Do you have one or two?

[Hutch]

Two Calorlite So Far

Dave , we must be the last of a few, I will have to travel to Oxford Main Calor dealer to get a lite replacement, 60 mile round trip. Is it worth it. Maybe not. I will ask them if they can deliver.

 

[Boff]

Thats the TARE weight. In other words, empty.

According to Calors website, a 6kg bottle has the following specifications, vague or what?

Product code 210060
Manufacturer Calor
Cylinder Type Propane
Cylinder usage Caravans and motorhomes
Cylinder Colour Red
Capacity 6kg
Height 495
Diameter 256
Tare weight (empty) 7.3-10.9kg
Gross weight (full) 15-17

A 3.9kg bottle has

Product code 210039
Manufacturer Calor
Cylinder Type Propane
Cylinder usage DIY
Cylinder Colour Red
Capacity 3.9kg
Height 340mm
Diameter 240mm
Tare weight (empty) 4.1-8.6kg
Gross weight (full) 9-10.5kg

For those that don’t know, the silver collar on a Calor give the tare weight in lbs and ozs. I once checked a couple of heavy 6kg bottles I had one was 16lbs and 19lbs so a big difference.

If you happen to have a Calorlite. The weight is on the collar as above but also stamped on the foot rim in kgs. Iirc they weigh a consistent 4.45kg.

Fun fact, people caravanned before the invention of calorlite’s. I believe that they will continue to caravan after their demise.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Its a shame that there doesnt appear to be any sort of accurate guage save for taking the bottle off and weighing it.

I was looking at one of these
https://chorleybottlegas.co.uk/shop/lpg-equipment/propane-cylinder-contents-gauge/

I am always dubious about adding something else to the line, the more connections, the more chance of a leak. I am also led to believe the guages are wildly inaccurate.

The gauge you are looking at is just a pressure gauge, and it designed to monitor the pressure inside the bottle.
Your right, such gauges are a poor solution to monitoring bottle content, because as long as there is any liquified gas remaining in the bottle, the pressure inside the bottle will be defined by the temperature of the bottle not how much liquefied gas remains. It does give you a quick visual indication of when the bottle is nearing empty.

The pressure will only start to drop significantly when all the liquefied gas has evaporated , and there is only compressed vapour remaining, and as it is used up the pressure will start to drop. Temperature will still be a major factor though.

You can get liquid crystal strips to stick to the outside of the bottle. These change colour depending on the temperature of the surface they are stuck to. They will detect the temperature difference of the bottle wall if it's in contact with vapour or liquified gas. These will only work if gas is being drawn off the bottle. The principle relies on the fact that the liquefied gas at the bottom of a bottle has to boil to release vapour. The boiling requires heat energy, and it gets its heat by drawing heat through the bottle wall from the ambient air around the bottle. This cools the bottle wall more quickly than the bottle wall against the vapour at the top of the bottle. The LCD strip will show the temperature change at the surface of the liquified gas. It doesn't work when no gas is being used, and the bottle temperature has evened out.

There are some systems that use ultrasonics to detect the level of the liquid in the bottle. With this system you can have a remote display inside the caravan for convenience.

So far all these system will indicate when you are running low on gas, that may be sufficient for many users, but they can't tell you how much gas you have remaining. The only reliable way I am aware of knowing how much gas you have is to weigh the bottle and to subtract the tare weight of the bottle. That is why gas in bottles is sold by weight and not any other method.

 

[Boff]

I don’t have a stick on or ultrasound detector. If you look at my avatar it is pretty obvious which bottle is in use and it is about half full, just look at the frost line. A cheap luggage scale is an effective method of assessing how much gas you have left as long as you know the tare weight of the bottle, or the unused full weight and subtract the weight of gas.

 

[otherclive]

The Calorlites are now being exchanged without a pressure gauge. I never went by the gauge. I just lift the bottle and shake it and I’ve never run out yet. If a bottle feels low it’s left at home if a longer trip comes up and I use a full one. On site it’s mainly for use with the cooker as everything else is EHU.

 

[Thingy]

The gauge you are looking at is just a pressure gauge, and it designed to monitor the pressure inside the bottle.
Your right, such gauges are a poor solution to monitoring bottle content, because as long as there is any liquified gas remaining in the bottle, the pressure inside the bottle will be defined by the temperature of the bottle not how much liquefied gas remains. It does give you a quick visual indication of when the bottle is nearing empty.

The pressure will only start to drop significantly when all the liquefied gas has evaporated , and there is only compressed vapour remaining, and as it is used up the pressure will start to drop. Temperature will still be a major factor though.

You can get liquid crystal strips to stick to the outside of the bottle. These change colour depending on the temperature of the surface they are stuck to. They will detect the temperature difference of the bottle wall if it's in contact with vapour or liquified gas. These will only work if gas is being drawn off the bottle. The principle relies on the fact that the liquefied gas at the bottom of a bottle has to boil to release vapour. The boiling requires heat energy, and it gets its heat by drawing heat through the bottle wall from the ambient air around the bottle. This cools the bottle wall more quickly than the bottle wall against the vapour at the top of the bottle. The LCD strip will show the temperature change at the surface of the liquified gas. It doesn't work when no gas is being used, and the bottle temperature has evened out.

