Date:         Sun, 29 Apr 2012 10:48:03 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Do you really want to increase a Westy's propane capacity or
              carry additional bottles inside.
In-Reply-To:  <82CC9E23-16AA-4DDA-820A-E4B957437706@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

This story made it to a bunch of news venues. You can Google it. The driver
and the three family members in the truck were injured, non-life
threatening.

One report stated that there were two cylinders in the bed of the truck, a
five and a 50 gallon. Now I have to ask what was an individual doing with
that much propane in unsecured tanks. The tanks were just recently filled.
Yep fill the tanks with cold fuel and then place them in the truck so the
sun can warm them. So surprised when they stopped at the drive through and
opened the window to place his order he heard the tanks hissing, ( the
relief valves doing their job). He went to look and static electricity set
off the fuel. The rest is on the video. Hope his insurance will cover the
store damage and the resulting loss of business.

I brought this up as there was recent discussions on carrying additional
propane. While propane seems really safe and protected in those tanks things
can go wrong when it is not handled and stored properly. When modifying or
installing additional propane capacity or equipment one has to really know
what they are doing. Whenever fluids flow through hoses, pipes, etc. or even
splashed within tanks static electricity can be created. Use the wrong hose
in your van to connect an appliance and guess what can happen. Same with
that tank in the back cabinet. It should be bonded (grounded) to the chassis
while traveling. Why copper lines and not hoses are used to hook up the
stove and fridge.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Tom Torrella
Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2012 9:44 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Do you really want to increase a Westy's propane capacity or
carry additional bottles inside.

Just convincing McD's to flame broil their burgers........
Hope no one inside the store was hurt by the blast or flying debris. Have to
wonder how large the LP tank was, much larger than what a VW has onboard.




On Apr 28, 2012, at 10:57 PM, Aristotle Sagan <killer.jupiter@GMAIL.COM>
wrote:

> I guess you ought not get the spicy wings at McDs?
>
> Amazing that explosion didn't shatter the glass in the drive up window.
>
> And finally.... Coooool!
>
> tim in san jose
>
> On Sat, Apr 28, 2012 at 9:14 AM, Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@mac.com> wrote:
>> Just a hunch, but I'd guess that was a total loss. :)
>>
>> On Apr 28, 2012, at 9:44 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>>
>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded
>>> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ec_Frf_EAsg>
>>> &v=Ec_Frf_EAsg
>
>
>
> --
> Where ever you are, there you be. Unless you're driving my van, in
> which case, you ain't got there yet.