ProDave
Well-Known Member
Please sir, I have a 3.9 going spare, BUT I am not letting it out of my grasp until I can find a 6Kg propane.
Until I find another 6, I will be refilling the 3.9 from one of my 47Kg cylinders.
Gas supplies
- Thread starter Prologica1
- Start date
Until I find another 6, I will be refilling the 3.9 from one of my 47Kg cylinders.
Robin
Well-Known Member
I have a pretty new 4.5kg blue empty and likewise not relinquishing same. Hopefully it will go up in value to merit inclusion at Southerbys. ?
Aeolus
Well-Known Member
Forgive my ignorance. To refill a smaller bottle from a larger bottle (both propane), do I just attach one of these 20" Propane Gas Pigtail ST POL x POL to both bottles, with the large bottle higher than the small bottle, open the smaller bottle, open the larger bottle and let the gas flow from large to small?
Must be more difficult than that but if someone could describe, hypothetically of course, how to do this, I'd be very grateful.
Must be more difficult than that but if someone could describe, hypothetically of course, how to do this, I'd be very grateful.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
The higher bottle needs to be upside down. You are decanting liquid, not gas. It may help to warm the donor bottle a little.
Main problem to be avoided is overfilling the receiver bottle. It should be 80% full max. Best way is to weigh it as the liquid fills, to the weight stamped on the bottle. I am told that the same can be achieved by floating the receiver bottle in water. When it sinks it has reached the 80% figure. I have never tried this myself.
Scomber
Well-Known Member
Yeah , I managed to float receiving bottle Vyv as you suggested and it gave good visual of filling process , accurate weighing worked best for me. Prob with ebay kit was getting an insert to seal on fitting , it came disassembled ,I guess to prevent any liability on their part. My biggest prob was the 907 valve on top seems to seep abit , on more than 1 bottle after my filling. ( much less than 80% too). Therefore only refilling once then swapping for a full pricer. Also as friend pointed out from a big calor thats butane not the propane/ butane mix in 907 , therefore probs with the freezing Scottish mornings of late?
whaup
Active Member
The 90x series bottles are all straight butane (unlike disposable Campingaz CV series canisters). It's taken me a while to catch on to this but it's true!
From their website:
https://www.campingaz.com/uk/p-23531-r-907.aspx
...describes it as a butane cylinder and details the content as 2.75Kg Butane.
Whereas the CV300/CV470 are a mix: https://www.campingaz.com/uk/p-27451-cv470-plus-gas-cartridge.aspx
(for completeness: the tiny CP250s are isobutane & I understand the C260 is also an 80/20 mix like the CVs but that's not explicitly stated on the website).
Boathook
Well-Known Member
I have heard that some weigh the empty bottle to get a start weight and then add the Mount of gas required. I was informed that this was due to the fact that it is very difficult to see the stamped figures on the calor bottles due to the amount of paint and that empty bottle weight does vary.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
I believe the precise composition does not make a lot of difference. UK Autogas is 100% propane, whereas in Europe it is a mixture, can be as low as 40% propane. When it is very cold the propane burns off leaving liquid butane that will not evaporate. This happened to me during winter in Spain in my motorhome. I believe that gas tanks in vehicles in EU have heaters to keep temperature up. We immersed our Gaslow bottle in warm water to get gas for cooking.
Prologica1
Active Member
Do I have to change the connector to the cylinder and/or the regulator?
Are the cylinders approximately the same size? The gas locker would take new cylinder a little wider and taller, but not by mu
Thanks Parabordi, good to know.
Are the cylinders approximately the same size? The gas locker would take new cylinder a little wider and taller, but not by mu
Thanks Parabordi, good to know.
Prologica1
Active Member
Our bosun tells me the 3.9 propane bottles are the same diameter but slightly shorter than the 4.5 butanes. A new regulator is required £12-15. We checked our Bainbridge cooker manual and propane is fine to use.
Prologica1
Active Member
We encountered this problem late last year here on the isle of Wight when we could not replace our #2 4.5kg bottle which is still empty. Not taking any risks as live-aboards we bought a new Gaz 907 (you have to buy one plus a gas refill) and an adapter/valve gizmo that allows the existing Calor regulator to fit it. However being paranoid we also brought out our reserve plug in electric infrared hob come grill plate for 'a la plancha ' style cooking which has been so good we haven't use any gas since. We do also have and use an electric steamer, food processer, George foreman grill/bbq , electric kettle and a worktop halogen oven/air fryer. Like others we have no room for larger Calor cylinders in our gas locker although we could re-equip with red propane 3.9kg ones and a new regulator but even these red cylinders are apparently like hen's teeth
This all sucks and surely should have been highlighted in the boating press and taken up by the RYA but so far stony silence.
We are often moored on buoys or without a hookup but the idea of an electric cooker of some kind is a good one for marina use. For us, storage would be the issue.
Daverw
Well-Known Member
Just been to look for gas today, loads available of all sizes, was surprised. Prices up though
prologica
Member
Thanks Daverw, think I’ll forego the trip up to the Humber…couldn’t get diesel the other day either!!!
Stemar
Well-Known Member
I filled up with red diesel the other day. No apparent problems with supply, but my eyes are still watering and my wallet's still limping.
We needed diesel for the car yesterday. Asda in Farham had none, and Tesco at Bursledon was a totally fuel-free zone. Fortunately a local garage had some; if they hadn't we'd have considered doing the shopping by bus today.
Edited Good Friday: Also issues at Sainsbury's in Hedge End. Not sure what, but a long queue and an employee speaking to drivers.
We needed diesel for the car yesterday. Asda in Farham had none, and Tesco at Bursledon was a totally fuel-free zone. Fortunately a local garage had some; if they hadn't we'd have considered doing the shopping by bus today.
Edited Good Friday: Also issues at Sainsbury's in Hedge End. Not sure what, but a long queue and an employee speaking to drivers.
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Bran
Well-Known Member
Generally had no issues getting a 3.9 Calor refill over the last couple of years but recently it seems to have got worse in the Bedfordshire Hertfordshire area.
My go to suppliers have all said they have not seen a 3.9 refill for some time, one supplier has given up and is quitting selling Calor altogether! I have 2 full 3.9 cylinders so will see what’s happening in a couple of months time.
My go to suppliers have all said they have not seen a 3.9 refill for some time, one supplier has given up and is quitting selling Calor altogether! I have 2 full 3.9 cylinders so will see what’s happening in a couple of months time.