Calor Gas Bottles

[Mona Owner]

Sorry to probably repeat questions that might have been asked before....

I have a 11.5 and a 11.6 (that's a bit weird) butane Calor bottles in the locker.
Elsewhere on this forum it appears I would benefit from swapping those to propane.
So the questions are
1) is that correct, is propane better?
2) will I find similar sized propane bottles to fit the locker?
3) Will a Calor supplier do a straight swap Butane to Propane?

Many thanks people.

 

[Mona Owner]

Oh and what's with the 0.1kg difference all about?

 

[EuroTrotters]

1 Yes, for winter only. (Though Butane is more calorific if using for summer only)
2 Yes
3 Unless you know them well, NO

Propane Or Butane? Propane vs Butane - Which Is Right For You? - London Gases

Bottled gas is one of the most convenient and versatile fuels available. It’s compact, making it easy to store and transport and it produces a great deal of thermal energy relative to other fuels. It can be used to power a barbecue during the summer or provide heat during the cold winter months...

www.londongases.co.uk

E&OE

 

[David and Sally]

Yes. It works better at low temperatures
Yes. I think 13 kg will be the nearest.
Yes. They should if bottles are similar sizes. I have done it.

 

[EuroTrotters]

sizes here

Calor Gas Bottle Range

Calor Gas, Bottle Range, propane, butane.

www.awsmith-calorgas.co.uk

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[EuroTrotters]

Yes. It works better at low temperatures
Yes. I think 13 kg will be the nearest.
Yes. They should if bottles are similar sizes. I have done it.

Yes, Butane will not evaporate at lower temperatures. Especially as the cylinders tend to refrigerate more during evaporation.

 

[cmcardle75]

Sorry to probably repeat questions that might have been asked before....

I have a 11.5 and a 11.6 (that's a bit weird) butane Calor bottles in the locker.
Elsewhere on this forum it appears I would benefit from swapping those to propane.
So the questions are
1) is that correct, is propane better?
2) will I find similar sized propane bottles to fit the locker?
3) Will a Calor supplier do a straight swap Butane to Propane?

Many thanks people.

1) Propane is best for winter conditions (but also works in summer). Butane will give you more heat in summer for slightly less weight and cost.
2) Calor butane comes in 4.5kg, 7kg, 12kg and 15kg. You need to identify which you have.
3) Officially, 4.5kg & 7kg Butane can be swapped for either 3.9kg & 6kg Propane. 12kg (rare) and 15kg Butane can be swapped for 13kg Propane. In practice, some will let you swap outside of category and some won't even let you swap within official category. It largely depends on their general attitude and what their stocks are like.

 

[Mona Owner]

Great information and quick replies. Many thanks everyone.

 

[Jake vE]

Just to support the comments above, boiling point of butane is -1C and Propane is -42C hence Propane being the choice for winter use

 

[cmcardle75]

Just to support the comments above, boiling point of butane is -1C and Propane is -42C hence Propane being the choice for winter use

And the disadvantage for summer is only slight. So, if in doubt, Propane is the correct choice. However, Butane is fine for the sunseekers!

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[Sundowners]

You are generally better off with propane but butane will not work in really cold weather
When your bottle is empty--- take it to a calor agent and say you want to swap for propane (and a regulator if needed) if they refuse --- go to another---- some will swap.

 

[Jake vE]

And the disadvantage for summer is only slight. So, if in doubt, Propane is the correct choice. However, Butane is fine for the sunseekers!

Totally, as I have a refillable underslung tank this becomes a problem for me in France in the winter as they use Propane/Butane mix compared to the UK which is just Propane

 

[kevenh]

Sorry to probably repeat questions that might have been asked before....

I have a 11.5 and a 11.6 (that's a bit weird) butane Calor bottles in the locker.
Elsewhere on this forum it appears I would benefit from swapping those to propane.
So the questions are
1) is that correct, is propane better?
2) will I find similar sized propane bottles to fit the locker?
3) Will a Calor supplier do a straight swap Butane to Propane?

Many thanks people.

Are the weights from actually weighing the bottles?
You need to remove the empty weight of the bottle.
The bottle weight is on a metal collar fitted around the base of the valve.

I guess you've the 7kg Butane bottles.
You can exchange on the same bottle class.
In the same bottle class are 6kg propane bottles.

edit: the 7kg Butane & 6kg propane have the same size bottle

 

[cmcardle75]

Totally, as I have a refillable underslung tank this becomes a problem for me in France in the winter as they use Propane/Butane mix compared to the UK which is just Propane

I thought they moved to mostly Propane in the winter?

In any case, even with a mix, it will burn the Butane when it is above 0C, so you'll generally get it to work unless you're in a really cold part for a long period.

I don't recommend setting a fire under the tank.

 

[Jake vE]

thought they moved to mostly Propane in the winter?

Well for France in winter its anywhere up to 60/40 propane/butane. When in the alps skiing it could be a problem but general touring about shouldn't be an issue.

