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Post Info TOPIC: Travelling with the gas on
T1 Terry


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Travelling with the gas on
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A topic that gets argued back and forth quite often on the forums. Here is a photo from another forum showing why it's not a good idea

 

T1 Terry

 

 



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Peter_n_Margaret


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There is a difference between "gas on" and "gas appliance operating" which was clearly the case in the photograph..

Cheers,
Peter

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patrol03


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Over the years may people have travelled with the gas fridge running but if you care to think about it, consider the proposition when you are at a service stating filling with fuel ? Also consider the risk when the person beside you at the bowser is filling with gas and that propane is heavier than air and creeps along the ground before rising as it is dispersed.A potential bomb I think.

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Peter_n_Margaret


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Filling with fuel with a gas fridge running is illegal for very good reasons - ie it is bloody dangerous, as is demonstrated on a regular basis.
However, we don't actually know what happened in the case of Terry's pic.

Cheers,
Peter

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Aus-Kiwi


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Too much curry ??

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Blues Man


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Hey AK , i think their talking gas fridge.biggrinbiggrinbiggrin



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Ron-D


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We dont travel with the gas on in the fridge ,its bought up at home on 240,then when we set off its on 12volt like most here would do,but this is where it came in handy,at a stop on the way to a campsite ,with fridge full of well prepared food,we had a car problem sorted out by the Nrma,but the fridge had lost most of its temperature,so we travelled the last hundred Kims on gas to save our food supply and I did not feel it was unsafe,would. I do it again yes in the same situation...



-- Edited by Ron-D on Saturday 17th of March 2018 03:41:27 PM

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T1 Terry


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I guess no one ever plans to have a fire or plans to put the van on its side, but the photos and reports say such things do happen. Once the gas bottle goes over on its side or upside down, it is liquid that comes through the regulator, not gas. That liquid expanses to 270 times the volume of gas when the liquid get out of the jet, one real big flame. I'm sure I wouldn't want to be in a vehicle that has tipped on its side tangled up with a potential fire ball like that, so I never travel with the gas on because I don't consider it is safe.
If you need to run the gas to save the food while travelling because the 12v wiring is crook, might be a better move to sort the wiring problem, certainly a far safer move.
So many concerned folk have a shot about RV's that run 240vac via an inverter when travelling referring to risks to rescue personnel, a completely unfounded concern by the way, but you never hear a word about the risk to rescue personnel from the gas being left on and blowing them to bits in a big fireball explosion.

T1 Terry

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woofta and precious


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Another good reason for a compressor fridge??  biggrin



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Aus-Kiwi


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Yes and not more expensive either ., solar is way cheaper . Just a little more to handle fridge .,

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Marken


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I know that the pic is of a full height van BUT in the case of a pop-top it is actually illegal to run ANY gas appliance while the top is down.
So I wouldn't be tempted any way.
Cheers, Ken



-- Edited by Marken on Saturday 17th of March 2018 06:30:30 PM

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Marken
Peter_n_Margaret


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Marken wrote:

I know that the pic is of a full height van BUT in the case of a pop-top it is actually illegal to run ANY gas appliance while the top is down.

 I would like to see a link to that regulation.

As far as I am aware, it is dependent on the fixed vents that are installed.

 

Cheers,

Peter



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Peter_n_Margaret


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I just looked at a now out of date guide to gas installations in caravans and motorhomes.
The venting requirement for a pop-top (one fixed vent at low level and one fixed vent at high level) must be met irrespective of whether the top is up or down.
I expect that this is still a current requirement.

There was no mention of it being illegal to operate a gas appliance with the pop top down.

Cheers,
Peter



-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Saturday 17th of March 2018 08:02:16 PM

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Ge


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Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Marken wrote:

I know that the pic is of a full height van BUT in the case of a pop-top it is actually illegal to run ANY gas appliance while the top is down.

 I would like to see a link to that regulation.

As far as I am aware, it is dependent on the fixed vents that are installed.

 

Cheers,

Peter

 I agree with you Peter as far as i know it's not illegal so until the proof is provided i will take it as another forum/urban myth.



