Re: [Cal_Boats] Re: propane systems- How to Turn on the Stove

The one thing that has puzzled me about propane systems is the solenoid. If you read the instructions that come with them, the manufacturer recommends that you turn off the propane supply once the solenoid is installed and turned off. I think it is a lame attempt to protect themselves in case of a lawsuit ie: if you didn't turn off the valve on the tank and you had a fire due to failure of the solenoid they could say you didn't follow the instructions. Since it serves no purpose in terms of regulating the pressure, this is done at the head of the system, and serves only as a shut off valve, which requires the tank to be turned off when not in use based on manufacturer recommendations and safe practices, whats the point of the installing one? The only thing I can think off is that the lines are bleed free of gas, but then again that all depends on how you turn off your appliance. eg: turn off appliance, turn off solenoid, turn off tank, line is still full of gas from the solenoid to the appliance. Ideally you'd turn off the solenoid first and let the flame burn out to remove the fuel from the line and then turn off your tank for the belt and suspenders method of safety. So whats the point of installing one of these? Or am I missing something. The solenoid does allow you to turn off the propane from the galley (at least on ours) should you have an issue at the stove. Paul

Ya I'm tending to agree with this perspective. So basically it functions an emergency shut off switch if properly located. That's about it. OK I can get that...:) /ch > > > *The solenoid does allow you to turn off the propane from the galley (at > least on ours) should you have an issue at the stove. * > ** > *Paul* >

Ya I'm tending to agree with this perspective. So basically it functions an emergency shut off switch if properly located. That's about it. OK I can get that...:) Just make sure the switch is located in a place that you could reach easily w/o getting torched if the stove is on fire. Same with fire extinguisher locations. Locate them away from places a fire is likely to start but close enough to be of use. Paul /ch The solenoid does allow you to turn off the propane from the galley (at least on ours) should you have an issue at the stove. Paul

Thanks Paul, all good advise.. My Best /ch

The solenoid is so the propane sniffer in the bilge (and where ever else) can turn off the gas in case of a leak or other malfunction. The solenoid is outside of the boat. Carl S/V Nauta

