Oddcaliber
A True Doomsday Prepper
Checking in here. 2nd day of no power though. But I have plenty of Coleman stoves and lanterns to get by with. No major damage just a few trees down in the streets. Other than that were good.
The manufacturer calls the pancake thing a "decompression valve" and I've seen a video on YouTube of someone who had problems with it and had to get a replacement...and then had to figure out how to make it work because the manufacturer's suggestions didn't work...Doc, another possibility. There is a leak preventer, looks like a small pancake in line with the propane line. It's designed to shut off the gas supply if it sensesa problem. When you turn on the propane, if it rushes through too quickly, it shuts off. The way to release it is to disconnect the pressure side (with shutoff valve OFF!), and depressurize the output side (crank gen once). Reconnect, slowly turn on valve again. Try starting generator. Good luck!
The manufacturer calls the pancake thing a "decompression valve" and I've seen a video on YouTube of someone who had problems with it and had to get a replacement...and then had to figure out how to make it work because the manufacturer's suggestions didn't work...
The shutoff valve is one of the things referred to in the manual that doesn't exist on this model. The pictures in the manual show an external connector on the switch panel for the propane line, with a shutoff valve beside it, which has to be opened in a sequence in the instructions. On this one, the propane line goes straight to that decompression valve with no shutoff valve. The only way to shut off the gas is at the tank.
The left image is what the instructions were written for. The right image is what it actually looks like.
Day 3 still no power. Other areas are lit so hopefully they will get to us soon.
Day 3 still no power. Other areas are lit so hopefully they will get to us soon.
We have our house generator set to start and run awhile ever single Saturday morning. That way hopefully no surprises. Our power was out for around 8 hours. Felt sorry for the neighbors.
I traced the line all the way to the decompression valve, but no farther. I saw no cutoff before the decompression valve ("pancake thing"). It's hard to get to, I'll have to take off several panels in order to see under the hood.Doc,
Surely there is a shutoff valve in line. Yes, a main one at the tank, that's mandatory. But then each device has to have a shutoff valve in line. It should be at the pipe, not on the device (so that you can remove the device completely without cutting off propane to everything else). Who installed this thing? Best $5 you can spend on a device like this. MNwr had some good suggestions. Depressurize both sides. Open valve very slowly to re-pressurize the line.
The next size up has an electric start. I may have to go that route because I am just too old to keep pulling that damned cord.Raised a blister and rubbed it raw on my finger pulling the cord. I guess I need to take it to a small engine repair shop.
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