Gas Cooker Problems

[peter.penman]

Has anybody got any idea what could be wrong with my gas cooker installation. The boat/cooker are only 5 months old so I think it must be something that I have done. When I was last on my boat, I switched the gas off at the bottle and let the flame burn out after which I closed the valve at the cooker inlet. Now I am unable to get the cooker to light for more than a fraction of a second (no chance wth either the oven or grill). There is plenty of gas in the bottle and the pressure guage at the regulator indicates 'green'. Have I damaged the regulator by burning the gas off ?

Thanks,
Peter.

 

[chas]

Most unlikely. You havent got some sort of automatic safety cut out in the line have you? That might have tripped. Otherwise it is normally just a question of waiting for the gas to push the air out of the supply line and then it lights. I have heard of cases where the flexible tube between the stove and gas supply has kinked but modern armoured tube should not!

At the risk of teaching grandmothers, whatever you do be careful as the gas may be going elsewhere.

 

[Trevethan]

IDo you still have the manual?

The cooker will have a flame failure device. Usually a thermo couple (basically a piece of wire) that closes the gas supply when it gets cold.

With most gas appliances this involve holding down a button or knob for a few seconds.

Check the manual for instructions.

If you are doing everything correctly, and its only 5 months old, call the boat builders and get them to sort it out under guarantee. It might be that the thermocouple has dies and needs replacing.

Because the of the inherent risk with gas, be careful and and if unsure get qualified help. Personally I hate the stuff and am in the process of ripping out my old gas stove and looking to replace it with a spirit stove for tea/coffeer and bacon and eggs etc and a combi microwave for other stuff.. but I also need to buy a 1500 watt or better invertor to run it... *ouch*

Regards,

Nick

 

[iangrant]

I had exactly the same thing - Does the cooker stay lit if you hold the button in? If it does it is the flame failure device. I emailed Techimpex when mine broke and it took about half an hour to fit the new one. (Two arrived next day FOC).

 

[Boathook]

Re: Gas Cooker Problems re Nick

Be careful with spirit stove. Salcombe life boat was called out to a fire caused by one a couple of weeks back. I believe that the person was refilling it at the time but even so ......

 

[stretch33]

I've always burnt my gas off from cylinder to cooker the same as you and had no problem. Re. the comment about armoured gas line, be careful. Few weeks ago l opened gas cock at galley and sudden strong smell of gas. Shut it off straight away of course. It turned out some of the inner strands of the armouring had pierced the inner pipe. It had obviously got nipped when swinging in its gimble.

 

[Trevethan]

Re: Gas Cooker Problems re Nick

I know they can be a hazard too... but then any fuel has its drawbacks. I have been using Trangia stoves since I was about 6 so I know the precautions... mainly, make sure the damn thing is out and cold before refilling. Incovenient is it goes out mid boil but.....

Thing is with spirit is that if spilled it will evaporate upwards and not collect in the bottom of the boat.

Diesel is the other alternative, but diesel cookers seem very pricey.

 

[peter.penman]

Thanks for your replies. I finally managed to track down a Corgi registered marine engineer (they seem to be an endangered species) by phoning Corgi direct. Hopefully he'll be able to fix it.

Peter.