In 2001, our first RV, a fifth-wheel, came with an oven.   Lighting the pilot light so we could use the oven always involved some form of drama.  It was my job and I wasn’t very good at it.    I never could figure out where to apply the match/lighter flame to heat up the correct do-hickey so that the safety thing-a-ma-bob would allow gas to flow to sustain the pilot light.

Now that I’m older and (possibly) wiser, I decided to figure out where the flame needed to be to get the pilot to light as quickly as possible so that the love of my life would be satisfied with my pilot lighting prowess.  My thought process for figuring out what needed to  be lighted started with the realization that without a side view of the pilot light innards, figuring out where to apply the flame would be hopeless.

I thought that getting a small compact mirror would allow me to see a front and side view at the same time.  We don’t have a compact mirror with us so I tried to buy one.  Explaining what I wanted to do with the mirror got me one of those, “we have one at home so why don’t you wait.”

I’m not all that patient.

Sometimes it is hard to consider alternatives (my phone is a small camera) when I’m stuck on a particular solution (mirror).

In preparation for dinner (baked tilapia), I went in the camper alone to light the pilot light.  Without supervision, my creative juices flowed.  I shoved my phone into the oven.  I was a tiny bit worried that it might melt before I could get it out.  I placed a small flashlight into the oven to light the scene.

With the phone in place, I took the first picture.  This before picture just shows the mechanism.

Next, I turned the control knob from OFF to PILOT PUSH/HOLD.  Then I pushed the knob in (like it was a button) and held it there.  With my other hand, I applied flame.

I held the flame under the pilot light assembly for 30 seconds to ensure that the pilot light assembly was hot enough that it wouldn’t shut itself off thinking that the pilot light had gone out.  If you don’t get the assembly hot enough, the gas to the pilot light will stop flowing and the pilot light will go out.

Removing the flame and releasing pressure on the knob/button, I see that the pilot is now running on its own.

I turn the oven knob to 400 degrees and WE ARE NOW COOKING WITH GAS!

As I hastily remove my phone from the oven, I realize that I left a bunch of aluminum pans and plastic lids in the oven.  Quickly I remove all that junk.   Then I realize I need to get the flashlight out of there.   Then I realize I need to open the cook top cover to allow the oven to vent.  Then I realize I need to turn on the range hood fan.

Lighting the pilot light was almost without drama.

Hope to see you on the road ahead!

• cooking
• gear