Alternative Technology Assn Forums

1. 

   wlb
   Member

   Does anyone know of an LPG domestic stove on the market that still uses spark ignition to control the oven?

   In other words, one that does NOT use an electrically heated ceramic block to ignite the gas.

   Posted Friday 12 Oct 2012 @ 7:22:07 am from IP #
2. 

   Russell Moore
   Member

   I searched the net and came up with these three LPG ovens/stoves, hopefully they are spark ignited, because that is what I searched for.

   Westinghouse GEK1385LWLPG, Spinflo MK3 4 burner/LPG, Euromaid Dual Fuel oven/stove MDA200 LPG.

   Good luck.

   Posted Friday 12 Oct 2012 @ 9:50:17 am from IP #
3. 

   wlb
   Member

   Thanks Russell,

   Alas it doesn't seem to be quite that easy. I'm looking for full-size domestic stoves. Of the 3 you found, 2 are benchtop units (one of which has an electric oven & griller), and the 3rd is for motor homes and caravans.

   The ignition system for standard domestic gas stoves and ovens for the past decade seems to be to use an electrically heated ceramic block that sits in the gas stream rather than use the old piezoelectric ignition for an oven pilot flame or a burner with a modulating thermostat, or electronic spark ignition.

   The problem is that the ceramic block heater remains on while the oven is in use and it draws quite a bit of power. This isn't good on an off-grid system.

   Thanks for your input though.

   Posted Saturday 13 Oct 2012 @ 4:10:37 am from IP #
4. 

   Russell Moore
   Member

   Could you disable the ceramic lighter and add a spark ignition yourself?

   Posted Saturday 13 Oct 2012 @ 8:01:54 am from IP #
5. 

   Johnnojack
   Member

   That shouldn't be hard. Just get one from a dead gas HWS (storage type) I use them to make gas lighters and they throw an awesome spark, much bigger than those cheap gas lighter gun things. You would need to mount the ceramic spark tip in exactly the right place. Also make sure the wire is long enough.

   Posted Saturday 13 Oct 2012 @ 10:50:27 am from IP #
6. 

   alfresco24
   Member

   Not sure you can disable the electric igniter like that. I believe gas reg's require an interlock valve on the gas input, which wont function if igniter circuit isnt working. Unless it has manual gas release it probably wont work and not safe.

   Posted Saturday 13 Oct 2012 @ 10:55:31 am from IP #
7. 

   Russell Moore
   Member

   How much power do the ceramic lighters use?

   Posted Saturday 13 Oct 2012 @ 11:19:35 am from IP #
8. 

   wlb
   Member

   Russell Moore said:
   How much power do the ceramic lighters use?

   I can't remember, and a quick net search just now hasn't turned up anything.

   I last checked several years ago and I did so in the appliance shops, not on-line.
   I just remember being disappointed by the discovery that there was a significant and constant electricity demand while the oven was running, in order to keep the block hot. Not good when running on off-grid batteries.

   I asked about electronic spark ignition and was told it wasn't used anymore as the ceramic heater was safer, which of course it is, but the true difference would be marginal and only because of reduced complexity.

   Posted Sunday 14 Oct 2012 @ 11:10:08 pm from IP #
9. 

   Phil A
   Member

   Hi wlb,
   We recently went through this same issue. We found a "chef" full size oven, grill, with 4 burners on top. Made in Australia, cheap, and pizio? pizo? pizzo? spark ignition. A late version of one I had 20 years ago in a mobile home.

   Phil.

   Posted Monday 15 Oct 2012 @ 1:37:13 am from IP #
10. 

    Jeffbloggs
    Member

    wlb
    A timer on the ignition circuit might do it...but then you would have to add a gas leakage detector for safety reasons. I can't imagine that the ceramic heater uses that much power, I think you should measure how much it is. Being in the gas flow, and heated by the burning gas of the oven, I would expect the element to at first draw some current at startup, say around 20-50W, but then as it heats up the draw should reduce. Some test results would be welcome.

    I am not a fan of using LPG for cooking or interior heating. LPG barbecues are known to be carcinogenic, and ovens with exposed flames will be even worse as they retain much of the combustion gases, which then seep into the food you eat. Cooking on a gas hob, especially with a lid on the pot is not that bad. Natural gas is of course much better. Maybe invest in some thermal cookware for the gas hob instead...no ignition problems there!

    Posted Monday 15 Oct 2012 @ 1:48:21 am from IP #
11. 

    wlb
    Member

    Thanks Phil. I'll have a look. (It's piezo)

    Thanks Jeff. Those that I looked at some years ago powered the block constantly and if the power wasn't there, it didn't work.

    Posted Monday 15 Oct 2012 @ 2:05:49 am from IP #

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