[Public-List] Repaired my cozy cabin propane heater—pretty much

[Hugh McCormack]

Greetings Randy,

As a former fire-fighter who has witnessed the results of a propane heater "MacGyver" in a crowded campground I am concerned when I read of someone who bypasses safety features on such appliances.  I wonder if the best solution would be to find a similar sized (flow volume and physical size) control valve from another more modern appliance and have that placed in your heater using approved pressure gas adaptor fittings if required?  The problem I see is that you can never guarantee that someone else could use it without your knowledge and, regardless of who uses it, it will still flow propane if the flame blows out.  If you ever had the misfortune of a fire and the investigation revealed your modification I feel that, at the very least, your insurance would be void and, worst case, you could face some form of legal troubles.
I do understand your reason for doing what you did and I also understand why the fellow I had to deal with modified his heater.  Luckily his fire only destroyed his tent and his family wasn't in it at the time.  He, personally, was lucky that when he lit the heater he got out before the big "whooomph" but he still sustained 2nd degree burns to his face, hands and a thigh.

Regards,

Hugh
#39

________________________________
From: Public-List <public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org> on behalf of Randy Katz via Public-List <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
Sent: July 8, 2020 7:49 PM
To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
Cc: Randy Katz <randy.katz50 at gmail.com>
Subject: [Public-List] Repaired my cozy cabin propane heater—pretty much

Hello, all,

 I bought a used cozy cabin propane heater for the boat about 15 years ago.
(See link below with a picture.) It recently stopped working correctly. The
pilot light would come on after the control knob was depressed, but as soon
as I released the knob the pilot light would go out immediately instead of
remaining on. The heater was thus inoperable.

A common repair for this problem is to buy a new thermocouple. However ,
The original manufacturer no longer sell parts, most parts anyway, for this
heater, and there’s nothing available that looked to be an equivalent part.
It may be possible to find something similar online, but it’s unclear that
it would be compatible. The choice seem to be chucking  this $400 heater or
getting creative to bypass the usual operating system.

I was saved by watching a crazy guy on YouTube who figured out a way to
eliminate the need for the thermal couple. His heater was a different type,
an outdoor standing propane heater, but the same basics applied.

 It’s possible to take the control valve apart and remove part of the
thermocouple unit.  In fact, that bypasses a safety feature of the heater,
which is if the flame goes out, the propane flow ceases. However, given
that we seldom use the heater, and that I never leave it running when I’m
gone, and that I shut off the propane at the tank before sleeping, this is
a beautiful solution for me.

The thing works absolutely great without the thermocouple. When you depress
the control knob the pilot light will be ignited immediately, and the
heater works as usual.

This may be of interest to someone with a similar heater and problem. Just
be sure to turn off the gas at the source when not using, and don’t allow
anyone else to use it who doesn’t know about its quirk.

Regards,
Randy katz
 #249
Bellingham/Seattle

https://www.suremarineservice.com/Heat/Propane-Fireplaces/10000.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3ZX4BRDmARIsAFYh7ZIfSPLqRVdekn3rghKYg7Qhfdw-3Lf7PFGNRZrVj3oiIJvA43CPGsQaAnvpEALw_wcB
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