There are some systems that use ultrasonics to detect the level of the liquid in the bottle. With this system you can have a remote display inside the caravan for convenience.

So far all these system will indicate when you are running low on gas, that may be sufficient for many users, but they can't tell you how much gas you have remaining. The only reliable way I am aware of knowing how much gas you have is to weigh the bottle and to subtract the tare weight of the bottle. That is why gas in bottles is sold by weight and not any other method.

Exactly. The problem with the stick on strips is just that, they stick on, for a bit. They never seem to last. Truma do one of the ultrasonics you mention, but a sixty quid a go, I think they are too pricey.

 

[Raywood]

I have just lifted the full one and compared it to an empty one. So far it has always worked for me.

 

[Thingy]

I have just lifted the full one and compared it to an empty one. So far it has always worked for me.

Ahah, that only works if you have the two in the first place B)

 

[DaveA1]

Two Calorlite So Far

Dave , we must be the last of a few, I will have to travel to Oxford Main Calor dealer to get a lite replacement, 60 mile round trip. Is it worth it. Maybe not. I will ask them if they can deliver.

You and me both Hutch. Rang round for a replacement in March and only place that had a bottle was a dealer at Eye near Peterborough round trip of nearly 70 miles. from Melton Mowbray. Thing is, near by, to Eye in Market Deeping, Deeping St James there is an excellent Fish and Chip shop called The Boundary. If Eye have a replacement, when I need one (I'll not hold my breath) I'll sample thire Fish and Chips, at the same time. Heavern :lol: :lol:

 

[Dustydog]

Always had two 6kgs propane. My caravan came with fixings for two. Winter touring in remote places makes two mandatory imo.

 

[CustardAvenger]

I have 1x 6KG Propane - have no plans to off-grid so use EHU for everything except Hob & Oven/Grill.

Anecdotal, but whenever I see a Calor Gas cage at a dealer or campsite, there always seems to be a Calorlite lurking in there... which annoys me as I wish I could get one.

 

[Anseo]

Anecdotal, but whenever I see a Calor Gas cage at a dealer or campsite, there always seems to be a Calorlite lurking in there... which annoys me as I wish I could get one.

CA, is that because you cannot exchange your steel bottle for a calor-lite?

Our local calor gas dealer will accept either 6kg propane or butane steel bottles in exchange for calor-lite.

 

[Buckman]

We used to have two Calor Lite bottles but the problem was cost of refills plus getting Calor Lite replacements. We then changed one of them for a Safefill bottle. we kept the Calor Lite as a backup and then thought to myself one day why carry the extra bottle so used it up and now only carry the Safefill bottle. Saves about 11kg on nose weight and with the caravan table removed we have increased our personal payload by approximately 20kg.

 

[CustardAvenger]

Anecdotal, but whenever I see a Calor Gas cage at a dealer or campsite, there always seems to be a Calorlite lurking in there... which annoys me as I wish I could get one.

CA, is that because you cannot exchange your steel bottle for a calor-lite?

Our local calor gas dealer will accept either 6kg propane or butane steel bottles in exchange for calor-lite.

I didn't have a choice - the gas bottle was provided as part of the dealer starter pack - but as far as I was aware you can't have a new Calorlite or swap a steel for one.

 

[Anseo]

I didn't have a choice - the gas bottle was provided as part of the dealer starter pack - but as far as I was aware you can't have a new Calorlite or swap a steel for one.

I exchanged a 6kg steel propane and a 6kg steel butane for 2 6kg calor-lites last year, I still have them both and they remain full.

Not sure if all calor dealers do this but maybe worth phoning around.

I am I think one of very few on here who uses 13kg propane bottles as a rule.

 

[Thingy]

I am I think one of very few on here who uses 13kg propane bottles as a rule.

That will fit right in with a transit pickup and tarmac roller. B)

 

[WinnieSophie]

2 propane. Thank goodness. Have used one up in a fortnight! Must obey the other half and use more electricity!! :dry:
Cath

 

[Anseo]

I am I think one of very few on here who uses 13kg propane bottles as a rule.

That will fit right in with a transit pickup and tarmac roller. B)

Nah, the pick-up and roller come with a 47kg propane.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXILzUpVx7A

 

[Thingy]

One of the great movies. :cheer:

 

[Craigyoung]

We've got 1 x 6 kg Calor Gas for the mains gas and one 3.9 Calor Gas bottle for the barbecue which are both housed and fixed in safely and strapped in the front locker

Like i said

 

[Thingy]

Managed to get a calor lite today to replace the steel I got lumbered with at Hawes. Back to two lites again now. Managed to get mine via one of the club sites near me, and I asked the warden how come they could still get them.

Now I cant vouch for the accuracy of what I was told, but the gist of the conversation was that Calor have started to release a few back into the market. They come to the club via a calor wholesale outlet who are still able to get them from Calor.

As I said, I have no idea how accurate this is but I thought I would pass it on.