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Topic: Carver Caravelle 4 going bang!

georgecanty

24/2/2014 at 4:57pm
Location: Madre France
Outfit: Hobby 560 Excellent

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I moved to France 2 years ago and successfully registered my Carlight 152 here in France (26 years old this year). This necessitated changing the gas pipes to include isolation valves for all 4 gas appliances in the van and tested by the Bureau Veritas organisation here in France.

Similar to UK, there is now a high pressure hose from the gas cylinder to a fixed 30mbar regulator in the caravan.

Currently on holiday in Spain and when trying to light the hob for the first time, it was difficult to light the flames at first as they kept blowing themselves out. However, soon settled down and put it down to a new camping gaz bottle.

En route, it was cold so we tried the Carver Caravelle 4 heater with roof chimney. After about 4 attempts there was a big bang and the top of the chimney blew off. Tried it once more and it heated up fine. Managed to find the top of the chimney bits and put them back on again today here in Spain.

Tried the heater again and same thing. After about 4 attempts, big bang and blew the top of the chimney off. I was inside the van at the time but it was loud enough to attract quite a bit of attention from others on the campsite.

Chimney now replaced again and gas to heater turned off until I find out what the problem is. Any suggestions?

My theory is that previous gas regulator on the gas cylinder was 28mbar. Now with 30mbar fixed gas regulator, I am wondering if the gas pressure is just that little bit too high and means that the heater will not ignite properly. The Carver Cascade water heater also takes several attempts to light but as there is no long chimney, we don't get quite the same explosions.

So again, any suggestions as to what to do?

Cheers, George.

saxo1

24/2/2014 at 6:55pm
Location: None Entered
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I blew the top off mine,I believe it was because I didn't allow enough time between attempts to light it.
My van hanbook says to allow at least 30 seconds before retrying to light it after a failed attempt.
saxo1

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GCMS2012

24/2/2014 at 7:07pm
Location: Northumberland
Outfit: Knaus Sudwind 550 TK

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It can happen to any gas appliance..

There's been a build up of un burnt gas in the flue, so the next time you press the igniter... BANG!!!

Because it's in an enclosed space - the flue, it'll go off like a gun.

If it was the cooker, you may have lost your eyebrows....

-------------
Damned if I do...

Damned if I don't!!!!

michell8

24/2/2014 at 7:42pm
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Bypass the bulkhead regulator with a Campingaz regulator screwed into bottle & see what happens. Now you have it French registered presumably you can use what regulator you like?

Campingaz will be expensive if you are using gas heaters, why not get a couple of French bottles when you get back there?

arc systems

24/2/2014 at 9:43pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: http: www.arcsystems.biz

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All dual gas appliances must be able to work safely within a far broader range of pressures than extra 2mb so should make no difference at all.
However, 26yrs is a long while and leaves me asking when was the last time the fire was taken out and serviced properly?

With then what you also say about the water heater, perhaps this 2mb is simply the straw that broke this fires back?!

One more thing, the far more common floor flued model is the 1.6kw SBE1800, Carlight to my knowledge are the only firm that fitted what is the SBD1800 roof flued model. To my mind this over jetted 3kw version is a step well too far and using the SBE burner, I reduce them back down to 1.6kw.

Reason being the sort of problems you are experiencing and on that score be warned....
... blowing the cap off the flue and waking the campsite is one thing, but I've seen heat exchanges split by such explosions, and or badly distorted by overheating.....this can then very easily lead to carbon monoxide spilling inside the van!!

georgecanty

26/2/2014 at 10:25am
Location: Madre France
Outfit: Hobby 560 Excellent

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Many thanks for the advice.

I am considering going back to the old regulator and bypassing the new one now that it is registered.

I do have a French gas bottle (Twiny) which will only just fit in the gas compartment at the front of the van and I have to wedge it in so a second bottle is out of the question. It is also heavy which is why I've opted for Camping Gaz.

I did have the van serviced by Carlight (then Classic Caravans) about 5 years ago but don't think they took the heater out (even though it all cost well over a grand!).

I'll let you all know how I get on.

Thanks again, George.

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