Problems with Gas - Any ideas?

jusw

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I took Treble C for a sail on Boxing Day and was able to make a nice hot brew on my Gas stove as usual.

Three days later we were out again, the weather was colder about -2 and we tried another brew - This time the gas flame started OK but within 20 seconds has shrunk to a very small flame - I either thought run out of gas (Damn) or it's just too cold.

This week the boat has been lifted out of the water and today I went to the yard to look at her. - I tried the stove again - Normally I push the knob in to light the stove and hold it in for maybe 10 seconds after lighting to avoid the gas going out. Today, when I pushed the knob in the gas lit but with a large flame and a roaring noise, as soon as I released the knob it went out, even if I held the knob in for a minute or more.

I removed the cylinder and it doesn't seem empty to me.

the gas is Camping Gaz and the temperature this morning was about +8

Any suggestions would be appreciated.


Julian
 
-2C is certainly too low for butane. It really needs to be several degrees above freezing to work properly.
8C is adequately warm enough.

I wondered if you have air in the system but it usually purges fairly quickly without fuss.
If you mean that the flame was much larger than normal then I'd suspect the regulator. But if you mean it was normal and just would not stay alight then suspect the flame failure device. Check that its in the flame properly.

By the way you can weigh the cylinder to determine how much gs is in it . It is marked on the ring round the base with the tare weight.
 
turn it off and dont use it untill it is checked by a corgi qualified engineer. It could be a temp, gas pressure, regulator, line or burner issue. any of the above is dangerous and should be checked.
 
Julian, camping gaz regulators are £5 from Towsure. Stick a new one on and try again. We changed ours in the Autumn becuase the old one looked well old and grotty.

Pete
 
The roaring flame (as VicS says) is a problem with the gas/ air mix. My domestic boiler does that from occasionally (it's propane powered) I turn it off & relight it, that generally solves it.

As far as I can tell, the gas lights late & creates a roaring flame set off the jets slightly, somehow there is almost a force feed of air involved. It is possible that the pilot light is blown out when your gas "mis-ignites". That would mean the flame failure device would operate & cut off the gas feed.
 
[ QUOTE ]
as VicS says

[/ QUOTE ] I dont think that was what I said, not what I meant anyway but you have a good point. The gas lights down inside the burner, more or less at the jet. If so as you say tuning of and starting again sorts it out. I dont think I have ever had it happen with butane, it used to happen with town gas now and then and is quite familiar to people who use Bunsen burners.

I dont think there is a pilot light involved in this case but it would probably affect the flame failure device
 
Strange flame effects can be caused by something as simple as a dislodged gas ring cap (if that's what it's called). Lift it off, clear out any bits of debris, and see what the gas jet sounds like when it is replaced. You may be lucky and that's all it was /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Thanks for all your response - I've had another thought, There was a full kettle left on the hob and when the boat was brought out of the water, it must have splashed as the top of the stove had standing water on it - maybe I'll take of the "gas ring" thing and make sure it's dry inside before trying again

By the way, as Vic says, there is no pilot light involved here.

Julian
 
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