what type and size of gas bottles do I need?

[oBladeo]

Well ive opened the gas cupboard at the front of the swift challenger 490 to find 1 gas reg and 1 missing.

So my question is whats the best size and type of bottles to run my caravan. It has a carver 3000 heater and carver water heater.

I read somewhere a 4.5kg will fit but not sure on propane or butaine.

Thanks again!

 

[otherclive]

I use 3.9 kg propane which I think is the same size as the 4.5kg butane. But propane allows use in below zero temperatures. Normally a larger bottle will fit such as the Calorlite but the bottles themselves are more expensive on first purchase. The Calorlite weighs about 10 kg full but holds 6 kh of gas ( from memory)and the smaller 3.9 kg propane weighs the same. Much will depend on how you plan to use the van. You cannot exchange the 3.9kg bottles for Calorlite Calor stopped that about 3 years ago. The Calor website is very useful. You have different regulator assemblies for each type of gas. They are not inter changeable.

 

[Dustydog]

We use 6 kgs propane as we tour all year. Clive is using the next propane down in weight from me. Obviously the gas cylinders can affect your nose weight in a big way.

 

[otherclive]

I normally carry one 3.9 kg and one Calolite propane. When full each way 10 kg so total weight is 20 kg when both are full. During summer we sometimes carry 2 one for the van and one for BBQ. Other times it can be one or two depending on site EHU hook up supply amps or if no EHU.So you can get flexibility in a number of ways.

 

[Parksy]

Calor bottles usually require a hefty deposit for the initial purchase because although you buy the lpg you hire the gas bottle with Calor retaining ownership.
It might be worthwhile having a look round your local council tip/recycling centre where various lpg bottles can be had for the price of a pint to the attendant

 

[oBladeo]

I already have a 3.9 calor that I got from a skip so looks like I'll just source another.

Thanks allot.

Ive been looking into a auto switching regulator. Whats your thoughts on them? Or should I stick with manuel switch as I dont want to drain both bottles at the sametime.

 

[RayS]

Auto swithching regulators mean that you don't know you are low on gas until the second bottle expires - usually about 7 pm sunday night Not worth the expense and trouble

 

[chrisbee1]

I've got an auto change regulator and have to say it is one of the best updates to systems in recent years. When one bottle empties and it changes to the full one the indicator turns red. This gives plenty of time to change the empty bottle before it switches back again. One bottle may well run out on a Sunday at 7pm but I don't have to do anything about it till months later when I get the empty bottle changed.

 

[otherclive]

I stick with a single pigtail to the bottle supplying the van. The other bottle gets used for BBQ both away and at home. They both get taken out when the van goes into storage between trips so I always have a good feel for what's left in a bottle.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

You cannot exchange the 3.9kg bottles for Calorlite Calor stopped that about 3 years ago.

all our local stockists inc B&Q will exchange any calor bottle for any other!! either red or blue, I use calorlite in the van (2) but have no trouble exchanging one of them for a 15kg blue, "Butane" in the winter for the patio heater, and then back again in the summer.

 

[Parksy]

I switched to propane from butane but neither of the two suppliers that I tried would exchange the blue 7kg for the red equivalent.
Apparently there is a shortage of Calor gas bottles because many have been sold illegally as scrap metal

 

[Gozza]

all our local stockists inc B&Q will exchange any calor bottle for any other!! either red or blue,

That's been my experience too.
I switched to propane a couple of years back when I was working on the van on the storage site through the winter and wanted to run the heating! I've since discovered that the same propane regulator will fit all sizes of propane bottle, whereas if you're on butane and want to switch to a different sized butane bottle you often need a different sized reg. as they have different attachments.
I've been caravanning a few years, and also inherited a load of my Dad's caravanning stuff when he gave up, so I started with a load of different sizes and types of bottles - I've now rationalised all these down to two CalorLight propanes for the van, and a butane which I gave to my Mum as a spare for her Calor standby heater at home.
(and a silly fun add-on - if you're like me and have trouble remembering which colour cylinder is which gas, I just remember that butane sounds like blue-tane!)

 

[otherclive]

You cannot exchange the 3.9kg bottles for Calorlite Calor stopped that about 3 years ago.

all our local stockists inc B&Q will exchange any calor bottle for any other!! either red or blue, I use calorlite in the van (2) but have no trouble exchanging one of them for a 15kg blue, "Butane" in the winter for the patio heater, and then back again in the summer.

you are quite fortunate as all our local outlets including farmers and marinas stick rigidly to the rules shown on Calors website. Smaller cylinders whether blue or red cannot be exchanged for Calorlite. I lost out on the rule change by one day! Anyway its never caused me a problem as 10 kg of gas split between one 3.9kg and one Calorlite is ample throughout the year even when overseas for a month (warm weather). I just keep an eye on levels and exchange when needed.
Even our local recycling center have scruples too!!!

 

[TD42]

If you can find a Calor depot they will usually exchange a butain bottle for a 6kg calorlite propane, I exchanged my calor butain foe a calorlite propane this march. I would also add that in general the larger the gas bottle the cheaper the gas is when you need a refill Ie pro rata a 13kg gas bottle is cheaper than a 3.5 kg bottle

 

[otherclive]

If you can find a Calor depot they will usually exchange a butain bottle for a 6kg calorlite propane, I exchanged my calor butain foe a calorlite propane this march. I would also add that in general the larger the gas bottle the cheaper the gas is when you need a refill Ie pro rata a 13kg gas bottle is cheaper than a 3.5 kg bottle

yes our local outlets will do that too but only if you are exchanging a large propane or butane for Calorlite. Does your Calor depot exchange the smaller bottles for a Calorlite? The Calor website says that to go from a Group A bottle to a Group B costs £34.25 to hire the new cylinder. Group B is Calorlite and the larger 7/6 kg butane / propane. All other bottles are in Group A ?

 

[Tukums]

You could also consider a refillable cylinder, if you are going to attend a lot of rallies or 5 van sites with no EHU, then it is ideal and cheap gas. I use a Safefill cylinder, cuts off at 80% full, so it is safe and my local garage fills it for me, 15ltrs/8.6kg of propane gas (auto gas) for £13.04; you can just top it up as and when and always go off with a full cylinder.

Yes, there is the intial cost, but worth it.

 

[oBladeo]

Thanks for all the info

I've decided to go with the colorlite bottles and will be picking 2 up today.
I've also purchased a RF6000
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200944704289
and 1/2" to 8mm adapter

I was scared that the small 3.9kg bottles wouldn't last while i was at weekend paintball events at MOD site (where there is no gas, electric or places to buy)

 

[RayS]

There are suppliers other than calor. BP has, I understand, stopped supplying BP lite bottled gas but Plusgas and other suppliers still do and may be cheaper than calor. But you won't be able to exchange an empty calor with them.

As usual we are paying through the nose for gas. i've just paid around £23 for an exchange 6kg calorlite. Earlier in the year I got a 12.5kg exchange in Spain (CEPSA) for 14 euro = approx 12.5 GBP for more than twice the gas. Unfortuneately there is not enough left in it for my upcoming French venture - hence the Calor