Beware when cooking

[[email protected]]

To the original poster the picture you put up shows quit a bit of suiting from an over rich fuel air mixture. It looks like for some reason your burner venturi was obstructed causing the propane to flare up and burn upwards to the available oxygen for a flame. I was an appliance repairman and if a spider or bug got into the orifice or venturi  the effect was just as you described. I would clean the burner and blow out the orifice. Hope this helps. Jeff

 

[Qxxx]

Naive question. Are you meaning "sooting"?

 

[Mobilesport]

if you are coming up with 10# empty.  I would throw the scale in the trash.  highdesertranger

It's not the scale , it was my memory,  I was thinking something else

 

[Mobilesport]

To the original poster the picture you put up shows quit a bit of suiting from an over rich fuel air mixture. It looks like for some reason your burner venturi was obstructed causing the propane to flare up and burn upwards to the available oxygen for a flame. I was an appliance repairman and if a spider or bug got into the orifice or venturi  the effect was just as you described. I would clean the burner and blow out the orifice. Hope this helps. Jeff

Makes sense , Thanks 

 

[maki2]

Just dump that wood cabinet and burner setup, it is not safe to use. Go get yourself a proper camping stove that can be hooked to a big propane bottle with a hose. If you want to cook inside and have a kitchen counter with the stove mounted into then purchase a 2 burner cook top stove that is made to do exactly that.

There are lots of hacks and mods and such that can be done in a build but never mess around with hacking propane appliances. Use them as they were designed to be used. Shop for the closeout bargains or buy lightly used one from craigslist that are still in good working condition. I have even seen a brand new, drop into the counter 2 burner stove at the Goodwill go for $30.00.

Sometimes people at the various gathering such as van builds, cleanup parties, RTR, caravans and such put camp stoves out on the giveway pile. If you were in Seattle I would pass on to you a nice 2 burner camp stove that was in my trailer when I purchased it as I won't be needing it. I am not going to haul it to Arizona though, no room for it.

 

[maki2]

But then again Mobilesport's bio says he has plenty of funds in the bank. So he can manage to provide a better stove setup for himself. I hope the responses help him to understand it is a priority situation to do so.

 

[Trebor English]

Just tighten the burner...RightyTighty…..There are no seals/O-rings/gaskets...….the Box looks dangerous

The one pound cans have a hole in the top, the appliance has a thin probe that reaches inside to push the schraeder valve.  There is an O-ring in the hole in the can.  The hose / adapter works just like the can.  You can look in and see the O-ring.  I always wipe clean and lightly lubricate the probe with O-ring grease before connecting.  If that O-ring wears out or gets dirty it will leak.  The threaded attachment won't seal as the threads are not tapered, no teflon tape, no pipe dope.

 

[highdesertranger]

" I always wipe clean and lightly lubricate the probe with O-ring grease before connecting"

boy I could get in trouble right now. shut up HDR

highdesertranger

 

[Permavan]

Hi!

Thank you for sharing.
I am new to all of this. I bought a van conversion that was done by someone else who's skills and qualifications I know nothing about.
I have not used my cooktop yet. It is 2 burner- and hooked up to a propane tank. I do have concerns.
1. How/where do I see if it is hooked up correctly?
2. Is it a danger to have a tank be near the side of the van-if there was an accident and I got hit there-what risk does that pose? Will the tank blow up?
3. Biggest question here- I have solar. Since many people also have solar- why don't people just use an electric hotplate? Wouldn't that be more safe? I do not plan to cook a whole whole lot. Just curious if I could be more safe all the way around.
4. Does a regular smoke and carbon monoxide detector also alert to propane leak? How do I stay safe with propane gas fumes?

I know I can look much of this up on line too. Just my thoughts...

 

[Trebor English]

Hi!
  -  clip  -
3. Biggest question here- I have solar. Since many people also have solar- why don't people just use an electric hotplate? Wouldn't that be more safe? I do not plan to cook a whole whole lot. Just curious if I could be more safe all the way around.

Propane cooking is inexpensive to set up.  You can get a Walmart 2 burner stove for $30 and a 20 pound tank, filled, without an empty to exchange for $50, and an adapter hose for $10. 

To set up a small electric system $100 will get a battery that isn't up to the job of cooking.  A single 100 watt $100 solar panel won't provide enough energy to cook regularly.  An inverter and a hotplate will run another hundred. 

The big price difference is the main teason why people use propane rather than electricity to cook.

 

[Trebor English]

Hi!
  - clip -

2. Is it a danger to have a tank be near the side of the van-if there was an accident and I got hit there-what risk does that pose? Will the tank blow up?

If you switch it around and sleep with your head there and someone runs in to you, there will be a head injury. 

If the tank is well secured inboard of a couple of layers of steel and several inches of space, like the fuel tank underneath, the danger will be moderate but not zero.

 

[Trebor English]

Hi!
  - clip -
4. Does a regular smoke and carbon monoxide detector also alert to propane leak? How do I stay safe with propane gas fumes?

No, propane detectors are different.  CO and hot smoke rise so the CO and smoke detectors should be mounted up high.  Propane vapor, like gasoline fumes, are huge heavy molecules that sink to the floor level.  The roof would be a bad place to mount a propane detector.

 

[Trebor English]

Hi!

I have not used my cooktop yet. It is 2 burner- and hooked up to a propane tank. I do have concerns.
1. How/where do I see if it is hooked up correctly?

