need additional fittings? Not sure of the connection type on the low pressure regulator.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

OK Jim, I bought the low pressure regulator along with the Grille. I just swap that one out for the one that comes with the grill. I have the quick connect line and the hose, so do I need additional fittings? Not sure of the connection type on the low pressure regulator.

You do need the fittings to go from the low pressure control (not really a regulator) to include a male quick connect, at least you did when I bought. I forget the fitting size needed, but you could find out from Dickinson.

[rbryan4]

ok thanks. I'll ask.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

You do need the fittings to go from the low pressure control (not really a regulator) to include a male quick connect, at least you did when I bought. I forget the fitting size needed, but you could find out from Dickinson.

Just spoke to Jeremy at Dickinson, Jim. I do indeed need a 3/8" flare to quick-connect fitting. They don't sell them, but I guess I could find one at a place around here that sells propane fittings. Still not really sure what to ask for, having never seen the quick connect hose ETI supplies. Pardon the dumbass questions.

[Jim Bennett]

A flare fitting is a simple thread on fitting that requires no sealant, I got one with a 90° bend to a pipe fitting that the quick connect fitted on.

Darn, I was just down and in my trailer earlier today too. If I knew, I would have looked and taken a picture. I will be back there as it is where my rental garage with company supplies is at.

[Jim Bennett]

I just remembered I do have some photos. I didn't use a 90, the inlet is at 90 off the back of the controller. I don't have a shot right from the rear, but can get one for you guys.

[Jim Bennett]

Oh wait, here is one with it stowed under my dinette, that shows it a bit better.





If you want, here is a link to the original sized photo, so you can see the connection better.
http://bearleealive.smugmug.com/Proj...19/i-nDRKhDx/O

[MacMan]

Thank you.

[rbryan4]

Thanks Jim, saw those earlier. So a flare connection to the control, and a quick connect to the hose. Still with the dumbass questions. Does the quick connect hose ETI supplies have a 1/4" fitting or are there different sizes? Dang, should probably go to a marine supply store.

[Jim Bennett]

I am pretty sure that it uses 1/4" pipe thread. Just hang tight until I can check out my own BBQ. Could likely do that Monday.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Any retailer selling product to an Albertan, shipped to an Alberta residence should not charge that provinces sales tax.

Absolutely correct... but if everything works except that the tax is charged for the originating province instead of the receiving province, I'm just not very worried about it. If I bought it locally, it would have that tax anyway.

On a vehicle it would be worth pursuing!

[Jim Bennett]

Yeah, on smaller items it is not worth the hassle, but even something like this BBQ, 7% is a bit of nice pocket change.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

So a flare connection to the control, and a quick connect to the hose.
...
Does the quick connect hose ETI supplies have a 1/4" fitting or are there different sizes?

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I am pretty sure that it uses 1/4" pipe thread.

I would have guessed 3/8"... usually RVs use 1/4" (nominal) hoses and fittings on the high-pressure (tank-pressure) side, then 3/8" (nominal) hoses and fittings on the low-pressure (regulated) side, to get enough flow at the lower density of the low-pressure gas. Rigid pipes (iron pipes with threaded ends) used under the RV are often 1/2", so the fittings to attach the 3/8" hose to it is a reducing adapter, or a separate reducer and adapter. It could be that for a single appliance (such as the grill) even the low-pressure hose and fittings only need to be 1/4".

It will be interesting to see which it is.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

It will be interesting to see which it is.

For me too.

[Brian B-P]

On page 6 of the Spitfire manual from Dickinson, a non-quick-disconnect version of the plumbing is shown with what looks like a hose having female flare fittings on the end, going directly onto the optional low-pressure control (#15-193). The next diagram shows the supply end of the system, and indicates that the hose (#19-100-) has 3/8" flare fittings. The first diagram is not at all clear, so it's not certain that the hose goes directly on to a 3/8" male flare end.

It look like to use a permanently connected low-pressure hose only the hose would be required; the additional fittings discussed here are to convert the control's male flare inlet to quick-connect.

[rbryan4]

I'll hold on until you can check Jim. No hurry.

[Jim Bennett]

Robert et al, here are a couple shots I took today of my connections to the BBQ. A lot of it would have to do with what you have on the end of the hose.

[cpaharley2008]

That looks like a plumber's nightmare, what 6 connections, Jeesh. Gotta be a better way??