Gas on the continent.

[Martin_374226845]

Can anyone steer me through the "gas on the continent" jungle?

I.e.can you refil uk bottles anywhere?If so, where?

Many thanks,Martin.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

We use Camping Gaz which is available in many European countries.

It could be a lot of hassle searching for a gas refilling plant

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Martin,

You cannot refill UK bottles anywhere - not even in the UK - but you can exchange your old bottle for a refurbished and refilled bottle quite easily in the UK.

But the refurbishment part is the issue in Europe, particularly since each country has it's own gas distributor and maybe it's own style of bottle, and certainly the possibility of a unique connector.

So your UK bottle cannot be refurbished in Europe, and hence is not refillable.

So we take a Calor butane keg and the largest Camping Gaz bottle - the 907 but that's still only 2.5 kg of gas, then if the main Calor bottle expires during a vacation - we can continue with the 907 bottle.

Camping Gaz is universally available throughout Europe, and (in the main season) exchanges can be made anywhere from a hypermarket to a local shop. Mind you, Camping Gaz is an expensive way to buy gas.

There is the possibility that the new (see through) BP Light Gas bottles will be exchangeable in Holland and Germany. But I guess we'll find out next year.

And if you are going away for several months - say this winter - then buy a gas bottle (and pigtail or connector / adaptor) from a local gas supplier. Then return the bottle when you leave or keep it for next year.

Robert

 

[Clive-Cardiff]

Hi Martin, It depends a lot on which countries you are visiting. We spend three months a year in Spain and Portugal so we use "Cepsa" bottles which are lightweight alluminium bottles. They are available at lots of petrol stations as are the other main provider "Repsol".

A regulator which fits both Cepsa an Repsol can be bought for about 5/6 euros.

The gas is very cheap compared with the UK, a 15kg refill at about12 euros.

I try and come home with a full bottle to use over here in the summer, this saves a few bob over Calor.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

rob-jax

I had Calor bottles refilled in Jugoslavia in the 60s is that no longer possible.

Don't want to do it but just curious

Regards

 

[rob_jax]

Hi John,

Technically it is possible to refill any bottle - all you need are the right adapters and piping.

But and it's a big but, when Calor or Shell or whoever do this for real, the incoming bottle is stripped, crack tested, dents removed and pressure tested, and painted. Then they refill the bottle by weight to 80% of the maximum - leaving a safe expansion volume.

Now real, user refillable bottles like the Gaslow have an internal cut off valve that stops you refilling beyond 80%.

So if you tried to refill a Calor bottle "at home", you'd have no way to properly inspect or repair the bottle or stop filling at the right time, and these are big safety issues.

But certainly in the 60's I doubt if people bothered.

Robert

 

[Guest]

A lot will depend on the style of camping that you follow. Most sites in Europe have electricity, albeit sometimes of variable amperage. So you can usually run the basic equipment without resorting to gas. I find that a full Calor 7.5 kg butane cylinder is easily lasting a full season and like Rob-Jax I take a Camping Gaz 907 as well. This I use for the BBQ, and of course is back up if the Calor one does go pear shaped at the wrong time. As Rob also states, this can be exchanged anywhere virtually in Europe, so you ill always have something. I would only see value in buying local cylinders if you plan on staying in one country for a long time, a normal 2,3 or week holiday is not economic. It is too easy to end up with a garage full of cylinders which have no intrinsic value, and could lead to prosecution from your Council.

If however, your choice of holiday is wild camping, where gas is used 100%, then you may need to look at alternatives.