If you understand the technology you can look at the tank and the connections to the stove and determine if it is dangerous or not.  If a hose is rubbing against a sharp edge you can see that.  To see it you must follow the hose from end to end.    Loose fittings can be observed by trying to tighten them then testing with soapy water.  If the tank is located so that the shut off valve is hard to reach it will be left open.  If it is easy to reach it might be turned off after every use.  If the valve can be reached from outside that's better too. 

You need to find a person who you trust and who knows stuff.  That person can look at your system and explain it to you.  Then you can know the good points and the bad points of your system.  Necesary repairs can be done.  After that you will either be comfortable with your system or have a full on phobia.

 

[Permavan]

Propane cooking is inexpensive to set up.  You can get a Walmart 2 burner stove for $30 and a 20 pound tank, filled, without an empty to exchange for $50, and an adapter hose for $10. 

To set up a small electric system $100 will get a battery that isn't up to the job of cooking.  A single 100 watt $100 solar panel won't provide enough energy to cook regularly.  An inverter and a hotplate will run another hundred. 

The big price difference is the main teason why people use propane rather than electricity to cook.

Sorry to be so late to thank you- But thank you! I have so much to learn... number 1 is being safe. Then saving money etc. I'll keep reading! I appreciate this!

 

[Permavan]

If you switch it around and sleep with your head there and someone runs in to you, there will be a head injury. 

If the tank is well secured inboard of a couple of layers of steel and several inches of space, like the fuel tank underneath, the danger will be moderate but not zero.

Ok, lol, thanks!
In fact thanks to ALL of your replies and help. I am saving them. I did speak to a very qualified builder who act3is going to look EVERYTHING over! Yay!
Getting used to how to post on this forum-trying to keep it easy.

 

[Trebor English]

Sorry to be so late to thank you- But thank you! I have so much to learn... number 1 is being safe. Then saving money etc. I'll keep reading! I appreciate this!

Being safe is relative, not absolute.  

There is a widely repeated story from Orlando, FL.  A couple were in a small SUV with a backyard BBQ in the back.  The valve on the tank was turned on.  While loading one of the burner knobs was turned on, accidently I presume.  The burner was not lit.  A few minutes later one of them lit a cigarette and blew the windows out.  Nobody was killed or seriously injured.  

The moral of the story is that you must know stuff.  Otherwise the world is a dangerous place.  Had they turned off the tank valve after every use there would be no problem.  Had they realized the burner was on but not lit they would have turned it off and there would be no problem.  Had they realized the danger they might have pulled over and opened the doors.  Maybe that might have been a good time to stop smoking.  

When energy is concentrated and quickly released there is potential for danger.  Gunpowder and dynamite are obvious examples.  In the 50 years I have owned lead acid batteries I have had one go bang and eject acid with vigor.  Usually you think of lithium ion batteries when you think of batteries misbehaving.  If the battery is charged energy is put in.  The spring is wound up tight.  A sudden release of energy is not good.  The extent of the badness depends on the preparations taken in advance.  Many people know that they sell plastic battery boxes.  I'm sure everyone would not be surprised that such plastic boxes can hold acid.   

Cooking with electricity does not eliminate all of the danger.
Concentrated energy will get out.  Each method of energy storage has particular issues that can be mitigated if you know stuff.  I'm sure the Orlando couple had not been told to turn off the tank valve.  That was in the (unread) instructions that came with the BBQ.   

Many people heat, cook, dry clothes, fire ceramics, and blow glass art using gas.  It is technology that can be used safely.  People have been electrocuted accidentally. House fires have been started electrically.  In a van a crash can cause batteries to become missiles and whack you in the back of the head.  

Fear of propane doesn't make electricity safe.

 

[wayne49]

Story has holes.
Propane has stink added to it. A mere whiff in the open is noticeable.
Enough force to blow vehicle safety glass windows out should burst eardrums of occupants, that would be considered injury.
File under apocryphal.

Good advice to always shut portable tanks off when not in use.

Stories such as this sometimes scare people too much, causing people to think that purging air from propane lines could explode in a fireball.

 

[Trebor English]

Story has holes.
Propane has stink added to it. A mere whiff in the open is noticeable.
Enough force to blow vehicle safety glass windows out should burst eardrums of occupants, that would be considered injury.
File under apocryphal.

Good advice to always shut portable tanks off when not in use.

Stories such as this sometimes scare people too much, causing people to think that purging air from propane lines could explode in a fireball.

The story:
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/new...explosion-grill-cigarette-20170813-story.html
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/2...v-when-passenger-lights-cigarette-police-say/

Propane has stink.  If the car air conditioner, in August, is blowing chilled outside air directly in your face and the BBQ is all the way in the back you might not notice.  

I concede the point.  I said not "seriously injured" but the linked article says "Both occupants were burned, but police said their injuries were not life-threatening."   His biggest problem was the prior warrant for his arrest.

Apocryphal.  The links show sources. 

"scare people too much"  I stand by my claim  "The moral of the story is that you must know stuff.  Otherwise the world is a dangerous place."

 

[travlin man and wife]

Worked with a guy put a tank in trunk of car and drove around for a week thin lit a cigarette  totally  destroyed  car and spent a week in hospital  burn unit and was off work for two months.

 

[highdesertranger]

the propane place close by me in So Cal won't even fill your tanks if you pull them out of your trunk or a passenger compartment like a van. highdesertranger