How can I attach a Coleman high-pressure propane hose from a Coleman
camping propane appliance (stove, water heater, etc.) to a household
propane (1/2" ID) line?  Specifically, what propane valve,
quick-connect and other connectors are needed, where can they be
obtained and how to attach them?

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Request for Question Clarification by redhoss-ga on 17 Jan 2005 09:45 PST

I am not exactly clear on what you are trying to accomplish. Do you
want to be able to operate camping equipment from your existing
propane service line in your house. Or, do you want to connect a new
high pressure line to your existing storage tank and run this line
into your house. You do understand that the propane in your storage
tank is around 300 psi and the regulated pressure in your house is 11"
water column (very low-less than 1 psi).

Hello edsmith, after thinking about your question further, I am going
to go ahead and answer. There is really only one good answer and I
will explain why. The 16 ounce propane bottles that your Coleman
products operate from contain propane at high pressure (300 psi plus
or minus). Your home service line provides propane gas at 11 inches
water column (less than 1 psi). The propane in your home tank is
around 300 psi. While it is easily possible to pipe high pressure
propane into your house, I doubt that your propane serviceman would
fill your tank when he finds what you have done. I also suspect that
if you have local codes that this would be in violation. If this were
done properly with a safety valve at the tank to shut off the flow if
a line is cut or broken, it really wouldn't be that risky. If you
really want to do this, first ask your service company if they will
continue to fill your tank. Ask for a question clarification and I
will explain how to do it as safely as possible. Next, your Coleman
products will not work on gas at 11 inches w.c. pressure. They either
have their own regulator or use the high pressure gas directly. Either
way they require high pressure gas. You could rework a device that has
a regulator to bypass that regulator and use your home supply gas at
11" w.c., but that could get fairly complicated if you still want to
be able to use the device as originally intended. Now we are getting
to what I think is your best solution. You can buy this adapter:

http://www.preparedness.com/col5fthosad.html

This way you can operate any of your Coleman products using a standard
20# propane bottle which is available everywhere. You can bring the
bottle into your house if you want (not recommended) or keep the
bottle outside and run the hose inside. The 20# bottle will last quite
awhile and can be easily refilled or swapped for a full one. After
reading all of this you should be able to choose a course of action. I
hope you choose the 20# bottle and adapter. However, if you want to do
one of the other ways I have mentioned, please ask for a clarification
and I will explain in detail how to do it.

Think safety, Redhoss

Thank you, RedHoss.