First KAB-4 test....almost an accident

[fotomatt1]

Just wanted to see if anybody else has had this happen. I carefully assembled my new KAB-4 after it was delivered from Amazon today (yes..on a Sunday!). I read the lighting instructions and followed them carefully although the air shutter was 100% open...didn't realize but I should have. I opened the propane canister valve....opened the regulator until I heard hissing...lit the burner and after 2 - 3 seconds, BAM....huge flame out of the burner tube and air shutter. I singed some of my leg hair before I shut it off. That was scary. I realized that the shutter was open all the way and closed it and re-lit. Seemed fine after that once I got the air mixture correct. Has anybody seen this before? It was scary and hope I don't have that happen again.

 

[day_trippr]

"100 Experience Points"

It would have been nice if BC mentioned dialing the shutter down to half-way open to start, and maybe not to crank up the regulator before making fire.

fwiw, I use spark igniters on my BG14s...

Cheers!

 

[fotomatt1]

"100 Experience Points"



It would have been nice if BC mentioned dialing the shutter down to half-way open to start, and maybe not to crank up the regulator before making fire.



fwiw, I use spark igniters on my BG14s...



Cheers!

I thought I missed something but went back through the manual and there is nothing mentioned about starting with the air shutter closed. Is this what caused my "backfire?"

 

[Metzen]

I have a KAB-6 for boil and always start it with a flame over the burner and then slowly opening the valve on the regulator. It will light once you hear the hiss. The BTUs are relatively high so you release a lot of gas when you open the valve on the regulator. Better to start slow and ramp up once lit.

 

[oujens]

Interesting. I have my shutter wide open to get a good flame. The instructions say to turn the tank knob one full turn, and then slowly turn the regulator knob until you hear gas and light it. After that you adjust the knob as needed. Works for me and I get a nice blue flame.

 

[day_trippr]

I thought I missed something but went back through the manual and there is nothing mentioned about starting with the air shutter closed. Is this what caused my "backfire?"

Never, ever "closed". But wide open may admit enough "make-up air" to lean out the mixture to the explosive point. And if you hesitate too long to light the burner there could easily be enough fuel/air mix around to blow.

Normally the air damper is set to pull enough air into the "horn" to leave the gas/air mix too rich to easily ignite. The rest of the make-up air is provided at the burner tips - where you want the fire.

Anyway...as I said I use a (remotely operated) spark igniter but before I added that to my rig I used one of those long-stem barbecue lighters, putting its flame above the burner before opening the regulator...

Cheers!

 

[mongoose33]

Never, ever "closed". But wide open may admit enough "make-up air" to lean out the mixture to the explosive point. And if you hesitate too long to light the burner there could easily be enough fuel/air mix around to blow.

Normally the air damper is set to pull enough air into the "horn" to leave the gas/air mix too rich to easily ignite. The rest of the make-up air is provided at the burner tips - where you want the fire.

Anyway...as I said I use a (remotely operated) spark igniter but before I added that to my rig I used one of those long-stem barbecue lighters, putting its flame above the burner before opening the regulator...

Cheers!

^This.

I always start the flame before I open the regulator. Opening the regulator before providing the flame just allows for the accumulation of explosive and/or leg-hair-singeing gases. I use the same long-necked propane igniter.

Always ignite the igniting flame before supplying the gas.

Glad it all worked out. Experience earned.