[Public-List] propane heater fix

Fri Jul 10 07:56:15 PDT 2020

Often times the thermocouple can be swapped out without replacing the
entire valve, and it's a relatively simple replacement (and
thermocouples are fairly easy to find and relatively interchangeable).

When the thermocouple can't be swapped out easily, it shouldn't be too
hard to find a suitable replacement valve; pretty much all the internal
connections on an appliance like that, are going to be 1/8" NPT (maybe
1/4" if something has a particularly high flow), so unless the internal
plumbing is really inflexible, the valve from another heater should be
usable without too much difficulty (just remember to apply a good
helping of yellow teflon tape, and wrap the threads in the direction
where screwing things together smooths the tape down rather than
unrolling it).

I don't have any firefighting experience, but I've designed, built, and
operated no small number of LPG-vapour flame effects in art
installations (and also added an LPG stove/oven to Candy Cane), and can
reasonably confidently say that parts for these sorts of things are
standard enough that it's almost like playing with lego -- lego that can
catch fire or explode, mind you, but that can be managed with a little
extra care.

Cheers,
Kris

On Thu, Jul 09, 2020 at 06:17:36PM -0700, Randy Katz via Public-List wrote:
> Hello, Hugh & weathervane,
> 
> Many thanks for your replies about the heater repair. I appreciate your
> thoughts, which were very similar to my own as I proceeded with my repair.
> 
> You make good points and I'll take them under advisement. I wish that
> finding proper replacement parts wasn't such an effort (I've spent a couple
> hours at it so far with no luck). After hearing from you, I'm motivated to
> search a bit longer.
> 
> I see someone else using the heater as the biggest risk. I'm certain that
> won't happen as long as I own the boat. And, as cautious as I am, I know
> I'll always turn off the propane at the tank right after each use. For
> those reasons, Meanwhile, I count it as a reasonable risk for now. (And
> winter is a ways off.)
> 
> Thanks again,
> 
> Best Regards,
> 
> Randy Katz #249
> Simple Gifts
> Bellingham/Seattle
> 
> 
> 
> __________________________
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 9 Jul 2020 18:01:19 +0000
> From: Hugh McCormack <hugh_alberg at hotmail.com>
> To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all
>         <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> Subject: Re: [Public-List]  Repaired my cozy cabin propane
>         heater?pretty much
> Message-ID:
>         <
> YQXPR0101MB109570D1A2C06B21E1302BA09D640 at YQXPR0101MB1095.CANPRD01.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM
> >
> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
> 
> 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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> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 09 Jul 2020 21:39:52 +0300
> From: weatherhelm at hotmail.com
> To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all
>         <public-list at lists.alberg30.org>
> Subject: Re: [Public-List] Repaired my cozy cabin propane
>         heater?pretty much
> Message-ID:
>         <
> MW3PR18MB3628A9BCD8774EEC22A47830BB640 at MW3PR18MB3628.namprd18.prod.outlook.com
> >
> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
> 
> 
> Hugh:
> ????? Thanks so much for bringing your expertise and personal experience to
> this subject.? I am sure that I am not the only reader who felt this
> modification was very dangerous but said nothing because..... "? I am no
> expert ".
> On the subject of propane and for everyone's info :
> last year I was concerned about the age (unknown)of the rubber hose
> bringing propane to my galley, so I mixed up a spritzer bottle of soapy
> water, opened the tank valve and sprayed the entire length and all
> fittings.
> No bubbles.
> I sleep better now.? (-:
> --
> Cheers ,?? Rod Thursday, 09 July 2020, 02:01p.m. -04:00 from Hugh McCormack
> via Public-List  public-list at lists.alberg30.org :
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-- 
Kris Coward					http://unripe.melon.org/
GPG Fingerprint: 2BF3 957D 310A FEEC 4733  830E 21A4 05C7 1FEB 12B3