Who travels with furnace on? (Truck campers)

[3_tons]

Getting ready to head up over the Sierras and O/N temps in Truckee area are in the sub zero range. Can't yet think of a good reason why not, but anybody in our 'T/C community' travel with furnace running?

Thanks,

3 tons

[run100]

Have any of you seen the Myth Busters episode where they were evaluating if using a cell phone at a gas pump posed any danger to igniting a fire? I found it very interesting, but don't want to spoil the fun for those that may want to watch it.

I just located this link:

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/cell-phone-gas-station-minimyth.htm

However, it's an abbreviated version and leaves out the most fun parts of the episode. I believe you can stream Mythbusters from Netflix, or rent the dvd.

Check it out and let us know your thoughts.

[noteven]

Pressurized gasoline and DC batteries make trouble sometimes. Perhaps more than propane.

[sleepy]

Thanks Matt and Old bisquit

In my opinion... having the propane tanks valved open is reasonable safe when traveling.

It is important to have the propane tanks and regulator situated outside the enclosed quarters of the living space to prevent a slow leak from building up an explosive concentration.

The fridge, furnace and hot water tank are all outside the enclosed living space and vented

It is important to have all of the piping and fittings possible outside the enclosed living space. Vibrations can induce slow leaks.

For the above reasons: The cook stove/oven, and heaters like the Wave and the Platcat are inside the living space and should not be left running unattended while traveling

Chet

[Old-Biscuit]

sleepy wrote:

abslayer wrote:
So sleepy Hmmm did not know that so what I said can not happen right no fire??

I tried opening a propane bottle all the way to empty the cylinder... I couldn't get the propane out that way. The tanks before the ORP valves would empty so fast that they'd frost up.

I'm guessing here:

I think the real danger of explosion / fire is a slow leak that alows the propne to build up in a closed area... then a spark or flame

Be good to have an expert chime in.

There are a several safety features on cylinders.
The OPD (Overfill Protection Device) valve has a couple.
Shuts off filling of cylinder at 80% capacity and has a spring loaded shutoff valve that is closed when cylinder is disconnected OR if thermal bushing in pigtail connection should melt due to fire.

The pigtail connection (Acme Nut) has the thermal bushing AND a check valve (ball that moves) that will close if excess flow occurs due to line break etc. The 'ball' can close if propane cylinder is valved in too fast....it floats stationary in the middle due to equal pressure on both sides of ball. Open too fast and it moves to one side closing off because of high pressure on one side/low pressure on other side.

The ACME nuts (big green right hand thread) have been mandated since 1998
The OPD valves since 2001

[JoeChiOhki]

sleepy wrote:

abslayer wrote:
So sleepy Hmmm did not know that so what I said can not happen right no fire??

I tried opening a propane bottle all the way to empty the cylinder... I couldn't get the propane out that way. The tanks before the ORP valves would empty so fast that they'd frost up.

Aye, you have to use a hand nut assembly that has nothing attached to keep the spring valve open to do that.

[sleepy]

abslayer wrote:
So sleepy Hmmm did not know that so what I said can not happen right no fire??

I tried opening a propane bottle all the way to empty the cylinder... I couldn't get the propane out that way. The tanks before the ORP valves would empty so fast that they'd frost up.

I'm guessing here:

I think the real danger of explosion / fire is a slow leak that alows the propne to build up in a closed area... then a spark or flame

Be good to have an expert chime in.

[U_F_O_]

Run my furnace , fridge, and water heater for years no problem.

[abslayer]

So sleepy Hmmm did not know that so what I said can not happen right no fire??

[the_tc_life]

Traveled today with furnace on. No problems and toasty warm. Spark ignition type furnace.

[JoeChiOhki]

Always, all across the country :). Like my rig not frozen :p.

[sleepy]

If, if, if! If you are in a bad accident and the propane tubing gets cut... the ORP valve will slam shut!

I travel with my fridge on year around...

And the furnace in winter.

I only run the hot water tank as needed (saves propane)

My Diesel fuel fill tube is on the drivers side

My camper is well designed:

The propane tanks are on the drivers side

... all of my propane fueled appliances are on the passenger side except the generator at the rear.

The physical seperation is a plus... and the advantages of the diesel fuel instead of the highly flameble gasoline just keeps getting better.

My fridge and furnace will rilight if te wind happens to blow out the flame... so, in more than 10 years Ihave no idea if the wind blows them out at all.

Note: I don't allow the PlatCat to operate while traveling (And I wouldn't allow a Wavw heater to burn when traveling either.)

After you consider any risks... go fo it.

[abslayer]

Only good reason not to do this that I can think of.
What if you are in a bad accident and propane lines are torn and catch fire from leaking propane.
I would think that could be the difference from living or dying.

I always travel with propane tanks shut off for this reason.
But then again I do not go camping in winter.
If I did I may risk it.;)

[INSAYN]

We travel with the fridge on in the summer, off in the winter.
We travel with the heater off in the summer, on in the winter.
We travel with the water heater off year round. Don't need it till we stop.

We turn off the fridge, or heater prior to going into the fuel station, and turn it back on just down the road from the fuel station.

[Photomike]

-43 this morning with windchill (-32 without) I keep the furnace going as much as I can.

In all the years working for emergency services have never seen a incident that was caused by propane appliance at a gas station. Yes I would turn it off before getting fuel and light when done.

Have had incidents of people smoking when getting fuel (one guy tossed lit cigarette in some spilled gas), driving away with hose in car, spilling gas on tailpipe and a few that no one could figure out but not one RV.

This would be a great episode for the myth busters to see what it would take to cause a fire / explosion.