no name this time

[flames out of propane heater]

O.K. lets talk heaters for fish traps...

I have a paulin heater/cooker and then I have a 6' extension hose and conversion to a big tank (20). So here I am out fishing and fish just starting to go hand over fisting perch.... next thing I know I have a small (brief) ball of flame come out of the (sunflower) head of my heater. Needless to say I turned it off (heater) but it kept burning so I went outside and shut off the tank,, still burning.. then I unhook the hose from the tank,,, which shut it off...
I think the regulator or something on the heater part may have gotten frozen and would regulate or something.... Can anyone here offer some Hank Hill type information.... Or maybe a less dangerous alternative to heating my trap on COLD days.. thanks in advance.

[Shellback]

It's just a shot but I believe that propane has additives in it for the winter to protect regulators against freezing. If you had your tank filled in the summer maybe that's the problem. I'd check with your local propane supplier for better info.

[water_wolf]

Some points I was pondering:
Sorry for asking this....but I am assuming nothing. Was tank standing upright or on its side? Another possibility is if you just had tank filled it couldve been overfilled causing it to withdraw liquid instead of vapor. What was outside temperature where tank was?
Or as you stated could be defective or frozen regulator. All though the frozen regulator could be the result of tank on side or overfilled tank. I'll keep pondering if I think of anything else I'll post it later.

Rich Ferguson

[was on side]

as a matter of fact the tank was on its side and it was no more than 10 degrees outside.

usually I run a 6-7lb tank but that was empty so I grabbed a 20 and to get the extension hose to lay somewhat flat I placed the tank on its side... Yes I have heard that isn't a good idea but didn't think it would be problem... so its probably not the heater, but the fact the tank was on its side,,, or what do yutes think.

[Pitts]

That's your problem propane tanks are designed to operate in an upright position never lay them on there side because liquid propane will come out of you heater and catch on fire just like it did.
All propane appliances are designed to operate on propane vapor only not liquid.


Pitts

[water_wolf]

Those type heaters are designed to run on vapor. All propane containers are supposed to be filled only to 80% of the containers total capacity. If you have a tank overfilled you run the risk of pressure relief valve opening or withdrawing liquid out of tank. It needs room for vapor expansion. So what happens when you tip a tank on its side is liquid is withdrawn from the valve instead of vapor. Thats what your problem sounded like when I read original post.

Rich

[chrism]

Yep, Had the same problem yesterday - I have one of those heaters that you can flip so the burner acts like a stove element - when I flipped it to this "cook" position, I had a small flame thrower. When it was placed upright, the flames dissipated and it ran as per normal. I was using the 1lb cans of propane, not a 20lb'er - when in cook position, the cannister was almost horizontal. But still, same issue.
No grilled cheese sandwiches this trip....

[thanks guys]

thanks guys, again the group here at WC comes through... either from personal experience or techniqal knowledge seems WC can get an answer to most things..