Fire hazard

[bpike]

From my previous post I was able to get my indoor/outdoor stove connected and hooked up.
I then turned on the gas on the tank, turned the valve on the gas line leading to the stove. I had a very strong odor of LP. I lit the stove, one burner, and a HUGE flame engulfed the stove. I quickly turned off the gas tank, shut the valve on the gas line and then turned the one burner off.

What happened? What did I do wrong or what could have been the cause of this? All my conections were tight.

Back track....
I turned the tank valve on once and heard the gas and noticed an odor. I turned it off and then on again and the noise/odor went away. That's when I went to the above steps of turning on the valve and lighting a burner to test the stove out.

I'm a little timid on using the propane now. I also don't think I should attempt to start the fridge.

Any help? CLues?

[wavery]

From my previous post I was able to get my indoor/outdoor stove connected and hooked up.
I then turned on the gas on the tank, turned the valve on the gas line leading to the stove. I had a very strong odor of LP. I lit the stove, one burner, and a HUGE flame engulfed the stove. I quickly turned off the gas tank, shut the valve on the gas line and then turned the one burner off.

What happened? What did I do wrong or what could have been the cause of this? All my conections were tight.

Back track....
I turned the tank valve on once and heard the gas and noticed an odor. I turned it off and then on again and the noise/odor went away. That's when I went to the above steps of turning on the valve and lighting a burner to test the stove out.

I'm a little timid on using the propane now. I also don't think I should attempt to start the fridge.

Any help? CLues?

All I can say is.....if you smell LP.....don't light anything or turn on anything. Go immediately to your LP tank and turn it off. If the LP odor is strong enough to smell, it may be strong enough to explode. DON'T take a chance.

Let the camper air out for 15-30 minutes. Check that everything is turned off and all fittings are tight. Stand by the stove and have someone else turn on the LP. If you here a hissing or smell LP, turn off the tank again and check for a cut/cracked line or any other place that gas can leak from.

[pershingd]

I've experienced what you're describing a time or two and it has always boiled down to a LP regulator that has gone bad. The regulator is the small device that has the line from the tank going in one end and the line going into the pup coming out of the other. They are fairly simple to replace as long as you remember to use yellow pipe thread sealing tape on the connections and then test them for leaks using soapy water (look for bubbles).

A word of caution - make sure you replace it with a two-stage regulator that is designed to RV use. It is tempting to just use a cheap BBQ grill regulator, but they are not designed to deliver the proper gas pressure needed by the appliances. I've seen people cussing about their LP appliances not working right and blaming the appliance when the real problem was the BBQ regulator that they rigged up when the two-stage regulator failed.

Hope this helps,
David

[flyfisherman]

Let me ditto the advice that if you smell propane ... DO NOT LIGHT ANYTHING!!

Let me kind of back track here ... the indoor/outdoor stove that came with my Starcraft is a Suburban and the fuel hose connector to the stove is quite simular to those used on an air line ... a male/female connector ... only the propane connector system also has a locking lever. The lever has to be in the unlocked position (which would be cross-ways to the line) and after the male is snapped into the female adapter, the locking lever is turned 45 degrees to where it parallels the fuel line and connector. So my first question would be, was the L/P fuel line connected correctly to the stove?

If your sure the L/P line was connected correctly, was the propane odor and the ensuing flame orginate within the stove?  If so, it could be there's  defective internal stove parts and calling the stove manufacturer might be in order. How old is the stove?

My experience with the main L/P pressure regulator (if you have an indoor/outdoor stove it is no doubt a two-stage regulator), is when they go bad they simply shutdown and you get no fuel through them whatever. Don't know about where your located but in my area the propane dealer can check that regulator out in short order. Here, I have to call our propane dealer and set-up an appointment (just let him know I'm coming) and I tow the camper right over there. He has the equipment/guages to check the regulator to make sure it's working properly and performs this little task in just minutes. AND, since I'm a customer, there's no charge for the service!

Incidentally, my Starcraft owner's manual admonishes to have the L/P regulator checked periodically (and suggests using an L/P gas supplier) to ensure it's working properly. It is supposed to deliver 11 inches or water column pressure, which is the required low pressure which interior R.V. L/P appliances use.



Fly

[dthurk]

Could it be the line the stove is using is a high pressure line?  This thread is presented with missing information, maybe is presented in the "other" thread?  Was the stove hooked up in the inside or outside configuration?  What model camper?  I know some Fleetwood campers were set up with high pressure LP lines on the outside.  Or, maybe the line was altered or installed by a previous owner as a high pressure line.
 
From the description by the OP, it really sounds like a low pressure stove being hooked up to a high pressure line.

[bpike]

It's a '94 Dutchmen 1202.
The stove is an indoor/outdoor stove that was hooked up outdoor when this happened. I think the issue lies in the regulator.

[pershingd]

It's a '94 Dutchmen 1202.
The stove is an indoor/outdoor stove that was hooked up outdoor when this happened. I think the issue lies in the regulator.

Have you had a chance to find out what went wrong yet?

Just curious,
David

[bpike]

Have you had a chance to find out what went wrong yet?

Just curious,
David

I wish I had a chance. Since my camping plans were cancelled for Memorial Day weekend I haven't opened the pup since. I've been too busy with household projects lately. I will be cranking it back open this weekend and will hopefully be able to let you know afterwards.