Just a hour or so ago I moved some new 220gm gas cans/cylinders from one cubby in the van to another spot. The cans were still in the shrink plastic which I thought protected them to some degree but how wrong I was.
When moving the cans I dropped 2 cans about 6" onto the floor of the cubby and then heard a hissing sound and that gas smell - grabbed the cans which were spraying out liquid gas and removed them from the van all the time thinking what ignition sources are there....fortunately none, but had the fridge been running on gas it would have been different. A strong SW was blowing and temperature was 9C - had it been summer with temperatures in the 30's the gas would have sprayed out with much more force.
Cause of the puncture was the needle point of a self tapper sticking up through the floor. It must have been there for at least 2 years and 30,000km since it was screwed in. Third pic shows the screw to the left.
So that's how easy it is!
-- Edited by hako on Friday 22nd of May 2015 05:47:38 PM
we use the lunch box cooker (a new one which apparently meets the rules) and the canisters. Just to be safe we keep them all outside the 'van even when we are cooking. We use them to stop the cooking smell permanently stinking out our van - we still use the gad cooker and stove for non smelly stuff. We are just more mindful of these gas cylinders and cookers nowdays. Went to Bunnngs and bought suitable sized cut sheet of thin stainless steel which I bent to shape over the 'van drawbar to sit around the cooker to act as a wind break and it works fine Steel sheet cost me about $8 and cooker less then $20 and cannisters - usually about $1-2 each depending on where you buy them. Just don't use a cooking item, like a frypan that will overhang the canister and cause it to overheat and explode or direct the gas flame directly down onto it
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
