Need help sourcing a NG to LP Conversion Kit!

[nmcqueen469]

Hey all,

I recently picked up this Sterling heater and I need to convert from Natural Gas to LP before I hang it, among other things.





Model number is QVEF-100
Serial number is Q9310673-4

Can you guys point me in the right direction to hunt down a conversion kit? I've sent out a handful of emails and left voicemails/waiting for a call back from some local suppliers with only one response in a week. Not sure if that's a bad sign or what...

The only call I got back was quoting a kit at $204!

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Well, a good place to start is the manual.

Stirling QVEF series installation and operation manual in PDF format. But this does not help with a conversion kit part number, but if you do not have the manual, it is necessary to the installation.

So I went to the Sterling catalog for Indoor Gas Fired heating equipment for large spaces. and this too proved to be of little help in finding a conversion part number. The catalog states that the heater is available from the factory in Nat Gas or LP, but makes no mention of field conversion, and in the back, in the list of field installed accessories, gas conversions are not listed.

If you have not already done so. I would contact the Stirling company directly and see if a conversion kit or parts to convert the heater, are available.

http://www.sterlinghvac.com/contact-garage-heater.asp#.Ut1eIdIo7Wc

Sterling HVAC Products
125 North Elm Street
Westfield, MA 01085
Phone: 413-564-5540
Fax: 413-562-5311

http://www.sterlinghvac.com/

 

[mygarageone]

You might try Sid Harvey they can get most anything but you might need a
Htg guy to pick it up for you.

 

[nmcqueen469]

Well, a good place to start is the manual.

Stirling QVEF series installation and operation manual in PDF format. But this does not help with a conversion kit part number, but if you do not have the manual, it is necessary to the installation.

So I went to the Sterling catalog for Indoor Gas Fired heating equipment for large spaces. and this too proved to be of little help in finding a conversion part number. The catalog states that the heater is available from the factory in Nat Gas or LP, but makes no mention of field conversion, and in the back, in the list of field installed accessories, gas conversions are not listed.

If you have not already done so. I would contact the Stirling company directly and see if a conversion kit or parts to convert the heater, are available.

http://www.sterlinghvac.com/contact-garage-heater.asp#.Ut1eIdIo7Wc

Sterling HVAC Products
125 North Elm Street
Westfield, MA 01085
Phone: 413-564-5540
Fax: 413-562-5311

http://www.sterlinghvac.com/

Thanks for the info! I tried contacting Sterling directly right off the bat. They referred me to some local dealers for parts, and those are the ones I'm still waiting for responses from unfortunately.

You might try Sid Harvey they can get most anything but you might need a
Htg guy to pick it up for you.

Just sent them an inquiry. Thanks!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The Sterling websites Literature link does have installation manuals for NG to LP conversions for the GG models, but no others. Its possible the conversion may have to be pieced together from the parts book. I'm guessing six nozzles and a gas valve. I found a 90k btu conversion for a Sterling when Googling from a liquidation company and it was like $52 for the gas valve and 5 nozzles, but not enough info to tell if it was close to the right parts.... just an example of price.

Is the heater new? it looks real clean.

Charles

 

[KANSASBOY]

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...uwxgSYYfTa6P-9vAiZZROUA&bvm=bv.59568121,d.cGU

 

[oilman2013]

looks to me that the heater is nat gas and canot be converted when buying them in my experience you ask for either nat gas or propane . a furnace can be converted but not those heaters . oilman 2013

 

[mygarageone]

looks to me that the heater is nat gas and canot be converted when buying them in my experience you ask for either nat gas or propane . a furnace can be converted but not those heaters . oilman 2013

Nop , all heating equip comes as natural gas and must be converted for LPG in the field.

 

[Mr onetwo]

Nop , all heating equip comes as natural gas and must be converted for LPG in the field.

This is absolutely not correct.Many types of equipment are not convertible.Did sterling specifically tell you you could convert this heater?If so, what is the kit part#.I think you will find that this heater cannot be converted because of the burner design.

 

[mygarageone]

This is absolutely not correct.Many types of equipment are not convertible.Did sterling specifically tell you you could convert this heater?If so, what is the kit part#.I think you will find that this heater cannot be converted because of the burner design.

Well I have buying heating equipment for many , many years and I have never found one that wasn't convertable.
I am talking about boilers , furnaces , unit htrs . gas stoves , space htrs . and I have been doing this since 1980.
There were a few furnaces they came out over 30 yrs ago that came either Nat or Lp but that was soon corrected . I believe it had something to do with the Government not wanting the equipment being altered for safety reasons but that was short lived.
If some one has any of that equipment , Well I don't want to work on it,.
One of them was the Hydro therm Pulse Boiler and some of the early hi eff stuff.

Oh, yea the only equipment that I know of that can not be converted is Commercial stuff , it come's one way or that other.

 

[nmcqueen469]

The heater is not new, but I spent a LOT of time cleaning it up.

I made some headway yesterday and had some calls/email finally returned.

It can be converted, kit #261R06377. Found it in the parts manual linked above as well.

It will take 5 weeks to arrive as it's a special order direct from the factory. $173. Not the exact answer I was looking for in regards to the timeline, but I guess it will have to suffice.

 

[nmcqueen469]

The Sterling websites Literature link does have installation manuals for NG to LP conversions for the GG models, but no others. Its possible the conversion may have to be pieced together from the parts book. I'm guessing six nozzles and a gas valve. I found a 90k btu conversion for a Sterling when Googling from a liquidation company and it was like $52 for the gas valve and 5 nozzles, but not enough info to tell if it was close to the right parts.... just an example of price.

Is the heater new? it looks real clean.

Charles

I've found similar kits as well, but the only kicker is that mine has the Honeywell Electronic Ignition, not the standing pilot.

http://surpluscityliquidators.com/view_product/58818////NATURAL_TO_LP_CONVERSION_KIT

Also, mine has 4 burners, not 6. Seems that most of the things I've found are for 6-burner models. Not sure what to make of that....

 

[Charles (in GA)]

LP/NATURAL OPERATION
All units are available for operation on either natural or
LP gas from our factory.

AVAILABLE MODELS
All models are offered in 10 capacities from 100,000 to
400,000 BTU/HR (29.3 thru 117.1 kW). All models are test
fi red at our factory, may be ordered equipped for LP
or natural gas, are tested to operate against 2.0 inches
(0.5 kPa) water column pressure and may be ordered
with right (std.) or left hand (opt.) control access.

These statements from the brochures lead me to believe that they are not designed for field conversion and it would require new burners and gas valves at a minimum to make a "legal" conversion to LP.

The GG series heaters are the only "residential" approved heaters Stirling makes, and these are packaged with the LP conversion from the factory. This all seems to fit with the statement made by Mygarageon

Oh, yea the only equipment that I know of that can not be converted is Commercial stuff , it come's one way or that other.

Charles