Propane explosion July 12, 2017, 08:33:36 am Anyone have any opinions or theories how a propane tank may have exploded and is this a common accident of owning a motorhome? I wished the article would elaborate what possibly caused the propane explosion but I am left wondering if it was a safety violation or malfunction, etc. Thank you.-DaveZeeland man dies after propane explosion inside camper | | dailyprogress.com
Re: Propane explosion Reply #1 – July 12, 2017, 09:30:47 am No tank inside, just leave the stove burner on for a while without a flame. Then flip an electric switch, on or off. Good bye!. In the past I Think it was more commonly called a "propane flash." "Explosion" sells more newspapers.This is what the propane detector is to prevent and warn us "GET OUT, NO SPARKS!" 1 Likes
Re: Propane explosion Reply #2 – July 12, 2017, 09:54:48 am one theory - turn on stove gas, think you have it lit and burning but for some reason the flame didn't catch or hold, the raw gas continues to run, person lays down and nods off, maybe leaves camper and comes back, or for some reason doesn't catch it, gas finds an ignition point, and flash - you're cooked. Probably no working detector. Or detector sounded, person was outside and went inside to check it.... 1 Likes
Re: Propane explosion Reply #3 – July 12, 2017, 09:57:51 am JMHO, but the article offers so little information that speculation on the cause of the incident is not useful. YMMV, of course.
Re: Propane explosion Reply #4 – July 12, 2017, 10:59:23 am Quote from: JCT - July 12, 2017, 09:57:51 amJMHO, but the article offers so little information that speculation on the cause of the incident is not useful. YMMV, of course.My point exactly... useless article! But i do want to hear speculations and theories so my dumb@ss will never make the same mistake. LD is my first ever rv. I guess i had a sportmobile but its not a real rv like LD. I welcome "speculations" from experienced rv owners. Thank youDave
Re: Propane explosion Reply #5 – July 12, 2017, 11:09:13 am Here is a chart showing the LEL and UEL of various flammable gases. In order for a gas to ignite it needs to be within the LEL and UELs. In my career working for a natural gas pipeline we did things that would seem dangerous but with continual monitoring of LEL and UEL were actually very safe. http://www.afcintl.com/pdfs/applications/combustibles.pdfAlso note the specific gravity of butane is 2.0 and propane is 1.6 where the density of air is 1, so butane and propane will both sink into low areas. 1 Likes
Re: Propane explosion Reply #6 – July 12, 2017, 12:10:38 pm Dave, a Sportsmobile is definitely a "real" RV, and because Sportsmobile has a reputation for high build quality, its propane system is likely to be engineered and installed to higher standards than many others. However, any system can leak; if components are old, not maintained and pressure-tested, and/or if "stupid people tricks" happen around this source of volatile gas...boom.Here are three propane safety articles:Propane Safety Tips for RVers and Recreational Vehicles- RV Basics .comPropane Safety and UseRV Propane SafetyEvery LPG "safety point" in the articles could be a potential cause of a propane blast. 2 Likes
Re: Propane explosion Reply #7 – July 12, 2017, 01:39:32 pm "just leave the stove burner on for a while without a flame"Something that's very easy to do with the stoves in most RVs--bump a burner knob the wrong way, and you can nudge it on without realizing it. I've done it several times. That's one reason I replaced the stove in my midbath with a Force 10 marine stove, which has flame sensors in every burner, so no gas flows if there's no flame. But marine stoves aren't cheap, so RV makers keep on using the Atwood/Magic Chef/etc. ones that can be accidentally turned on. 3 Likes
