Propane vs Butane for gas cooker ?

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Boo2

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Hi,

I've just started installing a Nelson Spinflow 4500 cooker and the instructions say it is suitable for use on propane at 37mB or butane at 30mB (or something). I understand that these are standard pressures for those gasses but which is best ? I also see that propane cylinders hold 3.9kg vs 4.5kg for butane but is this difference outweighed by a difference in calorific value ?

Does switching gasses mean changing the regulator as well as the cylinder ?

Thanks,

Boo2
 
Boo2 said:
Hi,

I've just started installing a Nelson Spinflow 4500 cooker and the instructions say it is suitable for use on propane at 37mB or butane at 30mB (or something). I understand that these are standard pressures for those gasses but which is best ? I also see that propane cylinders hold 3.9kg vs 4.5kg for butane but is this difference outweighed by a difference in calorific value ?

Does switching gasses mean changing the regulator as well as the cylinder ?

Thanks,

Boo2
Click to expand...

go for propane its better in cold weather as it "gases off" at lower temperatures
 
Boo2 said:
Does switching gasses mean changing the regulator as well as the cylinder ?
Click to expand...

IIRC you need different regulators as the fixings to the bottles are different. But others will shout up if I am wrong.

The comment about cold temperature and Propane is correct but it only matters if you are likely to be using the boat in low temperatures.
In many ways what is more important is the availability of the gas at your home port and the destinations you are planning on going to. If you are blue water sailing you need to give it some serious thought. If you are mainly travelling in UK waters then it's much easier to decide.

AFAIK Butane is generally easier to get hold of around our shores.
 
Yes you need different regulators at least I did for calor gas red and blue bottles.

However when I started cruising in the less regulated parts of the world, I had both types of cylinders filled from the same source and the Flavell cooker seemed happy on both.

I am sure this broke all the UK elf and atey and Gorgi regs but in Trinidad it was no problem mon.
 
The choice is more about availability and space for bottles as they are different sizes, shapes and capacities. If you are just in UK and have the space, then use Calor - cheaper and better availability. If you are travelling in Europe then Camping Gaz types are universally available (also available from Calor in UK). If travelling further afield you may have to use different types which may require different regulators and even buying new bottles. Good thing is that the cooker will run on just about anything.

Calor Gas Southern in Southampton publishes a useful guide on the subject of gas types and suggestions of what to use in different situations.

Just as an example, I stick with Camping Gaz because the locker is designed to take their bottle - but for years I used the Greek equivalent. When I got the boat baclk to UK I exchanged the Greek cylinders for Calor CG type.
 
The calorific values are not very different. ( on a weight basis )

from the Calor website:
Commercial Propane = 13.83 kWh/kg
Commercial Butane = 13.62 kWh/kg

From another source
Propane = 21,591 BTU/lb
Butane = 21,221 BTU/lb

Butane is not usable much below about 4°C. Propane will be usable at any temperatures you will experience

Practical considerations are as said the space available for the cylinders and the availability.

From a cost point of view Camping Gaz is expensive, at least in the UK.

Fittings for propane, butane and Camping Gas cylinders are all different although it is possible to buy an adaptor/shut off valve to convert Camping Gas bottles to the same fitting as Calor butane.
 
Last edited:
Boo2 said:
Hi,

I've just started installing a Nelson Spinflow 4500 cooker and the instructions say it is suitable for use on propane at 37mB or butane at 30mB (or something). I understand that these are standard pressures for those gasses but which is best ? I also see that propane cylinders hold 3.9kg vs 4.5kg for butane but is this difference outweighed by a difference in calorific value ?

Does switching gasses mean changing the regulator as well as the cylinder ?

Thanks,

Boo2
Click to expand...


http://www.calor.co.uk/customer-services/faqs/the-different-types-of-lpg/butane/
http://www.calor.co.uk/customer-services/faqs/the-different-types-of-lpg/butane/

Butane at 126MJ/m3 has higher calorific value than propane - 95.8MJ/m3 -- edit - this seems at odd with other figures, though is per volume, not weight. But don't take my word for anything ;)

I've had both and a mixture. Force 10 cooker works with both but on propane on a (I think about) 30ish mB reg it's a little bit cranky, flame seems less but day to day don't really notice the difference.
As others have said the choice could be more driven by refills. Europe generally it's easier to get butane, camping gaz will be available in a lot of countries.
If you liveaboard full time in the UK then for a few days over the winter you will wish you had propane ;)
 
Last edited:
Butane at 126MJ/m3 has higher calorific value than propane - 95.8MJ/m3
Click to expand...
But do you buy it by the cubic metre?

You would if it was piped to you in gaseous form but normally the capacities of liquefied gas cylinders are quoted in lbs or kg.
By weight there is little difference in the CV. see my figures above
 
VicS said:
But do you buy it by the cubic metre?

You would if it was piped to you in gaseous form but normally the capacities of liquefied gas cylinders are quoted in lbs or kg.
By weight there is little difference in the CV. see my figures above
Click to expand...

I did edit after seeing the error of my ways.... :)
 
we use propane as we use boat in winter but as its higher pressure it always seems to less likely to blow out even allowing for flamefail device I much rather it did not blow out at sea.
 
I think the reason that butane is more generally used in temperate climes such as the UK is that for a given size of bottle a much larger capacity can be stored than with propane. The most recent move from suppliers is to feed both gases at 30mb, but of course the appliances must be designed for it. Many people in the UK have lockers designed for the 4.5kg Calor butane bottle, so have a 28mb regulator. For the occasional winter jaunt it is easy enough to carry a 37mb propane regulator (probably not to latest marine specification) and a single bottle of propane for the occasional brew.

Rob.
 
conversion kits

At the last two Southampton Boat Shows there was a guy selling convertors for different threads etc for all the european and other gas bottles likely to encounter.

Didnt add this to all the purchases in my bag then (usual problem - arms already distended by several inches not helped by lightweight wallet) but will next time. :)

If I can find last years boat show guide i'll put up the details.
 
Marine multi fuel gas regulator

If you google the above you should be able to purchase one complete with 20" tail for c.£36. In addition you can buy a set of adaptors for just about any gas bottle you can buy worldwide...In the Baltic, butane is nearly impossible to buy so propane is the way to go which is why I've gone for the replacement regulator and adaptor kit, c.£140 but you don't have to buy all the adaptors c.£18 each. You may require tapered adaptors for the regulator outlet to fit whatever size of piping you use to your cooker.
Camping Gaz is available in Germany & Denmark - rarely in Sweden but astronomic price of c.400SEK if you find it! So maybe I'll be able to continue with CG a while longer...btw the old regulator had an amount of yellowish fluid inside...new one has a better drain and over-pressure relief - a requirement for marine gas regulator as well as being built with corrosion resistant materials, I understand.
 
I read all of this post after doing a forum search because I am considering changing from butane to propane as we will be aboard this winter. Great info but I am still not clear on the cost / efficiency issue. A 4.5kg butane cylinder (which I use) is the same size and around the same price as a 3.9kg propane cylinder. Simple (but probably naive) question - which will last longest :confused:
 
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