What is the best way to use one Gaslow and one Calor bottle

[Barriesimpson]

I am sorry to say that I have never understood the logic of having a calor bottle as back-up for the odd chance that your refillable bottle may run out. Surely if you are keeping it purely as back-up it would make more sense to have another refillable.
That way when you refill at an LPG pump you would automatically refill your spare bottle therefore ensuring it is always full and not a part filled calor bottle with an unknown amount of gas in.

This is why I have 2 refillable lpg bottles. Once one has run out I refill at the next opportunity and that way I will never be without gas.

 

[Barriesimpson]

No, they both will fill to 80%.

 

[Barriesimpson]

The rotating switch that you mentioned is only on the outlet side of a gaslow twin system and is nothing to do with re-filling them! As in #23 you should turn off both bottles at the bottle outlet valves and assuming that you have both filling points connected to the filling point they will fill simultaneously.

I don't have to turn off the valves. They both fill to 80% even when open.

 

[68c]

Many thanks for all the comments on this post. I seem to be in the 'carry a Calor as back up but never use it camp'. I think I will now only carry the back up Calor on long trips. So I no longer have to diet to keep the van under 3,500kg.

 

[LithiumConvert]

I think I will now only carry the back up Calor on long trips. So I no longer have to diet to keep the van under 3,500kg.

Carry a Safefill or Gasbank on those trips. They are lighter than Calor.

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[68c]

Good idea, of course the Calor bottle came with the second hand van so probably cannot get deposit back from Calor.

 

[PaulC70]

I agree with what you say and I originally had a twin gaslow system installed. But I took out my second refillable as in normal use a single 11kg cylinder is all I need and I was just lugging an extra full 11kg gaslow around. However the Scottish Islands are part of the UK and with the exception of Harris there are no LPG pumps at all. So for the odd times that I visit the Scottish Islands, taking a calor for gas redundancy is the best option for me.

Other than the Isle of Skye of course?

 

[TrudeandDall]

Other than the Isle of Skye of course?

True. But I refer in general to the islands that require a ferry crossing, so not easy to pop back to the mainland for a refill . And ever since the NC500, I have no longer the desire to cross the bridge onto Skye.....

 

[jumar]

Our old Gaslow (Yellow) weigh so much when empty, so I have sourced a lightweight composite cylinder and intend fitting this and alongside it will be lightweight Butane or Propane, depending on seasons...I even have access to a lightweight 6kg butane...so this could be used for short trips..
Main advantages are, reducing weight and adding even more flexibility....and not forgetting our Gaslow has been installed for many years which may be out of date .

 

[the1andonly]

Previously For various reasons i had come into possession of various sizes and flavors of calor bottles (part full or part empty or even full) so aquired adaptors to use up all the spare stuff (no other way of using it any more), when one empty switch to refill and swap out when home.

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[bigtwin]

Previously For various reasons i had come into possession of various sizes and flavors of calor bottles (part full or part empty or even full) so aquired adaptors to use up all the spare stuff (no other way of using it any more), when one empty switch to refill and swap out when home.

Now that is a decent strategy; that is, to actually use the gas in them.

Ian

 

[Evrons1]

We always have a gaslow and a full calor 3.9 kg as a back up as Its light to carry,We`ve never actually used any yet in 6 years ;-)

 

[bigtwin]

Exactly the same for me. I've had that setup for 6 years and never yet used the Calor. Why would anyone pay Calor price when the gas at LPG pumps is far less costly?

I had this set upon a previous MH, never used the calor bottle, which is now on the home bbq.

There may be a pattern forming here.

We always have a gaslow and a full calor 3.9 kg as a back up as Its light to carry,We`ve never actually used any yet in 6 years ;-)

Yep, there most definitely is a pattern forming here!

Ian

 

[Pedro Pallent]

Probably so, but already had the calor so just stuck it in, handy to know it's there if we did happen to run out.
If we ever used it to empty probably wouldn't bother with it again.

Use the Calor, empty it and get rid. Purchase another refillable, and live the dream

 

[barryd]

I am sorry to say that I have never understood the logic of having a calor bottle as back-up for the odd chance that your refillable bottle may run out. Surely if you are keeping it purely as back-up it would make more sense to have another refillable.
That way when you refill at an LPG pump you would automatically refill your spare bottle therefore ensuring it is always full and not a part filled calor bottle with an unknown amount of gas in.

