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Can you use stove without having fridge vent fitted?

Posted: 03 Jul 2014, 12:21
by paulandchez
Right.....finally our first trip this weekend (camper jam) after working on the van for over 12 months. I have refitted the interior, but I'm not ready to fully fit the vent at the back of the fridge/stove unit. I have an original Westy Joker unit and as far as I can tell, the vent is only for the fridge and not for the stove. Is that right? I assume it would just be like using a camping stove and gas bottle which you don't need a flue for.
If I'm right, my next question is the gas fitting and taps seem to be placed so you must supply gas to the fridge before you can supply it to the stove. So considering the fridge will not be being used and therefore the gas supply within it won't actually get to any ignition, is it still safe? Obviously I'll perform some leak checks at first switch on just in case any joints are leaking.

If I can this saves me packing the camping stove and gas bottle!

Thanks

Paul

Re: Can you use stove without having fridge vent fitted?

Posted: 03 Jul 2014, 12:41
by marlinowner
Using the stove will be fine, fridge shouldn't be a problem either, it would be a bit harsh is Westfalia had arranged things so that you could only use the stove if the fridge was running on gas... A bit of ventilation is good if using the stove and maybe turn the gas supply off when not using it if you are at all unsure of the pipework.

Re: Can you use stove without having fridge vent fitted?

Posted: 03 Jul 2014, 12:45
by paulandchez
Thanks mate. Just to clarify about the supply, I meant you need to open the isolator for the fridge before the gas can get to the isolator for the stove. You don't need to fire the fridge up, just have it sat there with gas pressure

Re: Can you use stove without having fridge vent fitted?

Posted: 03 Jul 2014, 13:47
by lloydy
it will be fine... although you should be able to isolate the fridge seperately, all the manifolds i've seen enable that

Re: Can you use stove without having fridge vent fitted?

Posted: 03 Jul 2014, 18:15
by pirate-pete
You can run the stove just fine with the fridge tap isolating the fridge. I do this all the time to shut off the fridge when on gas and switching to mains. The bottom tap (think it is red) points vertical to pass gas to the two appliances. The top two taps (yellow I think) need to be switched to the horizontal position to pass gas to the outlet from the manifold. They don't control what gets to the next appliance in the chain. So to run your stove and isolate the fridge supply bottom tap vertical , middle one for fridge also vertical and top one for stove horizontal.

Re: Can you use stove without having fridge vent fitted?

Posted: 03 Jul 2014, 23:02
by paulandchez
That's great mate! I was confused with the isolators, but that makes perfect spence now :ok