Post by Brian M on Jan 29, 2009 14:05:20 GMT
From: thekatswhickers (Original Message) Sent: 28/11/2007 11:51
Hi, this msn group is an absolute life saver for a dizzy blond who's husband recently bought her a safari for her birthday to fulfill her caravaning dreams. Only problem is neither of us know anything about it. Could someone kindly enlighten us to where there is a potential heat source in the 1979 van and is it gas or electric. Bit of a 'blond' question but this illustrates our lack of the most basic knowledge and we are so grateful to have found this group. Safaris rock!!
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Recommend Message 2 of 8 in Discussion
From: Sylvesteruk1 Sent: 28/11/2007 13:09
You should have a CARVER gas fire which has no mains connections as it lights by a striker and flint. You should find details of this on our web site as it has been asked many times. To be honest if I have a mains hook up on a site then I use a fan heater.
If you are a dizzy blonde and feel the cold at night please email me direct for a fix!
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Recommend Message 3 of 8 in Discussion
From: AlecGatherer Sent: 28/11/2007 15:57
Dear Mrs. K. Swiskers
Where you is? Sounds like you could do with a guided tour of someone's Safari. Come to think of it, so could I.
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Recommend Message 4 of 8 in Discussion
From: Denzel10009 Sent: 28/11/2007 19:13
Hi, I don't know about yours but mine has a very excellent gas heater fitted as standard. Welcome to Safariworld.
Den.
Shine brightly!
Denis Jevon
djevon@totalise.co.uk
www.enviroheal.co.uk
www.emotionalhealing.me.uk
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Recommend Message 5 of 8 in Discussion
From: thekatswhickers Sent: 30/11/2007 11:28
Hi again, thanks for the advice. My carver gas heater is yet to show any life, other than pressing the spark button is there any other way of thurning this appliance on? Dizzyomiter still pointing to high dizzy levels! thanks
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Recommend Message 6 of 8 in Discussion
From: OliverShaw1 Sent: 30/11/2007 13:11
First, if the caravan has stood unused for any length of time (e.g. between successive trips is often long enough to need this) purge any air that you may have in the pipes. The need for this arises because the gas taps on the cooker, and probably the internal taps on the other appliances, are not designed to be absolutely tight against all posible leakage over a period of days or weeks, so they very gradually allow gas to escape - and air to diffuse in.
To purge the air, light one of the cooker burners, and leave it on until it is burning steadily and correctly. That will get rid of all the air in the main supply pipe, leaving only the spurs to the space heater and fridge and water heater. Each of these can be purged only by repeated attempts to light it for the first time, but once all the air has been purged from the main supply pipe it should not take more than a few attempts to light each of these.
It sounds as though you have piezo-electric ignition, which was the more usual method, although a few had electronic ignition.
There is a flame failure device that you will need to hold in while you light the pilot jet and for a few seconds aferwards.
Probably at that period you will have two grey knobs on the top of the heater, plus a thermostat at about (sitting) head height on a wall. The larger of the grey knobs has three positions, labelled with conventional icons; turn it to the ignition position (jagged icon). You will probably find it has a small section cut away, and in this position this cut-out allows clearance for the small knob (the striker knob) to be depressed.
Press the large knob downwards, and hold it down while you operate the striker knob. This temporarily disables the flame-failure device. Once the pilot jet lights, continue to hold the main control knob down for a further few seconds; you will soon discover how long this needs to be before you can release it without the pilot going out again.
Once the pilot jet is burning and you have released the main control knob, turn the latter to the full position, and then use the thermostat (on the wall) to select your preferred temperature.
If the pilot fails to light within the first few seconds, release the main control knob. This will turn off the gas supply to the pilot jet. Then leave it for about a minute, to allow any gas in the chamber to disperse, and try again.
If it still won't work, take it to a dealer for service.
Incidentally the entire caravan should be serviced annually. If you don't know when it was last done it is sensible to regard it as probably overdue.
Hope this helps,
Oliver
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Recommend Message 7 of 8 in Discussion
From: Sylvesteruk1 Sent: 30/11/2007 16:36
There is a technique to lighting the pilot and the instructions tell you that if you don`t strike the ignition instantly a few times you can choke the system with gas and it will not light. I had this finger trouble when first buying my SAFARI but now I can light up instantly.
As to taking your caravan for an annual service to dealer I think its a waste of time if you are competent do it yourself man or woman. An annual service can cost far more then the caravan is worth and unlike more modern caravans the SAFARI is very basic.
If you can do your own car servicing (and that on a modern car is a joke when you get hold of the manufacturers schedules) then repacking wheel hub bearings, general lubrication, replacing brake shoes, adjusting brakes, checking the 12 volt lighting system or the 240 volt system is not rocket science. Okay gas needs respect but our local caravan dealer Harringtons charges more the older the caravan is to service it, anything up to £350 plus consumables.
By a Canary and a cage next time you light the gas fire!
Reply
Recommend Message 8 of 8 in Discussion
From: thekatswhickers Sent: 19/12/2007 14:29
Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the great advice guys, very appreciated. I didn't look a TOTAL fool when i took my van in for a check up. The update is there was a few gas leaks here and there so i've had the pipes replaced and the heater was totally shot so i've had a small calor gas heater installed which does the job. All in all my purse is £150 lighter but at least i've somewhere for my dad and brother to kip come Christams. Safaris still rock and i'm counting the hours until warmer weather. Here's hoping!!!!!! Have a great Christmas xxx
Hi, this msn group is an absolute life saver for a dizzy blond who's husband recently bought her a safari for her birthday to fulfill her caravaning dreams. Only problem is neither of us know anything about it. Could someone kindly enlighten us to where there is a potential heat source in the 1979 van and is it gas or electric. Bit of a 'blond' question but this illustrates our lack of the most basic knowledge and we are so grateful to have found this group. Safaris rock!!
