I'm totally new to caravans, but keen to learn. This will sound like a daft question , but why does my old caravan have 2 gas bottles? I thought maybe a spare, however ones propane and ones butane!
Simple question re gas bottles
- Thread starter Alan1087
- Start date
You can use either but to be honest I don't know why anyone would choose butane unless it was a lot cheaper, because it doesn't gas off in cold weather very well if at all depending on the temp. If your caravan is so old it doesn't have a bulkhead mounted regulator then this makes it easier to use butane because the regulator is slightly lower pressure, however the best thing is to swop it at the earliest opportunity.
I think the previous owner just threw the odd bottle in there because he didn't want to let a full bottle go with the van. Calor will swop it no bother though.
I think the previous owner just threw the odd bottle in there because he didn't want to let a full bottle go with the van. Calor will swop it no bother though.
Hello Allan,
Virtually all caravan gas appliances will run happily on Butane or Propane. But you must not try to use Butane and Propane at the same time.
In older caravans the two types of gas required independent regulators which operated at different outlet pressures. (Butane 28mBar and Propane 37mBar) More recent caravans will have a bulkhead mounted regulator which has a nominal 30mBar setting, and is approved for both types of gas. but not both types together.
If you have purchased the caravan from a private seller, then I think it would be wise to arrange to have the gas system checked over for your safety. There are mobile caravan techies who are quite capable of doing that , and they will come to you. THey will advise you kn what's best for you and what if any parts may be needed.
Virtually all caravan gas appliances will run happily on Butane or Propane. But you must not try to use Butane and Propane at the same time.
In older caravans the two types of gas required independent regulators which operated at different outlet pressures. (Butane 28mBar and Propane 37mBar) More recent caravans will have a bulkhead mounted regulator which has a nominal 30mBar setting, and is approved for both types of gas. but not both types together.
If you have purchased the caravan from a private seller, then I think it would be wise to arrange to have the gas system checked over for your safety. There are mobile caravan techies who are quite capable of doing that , and they will come to you. THey will advise you kn what's best for you and what if any parts may be needed.
Thank you both for your replies. It has a bulkhead mounted regulator (I think) if by this you mean the compartment at the front of the caravan? It has a hose and a regulator attached and at the minute it's next to the blue bottle. There isn't a 2nd hose, so I'm confused as to why there's another bottle, unless a spare!!
The fire doesn't appear to work, therefore I'm sure the one bottle will suffice!
Is there a way to tell if I have the correct regulator for the blue bottle?
Sorry to sound dumb, for the first time in my life, I feel it lol
The fire doesn't appear to work, therefore I'm sure the one bottle will suffice!
Is there a way to tell if I have the correct regulator for the blue bottle?
Sorry to sound dumb, for the first time in my life, I feel it lol
Alan
See this link. You will see the two regulators apart from the obvious colour difference use totally different attachment methods..Propane being male and butane female. Clearly not interchangeable.
https://www.calor.co.uk/shop/calor-essentials/gas-regulators.html
See this link. You will see the two regulators apart from the obvious colour difference use totally different attachment methods..Propane being male and butane female. Clearly not interchangeable.
https://www.calor.co.uk/shop/calor-essentials/gas-regulators.html
Thanks Dusty dog, the bottle I used for the hob was re blue one with blue regulator and it worked fine, as for the red one, I'll pass on that as there doesn't appear to be a red regulator there, so maybe the old owner just dumped the old bottle in there! I'll see if the shop will exchange it for a blue one, so I'll have a spare!
Thanks to all who replied, I'm so glad I found this site, really helping me get to grips with caravan'ing.
Thanks to all who replied, I'm so glad I found this site, really helping me get to grips with caravan'ing.
You would be better off just getting a propane regulator as later on in the year when it starts to drop cold you might find that the gas stops flowing from your Butane bottle.. 
hmy:
The important difference between the gases is that propane will not freeze. It can be used in temperature down to minus 43 degrees centigrade. Butane will begin to freeze at about plus three degrees centigrade.
