Why Didn't I Think of This ?

[lorenzo123]

Believe that CNG is lighter than air, so doesn't collect in bilge; propane is heavier and can collect in the bilge if there's a leak. Leaks do occur, as do occasional accidental explosions.

If the propane is turned off at the solonoid or at the tank, at least you know it ain't gonna blow you sky high when you light your lamp at night.

Of course, there are those who like to take their chances.


See: Propane Blast Sinks Boat... | BoatTEST.com
It's Important to Know How You Can Avoid Yacht Propane Explosions | Marine Fuel

YouTube - ‪explosion‬‏

[SabreKai]

Over 35 years ago I watched a cabin cruiser moored off Sault, Michigan blow up. My wife and I were sitting on the Canadian side having a picnic, and I was watching them. Two guys and a girl. I gather she went below to make some coffee or something, couldn't get the propane stove to go and futzed around with it for 10-15 minutes. Then she came on deck and told one of the guys who went 'below. A few seconds later the boat disappeared. Both guys killed, one instantly, the other concussed and drowned after being blown over board. She got blown over too, but survived. The boat burned to the waterline and sank.

Propane is very nasty and deserves our utmost attention.


Sabre

[LoudMusic]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

You know the problem...you have the propane solenoid panel, but after cooking etc, every once in a while you forget to flip the switch shutting off the solenoid. Heck, once it was still on the next time I started cooking! I saw an easy , and cheaper solution recently: put in a rotating timer (like for your bathroom fan) When you start cooking, rotate it to 30 mins or 10 mins or whatever is appropriate. It turns itself off!

Well it's been eight years since this discussion and I am unable to find a product designed for this. There are timer valves, but I'm not finding a solenoid remote with timer. Any luck?

[jimbunyard]

Not sure what you mean by 'solenoid remote', but a quick search of 'solenoid valve with timer' yields plenty of results. Asco or Burkert surely have something that will work, but don't expect them to be cheap...

https://www.asco.com/en-us/Pages/acc...ies-timer.aspx

https://www.burkert-usa.com/en/type/1078

[Chotu]

Here you go. Put this in place of the normal switch in the galley (or even wired in series with it) and you can get the solenoid to shut off on a timer.


https://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-FD...-19&th=1&psc=1

You don't need anything special. Just to replace the on/off switch in the galley with a timer.

[Lake-Effect]

Ye olde bathroom fan mechanical timer switch... great idea. In any event, the "Propane ON" warning light should be bright and unignorable.

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Here you go. Put this in place of the normal switch in the galley (or even wired in series with it) and you can get the solenoid to shut off on a timer.


https://www.amazon.com/Intermatic-FD...-19&th=1&psc=1

You don't need anything special. Just to replace the on/off switch in the galley with a timer.

Thats interesting - it needs no electicity to operate and you can choose the unit with total length of time up to 12 hours.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Of course not... when your in a house do you turn the gas of at the mains when you finish cooking... whats different about a boat... (scratch head smiley)

One difference is that on a boat there's a solenoid activated valve. If you leave them on all the time they get hot, and they don't last long.

We switch ours off when not in use, 10 years and still going fine.