Cup of tea without the Carbon monoxide please

[motacyclist]

I used to carry a proper gas monitor around as part of my job, it detected oxygen, CO, hydrogen sulphide and flammable gases. Trying it in the Cali, two surprising things came to light.

Firstly it detected a slight gas leak from the adaptor in the gas compartment, I did suspect this as our first Cali didn’t come with the correct fittings when we first got it and it was difficult to get them properly tightened.

Secondly, it was surprising how quick the oxygen levels dropped when boiling a kettle of water. Not sufficiently to set off the alarm, but noticeable.

So when using the stove we always make sure we have some ventilation; and afterwards we turn off the gas. Just in case!

 

[Alan]

Google “Dublectors”
Easy to fit and suit the Cali very nicely
They fit on the outside of the front widows

The front windows can be wound down 1inch or 2 and keep the rain out with out being noticed from the outside
I use this method when I’m sleeping while camping
Also very useful when your having a brew up while it’s raining

Alan

 

[MarkVw2017]

Google “Dublectors”
Easy to fit and suit the Cali very nicely
They fit on the outside of the front widows

The front windows can be wound down 1inch or 2 and keep the rain out with out being noticed from the outside
I use this method when I’m sleeping while camping
Also very useful when your having a brew up while it’s raining

Alan

Thank you Alan

 

[Alan]

Sorry google “dubflecta”

 

[Amarillo]

Just want to be safe, and avoid Carbon monoxide

Here's a completely safe and carbon free method for making tea.

1. charge your leisure battery from solar panels fitted to your Beach's roof;
2. buy a 12 volt kettle;
3. fill with 750ml of water;
4. plug into a standard cigarette lighter socket;
5. choose an activity below while waiting for it to boil;
6. make your tea.

Activity suggestions while waiting for the kettle to boil.

 

[ArunAlec]

Here's a completely safe and carbon free method for making tea.

1. charge your leisure battery from solar panels fitted to your Beach's roof;
2. buy a 12 volt kettle;
3. fill with 750ml of water;
4. plug into a standard cigarette lighter socket;
5. choose an activity below while waiting for it to boil;
6. make your tea.

Activity suggestions while waiting for the kettle to boil.

Teach yourself Russian then translate War and Peace into English.

 

[Monkeytree]

My concern has never been the carbon monoxide as this will only be produced for a few minutes while boiling the kettle, so fairly minimal. However I’m always worried about possible gas leaks from the bottle as these could go on for a long time and potentially be ignited by the burner causing all means of trouble....

All motorhomes / Cali ocean have the gas bottles in a sealed box vented to the outside, which using a gas burner / jetboil in the van would not have. Has anyone ever come up with a good solution to this, or am I overthinking it? I’m still making my tea outside in the rain......

Yes i bought a 12v kettle to try this..... still waiting for it to boil

 

[MarkVw2017]

My concern has never been the carbon monoxide as this will only be produced for a few minutes while boiling the kettle, so fairly minimal. However I’m always worried about possible gas leaks from the bottle as these could go on for a long time and potentially be ignited by the burner causing all means of trouble....

All motorhomes / Cali ocean have the gas bottles in a sealed box vented to the outside, which using a gas burner / jetboil in the van would not have. Has anyone ever come up with a good solution to this, or am I overthinking it? I’m still making my tea outside in the rain......

Yes i bought a 12v kettle to try this..... still waiting for it to boil

That's true, but i would easily smell a gas leak, the smell of it is so powerful so storing gas doesnt concern me that much, and even if it did leak, there no fire or spark that would make it ignite. Monoxide on the other hand gives off nothing.

My conclusion i have taken from the wisdom shared on here is, 1.) cuppa tea ok for a minute or two, 2.) cooking full meals etc, get the windows open 3.) Get a CO alarm for added peace of mind for both options 1.) & 2.)

 

[Monkeytree]

Yep I’ve just ordered a co2 alarm and gas detector - agreed you would smell the gas but just in case you are sleeping etc....

I suppose my concern when using the stove inside is if it was leaking from the gas canister while being used, and the flame from the cooking ignited the gas canister itself - I’ve had stoves before which leaked when connected to the burner as a o ring etc had failed....

 

[MarkVw2017]

I suppose my concern when using the stove inside is if it was leaking from the gas canister while being used, and the flame from the cooking ignited the gas canister itself

And theres me worried about monoxide, you have put my mind at rest now knowing the whole thing might blow up

 

[Hotel California]

Why worry so much , use common sense and enjoy your coffee ...maybe with milk&sugar?

 

[MarkVw2017]

Why worry so much , use common sense and enjoy your coffee ...maybe with milk&sugar?

True, but defo with milk and sugar

 

[Alan]

Before I retired I was a painter and decorator and as soon as an Opportunity came up I would head for the hills in the works van together with paint cans and sleeping bag
Cooked inside with my trangia meths stove when the weather was bad
Think I was pushing my luck!
Now I live like a king

 

[Borris]

Dear Cali Gurus, Ocean and Beach owners,

So got my Cali Beach aka Little Robin (bloody love the thing), but also like a cup of tea and cooking basic food.

As us Beach owners don't have a kitchen, I treated myself to a Jetboil (brilliant things) from all your recommendations and now can make a cup of tea easily in the back.

