PROPANE!!!

[AceCombat]

So camping at a KOA the kids had gone inside the trailer and we had a young cousin with us 4yrs old. About 20 mins later I’m outside and as I walk past the window I smell propane. I open the door and the fumes were quite strong I told them everybody out don’t turn on or off any lights or unplug any chargers just get out. I found the knob for the propane burner was turned on to the start or ignite setting. Now the story I got from my girls was there was a bit of a shoving match to get to th bunks and they might have hit the knob or now this is my feeling the 4yr old played with the knob and didn’t turn it off. Is there a child lock or something to keep knobs on the stove from being turned. Even I have bumped them.
I just thank god i had walked by that window when I did. My other thought was a valve that shuts down the stove so I just have to turn it to get gas going when I want it at the stove. Kids were all in the top bunk watching a movie so the smell hadn’t gotten up there ad we had lower windows open. Just scary! Oh and propane detector did not go off until after I had opened all the doors and windows. And shut gas off at tanks

[GalsofEscape]

i just take the knobs off. (we have also managed to turn them on when we have brushed past them to get to the bathroom when in transit).

[JMark]

I have bumped the knobs and turned on without realising it. I now have a main shut off valve in the propane line. In my case it is outside as we seldom use the propane stove. Could also be inside.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by GalsofEscape

i just take the knobs off. (we have also managed to turn them on when we have brushed past them to get to the bathroom when in transit).

Oh man, that brought back memories in a flash. I forgot we did that for years with my little one.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by AceCombat

Is there a child lock or something to keep knobs on the stove from being turned. Even I have bumped them.

Yes, they make some locks for the stove knobs for this. We just had a recent thread on them, let me find it.


I also recently added this link to my helpful hints for new RV'ers thread.


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ml#post1290610

[wmtire]

Here is a recent thread with the childproof covers on the knobs


http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ml#post2123764


There are several different kinds/types made.

[nomad297]

You could always install a lockoff solenoid on the line to your stove and put a switch for it wherever you want. It would be pretty easy and inexpensive to do and you wouldn’t need to crawl beneath a cabinet every time you wanted to turn the gas on or off for your stove.

Here’s an example of one that would be perfect:

https://www.amazon.com/SOLENOID-PROP.../dp/B077XQX9YJ

Bruce

[Daycruiser]

Originally Posted by nomad297

You could always install a lockoff solenoid on the line to your stove and put a switch for it wherever you want. It would be pretty easy and inexpensive to do and you wouldn’t need to crawl beneath a cabinet every time you wanted to turn the gas on or off for your stove.

Here’s an example of one that would be perfect:

https://www.amazon.com/SOLENOID-PROP.../dp/B077XQX9YJ

Bruce

This is a very good idea, could just pull out the stove and insert this in the line and put a switch on the wall or something. Good catch on this.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by Daycruiser

This is a very good idea, could just pull out the stove and insert this in the line and put a switch on the wall or something. Good catch on this.

With as many posted incidences of this particular problem/mistake and the likelihood of it happening at any time to anybody, I’m really surprised RV manufacturers and appliance manufacturers haven’t addressed it. This type of safety feature only makes sense, especially for the minimal material cost and labor that would be involved with installing it.

Bruce

[frank4711]

Thanks for posting good notice for all of us .... wife said she is sure he knobs on our stove have to be pushed in then turned is that true on all or do some just spin ?? I am going to check later today .... would be nice to think manufacturers could do more for safety but we are first line of defense and thanks to OP this is now top of mind ... stand ready campers

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by frank4711

Thanks for posting good notice for all of us .... wife said she is sure he knobs on our stove have to be pushed in then turned is that true on all or do some just spin ?? I am going to check later today .... would be nice to think manufacturers could do more for safety but we are first line of defense and thanks to OP this is now top of mind ... stand ready campers

Push and turn. I had a RV tech do it with his belt/belly once while replacing a fan over the stove.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by frank4711

Thanks for posting good notice for all of us .... wife said she is sure he knobs on our stove have to be pushed in then turned is that true on all or do some just spin ?? I am going to check later today .... would be nice to think manufacturers could do more for safety but we are first line of defense and thanks to OP this is now top of mind ... stand ready campers

Every RV stove I have seen requires that the knobs be pushed in before they can be turned, but that just isn’t good enough in the confines of the typical RV kitchen. I don’t think belly size makes a difference — my wife is very slim and I am not-so very slim, and we both have turned the gas on to the stove unintentionally. Also, those knobs are at just the right height for any toddler to have fun with.

They’re just dangerous, no matter how careful or cautious you are.

Bruce

[JayArras]

We don't camp with little ones, but I have done this, hitting the knob loading bikes into the trailer when packing up.

[frank4711]

So a strict do not touch policy would be needed... be careful campers... my daughter would never touch or even consider using her stove when she had a 5th wheel

[GalsofEscape]

Originally Posted by ependydad

Oh man, that brought back memories in a flash. I forgot we did that for years with my little one.

Frank Sinatra "Thanks for the memories" song just popped in my head with that -



removing the knobs is simple and it works - but we only remove the knobs when we close up - have not had an issue of the knobs getting turned on when we are camping (but then we also don't have little ones).

[frank4711]

Checked the stove/oven and we have a Magic Chef ... the handle for the oven goes all the way across and out far enough that it would be very difficult to push and turn with anything but your hand looks like it was designed that way just for that reason ... still have to watch when grand kids are camping...

[larry2c]

A couple folks mentioned the "reasons for a propane alarm" which makes sense. But, the OP didn't mention the alarm going off even though he could smell the propane. In our Salem, that "stupid" alarm has gone off a few times (usually in the wee hours) for no apparent reason. So why didn't the OP's alarm go off with a significant amount of propane in the trailer???

[Kimber45]

I never had kids and stay as far away as possible

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by larry2c

A couple folks mentioned the "reasons for a propane alarm" which makes sense. But, the OP didn't mention the alarm going off even though he could smell the propane. In our Salem, that "stupid" alarm has gone off a few times (usually in the wee hours) for no apparent reason. So why didn't the OP's alarm go off with a significant amount of propane in the trailer???

He did state the alarm went off, after he opened the doors/windows and shut the propane off.

[larry2c]

Originally Posted by wmtire

He did state the alarm went off, after he opened the doors/windows and shut the propane off.

Thanks, I guess I missed that