Gas usage

[Widge]

I realise this may be a difficult one to answer accurately but i thought it might give a guestamate.
We (myself and my wife) are planning a month in spain in October and dont want the hassle of having to buy gas while we are there.

We are probably going to use campsites for 2/3 of our stops, so hopefully not too much gas for fridge, again if at campsite we will probably use site facilities for showers and washing up.

We are hoping that it shouldn't be too cold so with any luck no need for heating.

We will obviously be doing cooking as well as some eating out.

Currently I have one 5kg lightweight propane bottle that has about 3kg of gas, i was thinking of buying a second identical 5kg bottle and hope that should be plenty for our trip, but to be honest dont have a clue.

Any comments welcome

 

[huck999]

We have 2x11kg tanks. On a 90 day trip, with fridge, cooking, hot water and bbq, we will use all of it, even when using site electrics.
2x5kg bottles should be ok for 4 weeks. It is quite probable that you will not be able to refill in spain as fittings are different. You may be lucky and find a seller with appropriate adaptors. Also, UK is mainly propane (works in cold) whilst europe mainly use butane
Have a good trip.

 

[K R B]

I realise this may be a difficult one to answer accurately but i thought it might give a guestamate.
We (myself and my wife) are planning a month in spain in October and dont want the hassle of having to buy gas while we are there.

We are probably going to use campsites for 2/3 of our stops, so hopefully not too much gas for fridge, again if at campsite we will probably use site facilities for showers and washing up.

We are hoping that it shouldn't be too cold so with any luck no need for heating.

We will obviously be doing cooking as well as some eating out.

Currently I have one 5kg lightweight propane bottle that has about 3kg of gas, i was thinking of buying a second identical 5kg bottle and hope that should be plenty for our trip, but to be honest dont have a clue.

Any comments welcome

When off grid in Spain in the winter we use between half a kg and three quarters a kg of gas a day. This is for cooking hot water and fridge.
Our heating system is gasoil.
I don't think you can manage on ten kg of gass

 

[Andycap]

I have a 13kg and a 6kg when i go to France just come back after three weeks and used approximately half of the 13kg. I used mainly camping car park but did some off grid using gas for hot water, cooking and fridge.

 

[Lenny HB]

We often go to Spain in October we have 2 x 14 kg cylinders, one lasts about 15 days but we rarely use sites. Often fill up a couple of times on a 6-7 week trip.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Dutch 68]

We often go to Spain in October we have 2 x 14 kg cylinders, one lasts about 15 days but we rarely use sites. Often fill up a couple of times on a 6-7 week trip.

Underslung 120 litre on the new one?

 

[Lenny HB]

Underslung 120 litre on the new one?

Don't be silly that would reduce ground clearance.

 

[Dutch 68]

Don't be silly that would reduce ground clearance.

Hmmm not necessarily, and a 12t Merc Atego has plenty of ground clearance

 

[nicholsong]

We have just done 18 days off-grid in SE Poland, but quite warm so fridge was on 1/2 continuously. Shower a day each and cooking about 8 nights. No heating.

We used just under a litre a day.

 

[Widge]

We have 2x11kg tanks. On a 90 day trip, with fridge, cooking, hot water and bbq, we will use all of it, even when using site electrics.
2x5kg bottles should be ok for 4 weeks. It is quite probable that you will not be able to refill in spain as fittings are different. You may be lucky and find a seller with appropriate adaptors. Also, UK is mainly propane (works in cold) whilst europe mainly use butane
Have a good trip.

We are in france and was suprised it had propane not butane, is it only a case of a different regulator or are the jets different as well, i ask as i actualy have a standard 13kg cylinder of butane and regulator, and if i was to get it filled (illegal i know) i think i would be happier with a standard steel cylinder rather than a lightweight one.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

I dont think that 2 x 3kgs of gas (12 litres) is going to last you a month for fridge and cooking.
We would bank on using 1 litre a day for fridge and minimal cooking so unless you are relying on campsite electric you will be running out of gas.

 

[Basildog]

We are in france and was suprised it had propane not butane, is it only a case of a different regulator or are the jets different as well, i ask as i actualy have a standard 13kg cylinder of butane and regulator, and if i was to get it filled (illegal i know) i think i would be happier with a standard steel cylinder rather than a lightweight one.

