how low do you run your gas bottles??

butane , not so good!

 
 
 
 
 
 
Tristan @ PHM
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how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 14.04.2015  ·  #1
I know butane is the poor relation compared to superior propane, but I noticed something interesting and important when doing a Gas test on a motorhome today.

I stripped, blasted and cleaned the burner and flue on a typical Dometic fridge, and replaced the gas jet.
Lit it, ran it for 10 mins or so, nice enough looking blue flame.
Fitted the gas analyser probe to the exhaust, ran for a few mins to let the readings settle... And here's the result.



That's an "off the scale" level of carbon monoxide (CO) , enough to make the meter flash and beep, which has never happened before!

Scratched my head , rechecked the fridge and jet part number, which was fine. Went around to the gas locker, unstrapped the bottle and sure enough it was quite light and almost empty.

Clipped on a new ish Butane bottle lying around, same regulator, ran the fridge for another 5 mins and checked the levels again.


Much better, reasonably good in fact, and would be probably better after more running.

This equates to almost 90% efficiency, better than most household appliances, and in good running order I've seen them up to 93%.



So , apologies for all the longwinded posting, but to sum up, butane gets to be dangerously rubbish when the bottle is low!
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 14.04.2015  ·  #2
Currently on propane,

Is it the same near the end of the propane as well?
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 14.04.2015  ·  #3
On propane always use it until it runs out.
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 14.04.2015  ·  #4
I haven't tried it on Propane. ..... Yet!
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 14.04.2015  ·  #5
The Chausson was on Butane and I only changed it when empty, now on Propane in the Knaus and wondering if a cylinder will last as long as a Cylinder of Butane?
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 14.04.2015  ·  #6
I'd expect it to last longer Pat.
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butane v propane

 ·  Posted: 14.04.2015  ·  #7
hi tristan.ive got butane in my van.is it just a matter of changing the butane regulator and getting the propane regulator.if i was to change over to propane. at the present i just have the clip-on butane regulator.
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 14.04.2015  ·  #8
Quote by CHAUSSON

The Chausson was on Butane and I only changed it when empty, now on Propane in the Knaus and wondering if a cylinder will last as long as a Cylinder of Butane?


Pat for me the Propane seems to last longer.
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 14.04.2015  ·  #9
@ The Irish Rover, yes assuming your pipe isn't butane specific.
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 14.04.2015  ·  #10
I find it impossible to get any of the 5 or 7 kg cylinders of propane in all of Connacht. So, I'm stuck with butane unfortunately...unless someone knows where I might get one......and not in Woodies!
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 14.04.2015  ·  #11
Quote by Stacks

I find it impossible to get any of the 5 or 7 kg cylinders of propane in all of Connacht. So, I'm stuck with butane unfortunately...unless someone knows where I might get one......and not in Woodies!



Have you room for 11kg cylinder?

There's a spot in Athlone that will refill what ever cylinder you have, but I know that's a bit of a trek
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 14.04.2015  ·  #12
Unfortunately not 🇧🇭 Will that place in athlone fill my 5kg calor butane bottles with propane?

My good wife works in athlone so this could actually work out :up:

I always wanted to use propane.....superior stuff.
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Gas

 ·  Posted: 14.04.2015  ·  #13
i fill my bottle up in petrol stations,what gas am I using ?. ( gas low system) :'(
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 14.04.2015  ·  #14
Autogas or lpg is a mixture of propane and butane if I remember correctly.
I have no idea why or what the percentages are. We have a Gaslow system and it has always worked great.
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 14.04.2015  ·  #15
Quote by Stacks

Unfortunately not 🇧🇭 Will that place in athlone fill my 5kg calor butane bottles with propane?

My good wife works in athlone so this could actually work out :up:

I always wanted to use propane.....superior stuff.



I don't know what gas they put in,

Mc Manus fuels is the company, Google will give the number and may be ring and ask would they fill yours with propane,
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 15.04.2015  ·  #16
The lpg that goes into Gas low refillable bottles is a different scenario to Gett ing your ordinary bottle filled. You should ONLY buy bottles from a reputable supplier, not someone filling them themselves, each bottle is supposed to be emptied and purged to remove any heavy ends or other nasty stuff.
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 15.04.2015  ·  #17
Tristan, am I right in thinking that those levels of carbon monoxide were measured in the exhaust from the outside of the van, what were the levels like in the van with windows and doors closed?
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 15.04.2015  ·  #18
It would be interesting to know if the same occurs when a Propane cylinder is about to run out. I run my cylinder to empty - the last one managed 22 nights away including use of a Cadac and various surfing trips. I periodically lift out the cylinder and weigh it using digital scales to work out how much is left.
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 15.04.2015  ·  #19
Yes Pat, at the flue. Inside , I don't remember exactly, but the CO was negligible, with the hob and appliances running.
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 15.04.2015  ·  #20
Stacks,, you cant re-fill Butane bottles only Propane
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 15.04.2015  ·  #21
I Had our 11kg bottle filled at a cepsa station on the spain/ portugal border last month, so we had 3 weeks out of it over there and cooked our breakfast with it this morning, and there is plenty more in it yet. Not bad for 12 euros the cost of re-filling it.
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Propane

 ·  Posted: 15.04.2015  ·  #22
Tristan hope you do the same test with propane and post your findings.......I usualy run mine until the flame goes out....Just a little point....how come bottle gas price never dropped a penny when household Gas and oil dropped considaberly?
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 15.04.2015  ·  #23
Thats the plan Chuckie , when I find a Propane bottle thats just about empty.
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is propane PATIO GAS suitable ?

 ·  Posted: 16.04.2015  ·  #24
ive decided to switch to propane from butane - i have a regulator that says propane - went to get a red propane bottle and the supplier says it does not fit the propane bottle but does fit the patio gas ( grey bottle / same price /same 11kg size / says propane on the bottle ) so it this EXACTLY the same propane gas and thus suitable for my van ?
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 17.04.2015  ·  #25
Calor say it's suitable for caravans, Damien.
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Re: how low do you run your gas bottles??

 ·  Posted: 18.04.2015  ·  #26
Quote by chuckie

Tristan hope you do the same test with propane and post your findings.......I usualy run mine until the flame goes out....Just a little point....how come bottle gas price never dropped a penny when household Gas and oil dropped considaberly?


ta-daaaa....... 8-) O-)

I was doing a checkover on a new Motorhome we sold a couple of days ago , getting it ready for the new owners . Low-ish propane cylinder , put the fridge on gas , and the Truma heater/boiler too.... left them on longer than needed to , and sure enough , later that day they cut out due to the bottle getting to just about empty . I reset the gas regulator , gave the bottle a small shake , and yeah , it was very very light , so restarted the fridge on gas and put the Truma going too so as to put the fridge under pressure for getting enough gas. Grabbed the Gas analyser after 5-10 mins and , voila!






certainly knocks Butane on the head! :o :o
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