Thetford cooker hob cover

I was even more stupid than you Micky, I don't have and electric burner just gas. I put the kettle on without lifting the glass top!

It is almost impossible to turn the gas taps on accidentally because of the way they work, push to turn and then you have to use the igniter.

peedee

I know of two instances of this. The first happened to a friend, who inadvertently knocked the knob of his electric plate on whilst cleaning his van. The second happened to me. At the time, we had a Bailey Ranger. This did not have an electric cooking plate. Just 4 gas rings. I was cooking on one of the back rings. I can only assume that the hot pan may have touched the glass cover which was back against the wall.  As you describe, an almighty bang and glass everywhere. Four people in the van narrowly missing being hit by flying glass and a meal ruined. I do recall contacting Bailey, and their response being lukewarm.

Have just returned from a fairly long caravan trip and have to report that the aluminium hob and knob cover has done the job admirably. I have shown it to fellow caravanners and all thought that it did not look out of place and could see the practicality of it. I am giving up pursuing caravan manufacturers, Thetford, GASSAFE, Trading Standards and the National caravan Council as they have ALL been tepid in their response. Likewise the CCC and the C&MHC! I can only hope no one gets injured. I am now investigating what happens to caravan owners in a country run by Jeremy Corbyn and his acolytes.....

I have had the same issue.

The issue took place as I was hoovering the carpets prior to a trip away.

The hoover wire had gone over the control knob and turned the plate on (unknown to me).

I went inside to look for something and when I came out of the house heard the explosion. Had no idea what it was until I went inside and saw all the glass.

I now turn the plate off by the socket located in the bottom glass compartment.

Yeah, happened to me to. Caused by the hob being used in daytime and then turned down to the low setting.  Being next to the open door in daylight meant the flame was invisible! Then the fact that it was thought to be turned off but in fact was just on the low setting. We haven’t had the motorhome long enough to to realise that clockwise puts it on a high setting while anti-clockwise puts it on a low setting. So the knob was intuitively turned all the way anti-clockwise and - being in bright sunlight didn’t notice it still lit. Lid goes down and some time later - bang!!

Of course all this is in the instructions and there is (or was) a warning sticker on the glass but from the number of posts and my own experience on this, I would say that more should be done. 

I thought most of them had a cut-off switch. I'm not sure if any residual heat even in that case wouldn't end up with the same result.

I think all the tourers have a gas switch on the hob cover so that you could not switch it on whilst the lid is down. You can close the lid when the flame is already alight though.

I don't think the electric hobs have ever had a cut-off switch for the lid. The electric hobs are solid so retain their heat for a good while, and accidents are more likely in my opinion. I do not think the glass cover is a very good idea at all for a caravan/camper. A properly designed hob with a couple of gas burners and induction plate with anti surge would be better. These  ovens/hobs are dreadful.