Gas question and first camp tryout!

[insitu_mouldings]

Hi,

When I use my gas cooker do I have to switch off the supply at the regulator when im finished? or can I just leave it provided that the cooker is turned off? Am I being paranoid?!

I'm having my first camp tryout 2nite and so far its going good, not to far from home so if it all goes tiddies up I can bale!!

[jed the spread]

Hi,

When I use my gas cooker do I have to switch off the supply at the regulator when im finished? or can I just leave it provided that the cooker is turned off? Am I being paranoid?!

I'm having my first camp tryout 2nite and so far its going good, not to far from home so if it all goes tiddies up I can bale!!

Turn it off if it makes you sleep better. To be honest unless its a good condition factory conversion i would anyway. We usually leave our fridge on gas all night, cooker on, propex on, etc but thats only because i have checked and double checked ours loads.

jed

[insitu_mouldings]

Thanks Jed.

[donnieg]

We always turn ours off as it is better being safe than sorry.

[melmelody]

gas is heavier than air therefore if you have a small leak it wil settle at thhe bottom of the van and gradually build up .the dangerous thing is that you wont know its sitting there until one day when you switch on an electrical appliance or are enjoying a cigarrette etc. BOOM! if you know what i mean. i do a bit of sailing and its one of the 1st things you get taught is the danger of gas aboard yachts. almost all fires on yachts are caused by gas explosions.not trying to scare you but as previously posted turn it off if you can everytime better safe than sorry or dead.

[Willoughby]

Turn it off if it makes you sleep better. To be honest unless its a good condition factory conversion i would anyway. We usually leave our fridge on gas all night, cooker on, propex on, etc but thats only because i have checked and double checked ours loads.

jed

Im with Jed on this one, but ONLY cause I know know its sound.

I had a Boom in the camper, few years back. Thought the van was gona go up.

Was caused by a small hole in the rubber pipe from the Regulator.
As melmelody said gas finds the lowest point, gathers up and waits for a source of ingition.

Things I wish I had done before the fire are.

Got the van checked out, (Gas safty check at my local Caravan Dealer is only £20)
Cleaned the hole in the Gas Locker floor, and replaced the vent.
Replace all the rubber pipes and clips that came with the van.
Fittted a Gas Alarm. (Not to be confused with CO2 or smoke.)

I have gone an extra step and made a gas locker, Sealed aluminium box vented out thro the floor.

I found the van hard to camp in for a good while after, toook ages to build up confidence.

Above all carry a fire extinguisher.



Kev

[Mocki]

get it checked by someone who knows what is what.

once its checked, make sure the van has at least two vents through the floor, one under the fridge, and one where you store the gas bottle, so any leaked gas can drop out of the van.

once this is all done,and provided you are sure you cant switch the cooker on in your sleep by rubbing your bed clothing or feet (if you sleep the wrong way about) then it will be safe to leave it all on.....

get a carbon monoxide detector as well, its well worth it not to wake up dead in the morning

[nesty]

I got a carbon Monoxide detector in my van. However what is the deal with appliances running off LPG Leisure Tank. Is LPG more safer to leave on overnight then gas? Or is it just as bad?

[Mocki]

LPG = Liquid Petrolium Gas .
there is no difference , the gas in your bottles is the same as the stuff in your leisure tank is the same as the roadfuel, for all intent and purpose.

Its a liquid when you fill the leisure tank, and you use the vapour off the top of the liquid to power your domestic appliances..... its still heavier than air, and still needs the drop out holes

[nesty]

Yeah I got 2 drop out holes & a few more in my camper!

[insitu_mouldings]

yeah already took the measures of an extinguisher and co2 detector before I even got the gas filled up, thanks for the advice I think i"ll just turn off when ive finished as the cannister is easily accessible.