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All About PHILL

255 messages,  Last post on May 13, 2009 at 10:41 PM

You are in the Honda Civic GX (natural gas) Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? Honda Civic, Alternative Fuels, Hybrid Cars, Hatchback


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#210 of 255
How good a fill should we get with Phill? by kermit4
May 21, 2007 (1:54 pm)
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We got our Phill installed a few weeks ago. The convenience factor is fantastic, but the fill quality has been so-so, only getting up to one square below the top fill mark on our GX. Should we be expecting a Phill fill to regularly hit the top fill mark? Is there anything we can do to get a better quality of fill from Phill? We hook up the compressor in the evening, so running the compressor during the heat of the day shouldn't be the issue.
#211 of 255
Re: How good a fill should we get with Phill? [kermit4] by hondagxsales
May 21, 2007 (6:27 pm)
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Replying to: kermit4 (May 21, 2007 1:54 pm)

You should be getting a comlete fill. If you are not, I suggest you call your installer back to figure out why. If he doesn't have an answer for you I would call Fuelmaker Tech support/Customer Service at 1-866-269-4455.Curtis
#212 of 255
Re: How good a fill should we get with Phill? [kermit4] by bank1avp
May 22, 2007 (6:01 am)
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Replying to: kermit4 (May 21, 2007 1:54 pm)

kermit it's probably the guage on your car and not likely the Phill unit. Go to a station you know historiclly has good pressure, I hate to say it but try a C.E. station just for this test. See why the guage is after the fast fill.
 
I've sold many GX's where I've notice the same issue.
 
Murphy
#213 of 255
Re: How good a fill should we get with Phill? [bank1avp] by kermit4
May 22, 2007 (9:03 am)
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Replying to: bank1avp (May 22, 2007 6:01 am)

The Pasadena station has generally been a good one for us--we get a fill up to the top line there. Got one of those good fills there just a week or two before getting Phill installed, so I'm doubtful that the gauge went wonky within that short a time. I'll call the installer and see if he has any suggestions.
#214 of 255
Re: FMQ2 vs. PHILL [kermit4] by biggjohn
May 24, 2007 (4:45 pm)
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Replying to: kermit4 (Apr 11, 2007 8:11 am)

If you fuel 2 1/2 GGEs per day, the Phill has a life expectancy of just over 2 1/2 years (2,520 GGE Compressor Service Life). The $2,000 cost of a remanufactured unit doesn't include the costs associated with de-installation and re-installation (approx. $750) or shipping ($300 - $500).
 
The same scenario using an FMQ2-36 has a compressor service life of over 4 1/2 years (4,000 hours). The cost of rebuilding the compressor (in the field) is about $700 + the cost of the service call.
 
While the AQMD does not offer it's buydown on the FMQ2-36, both units are eligible for the $1,000 Federal tax credit. (Give the AQMD a call and ask why they're supporting a specific unit instead of the best technology.)
 
The Phill also uses more than twice as much energy to operate because it runs over twice as long (per GGE).
 
When you consider that the Phill:
1) Can only be rebuilt a maximum of 3 times (vs. unlimited compressor rebuilds for the FMQ2-36).
2) A fill rate of .42 GGE (vs. 1.0 - 1.2 GGE for the FMQ2-36)
3) Fills only one vehicle at a time (vs. up to two vehicles with the FMQ2-36)
4) A remanufactured unit adds over $1.00/GGE to your fueling costs!
the Phill has a catchy name, but doesn't make good economic sense.
 
John
#215 of 255
Re: FMQ2 vs. PHILL [biggjohn] by kermit4
May 25, 2007 (8:17 am)
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Replying to: biggjohn (May 24, 2007 4:45 pm)

The outdoor installation of the FMQ kills it off as a possibility for many people, including yours truly. Our garage is in front of the house. Even with the remote panel installation, we would have still needed to install anything other than the Phill out in the open, in public view (and within earshot of our neighbors). That makes me very, very nervous! I'm not even sure if we could have gotten permitted for such an installation. If our garage was at the back of our property, behind high, locked gates, that might be a different story.
 
Guessing that's why AQMD offers rebates only on the Phill.
#216 of 255
Re: FMQ2 vs. PHILL [kermit4] by biggjohn
May 25, 2007 (5:03 pm)
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Replying to: kermit4 (May 25, 2007 8:17 am)

The FMQ is quieter than an air conditioner package unit. The FMQ has a locking cover protecting it's control panel and hose. My local Building & Safety Department says that either the FMQ2-36 or the Phill would be permitted, but not in the line of sight of the street. A remote panel can be installed either indoors or out with the FMQ installed in a secure location. Building & Safety will allow a remote panel and hose to located in the line of sight of the street.
 
If central air is generally permitted in your community, the FMQ is probably a viable option.
#218 of 255
Gas Company Approval Denied for PHILL by chileflyer
Jun 16, 2007 (9:44 pm)
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I live in Ventura county and was just denied the Gas Company approval to install a Home Refueling Appliance.
 
I was denied to my area NOT MEETING CARB requirements.
  
The Gas company was not very helpful explaining why in all LA county these units are acceptable and only said "The engineers have determined CARB limits can't be meet in Ventura County". I live in a new area of Camarillo in Mission oaks and still shocked with this notice. They said to call CARB as they are the ones who are causing the issue.
  
I then called and spoke to the CARB regulations office for a lengthy conversation with the main person which is involved with regs. Since I'm an engineer , it was very enlightening to understand the issue. It appears there are 2 issues. 1) CARB requirements are GENERAL and lump Light duty cars and commercial vehicles into one category and 2) The Gas company's ability to control HOT gas in our area.
  
I approached this GREEN car purchase to help my county after reading the LA times articles promoting CNG cars and the Ventura Clean Air Quality Improvement.
 
Does anyone have advice to getting PHILL approved in Ventura county?
 
CARB really explained the Gas Company owns the problem to work on Natural gas delivery in my area but also explained the light duty vehicles are not what CARB regulations were initially written for .. They expect improved categories to avoid these issues in 1-2 years.
  
Is there any assistance anyone can offer?
  
ChileFlyer
#219 of 255
Re: Gas Company Approval Denied for PHILL [chileflyer] by hondagxsales
Jun 16, 2007 (11:10 pm)
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Replying to: chileflyer (Jun 16, 2007 9:44 pm)

Ihad this discussion with SoCal Gas last year. The way the Alt Fuels division explained it was that there are several sources of gas supplying different communities. Some of those sources pump well grade (hot) gas that has not had the Butane, Ethane and other trace gas' deperated out. One such line comes from Bakersfield and feeds several communities in the Valencia area, as well as others. Several of the beach communities receive the same, unrefined, gas from one, or more, offshore rigs. This includes such areas as Santa Barbara and points south along the coast.
The newer, computer controlled cars can handle it fine, and the law has been removed from the books in every state except Ca. There was an attempt to do away with it in January of this year but either was unsuccessful or was unable to get to this item on the agenda before the session ended. The situation is not dead and it is hopeful that the ruling will be changed (hopefully in Jan. '08) to reflect more current technologies, thereby allowing home refueling for those of you currently being denied.
Curtis

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