So propane or a butane and propane mixture are essential if you’re planning to caravan in freezing conditions.
hmy:The important difference between the gases is that propane will not freeze. It can be used in temperature down to minus 43 degrees centigrade. Butane will begin to freeze at about plus three degrees centigrade.
So propane or a butane and propane mixture are essential if you’re planning to caravan in freezing conditions.
I'm new to caravans as you have probably noticed and at the minute, I'm planning summer holidays in the caravan, so freezing temperature s shouldn't be an issue, that said, Scotland is for cast for snow next week, in August!! So I better not rule out the other bottle. I take it you can use either for all your gas needs in a caravan, as long as you have the correct regulator?
Just a quick thought. You say that the gas heater doesnt appear to work, check to see if the isolator inside the caravan has been closed. If this is the case, check to see why it has been closed before joyfully warming yourselves up.
Alan1087 said:
Hello Alan,
I'm not trying to be awkward but from what you have been telling us I think shows that you are not familiar with LPG gas systems. It is in your own interests for you and your families safety is to ensure the gas system is properly tested and checked over.
Please read the Calor website which will give you a better grasp of what's needed, but also As I previously suggested you should get it checked by a qualified LPG gas fitter. You will have the confidence the system is checked and working properly and the engineer will almost certainly take you through the system and the important safety aspects.
I use butane most of the time time (except during cold periods when I use Propane)
You get more heat from Butane than you get from Propane.
Most caravans (modern and old) have facility to carry two bottles,personally I carry only one to keep the nose weight down.If you run out of gas (usually when dinners cooking) most campsites keep replacement cylinders of both types of gas.
You get more heat from Butane than you get from Propane.
Most caravans (modern and old) have facility to carry two bottles,personally I carry only one to keep the nose weight down.If you run out of gas (usually when dinners cooking) most campsites keep replacement cylinders of both types of gas.
Alan, I'm confused. In one post you say the regulator is mounted on the bulkhead and in another that the regulator is blue which means it fits directly onto the bottle. Both cannot be true.
A bulkhead regulator is silver and has a short 'pigtail' that connects it to the cylinder. The pigtail has a left hand thread for Propane but clips onto a butane cylinder so Butane is needing no tools to change over bottles. If you want to change gas types it means a new pigtail and the same regulator can be used.
By the way problems with Butane start well above freezing because it loses it's ability to gas off and this is compounded when the bottle cools during use. When Bertieboy says he gets more heat this is not true if you can't get the stuff out the bottle! Anyway the flame temp is actually lower by ten degrees, 1970 degrees C for Butane and 1980 degrees for Propane so not a lot in it.
http://juxtamorph.com/butane-versus-propane-which-is-hotter
http://chemistry.about.com/od/firecombustionchemistry/a/Flame-Temperatures.htm
A bulkhead regulator is silver and has a short 'pigtail' that connects it to the cylinder. The pigtail has a left hand thread for Propane but clips onto a butane cylinder so Butane is needing no tools to change over bottles. If you want to change gas types it means a new pigtail and the same regulator can be used.
By the way problems with Butane start well above freezing because it loses it's ability to gas off and this is compounded when the bottle cools during use. When Bertieboy says he gets more heat this is not true if you can't get the stuff out the bottle! Anyway the flame temp is actually lower by ten degrees, 1970 degrees C for Butane and 1980 degrees for Propane so not a lot in it.
http://juxtamorph.com/butane-versus-propane-which-is-hotter
http://chemistry.about.com/od/firecombustionchemistry/a/Flame-Temperatures.htm
The OP also needs to be aware about gas bottle exchanges.
If the cylinders are Calor - blue for Butane and red for Propane - if you want a refill of the same size then there is no problem. However if you want to change size - from 3.9Kg to 6 or 7Kg or vice verse then you will have to take out a new contract with Calor. The 3.9Kg and everything of 13Kg and above are interchangeable contract-wise, but so many people - caravans and motorhomes - are now using 6 or 7Kg that Calor saw a way to make money and isolated that size in terms of contract.
