Gas bottle query?

Apr 29, 2025
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Hi people, New to the group

I have an old van which carries two Blue Calor 7.5Kg bottles, my newish van 2020 that will be arriving soon,is a Swift Alpine 2, should I just put the Blue ones in there, or do I have to opt for the new fangled type, and what are the comaprison ones/price, I need guidance if prudent to change to new style because of weight/price, what should I ask for, Alos pigtails are a mystery to me

Thank you

Stuart
S Staffs
 
Nov 11, 2009
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Don’t understand by what you mean “ new fangled type” . But if you intend using the caravan in to colder weather or through winter I would go for propane in orange cylinders as blue butane isn’t good for cooler weather. Look on Calor or Flogas websites to see what propane cylinders are available. The 6 kg is the most popular with caravanners. Your new van will have its pressure regulate fixed to the caravan locker bulkhead. So you don’t require a regulator on the cylinder too.
 
Apr 29, 2025
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What I mean is that if I have the Blue 7kg bottles x 2, shall I continue with them in the hew caravan or is there milage in changing to new style bottles, I have seen some that seem to be clad in a jacket very much like a hot water cylinder jacket, what are they, do they cost more, is there weight much lighter than the Blue Metal calor ones? PropaneNo thanks Not really thinking of colder weather, normal Butane will do me, cheers and thanks for responses thus far
 
Apr 29, 2025
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My existing regulater fits on top of bottle, push and turn to lock into place with black knob on side, can only be turned when button pushed to allow gas flow, thats what I have at the moment?
 

JTQ

May 7, 2005
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What I mean is that if I have the Blue 7kg bottles x 2, shall I continue with them in the hew caravan or is there milage in changing to new style bottles, I have seen some that seem to be clad in a jacket very much like a hot water cylinder jacket, what are they, do they cost more, is there weight much lighter than the Blue Metal calor ones? PropaneNo thanks Not really thinking of colder weather, normal Butane will do me, cheers and thanks for responses thus far
Cladding in a jacket, as said like a hot water tank is the absolutely last thing you want to be doing. It will with the Blue, Butane even in warmer times start to inhibit the gassing off, probably stop it altogether at times.
When changing state from liquid to gas, the liquid needs to get "heat", the jacket largely stops it doing that.
The same argument carries for the red bottles, propane just the impact is less likely to occur, but it's a totally pointless thing to do; full stop. Could even put you at real risk of a frost bite injury when touching the valve, as when going to tow home.

Unless you are intending to caravan at ambient below 6C, or any differently to what you previously did, then the blue butane is still ideal and £ for energy a bit cheaper at current pricing. You can run lower gas demand users at a bit below 6C but that's a good guidance value for larger demand users like you van's heating.
However, if the new van means camping differently that involves colder nights etc then effectively there is no alternative but switch to using the red bottle, propane gas.
Adaptors are readily available to convert the normally terminated butane threaded piggy tails to the connection needed for propane; it's no big issue at all. Some pig tails are unique, either butane threaded or propane, but as said many will be made threaded butane but fitted then with propane adaptor connected to that.
Send photo of the business end of your pig tail and we can help you, but so could your dealer, just they might want to simply sell whatever makes them the most.
 
Last edited:
Jul 18, 2017
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Th epropane bottles are 6kg so a little saving there. Do you really need two bottles? If changing from the Butane to Propane the pig tail needs to be changed. By the way, just because a bottle is blue does not mean ti is butane gas or if red propen as colour has no reference to type of gas in the bottle.
 

JTQ

May 7, 2005
3,793
1,527
20,935
Th epropane bottles are 6kg so a little saving there. Do you really need two bottles? If changing from the Butane to Propane the pig tail needs to be changed. By the way, just because a bottle is blue does not mean ti is butane gas or if red propen as colour has no reference to type of gas in the bottle.
Having been told its a Calor 7 kg Blue, we can very safely assume its butane, as it would be for all other UK buyers.

It is not so much the weight in these identically sized cylinders but the amount of energy per £ to exchange that affect cost savings.

Depending if purchased from leisure or commercial user outlets these can vary quite a lot.
 
Jul 18, 2017
15,082
4,623
50,935
Having been told its a Calor 7 kg Blue, we can very safely assume its butane, as it would be for all other UK buyers.

It is not so much the weight in these identically sized cylinders but the amount of energy per £ to exchange that affect cost savings.

Depending if purchased from leisure or commercial user outlets these can vary quite a lot.
I never mentioned brand as I was only pointing that colour has no reference to the type of gas in the bottle.
 
Apr 23, 2024
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You will need an adapter to clip onto your bottle and then a pigtail which connects the adapter to the input of the bulkhead regulator ( which all caravans and M/homes were required to be fitted with since - many years ago - can't quite remember off hand and CBA to go and get my gas regs book). If in doubt take a bottle along to the dealer and he will probably be able to sell and fit it for you ( take your credit card with you and be sat down when he tells you the price :ROFLMAO: )
 

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