You definitely don’t want to be filling Butane cylinders with Autogas .
It’s often 100 percent propane, someone could mistakenly take it indoors to store / use .
Bad enough filling exchangeable cylinders with the correct gas type .

 

[mikebeaches]

If you are going to southern Spain and not too far from the coast, the nights shouldn't be too cold during October. After that it can get pretty chilly. One January morning in Almeria, less than 10 miles from the sea, I had to scrape ice off the windscreen.

A few years ago, we spent five weeks in Spain and Portugal from late April and in to May - we arrived and departed via Santander. We stayed at campsites every night with an electric hook-up (ACSI). Surprisingly, we didn't use ANY gas, but operated completely on electric - space heating (not a lot required), cooking, boiling water, and fridge. When travelling we'd fill a couple of 1-litre flasks with boiling water before departure in the morning, for hot drinks during the day.

 

[Widge]

You definitely don’t want to be filling Butane cylinders with Autogas .
It’s often 100 percent propane, someone could mistakenly take it indoors to store / use .
Bad enough filling exchangeable cylinders with the correct gas type .

Sorry i didn't explain properly the 5k lightweight cylinder I have is propane,
But I have a practically full standard 13kg butane cylinder and regulator.

My question is if I wanted to use butane instead of propane in the camper, is it just a case of a change of regulator, or are the jets also different?

If it was just the regulator i was thinking of possibly leaving the propane cylinder behind and taking the butane cylinder instead, in fact thinking about it i know where i can lay my hands on a second 13kg butane cylinder i can exchange for a new one, which would give me plenty for the trip.
At no point was i considering filling a bottle with the wrong gas.☹

 

[mikebeaches]

Sorry i didn't explain properly the 5k lightweight cylinder I have is propane,
But I have a practically full standard 13kg butane cylinder and regulator.

My question is if I wanted to use butane instead of propane in the camper, is it just a case of a change of regulator, or are the jets also different?

If it was just the regulator i was thinking of possibly leaving the propane cylinder behind and taking the butane cylinder instead, in fact thinking about it i know where i can lay my hands on a second 13kg butane cylinder i can exchange for a new one, which would give me plenty for the trip.
At no point was i considering filling a bottle with the wrong gas.☹

As long as you've got the correct regulator, I don't see why butane shouldn't be OK, unless anybody knows differently.

The main disadvantage of butane is that it's pretty ineffective at low temperatures. Doubtless, somebody on here will know at what temperature it fails to work properly...

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[gus-lopez]

My spanish regulator is the same for butane or propane. I had to change to a UK propane cylinde when in the Uk but when it runs out will be refilling it here with lpg.

 

[Widge]

Thanks for all your replies, after reading the replies on here and doing a bit of research it looks like I should have no problem running the van on propane or butane as long as I have the correct regulator. although one post I read on another site suggested that because of the higher calorific value of butane the heater in the fridge might run a bit hotter.

Currently I have a clip on regulator for the 5kg propane bottle which appears to be standard on the lightweight cylinders from Butagaz here in France, the 13kg butane bottle has a left hand screw fixing but I also have a suitable regulator. The only disadvantage I can see is that the butane is not very good at low temperatures, but I cannot imagine we would have much problem in Spain in October. But one option might be to take our existing 5kg propane bottle as well as the 13kg butane bottle, use the butane but swap to propane if it gets cold. or borrow the second 13kg butane bottle instead, which should be more than enough for our trip. Maybe a case of looking at the long range weather forecasts nearer the time and decide then.

 

[nicholsong]

Maybe Basildog could confirm or correct me.

When I bought my 2003 MH it had a 37Mb regulator, which were designed for use with propane, whereas 28Mb were designed for use with butane.

Then the EU authorities decided to decree that regulators should be standardised at 30Mb and be used for propane and butane.

I have continued to use my 37Mb regulator for LPG and occasionally for my spare butane.

No problems.

 

[Lenny HB]

Maybe Basildog could confirm or correct me.

When I bought my 2003 MH it had a 37Mb regulator, which were designed for use with propane, whereas 28Mb were designed for use with butane.

Then the EU authorities decided to decree that regulators should be standardised at 30Mb and be used for propane and butane.

I have continued to use my 37Mb regulator for LPG and occasionally for my spare butane.

No problems.

You are correct and since they standised on 30mb for both and most Motorhomers use propane, ovens and grills have been naff.
Also up to 2002 Germany use to use 50mb for propane.