Refrigerator on propane while moving?

[alanmalk]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

...
People do crazy and dangerous things. Like the guy smoking.
...

I'll second that.

While having my propane tank refilled the attendant was venting rather large amounts of propane into a cloud around the filling station. That's when his assistant walked out of the store and into the cloud smoking a cigaret. I yelled at him as soon as I saw it. To this day I don't know why we didn't all go up in flames.

[padamas]

I appreciate all of the comments and know what I will be doing. I will be leaving the fridge running on gas while we are traveling, except when on a ferry, or heading for a tunnel.

[float5]

If you have your propane on at a gas station and some guy is smoking and the place goes up in flames, the one with the propane on in the trailer will likely be considered to be the cause.

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by float5

If you have your propane on at a gas station and some guy is smoking and the place goes up in flames, the one with the propane on in the trailer will likely be considered to be the cause.

I kinda doubt that, because there are usually signs on the pumps for no smoking, and nothing about RV fridges.

[float5]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I kinda doubt that, because there are usually signs on the pumps for no smoking, and nothing about RV fridges.

I know there are signs for no smoking, but betting the person who drove in with propane on would be found to be the main cause and an insurance company could say that, too. The propane is the ignition source.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by float5

I know there are signs for no smoking, but betting the person who drove in with propane on would be found to be the main cause and an insurance company could say that, too. The propane is the ignition source.

Any fire or explosion would be investigated. Arson and fire investigators are extremely good at pinpointing the causes/ignition sources of fires. I know - I've worked with them. Their results are reported and available to the public. Good luck trying to prove in court that a trailer fridge caused something when there are reports from public officials saying otherwise. Besides, they could just as well say that if your fridge was off.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

Besides, they could just as well say that if your fridge was off.

On mine, they would note the position of the mechanical switch, which would be gas. Even if the knob melted, I expect they can tell.
I advise not to fuel with the fridge on propane, but I ignore my own advice and choose an outside pump, with the trailer hanging out the back.

[float5]

Originally Posted by rbryan4

Any fire or explosion would be investigated. Arson and fire investigators are extremely good at pinpointing the causes/ignition sources of fires. I know - I've worked with them. Their results are reported and available to the public. Good luck trying to prove in court that a trailer fridge caused something when there are reports from public officials saying otherwise. Besides, they could just as well say that if your fridge was off.

Exactly. If a trailer goes up in that situation, I expect that the investigators won't have any trouble determining if the trailer was the source. If a trailer did not cause it, fine. But if it did, could need good luck with your insurance agent.

[float5]

Originally Posted by alanmalk

While having my propane tank refilled the attendant was venting rather large amounts of propane into a cloud around the filling station. That's when his assistant walked out of the store and into the cloud smoking a cigaret. I yelled at him as soon as I saw it. To this day I don't know why we didn't all go up in flames.

And people think that it cannot happen to them.

[Jim Bennett]

I have heard similar stories, except with strong gas fumes, that someone smoking with the vapours around them did not create ignition. Maybe if they took a hard draw on the cigarette it would heat up enough?