The Calor backup was vital for us last summer on a five month UK trip but our style of touring is maybe a bit different to most. Having the scooter on the back we can spend maybe four weeks in some favourite spots and our new to us van has a small gas locker that can only take 2 x 6kg bottles so at the moment it has one 6kg Gaslow and one 6kg Calor. Off grid which we often are the Gaslow will last maybe two weeks so I have to use the Calor or go off and find an LPG station and in Devon and Cornwall last summer where we were it wasnt that easy. At one point there was just one LPG pump operational in the entire county of Cornwall in August.

So this is what I do. Use the Gaslow until there is maybe a couple of litres left (The gauge is very accurate these days), swap to the Calor, empty that then swap back to the remaining Gaslow. Stick the empty Calor on the back of the bike and go off and find a replacement, fit that then swap back to the Calor. This is only needed if you are somewhere with no LPG. You can always find Calor anywhere so this method ensures I never run out of gas.

Next year in Europe though I might just fit another Gaslow and dump the Calor but they are essential in the UK for us. We are off to the Scottish Islands in Spring and there is literally no LPG at the pumps there. Calor is king there I guess.

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[BOWHOUSE52]

As a matter of interest as anyone tried the Gas Bank lightwait gas bottles

 

[Bucket]

Good idea, of course the Calor bottle came with the second hand van so probably cannot get deposit back from Calor.

I had a 6kg calor that was surplus but had long since lost the receipt. Anyway I took a chance and took it to the local (Bristol) Calor Depot on the basis that if they wouldn't take it back there's a council tip just round the corner.
To my surprise they did return a deposit of sorts. Happy days!

 

[Bertilak]

I had a 6kg calor that was surplus but had long since lost the receipt. Anyway I took a chance and took it to the local (Bristol) Calor Depot on the basis that if they wouldn't take it back there's a council tip just round the corner.
To my surprise they did return a deposit of sorts. Happy days!

I'd be scared that Calor would say "you're not on our customer rental database, the cylinder belongs to us, and we'll take it back now..."

 

[mgibbons]

With that situation, I would suggest Camping Gaz 907.

Widely available at Marinas in the Scottish islands (and at inland canal marinas)..

I agree. I currently have a 8kg Calor and will be replacing it with two Gaslows - 11kg and 6kg - plus a 907 (which I have now bought). Why? I'm mainly going to be travelling in Europe and ran out of gas the last time. The gas cylinders on the continent are very confusing and Calor is not available. Switching to LPG with an emergency 907 - which is available across all of Europe - seems to cover all the bases for me. Plus the 907 can be used for other purposes too e.g. barbecues etc.

 

[Bertilak]

So to be totally contenious, what is the best way to refill your calor cyl from your refillable?
Obviously you do this in the middle of a moor away from any humans etc, and don't tell anyone, especially on Fun.
But I remember on a another forum after 2 pages of Darwin Award nominations, someone chipped in and said it is standard practice in most of the continent of Africa...
I understand the risk of not leaving head space; cubic expansion ratios, hydraulic rupture and resultant fireball etc.
Is the standard linked piping capable of back flow, or does it require special pipe fittings from Ali Express? (assuming we've got a warm supply cylinder, a cool receiver cyl sat on scales).

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[PaulC70]

I'd be scared that Calor would say "you're not on our customer rental database, the cylinder belongs to us, and we'll take it back now..."

Possessions 9/10th of the law, if they tried that I'd be walking out with it and dare them to try and take it from me!

 

[PaulC70]

So to be totally contenious, what is the best way to refill your calor cyl from your refillable?
Obviously you do this in the middle of a moor away from any humans etc, and don't tell anyone, especially on Fun.
But I remember on a another forum after 2 pages of Darwin Award nominations, someone chipped in and said it is standard practice in most of the continent of Africa...
I understand the risk of not leaving head space; cubic expansion ratios, hydraulic rupture and resultant fireball etc.
Is the standard linked piping capable of back flow, or does it require special pipe fittings from Ali Express? (assuming we've got a warm supply cylinder, a cool receiver cyl sat on scales).

Let me know when you're doing it, I have an aversion to explosions and people who want to save a few quid but ultimately get a Darwin Award.

 

[BOWHOUSE52]

Carry a Safefill or Gasbank on those trips. They are lighter than Calor.

Do you find Gasbank bottles ok compared to gas low