Gas bottle shenanigans, what next?!

[n brown]

Google translate is brilliant. Point the phone camera at foreign writing and the screen shows you the writing in English. Just a pity it is converted to ALL CAPS WHEN IT IS TRANSLATED. WHY DO THEY DO THAT?

so short-sighted foreigners can read it ?

 

[oppy]

First time Sue and I did France in the moho we took 5 bottles of gas ( at around £20ish a pop), but very soon realised that at most Intermarche's we could buy a full bottle plus regulator for around the same price as a refill in the UK, so maybe it's time to cut your losses and go native. BtW, we still have 3 full UK gas bottles if anyone would like to bid on them

We now have refillable and a full set of adaptors.

 

[LindsayH]

I've got a box of various regulators and bottle connections and to simplify matters, I've adopted a standard method that allows me to connect any type of bottle into the external filler point of my gaslow system.

So I use Spanish REPSOL bottles and Spanish connectors in Spain, GALPE bottles and connector in Portugal, 47kilo CALOR propane in UK etc etc.

By using in-line, self closing quick connectors on each different regulator, on a short length of pipe, I can connect directly into the filler point on the side of the Hymer, preserving the on-board, gaslow bottle 2 for use while travelling between fillups.

Exchange bottles are far easier to come by than a forecourt with GPL/LPG.

The challenge of local negotiations when in a new country to get "their" bottle and regulator doesn't go away.

I'm undecided yet, but I'm heavily leaning towards heading south east this winter, heading south to Marseilles and following the coast into northern Italy and into Slovenia, then along the Adriatic down to Greece.

I have a nagging suspicion that I would learn a lot about each countries' LPG standards and practices.

I'm also considering Greece for the winter! I'd love the drive but I don't think I'm brave enough so will probably ferry it from southern Italy. Please do keep me informed of your trip progress and very importantly, *everything* you learn about gas!

 

[LindsayH]

never bought propane in France.

you can call into a campsite for help witthout staying.
when we travelled, i'd take 2 x15k gas bottles and dispose of them when empty. but i also kept a campingaz bottle and regulator which i would only use between bottles. expensive but you can buy this gas anywhere , even little grocers , and it takes the panic off when finding a bottle or when you have a problem like yours . the regs are all the right pressure for your appliances

The camping gaz back up is a great idea. I have noticed it seems to be everywhere and it's good to know it would be ok for me to use, thanks.

 

[Nabsim]

Google translate is brilliant. Point the phone camera at foreign writing and the screen shows you the writing in English. Just a pity it is converted to ALL CAPS WHEN IT IS TRANSLATED. WHY DO THEY DO THAT?

Simples, its because the majority of Brits shout the words after a time when trying to communicate as its obvious to them that folk can't understand them so must be deaf

Keep posting Lindsay as we will be doing first trip to France in a van in New Year so at least you are probably making it easier for us

You will look back and laugh I know this from my trips to France on bikes, one one I blew a back tyre way out in the sticks but luckily near a garage. Neither of the guys there could speak English and my French was (and still is) very poor but youngest daughter who was with me could speak fluent German. Eureka so could one of the French guys, elation turned to dismay when I couldn't get daughter to translate as she said it was embarrassing haha.

Phone translator definitely but don't do like Del, make sure you have it set to the language you want to translate from and to

 

[Channa]

Detendre is regulator . you have a French bottle now so a case of buying the regulator removing your old one where the rubber joins the current regulator and fitting the new one, I cant work out why people are saying that is difficult everyone I have seen has fitted that way, the awkard fitting is between the reg and bottle The alternative is buying a new pig tail *rubber hose that fits your regulator with the correct connection for the regulator and removing the existing rubber further down stream where it joins the gas pipe

For assistance, if you look for shops, departments and people who deal in chauffage hopefully sorted in a jiffy
Channa

 

[Nabsim]

Is that you have screw thread and regulators you are seeing need rubber pipe and clip? Maybe post a pic Lindsey so one of these folks can advise better?

 

[LindsayH]

Simples, its because the majority of Brits shout the words after a time when trying to communicate as its obvious to them that folk can't understand them so must be deaf

Keep posting Lindsay as we will be doing first trip to France in a van in New Year so at least you are probably making it easier for us

You will look back and laugh I know this from my trips to France on bikes, one one I blew a back tyre way out in the sticks but luckily near a garage. Neither of the guys there could speak English and my French was (and still is) very poor but youngest daughter who was with me could speak fluent German. Eureka so could one of the French guys, elation turned to dismay when I couldn't get daughter to translate as she said it was embarrassing haha.

Phone translator definitely but don't do like Del, make sure you have it set to the language you want to translate from and to

Thanks for the reply
I am very much hoping that when I've been doing this for 20 years plus like some on here, this will be the hilarious 'first time I tried to get gas' story! For now, it's immensely frustrating!
I hope it does help others, especially if I can actually get it sorted...