However, of course the instructions say "use in a well ventilated area". I set it up by the slide opening window, but its absolutely chucking in down with horizontal rain, so when i open the side window, rain is blowing in my Cali.

My question to all is, what is classed as a "well ventilated area". Window open all the way, one click, two clicks, three clicks or even closed as the van is ventilated enough?

Just want to be safe, and avoid Carbon monoxide, because well, dont want it as a side condiment to my cuppa and soup.

The ocean has two gas rings so assuming some people have them on full blast and go through some serious gas burning but the ocean may have safety precautions in place, i don't know?

Thank you in advance

Mark and Little Robin.

View attachment 41240

No one on this forum has died making a cup of tea yet although if they had they probably wouldn't have posted to let us know. Just crack a window and relax but make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector.

 

[MarkVw2017]

No one on this forum has died making a cup of tea yet although if they had they probably wouldn't have posted to let us know. Just crack a window and relax but make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector.

Thank you borris, actually in the argos queue as i type ordering a co alarm.

 

[WelshGas]

Here's a completely safe and carbon free method for making tea.

1. charge your leisure battery from solar panels fitted to your Beach's roof;
2. buy a 12 volt kettle;
3. fill with 750ml of water;
4. plug into a standard cigarette lighter socket;
5. choose an activity below while waiting for it to boil;
6. make your tea.

Activity suggestions while waiting for the kettle to boil.

You forgot Not 7 and possibly Nos 8.

After a few brews - worry about state of Leisure Battery. Visit Dealer to get Leisure Battery checked out.

Save money on gas cylinders and put towards premature replacement of Leisure Battery.

 

[LemonDrop]

Damn. Something else I never knew I needed but now have gotta get.

The shop have one for £57.99 - bargain!

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/shop/product/brandrup-airscreen-left-sliding-window-vw-california-t5-t6

 

[Grumposaur68]

Just open a window on the lee side

 

[WelshGas]

Just open a window on the lee side

He may not have one? I think it is a pay option in the sliding door on a T6 Beach and so would have to turn the vehicle round.

 

[Borris]

He may not have one? I think it is a pay option in the sliding door on a T6 Beach and so would have to turn the vehicle round.

There's always the two in the front!

 

[Steve.S]

All the previous advice re ventilation and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are absolutely the right things to do. Could be viewed as a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but why take the chance. CO is slightly lighter than air, colourless and odourless and is the result of incomplete combustion which shouldn’t be an issue with your Jetboil. ( yellow flames bad, blue flames better). Headache, nausea and dizziness can be initial symptoms for mild exposure (not to be confused with downing several glasses of wine!). Significant exposure could lead ultimately to death so an alarm is a no-brainer for me with my Ocean. Even in the heaviest rain there will probably be a leeward side to your Beach so windows somewhere can be opened. Alternatively switch on the heating/ventilation for a few minutes to change the air within the compartment.

 

[kave]

Here's a completely safe and carbon free method for making tea.

1. charge your leisure battery from solar panels fitted to your Beach's roof;
2. buy a 12 volt kettle;
3. fill with 750ml of water;
4. plug into a standard cigarette lighter socket;
5. choose an activity below while waiting for it to boil;
6. make your tea.

Activity suggestions while waiting for the kettle to boil.

7 buy a new leisure battery

 

[ArunAlec]

All the previous advice re ventilation and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are absolutely the right things to do. Could be viewed as a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but why take the chance. CO is slightly lighter than air, colourless and odourless and is the result of incomplete combustion which shouldn’t be an issue with your Jetboil. ( yellow flames bad, blue flames better). Headache, nausea and dizziness can be initial symptoms for mild exposure (not to be confused with downing several glasses of wine!). Significant exposure could lead ultimately to death so an alarm is a no-brainer for me with my Ocean. Even in the heaviest rain there will probably be a leeward side to your Beach so windows somewhere can be opened. Alternatively switch on the heating/ventilation for a few minutes to change the air within the compartment.

If using the heating/ventilation, I’m pretty sure that the auxiliary heater does not draw air from outside, it’s just recycling, so won’t change the air.

 

[Skylark2.0]

I used to carry a proper gas monitor around as part of my job, it detected oxygen, CO, hydrogen sulphide and flammable gases. Trying it in the Cali, two surprising things came to light.

Firstly it detected a slight gas leak from the adaptor in the gas compartment, I did suspect this as our first Cali didn’t come with the correct fittings when we first got it and it was difficult to get them properly tightened.

Secondly, it was surprising how quick the oxygen levels dropped when boiling a kettle of water. Not sufficiently to set off the alarm, but noticeable.

So when using the stove we always make sure we have some ventilation; and afterwards we turn off the gas. Just in case!

Was this measurement made with the windows cracked open or the roof up?

 

[DG1]

The shop have one for £57.99 - bargain!

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/shop/product/brandrup-airscreen-left-sliding-window-vw-california-t5-t6

I just got the second last one of these from the shop last week. From the photos I was expecting it to be made of a rigid plastic with a built in curve, but it is actually a very flexible flat sheet that takes up the curve according to where you attached the suckers to the window surround. It is a very tight fit to slide the top into the guttering channel, but hopefully it will loosen up with time. It does solve the problem of leaving the sliding window open for ventilation at night without the worry of rain getting in. It is perhaps a bit expensive for what it is, but then that seems to apply to all Brandrup products.