Propane burner safety question

[wakeboarder141]

I am in the planning stages of my first smoker build. It is going to be a vertical cabinet smoker to replace a 38" Smoke Hollow propane smoker. I want a unit that works similar to what I have, just larger and with insulated walls. I see a lot of concern on the forum over propane burner safety. My question is how do the commercial units such as the Smoke Hollow unit I have deal with the risk of the flame going out? I can understand the concern with the flame going out, but have never had any issues with my current setup. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Pete Mazz]

The commercial units are open bottomed. If the flame goes out the gas can run out of the bottom. Still not completely safe but I, like you, have been running one for many years.

Besides, what could happen....

[wakeboarder141]

So if I design my cabinet smoker with the same type of bottom design that my commercial unit has, would that diminish most of the risk associated with it? Would there be an easy/inexpensive way to add an automatic shut off on the burner if the flame were to go out?

[Smokeone]

I'm not a gas fan, but before you do it, read the posts in the gas section. Especially the stickies.
http://www.smokerbuilder.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=31
Not being critical, just don't wanna see anyone get hurt.

[The Czar]

I second the above comment

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[Pete Mazz]

The only thing I use is a Maverick digital temp gauge. If I see the remote receiver cooker temp getting low, I'll go have a look. The trick, of course, is to open the door and air it out before trying to relight. I've never had it go out tho. If you try to maintain a really low temp, trying to cold smoke maybe, you may have a problem on a windy day. For those occasions I use an electric burner for heat.

[wakeboarder141]

Thanks for all the comments. I am torn between trying to do propane safely, and using charcoal which just seems a lot more complicated and a lot more work to start, maintain temp, etc. I have only ever used a propane smoker so I was hoping to stick to what I know.

[The Czar]

It's as only hard as you make it....(TWSS)....or complicated I should say....

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[Clover Ridge Smokers]

Many years ago I started out smoking using propane and then converted to stick burners and charcoal units. I think once you try using charcoal and wood, you will never go back to propane. Yes, they are a little harder to master, but the quality of the finished meat product is so much better.