spanish or french gas bottles

raglanroad

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Subject:

spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 04.12.2023  ·  #1

We just changed our van, it came with two german full size propane bottles
they look the same as the irish propane bottles ( screw thread)

I'm guessing i cant exchange them for the red calor propane bottles?

Happy to swop them if it suits anybody?

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baguette

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 04.12.2023  ·  #2

The connection looks the same, lefthand screw on and the same thread, but the interface between the valve and the pigtail is different and Irish (or French) bottles with the same connection won't connect with a gas-tight seal.
If using Irish or French bottles you will need to change the pigtail to ONE OF THIS TYPE different lengths available. Or, perhaps one with a rupture protection valve SEE HERE

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sprinter

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Subject:

spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 04.12.2023  ·  #3

Quote by baguette

The connection looks the same, lefthand screw on and the same thread, but the interface between the valve and the pigtail is different and Irish (or French) bottles with the same connection won't connect with a gas-tight seal.
If using Irish or French bottles you will need to change the pigtail to ONE OF THIS TYPE different lengths available. Or, perhaps one with a rupture protection valve SEE HERE

To be sure of what you have. don't go looking for red Irish bottles yet.
Take off the connection from the bottle and see if there is a small spigot in the center of the hose tail, there usually is on German pigtail hose on the bottle end,
post photo of the bottle outlet and the hose tail face.

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raglanroad

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 05.12.2023  ·  #4

ok,thanks for that,
Do you know if they can be refilled in the dublin area?

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eirebus

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 05.12.2023  ·  #5

Quote by raglanroad

ok,thanks for that,
Do you know if they can be refilled in the dublin area?

Maynooth MH used to refill them but I don't know if they still do

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raglanroad

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 05.12.2023  ·  #6

Quote by sprinter

Quote by baguette

The connection looks the same, lefthand screw on and the same thread, but the interface between the valve and the pigtail is different and Irish (or French) bottles with the same connection won't connect with a gas-tight seal.
If using Irish or French bottles you will need to change the pigtail to ONE OF THIS TYPE different lengths available. Or, perhaps one with a rupture protection valve SEE HERE

To be sure of what you have. don't go looking for red Irish bottles yet.
Take off the connection from the bottle and see if there is a small spigot in the center of the hose tail, there usually is on German pigtail hose on the bottle end,
post photo of the bottle outlet and the hose tail face.

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baguette

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 05.12.2023  ·  #7

Quote by raglanroad

Quote by sprinter

Quote by baguette

The connection looks the same, lefthand screw on and the same thread, but the interface between the valve and the pigtail is different and Irish (or French) bottles with the same connection won't connect with a gas-tight seal.
If using Irish or French bottles you will need to change the pigtail to ONE OF THIS TYPE different lengths available. Or, perhaps one with a rupture protection valve SEE HERE

To be sure of what you have. don't go looking for red Irish bottles yet.
Take off the connection from the bottle and see if there is a small spigot in the center of the hose tail, there usually is on German pigtail hose on the bottle end,
post photo of the bottle outlet and the hose tail face.

That connection will screw on to an Irish type propane bottle BUT it won't make a gas tight seal. Maybe you might find someone to refill those German bottles but it is illegal to do so unless it's a regulated gas bottle filled facility.
You best option in the long run is to get Irish bottles and a matching pigtail.

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raglanroad

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 05.12.2023  ·  #8

photo of spigot and valve attached

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baguette

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 05.12.2023  ·  #9

Looking at your photos, the seal is in the bottle, and there is no seal in the pigtail.
In Irish bottles it's the other way around, the seal is in the pigtail not the bottle.
Therefore, mixing the German pigtail (no seal) and an Irish bottle (no seal) won't give a gas-tight connection.

