Using Propane aboard

[outtametree]

Does anyone know if theres a reason why propane should not be used aboard or am I being misinformed?
I'm aware that propane is regulated at a higher pressure than butane, but aside from that, it would be more suitable for me as it burns hotter, so is more controllable & continues to give a supply at a lower temperature.

 

[sailorman]

Does anyone know if theres a reason why propane should not be used aboard or am I being misinformed?
I'm aware that propane is regulated at a higher pressure than butane, but aside from that, it would be more suitable for me as it burns hotter, so is more controllable & continues to give a supply at a lower temperature.

i use propane & Butane
just change the regulator

 

[AliM]

No reason at all. We use propane Calor gas when in the UK, especially in the winter when it's often too cold for butane. When abroad, where Calor is not available, we use Camping Gaz.

 

[prv]

Does anyone know if theres a reason why propane should not be used aboard

No reason. Lots of people do. It's the norm in the US from what I hear.

Pete

 

[outtametree]

Thanks for the quick replies, I'd already got a regulator & bottles. Walking down to the boat a collection of "knowlegable gentlemen" informed me that it wasn't done, but couldn't give me a reason.
I've swapped from butane to propane on other applications many times over the years & had no problems, only benefits.
Thought I'd ask the forum before I went any further.

 

[prv]

a collection of "knowlegable gentlemen" informed me that it wasn't done, but couldn't give me a reason.

Sounds like those inverted commas were well placed, then

Pete

 

[vyv_cox]

Virtually all motorhomes and caravans use propane. Modern practice is to fit bulkhead regulators supplying 30 mbar that will accept either propane or butane.

I suspect the main reason that boats don't use it so much is availablility. Many yachts have lockers sized for Camping Gaz, whose bottles have no equivalent in propane. Few marinas have propane bottles to exchange, although I have seen a couple of exceptions recently.

 

[macd]

The calorific values of butane and propane are almost identical (propane is around 1% higher). However, you may need to change the jets (or whatever they're called) in your cooker to get the best out of propane. The oven on my last boat certainly ran cooler on propane with butane jets. At least, that's what the bread said.

 

[rob2]

I'm curious as no-one has offered an explanation. The cooker I have on board has a plate stating that it requires either butane at 27mbar or propane at 32mbar. I understand that current models state either at 30mbar, but surely that means that it won't be running at optimum on either? If that is the case it leaves the question of whether existing equipment is safe or efficient to use with a common 30mbar regulator?

Rob.

 

[vyv_cox]

I have run my barbecue on propane from the 30 mbar regulator and Calor and Camping gas with bottle-top 28 mbar. It isn't a very sophisticated device but it doen't seem to mind what it runs on. My motorhome, with the 30 mbar regulator, can use either propane or butane to supply the cooker and refrigerator/freezer.

 

[sailorman]

Thanks for the quick replies, I'd already got a regulator & bottles. Walking down to the boat a collection of "knowlegable gentlemen" informed me that it wasn't done, but couldn't give me a reason.
I've swapped from butane to propane on other applications many times over the years & had no problems, only benefits.
Thought I'd ask the forum before I went any further.

i only have room for 1 x Camping Gaz & 1 x Propane, both go into a bulk hd change-over lever

 

[oldvarnish]

i use propane & Butane
just change the regulator

No need to change the regulator: http://tinyurl.com/cc96g6x

 

[VicMallows]

I have raised this question on here numerous times: how can it be that products which previously needed EITHER 28mb butane OR 37mb propane (using the same jet size) all of a sudden work happily on 30mb with either gas.

My practical experience says that existing appliances DO NOT.

This now raises the question whether an appliance CAN be designed to work efficiently on either gas at 30mb (with no adjustment). To date I have not come up with any satisfactory explanation. Best so far was from a CALOR rep at SBS who said 'new appliances are designed to a COMPROMISE so they work on either gas at 30mb'.

 

[emnick]

Propane

We use propane 2x6kg cylinders far better in this weather! I do carry a butane regulator also. Propane available from many petrol garages (shell) etc. from either calor or flogas

 

[saltylegs]

The calorific values of butane and propane are almost identical (propane is around 1% higher). However, you may need to change the jets (or whatever they're called) in your cooker to get the best out of propane. The oven on my last boat certainly ran cooler on propane with butane jets. At least, that's what the bread said.

