Butane in Spain

[Kevin_374310102]

Am currently on-site in Seville and will need to buy some gas soon. Yes, I know I can ask locally, but I doubt I will get such good advice The question really relates to the regulator and the size of the canisters. I presume I just take off my propane regulator and put the Spanish butane one onto the same hose. The big question is about the gas bottles. The ones I have seen at the petrol stations are much too big to put in the front locker. Is it possible to get smaller ones that would fit? If not, how does it work? As far as I can tell there are no caravan businesses within a reasonable distance of Seville according to Yellow Pages, locals, etc.

Thanks in advance,

Kevin

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Kevin,

Take a look at the Repsol web-site, admittedly you need to access the site through the Spanish language section to find this - but eventually you will find that you can buy 6kg caravan "kegs" from Repsol, Campsa and Petronor filling stations.

The web-site page is http://www.repsolypf.com/es_en/productos_y_servicios/productos/glp_butano_y_propano/paises/espana/butano_y_propano_envasado/informacion_de_productos/catalogo_de_productos/butano/default.aspx

Happily alongside Dutch and French, I also speak Spanish (and some German) - so it wasn't too difficult to find the right page.

Robert

 

[rob_jax]

I've also heard that it's possible to get UK gas bottles refilled in Spain, not in any authorised or legal way, but informally at LPG stations.

And since one of my jobs is to represent the UK in Brussels on fuel standards - don't ask me who you should contact - it is illegal, and I certainly don't condone the practice. The main danger is that the cylinder is filled beyond the safe 75% to 80% fill point - which can cause over-pressurisation and other issues.

But I thought you should be aware of the issues in case someone mentions this "possibility" at your camp-site.

Robert

 

[Kevin_374310102]

Hi Kevin,

Take a look at the Repsol web-site, admittedly you need to access the site through the Spanish language section to find this - but eventually you will find that you can buy 6kg caravan "kegs" from Repsol, Campsa and Petronor filling stations.

The web-site page is http://www.repsolypf.com/es_en/productos_y_servicios/productos/glp_butano_y_propano/paises/espana/butano_y_propano_envasado/informacion_de_productos/catalogo_de_productos/butano/default.aspx

Happily alongside Dutch and French, I also speak Spanish (and some German) - so it wasn't too difficult to find the right page.

Robert

Thanks for both sets of information, Robert. My wife teaches Spanish, and speaks French and German. I, on the other hand, merely speak German, but for that it is my job as a translator

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[Kevin_374310102]

Thanks for the information on both points, Robert. Won't be a problem with the web sites as my wife teaches Spanish, and speaks French and German. I merely speak German, but that as a professional translator.

Regards,

Kevin

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Kevin,

I hope you find the 6 kg bottle suits you. The fill gas (unless you buy "Butano" / Butane) is LPG - the natural mix of Propane and Butane found in crude oil, and this works fine.

Later this month I'm spending a few days at the Repsol headquaters in Madrid, where we have a CEN fuel standards meeting - and it may be warmer than Rotterdam

Robert

 

[RayS]

If your van has one of the new style fixed regulators, you will probably find it has an isolation valve downstream i.e. between regulator and caravan. If too you have a gas BBQ point, then it is possible to supply gas "backwards" through this, isolating the regulator first.

Then you can use a larger bottle external to the van - you will have to buy a regulator too, but these and tubing are readily available at ferriterias in Spain. The bottle is, of course, visible but if you are concerned about this you could always chain it to a front support leg. I think you will find the larger bottles much better value for a long stay.

 

[Kevin_374310102]

We have been here for over 5 weeks now, and the propane bottle we started with is still going, so I don't think I need to worry too much about value for money as I am sure I will leave a lot of gas behind if I get a big bottle. Am plucking up courage and finding time in the morning to go to a Ferriteria (my wife teaches Spanish, I speak very little) and sort this out. Not too worried about the security side: the site seems very safe and I am at the van most of the day and night :-(. Will report back on the results.

Kevin

 

[Kevin_374310102]

OK, the deed is done. Probably not as I intended, but nevertheless. I went to the Fereteria and the bloke there basically said they didn't have regulators and kept showing me things like a camping stove, even though I said I needed a regulator that serves the whole caravan (even my Spanish can manage that). That was midweek last week. So my wife got the bit between her teeth and we went in on Saturday. This time, low and behold, the other, more helpful, assistant found a regulator. This was for CampingGaz, but at least we had found it and could also get the small, 2.8kg (according to the cylinder) cylinder with it. So that is where we are. The hardware store had the stuff to connect to CampingGaz, but we never found anywhere to get a regulator for any other supply, including the cylinders for sale at every other petrol station in Spain. And this within 8 miles of the fourth biggest city in the country.

I am completely perplexed by this, but at least we have all the bits we need to continue with a gas supply. For those who might, quite reasonably, suggest that the cylinder is rather small, we still haven't run out of the propane cylinder we brought with us.

Many thanks for the information offered.

Kevin

 

[Rod2]

kevin

when you leave spain keep the regulator, try to sell whats left in the bottle. in my experience there is always someone, usually a brit, on the lookout for cheap gas when people set off for home. as to size of bottle that is a problem I have encountered but i dont know the answer.