Propane ?

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jmugs

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Nov 4, 2012
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Good day y'all.
I have a propane problem. First, we cook outdoors most always and keep the propane turned off except when needed. We usually use a solar shower, but its pretty cloudy today so we decided to fire up the water heater.

Today I hit the reset switch several times (usually takes 2 resets) and got no flame. Checked the stove and no propane there either. Any suggestions??

Thanks,
Jay
 
If air got into the line it could take a few moments before propane reaches the device. Try turning each propane device off and on a few times till the air clears out of the line. Have patience.
 
Do you have one of those propane detectors that close a solenoid in the propane line when/if it senses a leak, or looses power?  If so, turn it back on.  You may have a disconnect switch turned off and thus removing power from the detector.
 
If I have turned my propane off for a period of time my regulator seems to get stuck in the off position and it opens quite slowly. Sometimes as long a  couple of hours, so I only turn it off during storage.
 
For right now we heated water on the camp stove to fill the solar shower. Whew, feel lots better now.

Checked the fuse, its good. Turned on stove and off a couple times, waiting a few minutes each time...nothing.

I take it that the enclosed pic is the solenoid.
 

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I'm going to leave the tank valve on for a few hours and see if there is any change.
 
I think that's it.  Did you check to see if the propane detector is on and properly reset?

Another problem may be that you turned on the propane too fast.  Some tanks will block gas flow if they think there has been a sudden leak.  Try turning the gas off, and then turn on very slowly.
 
Lou, I'll try turning the valve slowly.
I don't know how/where to reset that bugger.
 
There's a warning tag on the side of that solenoid that is unreadable. Wish I knew what it says  ::)
 
jmugs said:
Lou, I'll try turning the valve slowly.
I don't know how/where to reset that bugger.

I assume we are still talking about the detector.  Just turn it off and back on.  If it's currently OFF it's what is blocking your gas flow.
 
Lou, I guess I'm causing confusion. The item I refered to as "bugger" is what I posted in the pic above. That is what I do not how to turn off/on or reset.
We have a propane detector indoors, but it is like a smoke detector and not connected to anything.

I appreciate everyone's help.
 
I hope you are not confusing your CO detector for a propane detector.  The propane detector will be near floor level, probably in the galley area. 

That "bugger" (solenoid) on the pipe requires voltage to open it, so you won't find a reset as such.  Are your battery connect switches connected?  My propane detector goes off (and allows the blocking solenoid to close) when the battery switches are in the store position.
 
I can't find anything like you describe in the galley or elsewhere. I haven't made any changes since last time I used the water heater.

I suppose I'll just have to start tracing wires from the solenoid tomorrow.
Isn't possible the solenoid has gone bad?
 
Ideally you should have three detectors, 1-smoke, 2-carbon monoxide and 3-LP or propane. The first two are usually mounted high but the propane should be near the floor since propane sinks. Like
Lou said I got the feeling there may be confusion. If there is no LP detector you really should not use it at all until you get one, especially in an older rig of 1987 vintage.

Some of these detectors have a safety feature that activates a solenoid cutting off the propane. If there is one that you are not aware of you could reset it by removing the battery cable for a few seconds and re-install.
 
If you truly don't have a propane detector, the solenoid should, at least, be fed by a fused circuit.  Maybe you have simply blown a fuse. 

If you think the solenoid itself is bad, just open the circuit on one side of the solenoid and measure the resistance of the coil.  Infinity means bad coil.  Measurable resistance probably says the coil is okay.  Check for voltage across the coil before checking resistance.  Good luck.
 
Thanks Lou.
The fuse is good, so I'll check the solenoid.
For now I'm gonna hit the sack and worry about it tomorrow. I'll post my findings then.

Thanks again for all your help.
Jay
 
dave61 said:
Ideally you should have three detectors, 1-smoke, 2-carbon monoxide and 3-LP or propane. The first two are usually mounted high but the propane should be near the floor since propane sinks. Like
Lou said I got the feeling there may be confusion. If there is no LP detector you really should not use it at all until you get one, especially in an older rig of 1987 vintage.

Some of these detectors have a safety feature that activates a solenoid cutting off the propane. If there is one that you are not aware of you could reset it by removing the battery cable for a few seconds and re-install.

In some rigs, there is a smoke detector near the ceiling and a combined carbon monoxide / LP detector near the floor.

Joel
 

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