Silents smell more than roarers?

Why do silent burners smell more that the roarers?
Sometimes when making really big dinners for a lot of persons I use a classic roarer in the kitchen as supporting flame device when the electrical stove does not have available hot-plates, this is no problem - no additional odour of kerosene.
But, testing the silent in the basement really filled the rooms with the classic kerosene scent big time, when my wife entered the basement she was really worried what I was doing down there

I guess the combustion is more complete on a roarer?
Or my brand new Prabhat (silent) needs a run-in periode?

My conclusion so far is that roarers can be used indoor, and silent is for outdoor usage

 

My conclusion is that your kitchen is better ventilated than your basement. Regards, Mike

 

I'd say that neither should smell unless there's a fault. Check out your silent..!

And actually, roarers, being less susceptible to wind are more suited to outdoor use. Silents are more suited to indoor use. Hope that helps...

 

I agree with David. The only time any of my kero stoves smell in operation is if I've managed to spill some fuel whilst filling and not noticed.

However, if the NRV or the filler cap nitrile seals are leaking then you will get some fumes. If it's a fixed rather than collapsible stove then possibly there is some leakage from one of the HT washers around the priming cup. Alternatively a nipple/jet that is oversize or otherwise screwed (e.g. off centre) might also result in unburnt or inefficiently burnt vapour.

If it's a collapsible stove then you could also check the lead washer.

 

I haven't found that myself. Anyway - what's wrong with the smell?

I just love the smell when I walk into my workshop!

 

Do you mean just the kero smell or the fume from the incomplete combustion? Most of us wake up to the smell of fresh kero in the morning, so that is not really a problem. But if it is the fume, then either the jet is too wide (even if it is new) or the stove is not able to process the vapor through the particular combination of inner and outer cap.

Change the jet, or change the inner/ outer cap combination, and see how it does.

 

it seems to me that the least fumes come from a stove with a larger distance between burner & pot. i have a primus 96 which had a small gap between burner & pot, & while it burned with a nice blue flame it gave off a lot of fumes. i replaced the legs with a longer set from a monitor 17, & it burns much cleaner. i think the greater distance allows the fuel to burn more completely. it still doesnt burn as cleanly as my primus 210, which has quite a large gap . this is my guess as to part of the issue, but im sure there are many other factors. Brian.

 

Considering that the silent burners were developed specifically to run indoors, it would be strange indeed if there was incomplete combustion leading to a very smelly and unhealthy stove.

I have never noticed the problem with a correctly burning silent burner.

 

If you let the tank run dry, you will get hot air smelling of paraffin/kerosene in the room. I think the secret (if there is one) is to turn off the stove completely in one go, me, I like the smell

 

My Hiker+ seems to have a stronger smell of kero than my classic 111T but i don't mind i like the smell.

Take care