First Previous 2-8 of 8 Next Last
Reply
Recommend Message 2 of 8 in Discussion
From: Sylvesteruk1 Sent: 28/11/2007 13:09
You should have a CARVER gas fire which has no mains connections as it lights by a striker and flint. You should find details of this on our web site as it has been asked many times. To be honest if I have a mains hook up on a site then I use a fan heater.
If you are a dizzy blonde and feel the cold at night please email me direct for a fix!
Reply
Recommend Message 3 of 8 in Discussion
From: AlecGatherer Sent: 28/11/2007 15:57
Dear Mrs. K. Swiskers
Where you is? Sounds like you could do with a guided tour of someone's Safari. Come to think of it, so could I.
Reply
Recommend Message 4 of 8 in Discussion
From: Denzel10009 Sent: 28/11/2007 19:13
Hi, I don't know about yours but mine has a very excellent gas heater fitted as standard. Welcome to Safariworld.
Den.
Shine brightly!
Denis Jevon
djevon@totalise.co.uk
www.enviroheal.co.uk
www.emotionalhealing.me.uk
Reply
Recommend Message 5 of 8 in Discussion
From: thekatswhickers Sent: 30/11/2007 11:28
Hi again, thanks for the advice. My carver gas heater is yet to show any life, other than pressing the spark button is there any other way of thurning this appliance on? Dizzyomiter still pointing to high dizzy levels! thanks
Reply
Recommend Message 6 of 8 in Discussion
From: OliverShaw1 Sent: 30/11/2007 13:11
First, if the caravan has stood unused for any length of time (e.g. between successive trips is often long enough to need this) purge any air that you may have in the pipes. The need for this arises because the gas taps on the cooker, and probably the internal taps on the other appliances, are not designed to be absolutely tight against all posible leakage over a period of days or weeks, so they very gradually allow gas to escape - and air to diffuse in.
To purge the air, light one of the cooker burners, and leave it on until it is burning steadily and correctly. That will get rid of all the air in the main supply pipe, leaving only the spurs to the space heater and fridge and water heater. Each of these can be purged only by repeated attempts to light it for the first time, but once all the air has been purged from the main supply pipe it should not take more than a few attempts to light each of these.
It sounds as though you have piezo-electric ignition, which was the more usual method, although a few had electronic ignition.
There is a flame failure device that you will need to hold in while you light the pilot jet and for a few seconds aferwards.
Probably at that period you will have two grey knobs on the top of the heater, plus a thermostat at about (sitting) head height on a wall. The larger of the grey knobs has three positions, labelled with conventional icons; turn it to the ignition position (jagged icon). You will probably find it has a small section cut away, and in this position this cut-out allows clearance for the small knob (the striker knob) to be depressed.
Press the large knob downwards, and hold it down while you operate the striker knob. This temporarily disables the flame-failure device. Once the pilot jet lights, continue to hold the main control knob down for a further few seconds; you will soon discover how long this needs to be before you can release it without the pilot going out again.
Once the pilot jet is burning and you have released the main control knob, turn the latter to the full position, and then use the thermostat (on the wall) to select your preferred temperature.
If the pilot fails to light within the first few seconds, release the main control knob. This will turn off the gas supply to the pilot jet. Then leave it for about a minute, to allow any gas in the chamber to disperse, and try again.
If it still won't work, take it to a dealer for service.
Incidentally the entire caravan should be serviced annually. If you don't know when it was last done it is sensible to regard it as probably overdue.
Hope this helps,
Oliver
Reply
Recommend Message 7 of 8 in Discussion
From: Sylvesteruk1 Sent: 30/11/2007 16:36
There is a technique to lighting the pilot and the instructions tell you that if you don`t strike the ignition instantly a few times you can choke the system with gas and it will not light. I had this finger trouble when first buying my SAFARI but now I can light up instantly.
As to taking your caravan for an annual service to dealer I think its a waste of time if you are competent do it yourself man or woman. An annual service can cost far more then the caravan is worth and unlike more modern caravans the SAFARI is very basic.
If you can do your own car servicing (and that on a modern car is a joke when you get hold of the manufacturers schedules) then repacking wheel hub bearings, general lubrication, replacing brake shoes, adjusting brakes, checking the 12 volt lighting system or the 240 volt system is not rocket science. Okay gas needs respect but our local caravan dealer Harringtons charges more the older the caravan is to service it, anything up to £350 plus consumables.
By a Canary and a cage next time you light the gas fire!
Reply
Recommend Message 8 of 8 in Discussion
From: thekatswhickers Sent: 19/12/2007 14:29
Hi everyone,
Thanks for all the great advice guys, very appreciated. I didn't look a TOTAL fool when i took my van in for a check up. The update is there was a few gas leaks here and there so i've had the pipes replaced and the heater was totally shot so i've had a small calor gas heater installed which does the job. All in all my purse is £150 lighter but at least i've somewhere for my dad and brother to kip come Christams. Safaris still rock and i'm counting the hours until warmer weather. Here's hoping!!!!!! Have a great Christmas xxx