I don't recommend setting a fire under the tank

Nah, much safer to get the genny fired up and wrap it in an electric blanket....

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[EuroTrotters]

Totally, as I have a refillable underslung tank this becomes a problem for me in France in the winter as they use Propane/Butane mix compared to the UK which is just Propane

It’s mixed according to season.

you may find in the winter, alpine areas will be dispensing a larger proportion of propane .

 

[DandG5515]

Blue Butane has an external thread on bottle, red propane has an internal thread need to use an adaptor or change hose to regulator. (Hose to regulator should be replaced Every ? years)

 

[kevenh]

<snip>(Hose to regulator should be replaced Every ? years)

The date is written on the rubber tube. Not sure about other materials.
At the time of writing I've forgotten if the date used there is the date to replace or to add 5yrs too sorry.

Edit: from a note in my servicing 'log' the date on the tube is when it's made. e.g. mine was made 11/2018 so I've up to 11/2023 to replace it
Might go to a different material on or around then. That will get rid of the odour seep thru, tight?

 

[poppycamper]

Blue Butane has an external thread on bottle, red propane has an internal thread need to use an adaptor or change hose to regulator. (Hose to regulator should be replaced Every ? years)

You sure about that...if memory serves me correct both regulators are identical only one has left hand thread the other a right hand thread.. in addition butane also comes with a bayonet type fitting.
Or are my old brain cells getting hazy.

 

[DandG5515]

You sure about that...if memory serves me correct both regulators are identical only one has left hand thread the other a right hand thread.. in addition butane also comes with a bayonet type fitting.
Or are my old brain cells getting hazy.

Regulator can be used on either or mix (ie lpg) just checked calor website 4.5kg is external thread 7kg 15 kg clip on. However I am struggling to find calor do a 11kg butan as listed by op? My gas it 11kg has the external thread and needed an adaptor.

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[Sundowners]

Totally, as I have a refillable underslung tank this becomes a problem for me in France in the winter as they use Propane/Butane mix compared to the UK which is just Propane

Hi
They can't have a high butane% in winter or the lpg cars would pack up?
We filled our under slung tank wherever we needed to------ never once had a problem-------- I could see you having a problem if you filled in the summer and didn't use the lpg till the winter?

 

[Destination Unknown]

Lpg bottles each have there own water content volume If you look along the base of a lpg bottle. There is information on this..
It takes in the weight of the empty steel/Alloy bottle, and then how much gas can be in that bottle.

 

[cmcardle75]

Hi
They can't have a high butane% in winter or the lpg cars would pack up?
We filled our under slung tank wherever we needed to------ never once had a problem-------- I could see you having a problem if you filled in the summer and didn't use the lpg till the winter?

Cars draw liquid fuel and heat it to vaporise, so temperature is less of a concern, except for initial starting. They have to do this, as even propane won't gas off at a high enough rate to run an engine. A similar technique can be used by some camping stoves, enabling butane to be used in very subzero temperatures at the expense of controllability (a valve on the liquid side is much less effective than one on the vapour side).

 

[Jake vE]

Hi
They can't have a high butane% in winter or the lpg cars would pack up?
We filled our under slung tank wherever we needed to------ never once had a problem-------- I could see you having a problem if you filled in the summer and didn't use the lpg till the winter?

Well looking at the figures, a winter mix can contain up to 40% butane. If I'm in the mountains (below 0C) then I only have 60% of my tank available.
I suppose it depends on tank size too. Mine is just enough for 8 days in the mountains so I'm already looking at spending my ski money for this year on a bigger tank!

 

[cmcardle75]

Well looking at the figures, a winter mix can contain up to 40% butane. If I'm in the mountains (below 0C) then I only have 60% of my tank available.
I suppose it depends on tank size too. Mine is just enough for 8 days in the mountains so I'm already looking at spending my ski money for this year on a bigger tank!

Whenever the temperature rises, it'll start burning the butane, though, so you will burn some of it, unless it stays very cold. Your problem is that you can't keep topping it up as the remaining butane will take more and more!

One thing, though, is that butane comes in different forms with different boiling points. Isobutane is much better than the standard form with a -11C boiling point. I wonder if that forms the majority of the butane in French autogas mixes?

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[Jake vE]

Whenever the temperature rises, it'll start burning the butane, though, so you will burn some of it, unless it stays very cold. Your problem is that you can't keep topping it up as the remaining butane will take more and more!

One thing, though, is that butane comes in different forms with different boiling points. Isobutane is much better than the standard form with a -11C boiling point. I wonder if that forms the majority of the butane in French autogas mixes?

True but I have been in places that have not managed to get above 0C so I doubt very much will boil off, maybe I've just got gas anxiety!

True, I don't believe autogas has much if any isobutane (I'm probably wrong) as its a fairly useful/profitable component in refining. I think once I have a bigger tank I can fill and forget with propane before heading over