Changing to propane

[Guest]

I have a Smev cooker currently running on Butane and want to change to propane. As a test I've borrowed a propane bottle and regulator and tried it. The kettle boiled OK but it was not a demmanding test. Am I going to be OK or does the cooker need modifying? I see from the original manual that it is set for Butane but I dont know what items are gas specific.
Any advice welcomed.

<hr width=100% size=1>Barry (yacht Mithril)

 

[richardandtracy]

In most cases the pressure in the pipes is upped by the regulator from 15 inches water gauge (butane) to 27 or 29 inches water gauge (propane - can't remember the exact figure off hand). This directly compensates for the lower calorific value of propane, making the equipment running off it OK.

Don't worry about the increased pipe pressure - this is still around 0.5 psi, so if your pipes burst, then they were dreadful anyway.

Regards

Richard


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[charles_reed]

LPG cookers are set for either - but you have to have a different regulator to cope with the additional pressure.
The only downside (apart from more frequent changes and upgraded flexible) is that if your burners allow in too much air, the flame burms unevenly and you can get back-ignition (when the burner appers to have turned into a little blow-lamp.


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[PaulAG]

Ar you thinking of changing to propane so that you can run cooker and gas central heating in the winter? I know most of my colleagues on the canals use propane for this reason. Likewise most builders use propane, especially in the winter, for melting tar etc. when they mend a flat roof.

<hr width=100% size=1>PaulAG

 

[steel_slug]

check the data plate on the cooker it should give the pressures for both butane (usually 28mb) and propane (usually 37mb BUT may be 50mb if the cooker was sourced on the continent and not intended for the uk market) if 37mb then regulators readilly available, 50mb regs are available but may need a bit of finding. Providing the instructions/data plate requirements are complied with then insurance Co should be no problems but may be worth dropping them a line.

HTH

<hr width=100% size=1>PM