Actually the CV for Butane is 126MJ/m3 and Propane about 96MJ/m3.
But generally there is no difference in jet size between Butane and Propane thats why they normally run at different pressures (to cope with the difference in CV)
All comes down to what ever the data plate states.
On some older appliances you did have to alter the airation if you switched between Butane and Propane.

 

[saltylegs]

I'm curious as no-one has offered an explanation. The cooker I have on board has a plate stating that it requires either butane at 27mbar or propane at 32mbar. I understand that current models state either at 30mbar, but surely that means that it won't be running at optimum on either? If that is the case it leaves the question of whether existing equipment is safe or efficient to use with a common 30mbar regulator?

Rob.

Your data plate more likely states 28mbar for Butane and 37mbar for propane.
If it was badged Bu or Pro at 30 mbar then you should be operating of a 30mbar regulator, the regulator standards changed about 3 years ago and the permited range of pressures were extended allowing a regulator that could cope with both gasses, meaning that a 30mbar regulator could actually supply "about" 29mbar on Bu and "about" 35mbar on propane.
the difference in pressures is a result of the different input pressures of Bu 2bar and Pro 7bar.

 

[Conachair]

Actually the CV for Butane is 126MJ/m3 and Propane about 96MJ/m3.
But generally there is no difference in jet size between Butane and Propane thats why they normally run at different pressures (to cope with the difference in CV)
All comes down to what ever the data plate states.
On some older appliances you did have to alter the airation if you switched between Butane and Propane.

I've used both with the same regulator but prefer butane as it seems to boil the kettle a bit faster, which seems to tally up with the chemistry.

Gonna need some propane soon though, getting a bit chilly...

 

[Halo]

Big advantage of propane is that it will work even in the coldest weather whereas butane and some of the heavier butane / propane mixtures go slow because there is not enough heat to allow it to gassify
Butane is heavier so I would say slightly more likely to gather in biilges etc
The difference is that there is 1 more carbon atom in a butane molecule making it denser and have a higher boiling point than propane.
I thought that regulators gave a higher pressure for propane because its calorific value is lower (higher percntage of Hydrogen rather than Carbon) - but I may be wrong on that one.
Another good feature of propane is that the regulator fittings are universal so you are not tied to a brand of gas - there are many providers and all bottles will fit.
Go propane !!

 

[DanBurrill]

Remember that when an appliance says it will run on butane at 28 mbar or propane at 37 mbar, there is actually a range of +- 5 mbar on both of those figures, so butane at 33 mbar or propane at 32 mbar would both be perfectly normal and acceptable. Theoretically, a 30 mbar regulator operating at it's designed pressure would result in a slightly air-rich mixture when running on propane - you may notice delayed ignition or the flame beginning to lift off the burner, although as it's only a couple of millibar outside of the tolerance you may not notice anything.

Incidentally, although it won't apply to most people on here, a manually adjustable regulator (using a screw or other device to adjust the delivery pressure) would result in a boat failing a Boat Safety Scheme examination (and so aren't a good idea if you ever go anywhere covered by the BSS, as even short visit tolls/licences normally require you to maintain your boat to the standards of the BSS even if you don't have to get an examination and certificate). They aren't very common (the only one I've ever seen was a sample on the BSS examiner training course), and I suspect a 30 mbar fixed regulator is a much better solution if you just want to switch between propane and butane.

 

[VicS]

Actually the CV for Butane is 126MJ/m3 and Propane about 96MJ/m3.
But generally there is no difference in jet size between Butane and Propane thats why they normally run at different pressures (to cope with the difference in CV)
All comes down to what ever the data plate states.
On some older appliances you did have to alter the airation if you switched between Butane and Propane.

Yes there is a significant difference in CV between the two gasses on a volume basis .... that is probably why you ( used to ) run propane at a higher pressure ... to get more gas through in order to produce the same amount of heat.

On a weight for weight basis there is not a great difference in CV.