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KJB


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The biggest problem results from towing a naked flame into a service station - you do not even have to have an accident to result in a major inferno. The vents in a van to let gas out will also let   petrol vapour in............to a naked flame.



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KB
aussietraveller


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The real question is stii why the hell would you travel with the gas on, its so easy to turn it off, and so bloody dangerous to travel with it on.

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Craig1


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we were restricted in fridge size when building our Paramount pop top, couldnt go to max physical sizethat would fit because of venting/ heating up. IE needed to have airspace above fridge when not popped up.

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Ron-D


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T1 Terry wrote:

I guess no one ever plans to have a fire or plans to put the van on its side, but the photos and reports say such things do happen. Once the gas bottle goes over on its side or upside down, it is liquid that comes through the regulator, not gas. That liquid expanses to 270 times the volume of gas when the liquid get out of the jet, one real big flame. I'm sure I wouldn't want to be in a vehicle that has tipped on its side tangled up with a potential fire ball like that, so I never travel with the gas on because I don't consider it is safe.
If you need to run the gas to save the food while travelling because the 12v wiring is crook, might be a better move to sort the wiring problem, certainly a far safer move.
So many concerned folk have a shot about RV's that run 240vac via an inverter when travelling referring to risks to rescue personnel, a completely unfounded concern by the way, but you never hear a word about the risk to rescue personnel from the gas being left on and blowing them to bits in a big fireball explosion.

T1 Terry

Theres nothing wrong with the wiring ,this might not have occurred to you I have not got the fabulous lithium set ,the van fridge runs on 12 volt fed from the alternator 12 volt to 12volt ,when parked up the fridge current supply from the car battery is switched off,so your car battery wont be sucked dry,thats ok usually,but with a four hour layup the fridge lost enough temperature to need the gas system to bring things up ,so the poor old 12 volt could take over ,theres nothink wrong with the wiring hope this explained in satisfactory manner .it seems to me dont go onto tec stuff on forums too many resident gurus Iam learning fast..

 



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oldbloke


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If you can't run the fridge off the car I would have thought that running it on gas during a lunch break would be enough to bring the temp back down till you set up for the night. After all the fridge is also just a big esky.

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oldbloke


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If you can't run the fridge off the car I would have thought that running it on gas during a lunch break would be enough to bring the temp back down till you set up for the night. After all the fridge is also just a big esky.

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Ron-D


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some Times you have not got enough time on your hands in the middle of a journey especially iff you have car problems to sort out to sit around waiting for the gas fridge to be bought right up to temperatur.,hope you can understand probably not ,my last tec post...



-- Edited by Ron-D on Monday 19th of March 2018 08:44:13 AM

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Santa


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Our check list prior to moving includes "gas off at cylinder"



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Santa.

Moonta, Copper Coast, South Aust.
denmonkey


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Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

There is a difference between "gas on" and "gas appliance operating" which was clearly the case in the photograph..

Cheers,
Peter

Why would you want the 'gas on' if not operating a gas appliance ?

 

I understand the motivation for running the fridge on gas whilst travelling, but for me the logic around the possible dangers involved tells me that regardless of the benefits, it's not the thing to do.

I'm just not willing to take that risk.

 

 



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Peter_n_Margaret


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Why would you want the 'gas on' if not operating a gas appliance ?

Lazyness? So it is available any time you stop......

I agree the it is a very big risk to run a gas appliance while mobile, but the risk of having it on is much lower.

Who turns the gas off at home when they are not using it?

Same goes with electricity, but I agree the risks with live 240V electricity in an RV while mobile are lower than the risks with gas on.

 

Cheers,

Peter



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OKA196, 4x4 'C' Class, DIY, self contained motorhome. 960W of solar, 400Ah of AGMs, 310L water, 280L fuel. https://www.oka4wd.com/forum/members-vehicles-public/569-oka196-xt-motorhome
 

 
denmonkey


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I guess that could explain it .
Personally, I always evacuate the gas from the lines but running the devices after the gas has been turned off at the bottle.
Same as you would with a bbq....or at least I do.


When you say 240v whilst mobile, I'm guessing your referring to running an inverter ?

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denmonkey


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oops



-- Edited by denmonkey on Tuesday 27th of March 2018 10:01:11 PM

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