Re: Propane explosion Reply #8 – July 12, 2017, 01:43:58 pm "a Sportsmobile is definitely a "real" RV, and because Sportsmobile has a reputation for high build quality, its propane system is likely to be engineered and installed to higher standards than many others. However, any system can leak; if components are old, not maintained and pressure-tested, and/or if "stupid people tricks" happen around this source of volatile gas...boom."I'd agree that a Sportsmobile is a "real" RV, as its function is the same as any other RV. Everything is just more compact. With no other Class B rig to compare it to, I can't say for sure about the build quality, but we have had our 1998 Sportsmobile for 15 years, and have been completely satisfied with it. Everything still works as advertised and expected. It is on a Dodge RAM 2500 chassis with a 318 5.2 L V-8 engine that has given us not one ounce of difficulty in all those years.On the road it gets 16 MPG, even with all of the heavy RV components, and is a pleasure to drive. So much so, that even a person who doesn't much care for driving is happy to be behind the wheel to follow a more commodious Lazy Daze on trips. It is the perfect day trip vehicle since it provides everything needed (food, drink, rest, toilet facilities) in a small, easily parkable package. Overnights are possible, but were easier when our bones and joints were more supple. But apropos of a recent thread about child seats - it is totally unsuited for that use as the sofa (and seatbelts) are in the wrong configuration. Thus only the two seats up front are usable for passengers. There are other models available that incorporate one or two additional captain-type seats suitable for additional passengers/child seats.Given my druthers with kiddies to consider, this configuration of "toad" would be ideal, both in the going and the staying. It's been fifty years since I had a kiddie to consider, but I can see the benefits of having a Sportsmobile along on a day trip with children, i.e. - food, drink, rest, toilet facilities - just like us older folks! ;-> Virtual hugs,Judie 1 Likes
Re: Propane explosion Reply #9 – July 12, 2017, 02:48:18 pm Any mechanical joint on a propane system can leak and cause a flash or "explosion." But certain circumstances can lead to other ways a system can leak. I posted such a circumstance in another thread earlier this year. Check out reply #5 on this thread:Propane leak
Re: Propane explosion Reply #10 – July 12, 2017, 03:10:41 pm Thinking of propane explosions I am picking up a Wave 8 heater along with a 3/8" elbow that is flared on both ends. I am going to hook it to a hose for use and that hose was originally fabricated for a Wave 3. If memory serves I don't need to use a sealant or the yellow tape with a flared connection. Is that right?Jim
Re: Propane explosion Reply #11 – July 12, 2017, 03:37:48 pm "With no other Class B rig to compare it to, I can't say for sure about the build quality, but we have had our 1998 Sportsmobile for 15 years, and have been completely satisfied with it."---The Sportsmobile shared top billing with LD 14 years ago before I decided that the LD would work better for me over the long run. If I were in the market for a B, Sportsmobile (on an EB Ford Transit with a medium-high roof; no pop top) would still be my choice. (A friend owns a very popular make of class B; nothing about it comes close to SM quality.)Apropos of the propane topic, I noticed that on some SM models, eliminating the propane system was an option; not for me.
Re: Propane explosion Reply #12 – July 12, 2017, 03:39:18 pm Jim,You are correct. Flared connections are designed to be self sealing. 2 Likes
Re: Propane explosion Reply #13 – July 12, 2017, 04:10:43 pm Quote from: rodneyhelfrich - July 12, 2017, 03:39:18 pmJim,You are correct. Flared connections are designed to be self sealing.Ditto!Do they still make the Sportsmobile?
Re: Propane explosion Reply #14 – July 12, 2017, 04:30:55 pm "Do they still make the Sportsmobile?"-----Sportsmobile Custom Camper Vans - Your Home Away From Home 1 Likes
Re: Propane explosion Reply #15 – July 12, 2017, 05:26:22 pm Quote from: rodneyhelfrich - July 12, 2017, 03:39:18 pmYou are correct. Flared connections are designed to be self sealing.But sometime the flare is bad and will never fully seal, no matter how tight it is. Do check for leaks, preferably with a commercial leak finder. If not available, a strong dish soap and water solution can be used. The commercial stuff stays in place longer, finding small, slow leaks.Rectorseal 65554 8-Ounce Bottle Better Bubble Leak Locator - Household Paint...Larry 1 Likes As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Propane explosion Reply #16 – July 12, 2017, 06:24:34 pm I like the Rector Seal because it "goops" on to the joint and stays pretty well in place; sometimes a tiny leak takes a bit of time to "blow a bubble" big enough to be clearly visible, and thinner solutions may drip off the joint before this happens.
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