Tasmania
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We fitted a refillable gas it 11 kg bottle, we have been out in the van 3 weekends used heating quite a bit on two, used cadac to cook a chicken one, gas bottle now empty, is that about right or should it have lasted longer?
horshamjack
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The bottles only fill 80% for safety reasons . Do you have a gauge on the bottle ? Dumb question but was it full when you first filled it .. Apart from having a leak ! it appears you have used it and IMO I think that is excessive for what you have explained
QFour
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Had same problem the other week. We were out for 10 days and managed to work our way through 11kg bottle. We do have heating, hot water, fridge / freezer and cooking etc. I have a 3.5kg as a spare with a flexible hose so not a problem to switch over an find a garage. I have a couple of 6kg ones but could not get a 6kg in the locker with the 11kg. Built a raised platform at side of 11kg so the 3.5kg sits higher up and there is just enough room.
I think the possible reason for the extra use is that propane has a slightly higher calorific value than what is available at the pumps
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I think the possible reason for the extra use is that propane has a slightly higher calorific value than what is available at the pumps
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Deleted member 207
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LPG is usually mixed according to what the local ambient temperatures are likely to be. The ratio of propane to butane varies but most refineries will state in their safety data sheets something like "A mix of propane and butane liquefied gas" and in the ratio/ingredients section "Butane 0% to 99%, Propane 0% to 99%, other gases <1%". Then give the range of boiling points for 10% to 90% mixtures. You get a higher mix of butane in the summer months and a lower mix in the winter months as it has a higher boiling point (about -1C) whereas propane has a boiling point of about -43C which means it can still change from a liquid to a gas in most winter temperatures outside Canada and Siberia.
Refineries are quite adept at making "winter" mixes of fuels - diesel and autogas.
Channa
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It is always hard to establish how long a bottle of gas will last.
Variations of a " full" bottle, system pressures is overall I think negligible. How long you use the heating for, using one burner or full four plus oven and grill are always going to give a different consumption figure. No different to a houses.
If you feel that gas use is excessive, perhaps not a bad idea, to get a qualified LPG gas Engineer to check over the system.
Channa
Obanboy666
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One of the reasons i got a company to fit my refillables, i watched them do the checks for leaks etc. if i had done the job myself i would always worry about leaks.
Im not sure what my gas consumption is since having the refillables fitted, had 3 days away and heading of now to lakes for 2 nights. I have 2 x 6kg cylinders and at the fitters suggestion have 1 bottle isolated so i know when it is time to refill. I will post when i run off the first cylinder and how many days it lasted but obviously everyones gas usage is different.
Emptying a 11kg cylinder that quick does sound excessive.
Channa
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Are you sure about that ? Propane generates 96mj per cubic metre........... 2500 btu
Butane generates 126mj per cubic metre..........3200 btu
As Roger quite rightly states, the boiling temperature of Propane is lower making it more suitable for all year round use.
The boiling points quoted are a little academic in the grand scale the UK benchmarks at 15C sea level to quote its figures. ( not much use in Australia I suspect)
Channa
vwalan
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butane and propane are both lpg.
but in uk its propane in the pumps .
there is a list somewhere on the web . but i have driven the gas trucks as well so i,m confident in what i say.
hotter climates do have mixes .
sasquatch
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I have 2x6kg refillables (gas cupboard didn't have the height for 11Kg bottles ) and use it regularly for w/e away all year,the gas use is minimal apart from cooking and the fridge on hot days,the insulation coupled with good bedding,negates the requirement for heating on all night. When I fill up with gas,after a w/e away, it takes less than 5 litres at a time. The amount of use in the OPs mail indicates that there may be a leak or other fault in the system.
Steve121
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The main reason Propane is popular, especially in the UK, is its low temperature performance:
"Propane has a lower boiling point than butane so it will continue to convert from a liquid to a gas even in very cold conditions, down to -45ºC. When stored as a liquid in a tank, it exerts a greater pressure than Butane at the same temperature."
It's also my understanding that in the UK Propane does not have any Butane added, but mixtures of the two gases are normal on the Continent.
If you fill up on the continent you could have problems when you get back to the UK, because as the temperature drops the Propane content will still vapourise, but the Butane won't, so eventually you'll be left with just Butane in the tank, which will not vapourise as the temperature drops to around freezing.
"Propane has a lower boiling point than butane so it will continue to convert from a liquid to a gas even in very cold conditions, down to -45ºC. When stored as a liquid in a tank, it exerts a greater pressure than Butane at the same temperature."
It's also my understanding that in the UK Propane does not have any Butane added, but mixtures of the two gases are normal on the Continent.
If you fill up on the continent you could have problems when you get back to the UK, because as the temperature drops the Propane content will still vapourise, but the Butane won't, so eventually you'll be left with just Butane in the tank, which will not vapourise as the temperature drops to around freezing.
Channa
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Are you referring to the pressure within the bottle ? ( you are right it is a higher pressure than butane).....But how does this affect performance?
Both Butane and Propane are stepped down significantly post regulator.. or are you referring to the 37 mbar v 28 mbar "system pressure"
Channa
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The OP used the heater on two weekends so that could easily explain the usage. Look up the specifications for your heater and it will give you the gas usage in grammes per hour.
Caz
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11Kg in two weekends sounds a bit excessive to me.
I only have room for 2 x 6 or 7 Kgs bottles. The 7kg butane currently in use has done the equivalent of over 3 weekends using it for heating (all night) and cooking (the fridge has stopped working on gas). The previously in use 6Kg propane lasted 6 days of heating on 24/7, cooking and fridge.
I only have room for 2 x 6 or 7 Kgs bottles. The 7kg butane currently in use has done the equivalent of over 3 weekends using it for heating (all night) and cooking (the fridge has stopped working on gas). The previously in use 6Kg propane lasted 6 days of heating on 24/7, cooking and fridge.
asel
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Is the fridge left on when you are at home.
In 50 days away in France and Italy this March and April we used 53 litres. For 20 nights we had electric and used no gas thus used 1.76 lt/day for heating(8.5m MH), water(both had shower every day), fridge and cooking. Approx 12 days per 11 kg bottle but will greatly vary with the temperature.
In 50 days away in France and Italy this March and April we used 53 litres. For 20 nights we had electric and used no gas thus used 1.76 lt/day for heating(8.5m MH), water(both had shower every day), fridge and cooking. Approx 12 days per 11 kg bottle but will greatly vary with the temperature.
merryweather
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At the risk of sounding miserly and scrooge like have you considered wearing an extra jumper, thermals or wearing a hat? We have gas heating, we've NEVER used it, our 11kg gas lasted nearly all last season, think smart, live differently, you'll be amazed how well you can do.
Steve121
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When the temperature approaches freezing Butane will not vapourise but Propane will; it's nothing to do with the pressure regulator. Performance wise it's simple: if you have only Butane in your tank you will have no gas output at near freezing and below, but Propane will continue to work down to around minus 40°.
Channa
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i fully understand that but you made reference to exerting more pressure.....what do you mean ?
Channa