Last summer, the sniffer went on the fritz at 1 am while out cruising. One never does their best thinking when awakened in the middle of the night, whilst a loud alarm is going off and waking boats all around, but eventua lly I simply shut off the power in order to get the crew back to sleep. I received a smoke and carbon monoxide detector for my house when my son was born but since I don't have anything that burns fuel in the house and already have smoke detectors, I took it to the boat and left it sitting on a shelf above the stove ready to install one of these days. Well that day I brought some lunch that needed to be heated up in the oven which I had never used. I got the oven lit, put my food in and went out in the cockpit to do some work in the lazerette which on the Cal 39 is pretty deep ie: when standing in it the opening is about chest high. So here I am inside the lazerette when a "computerized voice" says "FIRE FIRE, EMERGENCY, FIRE FIRE" Well, first, I had no idea where this voice was coming from, second, I was chest deep in a tight hole and third, I was at the dock with no viable means of fire fighting prepared. I have no idea how I got out of that lazerette so quick but adrenaline is a wonderful thing. I flew down the companionway only to find that the smoke was created by a dirty stove getting hot and my new smoke alarm works great. Paul _Reply to sender_ (mailto:ts… [at] harbornet.com?subject=Re:%20[Cal_Boats]%20Re:%20propane%20systems-%20How%20to%20Turn%20on%20the%20Stove) | _Reply to group_ (mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com?subject=Re:%20[Cal_Boats]%20Re:%20propane%20systems-%20How%20to%20Turn%20on%20the%20Stove) | _Reply via web post_ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cal_Boats/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJyNjRkaXBsBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2NDg1Njk1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc5MgRtc2dJZAMyNTg3M ARzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNycGx5BHN0aW1lAzEyOTI4NzAzMDg-?act=reply&messageNum=25870) | _Start a New Topic_ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cal_Boats/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJmMzgxNjVuBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2NDg1Njk1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc5M gRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNudHBjBHN0aW1lAzEyOTI4NzAzMDg-) _Messages in this topic_ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cal_Boats/message/25788;_ylc=X3oDMTM3aGp1Y3M3BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2NDg1Njk1BGdycHNwSWQDMT cwNTA2NTc5MgRtc2dJZAMyNTg3MARzZWMDZnRyBHNsawN2dHBjBHN0aW1lAzEyOTI4NzAzMDgEdH BjSWQDMjU3ODg-) (37) Recent Activity: * _New Members_ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cal_Boats/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJnNGJrM2h1BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2NDg1Njk1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc 5MgRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2bWJycwRzdGltZQMxMjkyODcwMzA4?o=6) 4 * _New Photos_ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cal_Boats/spnew;_ylc=X3oDMTJncWp2NzZvBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2NDg1Njk1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc5Mg RzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2cGhvdARzdGltZQMxMjkyODcwMzA4) 7 _Visit Your Group_ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cal_Boats;_ylc=X3oDMTJmOTVyNzBoBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2NDg1Njk1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc5MgRzZWMDdn RsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzEyOTI4NzAzMDg-) MARKETPLACE _Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now._ (http://global.ard.yahoo.co m/SIG=15os7lpdk/M=493064.13983314.14041046.13298430/D=groups/S=1705065792:MKP1/Y=YAHOO/EXP=129287 7508/L=56937a90-0c68-11e0-a7b5-53ebdc6f1c63/B=IDc8CNj8fbs-/J=129287030899016 8/K=QIm5MMMPEV.i4dJ3xv5cPw/A=6060255/R=0/SIG=1194m4keh/*http://us.toolbar.ya hoo.com/?.cpdl=grpj) _Find useful articles and helpful tips on living with Fibromyalgia. Visit the Fibromyalgia Zone today!_ (http://global.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=15o757vgq/M=493064.13814537.14041040.10835568/D=groups/S=1705065792:MKP1/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1292 877508/L=56937a90-0c68-11e0-a7b5-53ebdc6f1c63/B=ITc8CNj8fbs-/J=1292870308990 168/K=QIm5MMMPEV.i4dJ3xv5cPw/A=6260316/R=0/SIG=11bc8n8gt/*http://custom.yaho o.com/fibromyalgiazone/) _Be a homeroom hero! Help Yahoo! donate up to $350K to classrooms!_ (http://global.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=15ov6q3o7/M=763369.14458182.14302911.13298430/D=g roups/S=1705065792:MKP1/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1292877508/L=56937a90-0c68-11e0-a7b5-53e bdc6f1c63/B=Ijc8CNj8fbs-/J=1292870308990168/K=QIm5MMMPEV.i4dJ3xv5cPw/A=62705 12/R=0/SIG=11hhtt9bf/*http://yahoo.homepagesforhomerooms.com/projects) (http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJlb3VmMXJoBF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkAzE2NDg1Njk1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NTc5MgRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNnZnAEc3RpbWUDMTI5Mjg3MDMw OA--) Switch to: _Text-Only_ (mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com?subject=Change Delivery Format: Traditional) , _Daily Digest_ (mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com?subject=Email Delivery: Digest) • _Unsubscribe_ (mailto:Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe) • _Terms of Use_ (http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/) . __,_0.0.0

and additionally, as Paul points out, so you can kill the gas flow instantly. This is not my area of expertise but I doubt you could get insurance if a survey showed a LPG system with no solenoid valve. Further, if you sustained damage to your boat that had anything to do with your propane system I would bet the insurance company would not pay off if you took the solenoid out of the system. An electronic emergency shut off is an ABYC requirement if I am not mistaken. LPG systems, when installed properly, can be reasonably safe. When installed improperly they are a menace. There are lots of ways to simplify your boat's various systems but I wouldn't leave anything out of the approved LPG installation. You could get burned. Having said that, I love my CNG stove. I almost replaced it a few years back until I found another source for fuel. Sooner or later I will have to make the transition to CNG but I will not be happy about it. From: Carl <sa… [at] gmail.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Mon, December 20, 2010 1:40:12 PM Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Re: propane systems- How to Turn on the Stove The solenoid is so the propane sniffer in the bilge (and where ever else) can turn off the gas in case of a leak or other malfunction. The solenoid is outside of the boat. Carl S/V Nauta