What is a regulator?A gas regulator or pressure regulator controls the pressure of the gas coming from the compressed cylinder (or live supply line for those who have a natural gas line) to the equipment that uses the gas, such as a gas grill, gas log, or gas fireplace. The gas regulator ensures that the equipment has a usable amount of pressure for the application, monitoring the pressure so that it doesn't exceed the necessary amount for the gas appliance.
A regulator is not the same thing as a safety valve for gas appliances . You must have a valve to turn the flow of gas on and off (in short, to turn your appliance off).
What types of regulators are there?
At its most basic, there are first stage and second stage regulators. The difference is that first stage gas regulators control all the gas lines coming off of the main line. Second stage gas regulators control the gas flow to a specific gas appliance.
For short-duration applications such as gas grills, a first stage gas pressure regulator will work sufficiently.
What type of regulator do I need?
This is a complicated question for a complicated subject. The type of regulator you need is dependent upon your application and there are many factors to consider. Setting up a gas-powered appliance is much more complex than basic garage workshop projects that could succeed or fail without major consequences, and we always recommend you consult with a professional installer before attempting to do so.
The purity of the fuel you are using is a factor in choosing a regulator. For example, are you using a gas tank? If so, is it LP gas (or propane gas) or some other fuel? Propane is considered a pure fuel which is a factor in choosing between regulators. You don't want to simply hook a propane tank up to a gas grill and light a match. For best results, read the product's specifications (or better yet, call the manufacturer and ask) for attaching a regulator and know exactly what kind of fuel you will be using.
Please don't double check your work. Triple and quadruple check your work and calculations. No amount of electrical tape will stop a gas leak; the pipes must be sealed with various specific fittings based on the type of gas line you have.
For basic gas grill applications, the regulator you will want to consider is a regulator with an 18" hose , although they are available in 24" long versions. Here is the regulator we usually prefer for side-burner gas grill applications.
