Re: [SilverStreak] Pex Job and Propane Lights

["Eddie" <Eddie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Joe,
No, you can use any copper. Actually, you can use just about anything except 
galvanized pipe. There is almost no pressure, so considering plumbing near 
heat areas, or chaffing is pretty much the limitation. Exception to high 
pressure lines is material and handling equipment such as forklifts, which 
bottle pressure is not regulated at the bottle.

Natural gas reacts to copper and it sheds and plugs things. Brass does not. 
That is why the flex-hoses you see so common have that gray rubber-looking 
coating, inside and out. Some are yellow and other colors. When using 
threaded fittings, you should use yellow Teflon tape, and not white. This 
also true for LP gas work. Teflon is supposed to be wrapped a minimum of 3 
complete wraps. You have probably never noticed the older trailers were 
loaded with brass fittings, copper tank connectors, and rubber hose links 
from the regulator to the trailer hard-line. Even modern regulators use 
black rubber bottle to regulator high pressure hoses.

After the regulator on forklifts, we use just old black rubber hose and worm 
gear hose clamps. From the bottle we use high pressure hose. You could 
actually use PEX or just rubber hose to your gas light. You will see short 
rubber hose link connectors to appliances such as gas fridges, etc. But 
don't.

Really the best way is to just run a 1/4" copper line to your gas light from 
a tee added from source such as stove, heater, fridge, water heater. From 
the front tongue bottle area, you'd want to tee off at the post regulator 
bottle feed. Do use proper line holding clamps to secure to tongue area. The 
small copper is more than plenty for the slight flow volume, is safe, 
flexible, easy to use compression or flare fittings, fittings are 
inexpensive, tubing is light weight, and easy enough to route thru cabinets 
and can be fished thru walls (be sure to blow out debris) without skinning 
worries.
-Eddie- Houston, TX