Exploding glass!

[offagen]

Our MH has (had) a hinged tinted glass cover over the sink. Apart from when travelling, the glass cover was normally vertical for sink access.

Arriving at a site, my better half raised the glass cover then opened the high-level cupboard above to get out cups. A coffee jar fell out and just caught the top edge of the raised glass cover, causing a chip about the size of half a 5p piece. I thought it wise to cover the sharp edge of the chip with some electrical tape but it could wait until I'd had my cuppa.

Ten minutes later there was a very loud bang as the glass cover exploded into hundreds of pieces. Fortunately we were several feet away but the glass fragments covered a quite an area. It took an age to clear it all up and we still find the odd fragment. Fortunately no other harm done.

Shame it wasn't laminated glass rather than toughened but maybe that's a weight-saving measure?

Anyone want to guess how long it might take to get a replacement?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Have one made at your local glass merchants, just provide a template. cheaper and quicker than a dealer.

 

[Gromett]

I am guessing it will be a Smev one? If so you should be able to get one next day.

Do a google search for

"smev sink replacement lid"

Or am I misunderstanding your question?

 

[offagen]

Have one made at your local glass merchants, just provide a template. cheaper and quicker than a dealer.

That was my thought until the template exploded

 

[Two on Tour]

I made a new cover out of unbreakable smoke coloured 6mm perspex for the kitchen sink on the PVC we had, cheaper and safer in the long run.

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[offagen]

I am guessing it will be a Smev one?

I'm not sure. The sink has no visible markings so I will have to investigate once we are back in the UK.

 

[Gromett]

I'm not sure. The sink has no visible markings so I will have to investigate once we are back in the UK.

If you post a picture we may be able to confirm or identify for you.

 

[offagen]

I made a new cover out of unbreakable smoke coloured 6mm perspex for the kitchen sink on the PVC we had, cheaper and safer in the long run.

Good idea! I'll look into that.

 

[offagen]

A stock picture showing our sink with intact glass cover.

 

[PP Bear]

Now that’s making me have a ponder about the glass lid that covers the cooker. We always travel with it padded both sides with a towel, just in case we have a similar problem with the cupboards above.

I used this to reinforce my greenhouse glass and it went on easily enough, so wonder if I should be looking at using it on the cooker lid. It doesn’t make it unbreakable but would prevent the mess from it breaking. The film was almost invisible when I fitted it to the greenhouse.

Pardon our interruption...

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[offagen]

Now that’s making me have a ponder about the glass lid that covers the cooker. We always travel with it padded both sides with a towel, just in case we have a similar problem with the cupboards above.

I used this to reinforce my greenhouse glass and it went on easily enough, so wonder if I should be looking at using it on the cooker lid. It doesn’t make it unbreakable but would prevent the mess from it breaking. The film was almost invisible when I fitted it to the greenhouse.

Pardon our interruption...

Now that sounds a really good idea. We also have a glass cover over the hob. Thanks for the suggestion.

What really shocked me was how long it was from the small chip to the whole thing exploding. That cuppa saved me from potentially nasty injuries if I'd been taping up the chip first.

 

[Gromett]

View attachment 773898

A stock picture showing our sink with intact glass cover.

Ah, I don't think that is a smev sorry? Maybe someone else can help with manufacturer.

 

[Keep Right On]

View attachment 773898

A stock picture showing our sink with intact glass cover.

Has anyone got an extra socket rig like the one in the picture. We only have 2 sockets in the entire kitchen area but I'd be worried about overload

 

[offagen]

Ah, I don't think that is a smev sorry? Maybe someone else can help with manufacturer.

Thanks anyway for looking. I've found that my super-efficient other half has already been in touch with the tech who services and repairs our MH. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things MH so hopefully will sort us out.

Has anyone got an extra socket rig like the one in the picture. We only have 2 sockets in the entire kitchen area but I'd be worried about overload

Extra sockets doesn't necessarily mean overload. It depends on the amps available at the EHU, which can be anything from 4A (abroad) to 15A IME. Once you know the EHU rating you can easily work out the power requirements of the gadgets/equipment you want to run simultaneously - not forgetting the built-in fridge, water heater, etc. Things like phone chargers consume very little power.

Best to get advice from an auto electrician who can take account of your MH's existing electrical installation and your requirements.

 

[Ridgeway]

Similar happened in our first van but on the cooker glass top cover. The cause was quite simple…. Mrs R had put the glass cover down and let the gas ring on…. Took a few mins until it exploded thing was by then we were inside a tunnel and on a train so underwear changing was required

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[offagen]

^^^ Ha ha! I almost did similar. It's so seldom that we are on ehu that when the alarm clock goes off I automatically reach over from bed to turn the gas ring on under the pre-filled kettle. Did the same recently but in my comatose state forgot that we were on ehu and the electric kettle was standing on the glass top where the whistling kettle usually is. Ignited the gas then woke up sharply just in time to realise what was about to happen. That was close!

