Why does my Eno stove burner go out when I release the knob?
The burners on my Eno gas cooker are quite badly corroded. I have to keep the gas knob pressed in permanently, otherwise the flame immediately goes out. What needs fixing?
Answer
When an Eno stove burner dies the moment you release the knob, the thermocouple system is failing to detect the flame and is shutting off the gas for safety. Because your burners are heavily corroded, the flame is likely missing the thermocouple tip entirely, or the probe itself has burnt out and requires replacement.
Flame failure device mechanics
Marine cookers require a flame failure device on every burner by law. Eno uses a standard thermocouple system. This small copper probe sits right next to the burner. When you push the gas knob in and light the burner, the flame heats the tip of the thermocouple. This heat generates a tiny electrical current of 15 to 30 millivolts.
This micro-current travels down the copper wire to a small electromagnet located inside the gas tap behind the control knob. As long as the magnet receives power from the flame, it holds the gas valve open. When you release the knob, the valve stays open. If the flame blows out, the tip cools, the voltage drops to zero, the magnet releases and a spring snaps the gas valve shut. If the current never reaches the magnet, the burner goes out the exact second you let go of the knob.
Corroded burner caps
Eno stoves typically use Italian-made Sabaf burner assemblies. Over time, salt air and boil-overs cause the aluminium bases to oxidise and the steel or brass caps to rust. Corroded burners force the gas to exit unevenly.
For the thermocouple to work, a strong blue flame must constantly bathe the top 5 to 10mm of the probe. If corrosion blocks the gas ports nearest the probe, the flame misses it entirely. Before buying new parts, turn off the gas at the main bottle. Take a wire brush and vigorously clean the slots around the burner base. If the metal is crumbling or heavily pitted, you need replacement burner caps. A replacement Sabaf burner cap and base kit for an Eno Gascogne or Open Sea costs around £30 to £45 per burner.
Replacing a faulty thermocouple
If the flame is clean and hitting the probe but the burner refuses to stay lit after holding the knob for ten seconds, the thermocouple has failed. This is a common consumable part on any boat.
A genuine Eno replacement thermocouple costs £15 to £25. They come in different lengths depending on the faulty burner, so measure your old one or buy a universal 600mm marine kit. To fit it: