Camping Gas

[TravellingChick]

Can you buy it at any petrol station or just some special ones? If so, anyone know any special ones around Twickers?

I've got an enormous bottle which barely fits in the cupboard and I can't decide whether to trade it in for something smaller or stick with it and the associated hassle of getting it in and out.

I'm guessing previous owners ran their fridge off it thus wanting a bigger bottle and moving it's location from the bottom cupboard.

Anyway, I haven't actually established I can cook yet coz altho the bottle appears to have something in it there ain't nothing coming out due to a lack of pressure I think............

TIA

[andisnewsyncro]

Depends on the make of the bottle you currently have as to where you can exchange it. Calor is easy to find most places and often if you tell the stockist you're swapping from another brand, they don't charge the deposit on the new bottle. You will probably need a new regulator too if you swap brands from what you've got.

Try a quick google of whatever make is written on your current bottle and find the nearest stockist and take it from there. personally I just have the small calor propane in the van & it lasts quite well, the fridge doesn't use a massive amount, although I usually cook outside on a seperate hob from a camping Gaz bottle (because the vans a tin top and it does me back using the inside cooker and it stinks for ages after too )

One point worth noting, if the previous owners have moved the bottle from its original locker, have they done it properly - drilled the drop out vents, attached a bracket or strap to hold it in place etc. It may be worth buying a new length of hose for between the reg and the fitted pipework too, they only have a limited life span.


Andi

[AngeloEvs]

Camping Gaz are the smallest useable Cylinder but more expensive than the Calor 4.5KG and you would probably need two (one as a spare/back-up). The Camping Gaz is smaller and great for weekends away and easily obtainable in France, easy to stow too. The smallest Calor Bottle (4.5Kg) is larger but cheaper and easier to replace (many garages and Garden Centres stock Calor). See what others say, but if you don't use electric hook-up much then a larger bottle is probably better, particularly if you want the fridge working.

[TravellingChick]

Thanks both.

I think it's a Calor 4.5kg. It's blue and both it and the hose/reg look very new. It's on the top shelf of a cupboard which has a hole thru the floor and another grilled vent out just by the base of the bench seat. It's secured with a bungy attached to a strut that's been screwed in.

Good point about garden centres, there's one near here so I'll go and check them out tomorrow.

I guess with a bigger bottle I have to get a re-fill less frequently therefore won't actually have to face the hassle of teasing it out and back in again! I expect there's a knack to it LOL!

Ta again.

[andisnewsyncro]

If it is a Calor 4.5, that's the little one
Stick with that, you'll be able to get it swapped easily enough pretty much where ever you go.
Good point about garden centres, builders yards and DIY places often do them too

[TravellingChick]

If it is a Calor 4.5, that's the little one

Really? Is this another case of bloke measurement against not bloke measurement

It's a lot bigger than the portable gas bbq thingy my parents have got.

Sugar, it might be butane y'know..........

Must go n look!

[R0B]

have you checked to see if there is a cut off valve somewhere along the pipe work.if its blue its butane.if its red its propane.

there ain't nothing coming out due to a lack of pressure I think

it might be butane y'know

[Gunslinger]

If it is a Calor 4.5, that's the little one

Really? Is this another case of bloke measurement against not bloke measurement

It's a lot bigger than the portable gas bbq thingy my parents have got.

Sugar, it might be butane y'know..........

Must go n look!

If its blue its more than likely butane. If its red then propane.
I found my local stockist via the calor gas website and it turned out to be a local filling station

Check out you local ones here
http://www.multimap.com/clients/browse. ... ales=pc%20" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;!

[TravellingChick]

It's definatley blue. I think I am getting confused with campinggaz. God I scare myself sometimes.

Yes there are cut off pipes in the cupboard next to the fridge. They are set to vertical position so I have assumed this means they are "on". Instructions say only to isolate when doing work on hob or fridge.

[AngeloEvs]

Pick it up and shake it! (or Wink at a 'hunk' and get him to do it!), if you can hear liquid sloshing about inside theres some gas in there!

[TravellingChick]

I have picked it up and shooooked it about and there is definately liquid in there. But not much and when I turn the valve on there's no "pssst" that indicates the gas is flowing so that's why I think it's too empty to work.

Good tip on the hunk thing, must keep an eye out for one of them!

[Grun]

Can only speak of my van.
There is a knurled valve on the top of the cylinder (mine is Camping Gaz) which is part of the adaptor/pressure reducer which screws into the cylinder.
This knurled valve must be opened to get gas to flow to the bit of flexy hose and on to the copper pipes and then, in the cupboard, there are two on / off taps which are closed when the handles are are right angles to the pipes and open when parallel to the pipes.
Taps one for fridge one for hob.

Mike

[TravellingChick]

I've got a valve on top of the cylinder which says Open & Close on it. Then there's the regulator which looks like a blue flying saucer and is attached with a nut to the cylinder via a black hose.

There are 2 taps on pipes which are parralell to the pipes so I am pretty sure they're on.

Will have to go have a play with it.

Will be mildly disasterous if I cannot cook this weekend!

[Gunslinger]

I've got a valve on top of the cylinder which says Open & Close on it. Then there's the regulator which looks like a blue flying saucer and is attached with a nut to the cylinder via a black hose.

There are 2 taps on pipes which are parralell to the pipes so I am pretty sure they're on.

Will have to go have a play with it.

Will be mildly disasterous if I cannot cook this weekend!

Would it not follow that if you disconnect the pipe from the regulator and turn the gas bottle valve on if you smell and hear gas coming out you have gas and if no sound you dont?

[TravellingChick]

ooooh you're clever!

I'll try that then.

Just went down and checked and I've forgotten what it is already! I think it's butane!