Replacing a gas cooking hob

Mike Harding · Guru

Replacing a gas cooking hob

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Morning Mike,

I have a Thetford 'Caprice MK 111' and so far no problems at all. It would be a 2014 or maybe earlier model. I had all gas and no 240v plate. I use the stove top every day and must be honest, don't cook as such in the oven or grill. I heat things up in the oven and make toasted cheese sangas and melt cheese on my chicken in pajamas when I feel like that for dinner. I don't rely on the auto ignition but uses a gas lighter all the time. Most of my cooking is actually in my Weber BabyQ and outside.

Like you, I spose my life is at risk but in my defense, I do have good ventilation and use the exhaust fan above when cooking my toast on a camp toaster.

Maybe just go with another Thetford, Mike. You might have just got a sick one.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Radar · Guru

Hi Mike

I always think the electric hot plate is as useless as tits on a bull.

But just the other day camped in a showground with power the wifey said do you know what? I said no, well the electric hot plate don't work.

4 years we have had this caravan and its the first time in 8 years of retirement she has bothered to use the 240volt plate, not that we park on power very much, 4 nights in 5 weeks this time. Cannot spoil her to much but I must admit the porridge was good.

I had pulled the lead out of the power point.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, 2 of our starters were not working, I pulled the stove top apart and cleaned everything, when I put it back together everything worked. Maybe it needs a clean. It really was not that dirty.

Mike Harding · Guru

Thanks for your replies guys.

When I bought the van almost two years past I thought having one electric hot plate was a great idea - I reckon I've used it twice, to boil water.

bobsa · Senior Member

Hi Mike,
The gas stoves dont need 240 volt for the flame fail safety.
My Smev has 2 safety devices, a valve in the lid, so when open lets the gas flow, and when close it does not,
the next is a thermocouple as you know and if the gas is blown out the gas flow stops.
The 240 volt on the stoves is for the electric element models ,
The piezo starter in mine works from the 12 volt , i thought all the stoves did this, my last 3 vans all worked this way
So you will still have all the safety, even without 240 volts
I use my van for about 4 months straight free camping a year with a week here and there and never had trouble with thermocouples
the van is now 14 years old .
hope this helps on choosing a new stove

Bob

Mike Harding · Guru

Hi Bob

Certainly the caravan stoves don't need 240V but domestic types (which is what I'm looking at) usually do - however exactly what they use it for I cannot determine.

Derek Barnes · Senior Member

I agree that the 240v electric plate in a gas cooktop is hopeless as it is painfully slow to heat. We always use two portable induction cooktops when we are at caravan parks as they are faster than the gas hobs, and safer than gas as there is no naked flame and they can be used with the windows shut as they don't emit any noxious fumes. They are also highly adjustable unlike gas which seems to be either high or low only.

bobsa · Senior Member

Hi Mike ,
my home gas cook top uses bottle gas and has 240 volt for the piezo starter only,
you can still light the stove without 240 using a match
the thermocouple still operate as normal without 240
hope this helps
cheers bob

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Our new project MH build will have maximum solar and that will support an induction cook top.
Appliances will be all be diesel or electric. No gas.
Cheers,
Peter

yobarr · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Our new project MH build will have maximum solar and that will support an induction cook top.
Appliances will be all be diesel or electric. No gas.
Cheers,
Peter

10/10. .Well done Peter.So easy! Cheers

-- Edited by yobarr on Monday 19th of October 2020 06:53:00 PM

Mike Harding · Guru

yobarr wrote:
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Our new project MH build will have maximum solar and that will support an induction cook top.
Appliances will be all be diesel or electric. No gas.
10/10. .Well done Peter.So easy! Cheers

Thing is... I don't wish to camp in the sun or spend the day nurse-maiding solar panels out of the shade.

Camped in the forest (so under trees you understand) the fixed 120W panel on my van currently produces 11% of it's possible maximum output and has been doing much the same for the past 12 weeks and that, gentlemen, is why I made it quite clear I was not interested in an electric cooktop.

Mike Harding · Guru

bobsa wrote:
my home gas cook top uses bottle gas and has 240 volt for the piezo starter only,
you can still light the stove without 240 using a match
the thermocouple still operate as normal without 240

Thank Bob, I suspected that may be the case but was not sure. I think the way they generally do is to use the thermocouple (or thermopile) to directly drive a piezo valve for the gas.

Possum3 · Guru

Mike, I use a small Hibachi type grill for most cooking (outdoors). Pick up small twigs/sticks (Tree-bones), small hot fire great for cooking without fumes in van, also gas saving. We purchased it at Anaconda a few years back, light gauge pressed metal, looks like a large Sunbeam Frypan of yesteryear - Best $39.00 camping buy ever.
We also carry a two hob butane picnic stove which can be placed on any available table.
Rarely use gas oven. Like you we never use electric hob, both of these are a waste of space.

If the main Swift unit ever dies - Would most probably buy small three burner camping stove.

Edit; Just cam across this in BCF Catalogue Similar to mine but four times the price of mine from Anaconda. https://www.bcf.com.au/p/weber-go-anywhere-bbq/583708.html?cgid=BCF1104#start=115&sz=60

-- Edited by Possum3 on Wednesday 21st of October 2020 08:58:37 AM