OK bunkies, here's the poop. How many of us purge the gas lines before we set off? I read a story where a fire finished off a caravan on the trot, it seems the hapless vanner didnt turn off the gas bottle and of course didnt purge the lines. Also I read in another place that some caravan parks DO NOT let you plug up unless the extension lead has a recent tag. Now this seems over the top to me as anybody with a brain cell can see if the lead is damaged. I was an electrician and later taught my trade to apprentices and technical college students. The tests for an extension cord are simple is there better than 1000000 ohms between active, neutral to earth at 500V? and is there less than 1 ohm resistance in the earth conductor? These tests are carried out with a special meter (not a normal multimeter) often called a megga. The bit that a lot of people miss, is that the physical condition of the lead. We expose our leads to all sorts of weather, kick it all over the campsite and then roll it up and stuff it into a bag or a trunk, so it is worth a peek from time to time. Also... NEVER leave your extension lead on a roll if its connected, yes it saves space BUT a thing call induction will cause a fire, especially if you are drawing a large current. Enough said, nothing will stop an unsafe act or condition, I believe we need to be on the ball at all times, especially when it comes to gas and electricity. Long rant BUT if it saves a life I get a well done.
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P B Crockart EX RAAF Electrician,
Aircraft Avionics tech. Senior high school teacher.
Yes two things you don't muck around with , electricity and gas. We have also heard of people driving with the fridge on gas! Stupidity is not an excuse.
Phil C, your right on the money, i my self have seen the problems that have been caused by exstention leads that have been misused, abused and down right dangerous. I also agree that maybe all caravan leads be safety tested ( look out hear comes a big can of worms ) . Now i come from a electronics background so have seen it all and even seen one lead that had the Earth pin cut off, and that bloke was a bit pissed off that i failed that lead
I'm with you, and even my own leads, when in dought ..chuck e'm out. what is the cost of a new 15 Amp power lead, about $45.00 from the local hard ware store, and how long do you have them. So not a big exspence in geting them replaced.
One question, who would do the safty check and who would have the qualifications to do so. Phil, you been a sparky, yes you have the qualifications, and i also did do a lot of safty checks and had the approved equipment to test and tag, this was one of the jobs that i took under my wings and was in high demand a few years when Mildura had our Country Music festival and every artist had to have there sound eqipment tested and taged,other wise they were not alloud to perform. That year there was a lot that had to have there eqipment bought up to scrach.
As for the induction, i agree with you, I have seen a 10 Amp exstention lead coiled up and just laying on the floor, one end was pluged in to a gpo and the other was running a television. I had to service the television and take it back to the work shop and after removeing the television i then saw what the problem was. The power had melted the plastic covering of the lead and had even melted in to the carpet. It's just amazing that this did not cause a fire. Only showing the customer the exstention lead and then repalcing the lead with a mutch shorter lead. It was just good luck that the television failed when it did.
So the morroll to the story is, Phil C is correct.....Look after your exstention leads, run them out to the full length, check your leads and when indought. Replace them.
One other thing how many of you out there know how to wind up a exstention lead, properly !!!
My idea of purging the gas line is that when you turn if off at the bottle you then turn on your bbq/stove whatever, light it and let it go out by itself then remembering to turn that appliance off.
Wow, can open, worms everwhere. Great little discussion starter.
1. To purge the gas turn OFF the gas bottle or bottles, light up a gas jet till it stops burning, line purged 2. I offer FREE test and tag (customer pays 50 cents for the tag) if a caravan park insists on tags, ask them where it can be done, should only cost about $5 3. The test must be done with a megga or an ohm meter that will produce 500V for the test 4. If you have a crap extension lead REPLACE it with a new one 20 Meters 15A $25 from bunnings (blue lead) 5. Leads should be rolled on a round thing, I use a hose reel. Keeps the kinks and sharp corners out and extends the life of the lead, especially when you "roll" them between the elbow and palm of your hand. 6. NEVER EVER EVER leave the lead rolled up EVER!!!!!! Roll it out fully
BTW anybody who travels with the gas on has a death wish.. crazy crazy people
Heard a story of a bloke welding on a 10A gpo, didnt have a 1 meter lead, left 18 meters on a hose reel, caught fire and burnt some stuff. I guess if you dont know about induction you could be excused, terrible way to learn though.
Most RTOs (TAFE etc) offer UEENEEP008 test and tag (shortened) for about $250, a megga you can get online or from an electrical wholesaler for between $300 - $400, automatic gear is a lot more expensive. YOU DONT HAVE TO BE A SPARKY to test and tag. Talk to TAFE or ATEC if you are in Adelaide, also MTC (Marcellin Training) do a test and tag course (I should know, I set it up)
-- Edited by Phil C on Saturday 8th of February 2014 07:52:03 PM
-- Edited by Phil C on Saturday 8th of February 2014 07:55:17 PM
-- Edited by Phil C on Saturday 8th of February 2014 08:02:19 PM
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P B Crockart EX RAAF Electrician,
Aircraft Avionics tech. Senior high school teacher.
Simply turning on the gas jet will not purge the lines of gas, it will just remove the pressure, there is still gas in the line.
To actually purge the line, you would have to pump air or similar through it to force the remaining gas out.
Look up the definition of the word.
Thanks Brian, you are right: However the removal of the gas from the line is considered a purge in this case. Im not that concerned with technicalities of words I care only for safety. I consider when there is not enough fuel to sustain ignition the line is empty.
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P B Crockart EX RAAF Electrician,
Aircraft Avionics tech. Senior high school teacher.
I see your point, however the reason for this is to get as much combustable material out of the lines for safety reasons, I use the word purge as I think empty doesnt do the trick
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P B Crockart EX RAAF Electrician,
Aircraft Avionics tech. Senior high school teacher.
Kelpie, not sure what you are getting at there, my comments are to help people travel safer im not interested in correctness of words or anything else. I have been around dangerous gear all my working life from aircraft to electricity, I assure you my 100% intentions are only vested in safety.
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P B Crockart EX RAAF Electrician,
Aircraft Avionics tech. Senior high school teacher.
PhilC that reply was posted after your post on 8/2 re some travellers having no clues about safety. Your knowledge and expertise is valued by me and, I guess, many others. Cheers.
6500 of my particular MH's have been travelling around the USA since 1976, All travel with the gas fridge running, 24/7.
Thats what they were designed for, And they do it very well, The flame goes out, It automatically shuts down the whole unit,
I run mine full time when travelling,
As for purging the lines, Its not necessary, The small amount of air in the line will be purged as you start the unit,
As an aside, I have manufactured Pressure vessels for over 45 years, Including set ups for DLI pressure inspections and approvals,
I am sorry to inform you Brian that it may be legal in the USA to run a fridge while traveling but in Australia it is highly ILLEGAL and also VERY VERY dangerous..
The reason being there have been cases where a caravan has pulled into a service station with the fridge running on LPGas and the person in the car beside it filling up overflows the fuel and it was ignited by the flame in the van....
