Calor Gas alternatives

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chrisD

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As we all know, 4.5kg butane calor gas seems all but unobtainable, some stockists say it’s been phased out. I would appreciate views on two possible solutions:

1. using Camping Gaz 907. There seem to be simple little converters for sale for £ 10 or so. These clip onto the Camping Gaz bottle and accept the screw connector that previously went onto the Calor bottle. Is this safe? Or do you need a new regulator?

2. using the mustard coloured Flogas bottles, but these have a clip on regulator. Is there a converter for these too?

Thanks
 
1 still need regulator (same type as you have now)
2 yes but may need to shop around to source.

Campingaz 907 is very expensive compared to calor iirc.
Campingaz is circa £35 for refill 2.72 kg of butane
Calor is circa £20 for 4.5 kg of butane
My gas locker only fits two 907 , so I always decant from a Calor into the 907 .
May need to source a larger Calor if the 4.5kg are becoming scarce. Which will require yet another adapter, as I belive the next size is a clip on type.
 
If you opt for Camping Gaz 907 you will need an adapter valve which screws into the 907 and to which your existing hose to existing regulator will fit
1657644028750.png1657644546690.png BES.co.uk | Next Day Delivery On 15,000 + Plumbing Supplies

Alternatively you could opt for a camping gas regulator which screws directly onto the 907 and to which you can attach you low pressure system. I'd choose the former
 
Thanks. The gas locker won’t take a larger bottle so the adapter looks like the easiest solution unless someone thinks I can attach a Flogas clip.
 
Maybe I was just lucky but I got a 4.5 kg blue calor bottle at the second petrol station I tried recently.
 
If you keep the existing regulator and get an adapter valve for a 907 you can always swap back and forth between the Calor cylinder, when you gat a refill, and the 907

Useful if you go to a country where Camping gas is avaialble but Calor is not
 
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Humblebee said:
Seems there is quite a shortage of the 4.5kg butane bottles. I tried seven suppliers before I found one in Fort William recently. I've bought a propane regulator and will probably switch to the 3.9kg propane bottles if things don't improve.
Click to expand...
If you fit a ( bulkhead mounted ) 30mb dual fuel regulator you have the option of using 4.5 kg, Calor butane, 907 Camping gaz with adapter valve or 3.9 kg propane by just swapping between hoses with 21.8 mm LH butane nut or POL propane connector or a M20 to M20 hose and adapters to fit 21.8 mm butane or POL propane cylinder outlets
 
VicS said:
If you fit a ( bulkhead mounted ) 30mb dual fuel regulator you have the option of using 4.5 kg, Calor butane, 907 Camping gaz with adapter valve or 3.9 kg propane by just swapping between hoses with 21.8 mm LH butane nut or POL propane connector or a M20 to M20 hose and adapters to fit 21.8 mm butane or POL propane cylinder outlets
Click to expand...

That's interesting Vic, thanks. I wasn't aware of these.
I've attached a link so others can find out more.
Cheers,
Chris

Buy GasBoat 4009 Marine Bulkhead Regulator from SOCAL Southampton
 
I happened to have a Calor 4.5kg butane which suddenly started to leak gas - went on Calor website and found it had a recall and to contact them immediately and received a reply within 20 minutes! Told me where to get a replacement locally, who I phoned and reserved two bottles. Collected them a few days later, in Suffolk - Farmtrade in Framlingham who had several whereas my usual supplier could not get any for months.
 
I just wondered if anyone else had a 4.5kg bottle that never seems to run out, I keep thinking it will but seemingly the thing just won't give up! ?

Camping gaz is practically empty already and it's still got the seal on it ?
 
chrisD said:
As we all know, 4.5kg butane calor gas seems all but unobtainable, some stockists say it’s been phased out. I would appreciate views on two possible solutions:

1. using Camping Gaz 907. There seem to be simple little converters for sale for £ 10 or so. These clip onto the Camping Gaz bottle and accept the screw connector that previously went onto the Calor bottle. Is this safe? Or do you need a new regulator?

2. using the mustard coloured Flogas bottles, but these have a clip on regulator. Is there a converter for these too?

Thanks
Click to expand...


Does anyone know, for certain, what the actual problem is with 4.5kg bottles of Butane?

Is it a shortage of LPG?
Are Calor phasing out the 4.5kg bottle and replacing it with a taller bottle?
Is this shortage due to Br3xit?
Is it due to the start up of people going sailing again and things will eventually catch up?
Is it due to the number of new motor homes on the road?
Is it a mixture of all of the above?

Does Calor monitor these forums? Because it might well be in their interest to let the customer know what the f is going on.

Ink
 
Shortage certainly not seem to be helped by people not returning empty bottles, calor not adding incentive to do so. Also large demand from camping etc that suddenly want the same bottles we use

don’t think calor are that fussed about it, seen a number of garages move to flo gas from calor Unfortunately new contract needed.

ive started refilling from larger cylinder
 
My supplier says they laid off everyone over Covid and then can't get enough people back to test the bottles/make and fill etc so they are struggling to deliver the output
 
Not sure that’s quite true, during covid they may have closed most retail outlets and deliveries to stockists as many of these were closed but the main gas supply business carried on as did much of core industries, their priorities will have changed and this adjustment back is probably at the center. I do notice that the main retail centre near me has reopened but not as a calor branded depot, not sure if they have sold some off.
 
Daverw said:
Shortage certainly not seem to be helped by people not returning empty bottles, calor not adding incentive to do so. Also large demand from camping etc that suddenly want the same bottles we use
Click to expand...
Calor's policy on cylinder exchange is NOT helping the situation. I have 2 empty 4.5kg butane cylinders and an in use 3.9kg propane. I would hapilly exchange all 3 for a 6kg propane, a cylinder exchange size that should be possible but has been suspended for some time. So they want me to surrender the unused cylinders for free and pay for the cylinder rental on the 6kg. Dream on. Until that policy changes, the empty ones will remain out of use.

In the mean time I have refilled the two I am using, and could not get either of them "full" I am about 1kg short on on both of them, so safe, but not ideal. The cooling the recipient cylinder to reduce the vapour pressure helped a but but I just could not get them "full" any advice?
 
Rather than cool the cylinder to be filled, get a heater jacket to go around the full cylinder, you only have to warm slightly to increase pressure a bit, you Can get low wattage heater straps that are used on oil distribution pots that just strap around and plug in to power, I use self regulating heater tape that is used for outdoor pipework
 
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