 

[MisterB]

Has anyone got an extra socket rig like the one in the picture. We only have 2 sockets in the entire kitchen area but I'd be worried about overload

I think it's a great solution for adding additional sockets in the kitchen area where there isn't much wall space or access behind the wall to run cables etc and you don't have to use all the sockets.
It's basically just an extension lead, and how many of those have four or more sockets ...? It's like everything else, just be sensible when using it!

 

[Steve and Denise]

Our MH has (had) a hinged tinted glass cover over the sink. Apart from when travelling, the glass cover was normally vertical for sink access.

Arriving at a site, my better half raised the glass cover then opened the high-level cupboard above to get out cups. A coffee jar fell out and just caught the top edge of the raised glass cover, causing a chip about the size of half a 5p piece. I thought it wise to cover the sharp edge of the chip with some electrical tape but it could wait until I'd had my cuppa.

Ten minutes later there was a very loud bang as the glass cover exploded into hundreds of pieces. Fortunately we were several feet away but the glass fragments covered a quite an area. It took an age to clear it all up and we still find the odd fragment. Fortunately no other harm done.

Shame it wasn't laminated glass rather than toughened but maybe that's a weight-saving measure?

Anyone want to guess how long it might take to get a replacement?

Is this on a Autotrail ?

 

[offagen]

Is this on a Autotrail ?

Yes

 

[Steve and Denise]

I think I saw this somewhere else unless you have posted it elsewhere

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[Nanniemate]

I don't understand why glass tops are used often as standard just seems a daft design when there are so many other possibilities
Good thing no-one is hurt

 

[DavidG58]

Anyone want to guess how long it might take to get a replacement?

View attachment 773898

A stock picture showing our sink with intact glass cover.

At least yours is rectangular

We broke ours on our Hymer, bespoke doesn’t do it justice, expecting £1000 ish

Nope , sorry sir we can’t get them

A six year old MH at that time no parts available since had a window with same sorry excuse along with a couple of other less critical things

I will not be buying Hymer again , they maybe no worse than the rest of them but they have pissed me off

We got a template off a funster with the same top and had one made in smoked Perspex for £29 I even got a spare one for an extra £5

 

[offagen]

I think I saw this somewhere else unless you have posted it elsewhere

No, I've not posted this elsewhere. I'm not surprised that someone else may have experienced similar.

 

[offagen]

DavidG58 that must be so annoying. Great, though, when a fellow Funster helps out like that

 

[Steve and Denise]

No, I've not posted this elsewhere. I'm not surprised that someone else may have experienced similar.

Found it

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[PP Bear]

Found it
View attachment 774097

Same cooker as mine, so now I’m definitely going to have to use the film I mentioned above, what a mess and we’ve always got the guard cat with us, so who knows what splinters are left lurking around for tiny paws or bare feet.

 

[TDub49]

Our MH has (had) a hinged tinted glass cover over the sink. Apart from when travelling, the glass cover was normally vertical for sink access.

Arriving at a site, my better half raised the glass cover then opened the high-level cupboard above to get out cups. A coffee jar fell out and just caught the top edge of the raised glass cover, causing a chip about the size of half a 5p piece. I thought it wise to cover the sharp edge of the chip with some electrical tape but it could wait until I'd had my cuppa.

Ten minutes later there was a very loud bang as the glass cover exploded into hundreds of pieces. Fortunately we were several feet away but the glass fragments covered a quite an area. It took an age to clear it all up and we still find the odd fragment. Fortunately no other harm done.

Shame it wasn't laminated glass rather than toughened but maybe that's a weight-saving measure?

Anyone want to guess how long it might take to get a replacement?

We had a similar experience with the glass cover over the cooker. Being an old model we gave up trying to find a replacement and have learned to live without it. We found a handy chopping board from Ikea that fits a treat when needed and stores neatly when not. There are other solutions than having breakable glass or scratchable polycarbonate . . .

 

[autorouter]

I replaced our glass cover with an aluminium plate. I bought a rectangular plate the same thickness as the glass, and rounded the corners with a jigsaw and file. Then drilled holes for the hinges and a fingerhole. Much better than glass, in my opinion. And I was still finding glass fragments in the nooks and crannies years later.

 

[The Old Man]

View attachment 773898

A stock picture showing our sink with intact glass cover.

I'd have thought it a reasonably easy task to make a cardboard cutout template?

 

[offagen]

I'd have thought it a reasonably easy task to make a cardboard cutout template?

Yes, you're right.

My options so far are:

Obtain a replacement cover, probably on long delivery and extortionate cost.

Create a template and have a local glazier make a repro in (preferably laminated) glass.

Make a tinted perspex replacement.

Make an aluminium replacement.

If the replacement has to be toughened glass I'd certainly look at using the safety film suggested by PP Bear.

Thanks for everyone's contributions so far

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