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raglanroad

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 05.12.2023  ·  #10

Thanks lads

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raglanroad

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 05.12.2023  ·  #11

Quote by baguette

The connection looks the same, lefthand screw on and the same thread, but the interface between the valve and the pigtail is different and Irish (or French) bottles with the same connection won't connect with a gas-tight seal.
If using Irish or French bottles you will need to change the pigtail to ONE OF THIS TYPE different lengths available. Or, perhaps one with a rupture protection valve SEE HERE

Thanks Baguette, i have ordered an irish pigtail in Hamiltons
I can pick up 2 red empty cylinders handy


If the german cylinders are of any use to anyone let me know

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sprinter

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Subject:

spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 05.12.2023  ·  #12

Your system is German, and as Colin has said, they will not interconnect. Look at the locator spud in the center of the Irish pigtail, youwill see it wouldn't fit into the German bottle. There is no hollow in the center.
Irish bottle

 

French bottle

 

Irish pigtail.

 

Irish pigtail that will also fit the French bottle.

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sprinter

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Subject:

spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 05.12.2023  ·  #13

Quote by raglanroad

Quote by baguette

The connection looks the same, lefthand screw on and the same thread, but the interface between the valve and the pigtail is different and Irish (or French) bottles with the same connection won't connect with a gas-tight seal.
If using Irish or French bottles you will need to change the pigtail to ONE OF THIS TYPE different lengths available. Or, perhaps one with a rupture protection valve SEE HERE

Thanks Baguette, i have ordered an irish pigtail in Hamiltons
I can pick up 2 red empty cylinders handy


If the german cylinders are of any use to anyone let me know

I would fit a duel change over valve with one Irish one and the existing German one, ( Fit one Irish bottle, so you don't get caught out ) use up the German ones, then go full Irish.
My van came with two French, so I travel with one Irish and one French , then work off the French one ,using the Irish as a back up.

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baguette

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 05.12.2023  ·  #14

You can't beat a forum for good info from genuine enthusiasts.
Facepuke and the like don't even rate compared to a good forum like motorhomecraic.

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ROBANDSUE

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 14.12.2023  ·  #15

this is a good topic. If for instance i run out of gas in spain, i presume the standard irish screw on bottle is the available?
Or will it be hard to come by?

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baguette

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 14.12.2023  ·  #16

Quote by ROBANDSUE

this is a good topic. If for instance i run out of gas in spain, i presume the standard irish screw on bottle is the available?
Or will it be hard to come by?

If you do manage to get a Spanish propane bottle the connection is the same as the Irish butane bottle (jumbo clip on) so you will need one of these

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Flipperdipper

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 14.12.2023  ·  #17

If you're close to the French border nip over and get a French propane bottle, same thread as Irish propane.

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sprinter

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 14.12.2023  ·  #18

Quote by baguette

Quote by ROBANDSUE

this is a good topic. If for instance i run out of gas in spain, i presume the standard irish screw on bottle is the available?
Or will it be hard to come by?

If you do manage to get a Spanish propane bottle the connection is the same as the Irish butane bottle (jumbo clip on) so you will need one of these

It is also worth having one of these in your kit, for when you change the fitting. Or fit a new bottle.

 

And if you want a French bottle I have a spare.

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baguette

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 14.12.2023  ·  #19

Quote by Flipperdipper

If you're close to the French border nip over and get a French propane bottle, same thread as Irish propane.

Swapping a bottle, empty for full, is not possible if the country of origin of the empty is foreign.
However, getting a French bottle without handing in an empty one is a lot more straightforward than the palaver associated with getting a Spanish one.
Having said that, I picked up a Spanish empty in a junk shop for a few Euro a while back, but maybe it was an 'illegal' transaction to sell it to a foreigner.

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sprinter

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Subject:

Re: spanish or french gas bottles

 ·  Posted: 14.12.2023  ·  #20

Quote by baguette

Quote by Flipperdipper

If you're close to the French border nip over and get a French propane bottle, same thread as Irish propane.

Swapping a bottle, empty for full, is not possible if the country of origin of the empty is foreign.
However, getting a French bottle without handing in an empty one is a lot more straightforward than the palaver associated with getting a Spanish one.
Having said that, I picked up a Spanish empty in a junk shop for a few Euro a while back, but maybe it was an 'illegal' transaction to sell it to a foreigner.

The most common gas suppliers in Spain are Repsol and Cepsa. And unlike here they don't like taking each other's bottles in exchange.
Tallaght fuel centre bought in about 50 Repsol bottles from Spain for their own filling system, before they had to move to Greenogue. So you could probably organise the change over before you go.
Using one French and one Spanish type.

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