 

[LindsayH]

Detendre is regulator . you have a French bottle now so a case of buying the regulator removing your old one where the rubber joins the current regulator and fitting the new one, I cant work out why people are saying that is difficult everyone I have seen has fitted that way, the awkard fitting is between the reg and bottle The alternative is buying a new pig tail *rubber hose that fits your regulator with the correct connection for the regulator and removing the existing rubber further down stream where it joins the gas pipe

For assistance, if you look for shops, departments and people who deal in chauffage hopefully sorted in a jiffy
Channa

Thanks Channa!
The problem is that *all* the propane regulators we've found so far are designed to attach to the hose by screw fitting. The hoses they sell to go with them (if you need one) has a screw fitting at each end. Mine has a push fit/jubilee clip fitting at each end of the hose. Some of the butane regulators we have seen have an adaptor sold with them that screws into the regulator which you then push the hose onto. None of the propane ones have these with them, and we have not found them sold separately despite pointing at them in butane regulator boxes and finding pictures of them online and showing them to DIY shop assistants. I am not confident trying to change the fitting of the gas hose where it joins the metal pipework. My guess is you'd have to weld a screw fit to it? But I know absolutely nothing about gas or plumbing.
I wish I could upload pics to help explain better but I've already used more than half this month's internet allowance. I will do if I can get wifi at some point x

 

[LindsayH]

Is that you have screw thread and regulators you are seeing need rubber pipe and clip? Maybe post a pic Lindsey so one of these folks can advise better?

The other way round! I have push fit/jubilee clip and all the propane regulators are screw fit. Will post pics if I can find some internet. I'm staying for a few days half an hour from the nearest town at the mo so no wifi available.

 

[trevskoda]

I knew it was torn once it started vibrating, it likely tore a long, long way away. I wasn't exactly hasty about getting it fixed at that point either.

Naughty boy.:hammer: a 1000 lines,i must look after my van better.:lol-053:

 

[st3v3]

I wonder if you need a regulator with a screw type output, and a rubber hose that has screw connections on both ends. Then, cut one end off and join it to your metal pipe with a jubilee clip.


Something you want someone to check it's done securely and not leaking though....

 

[Nabsim]

Is this the type of thing you have now Lyndsey?

 

[QFour]

If I have read this right you have a Calor gas cylinder with a regulator and a hose. The hose goes to another fitting and it has a jubilee clip on each end.

If you buy a regulator and pipe and cut the end fitting off you can connect to your system using the jubilee clip. What you will have is one fixed end and one fastened with a clip. To be on the safe side you could double clip it like we used to do on our boat. Just means if one clip breaks the other one holds. Can also give a better seal.

 

[Deleted member 62288]

I'm also considering Greece for the winter! I'd love the drive but I don't think I'm brave enough so will probably ferry it from southern Italy. Please do keep me informed of your trip progress and very importantly, *everything* you learn about gas!

Everything that you ever wanted, is just the other side of fear.
james

 

[LindsayH]

Is this the type of thing you have now Lyndsey?
View attachment 67954

That looks like it has screw fittings. Mine has no fittings on the ends, it is just a plain hose that pushes on and is then secured/tightened with a jubilee clip.


I honestly hadn't thought of cutting one end off a hose. That sounds like a good suggestion. The only hiccup I can see is the hose being a different size which may be difficult to check when it is in a packet with a screw on each end. Oh, and me doing it wrong and gassing everyone I think that would be doable though... I'd be prepared to give it a bash.

So, these seem to be the ideas:
- Try another Intermarche to get the (in theory definitely correct) regulator.
- Stop into Narbonne on the way South.
- Mr Bricolage, ditto.
- Buy another bottle, Butane this time.
- Cut the screw fitting off one end of a hose.

Great, plenty of things to try! Thanks guys!! If anyone has anything to add please do but I'll start working through that lot.

 

[yeoblade]

I think I would have cut the fitting off and tried it by now.

Most importantly is the gas cylinder in a proper locker that is gas safe with a dropout vent fitted, before you make any possible unsafe mods. BE SAFE.

 

[QFour]

As above .. What have you got to loose .. Just make sure the jubilee clips are tight. If you have room for two put them both on. Good luck ..

 

[LindsayH]

I think I would have cut the fitting off and tried it by now.

Most importantly is the gas cylinder in a proper locker that is gas safe with a dropout vent fitted, before you make any possible unsafe mods. BE SAFE.

Thank you for this. One of the reasons I'm not too keen to meddle is I had a full gas safety check carried out on the van before I left England. Everything is safe and fully tested at the moment and I like it that way!

 

[dalspa]

“Stop into Narbonne on the way South”
Narbonne Accessories have sales depots all over France, not just in Narbonne.