Conversely, if you go to one of the other suppliers - such as Flogas or MacGas (as was BP Gas) - there is no differential. It matters not a jot either way if you run out of gas outside the UK as you cannot get refills over there. If going abroad consider carrying a 2.75Kg Camping Gaz which will possibly get you out of a situation but which you should buy over there as they are cheaper than here.
If the cylinders are Calor - blue for Butane and red for Propane - if you want a refill of the same size then there is no problem. However if you want to change size - from 3.9Kg to 6 or 7Kg or vice verse then you will have to take out a new contract with Calor. The 3.9Kg and everything of 13Kg and above are interchangeable contract-wise, but so many people - caravans and motorhomes - are now using 6 or 7Kg that Calor saw a way to make money and isolated that size in terms of contract.
Conversely, if you go to one of the other suppliers - such as Flogas or MacGas (as was BP Gas) - there is no differential. It matters not a jot either way if you run out of gas outside the UK as you cannot get refills over there. If going abroad consider carrying a 2.75Kg Camping Gaz which will possibly get you out of a situation but which you should buy over there as they are cheaper than here.
OK, so if its that old, we can probably disregard the bulkhead regulator.
Alan, as others have advised, get it checked, then ditch the blue bottle for another red one, by a red regulator, and you're sorted.
Alan, as others have advised, get it checked, then ditch the blue bottle for another red one, by a red regulator, and you're sorted.
I seem to have an excess of 2.75kg 907 butane bottles from Camping Gaz, at the last count I have three of them, and a tiny 450g 901, so I can't exchange these for Propane Cylinders in the 7kg size?
M5WJF said:
Is your post a comment or a question?
As far as I know Camping Gaz only sell Butane refills. If you want Propane you will have to look at another brand. You will not be able to exchange camping gaz bottles for other makes.
Calor Gas is probably the best known supplier of LPG to the leisure markets. The Calor arrangement is that you hire the bottle from them and then pay to exchange the empties for full ones basically only paying for the gas content. It's quite common for Calor dealers to allow you to choose a different size of bottle or change between Butane and Propane.
ProfJohnL said:
Sorry Prof but you got that one well wrong. See my earlier post #402236.
Calor banned swapping sizes involving 6Kg Propane or 7Kg Butane a few years ago. Any other size yes, but not these two. To swap to a different size means a new contract.
Woodentop said:
Hello Woodentop,
I did write
That may Calor's policy but it has happened recently, it depends on the dealer. perhaps its not a s common as it used to be.
There's a shortage because people are using the 7kg size in particular as the basis for home-made log burners for the patio.
There's quite a number on EBay and plenty of unashamed instructions on the Internet.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas-Bottle-Wood-Burner
Maybe it's only a question of time before Calor introduce a BP gaslite type fibreglass bottle, especially because of metal prices. Some clever accountant has probably already done the sums.
There's quite a number on EBay and plenty of unashamed instructions on the Internet.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Gas-Bottle-Wood-Burner
Maybe it's only a question of time before Calor introduce a BP gaslite type fibreglass bottle, especially because of metal prices. Some clever accountant has probably already done the sums.
ProfJohnL said:
Just for the record Campingaz gas containers contain a mixture of Propane and Butane.
Hello Gaffer,Gafferbill said:
Looking at the Camping Gaz UK pages
https://www.campingaz.com/UK/p-26788-why-choose-campingaz-gas.aspx
Yes the do add some propane into the Campingaz® cartridges but they do not sell Propane only. It is essential marketed as Butane and used as such.
Gafferbill said:
In Europe Autogas (aka GPL) is a mixture of Propane and Butane. Got to get rid of that pesky by-product somehow.
The problem with Camping Gaz is in cold weather the Propane will gas off first leaving you cold with a half empty bottle of Butane. How annoying.
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