Propane cooktops

[HighTechRedneck]

I have been planning on a propane cooktop (cooktop only, no oven) because I like cooking on gas burners as opposed to electric.  But I am curious why it is safe to use one inside when two burner portable propane units warn that they are for outdoor use only.  What makes the one safe indoors and the other not?

[Jerry32]

Would seem to be a contradiction as what about the two and three burner RV cooktops???  I know they have four burner ones too. Maybe it's the amount of heat that they produce as some of the RV types take forever to cook onythuing. Jerry

[edvanland]

I think because people assume you will use a vent over the stove.  I have  or had a propane stove in my house and of course it had a vent.  Don't know for sure but it could also be the small outdoor stove mfg are just covering their you know what.
ED




MCI 7
Just my 2 cents worth

[HighTechRedneck]

Actually I didn't word that very well.  I am planning on a 3-4 burner cooktop.  But it is just a concern to me as to whether they are really safe when the camping versions put so many warnings not to use them inside.  I'm more concerned about any potential CO issues than fire because I can protect wood exposures with metal or ceramic tile if needed.  But I've understood that propane doesn't pose a CO risk (i.e. propane forklifts used in warehouses, propane floor buffers in stores, etc.).  And of course there are many propane cooktops in many thousand S&S RV's, so I probably shouldn't be concerned.  But the contradiction just bothers me.

Don't know for sure but it could also be the small outdoor stove mfg are just covering their you know what.

Ed, I think you may be onto something there.  They may just be protecting themselves from the idiot that places it right next to curtains or on the sofa.

[HighTechRedneck]

On the other hand, Coleman doesn't seem to be too concerned about dangerous heat below or to the sides of their propane camp stoves when they promote it with a photo like this (not that I think they really had the stove on for the photo shoot  ):

EDIT: I just zoomed on the burner and to my surprise, they did have the burner on for the photo shoot.  I'm impressed.

[ChuckMC9]

But I've understood that propane doesn't pose a CO risk (i.e. propane forklifts used in warehouses, propane floor buffers in stores, etc.).

Well I'm no expert, but I know this is not the case. Any combustion at all produces CO. This much I do know. If you use a propane stove for hours with a couple of burners going, unvented, there will be CO problems.

In fact, in one of the fairly recent BCMags in one of the 'Systems Analysis' articles on ventilation, Myers points this out specifically if I remember right.

I would imagine that the mfgr. of the portables is doing some cya, and the people most likely to do this probably need a strong warning to prevent them from doing something they didn't anticipate.

[HighTechRedneck]

Chuck, you are absolutely right.  Here is an eye opener story:

Man dies of carbon monoxide poisoning traced to propane oven

Well, I know there are detectors for CO and for Propane.  But all things considered, to heck with my preference of cooking on a gas flame, I will go all electric in the bus.  I will use a camp stove outdoors when it is permitted and good weather, electric when indoors.

And a little more on the forklift and floor buffer use I mentioned:

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Associated with Use of LPG-Powered (Propane) Forklifts in Industrial Settings

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Associated with a Propane-Powered Floor Burnisher

[Jerry32]

I got one of those induction cooktops and will use the propane outdoors also Jerry

[TomC]

I have a three burner stove/oven.  I like the three burner since the front burner is bigger than the rest, bigger also than any of the 4 burner stoves.  I have an unvented electric hood over the stove that blows out into the room.  Then right above is a Fantastic fan that is always running when cooking.  Works well and the cabinets don't get coated (we don't fry).  If I were to do it again, I would get a 3 burner propane cooktop with a microwave, convection oven above.  We have used the conventional propane stove about 5 times in 12 years.  Good Luck, TomC

[Dave Siegel]

I just had to respond to this post, because I went through the exact same thought process that High Tech Redneck" is going through, and I had to tell you what we did.

I originally  installed a RV style three burner cook top and put a convection microwave underneath in the same cabinet. Our bus is a PD3751 (Silversides) and the ceiling are quite low, so I did install a roof vent right over the cooking area with a Fantastic fan assembly. Like HTR  we don't use our coach much, but when I did use the stove top the propane took forever to cook anything. Forget about ever boiling   a pot of water for pasta. Besides, the heat was absolutely unbearable (and that was with the vent open). Then came the straw that broke the camels back. We went camping with our grandkids and it rained, we were all stuck inside the bus and I had to cook something.  It was like being in a hot gas chamber. I knew I had to change, so I did my home work and this is what I came up with.

I sold the cook top to another bus nut. I took out the old counter top and replaced it with a new , one piece counter top with NO hole for the cook top. I bought an induction cook top that sits on the counter top and stores away when not in use. Why one do you say? Because in reality, almost all of our cooking is done outside, where I have a complete kitchen set-up. I don't use propane, I have three butane cook tops (the type that are used by restaurants for Sunday brunches at the omelet station). They are extremely hot and can boil anything. Plus, because they are butane they can be used inside if it rains. (I actually got started with these cook tops buying supplies during Hurricane Wilma) I have a hot little barb que for grilling and I have a super propane cook top that produces over 90,000 btu's of heat , and I use that for big parties and meals.

This last Memorial Day weekend we went away with the bus and I set up the induction cook top and set it  to cook some vegetables, I put the skillet on the cook top turned it on walked toward the door and it was already bubbling. The great thing is......with induction cooking there is ABOSLUTELY NO ambient heat around the cook top. Just the food gets hot. As a matter of fact you can take the pan off the stove and place your hand on the cook top ( after boiling some water, let's say) right on the cook top, right away and it will be cool. That is because induction cooking uses magnetic impulses to cook with not heat like we know it.

Our meal was prepared in only a few minutes, there was no extra heat in the cabin, and momma was happy. And you know what it's like if momma ain't happy.

If I had the money I would install a built in induction two or three burner cook top, but for now we are thrilled with what we have.

That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

Dave Siegel
3751 Silversides
Naples, Florida

[ChuckMC9]

HTR, I didn't mean to scare you off of propane altogether, just wanted to point out that any combustible, whether portable or built-in, has to be vented in one way or another. Heck I have a three burner that I've never even hooked up yet.

Dave, your induction testimonial is pretty darn convincing. Hmmm. I understood those are mostly/all 240v? Not that that would be a problem, just something to think about when I get around to a generator someday.

[Dale MC8]

But I am curious why it is safe to use one inside when two burner portable propane units warn that they are for outdoor use only.  What makes the one safe indoors and the other not?

RV LP ranges DO come with a warning regarding CO. Somewhere you will find a sticker or some such that says something like: WARNING, not for comfort heating. In reality this means [and in some cases, states] that dangerous levels of CO may be generated by using the stove burners instead of the furnace to warm the place up.

Just FYI

Dale

[Chaz]

Hey High,
  I bought a brand new 3 burner that I have decided not to use. I definitly wanted gas over electric, but then I did some research on induction cooking. That is the way I am going to go now. ya might look at it, but if you are set on propane, I can make ya a deal on a new top! 
  Let me know!
     Chaz

[HighTechRedneck]

... but if you are set on propane, I can make ya a deal on a new top! 
  Let me know!
     Chaz

Thanks, Chaz, but I think I am going all electric too.  One less thing to go wrong.   

[Chaz]

Then DEFINITELY look at induction!!!!!!!!!!!  Check it out here: http://theinductionsite.com/proandcon.shtml  It's a good site.
   Chaz