T&T: Old valves on Propane cylinders, why want the old one?

[Faure, Marin]

>But unless you have a continuous pilot light to relight the gas when
the ODP valve reopens, you have a gas leak.

I don't believe the OPD intermittent shutoff problem exists with
OPD-fitted horizontal tanks but I could be wrong.  However some marine
stoves--- Force 10 being one of them--- uses thermocouples on the
burners that are linked to shutoff valves in the burner control valves.
In theory, if the gas supply is shut off when a burner is lit the
thermocouple will quickly cool and the shutoff valve will close.  This
is why with our Force 10 we have to hold the burner knob in for a few
seconds after the burner lights so that the thermocouple in the flame
will heat up and hold the shutoff valve open.  Releasing the burner
control knob too soon after the burner lights results in the flame
shutting off even though the burner control valve is on "High."

I'm not sure I would want to rely on this feature---- we always keep the
manual master propane valve mounted in the galley overhead shut off
unless we are actually using the stove---- but as long as the burner
thermocouple devices work as advertised they are a good safety backup.

______________________________
C. Marin Faure
GB36-403 "La Perouse"
Bellingham, Washington