Buying Gas bottles in France

[Dwarfland]

I’m planning a trip to France and Spain in April and have a conundrum around gas. We usually carry 2x13kg calor bottles and used all of that on a previous 10 week trip. This time I’ve bought French and Spanish connectors and I planned to replace one of the Calor bottles with a French one when it runs out and store the old one in our van’s garage. However it will only fit lying horizontally and I assumed this would be okay as it would be empty. I’ve now been told gas bottles must be stored vertically whether empty or full. My questions are-

1. What’s everyone’s view on carrying empty gas bottles? Is it dangerous to carry them lying flat?

2. Assuming it is, I don’t want to have to dump my old calor bottle, given current shortage and problem getting new non exchange bottles. Therefore I would probably just take one Uk bottle and buy a French one on arrival. What’s the situation with getting a new non exchange bottle in France? Do they have the same issues Calor seem to be having here meaning brand new customers struggle to buy a bottle?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[MichaelT]

Get a refillable system (at least 1 bottle) then you can fill as and when you need without worrying about getting a bottle or potentially blowing yourself up.

 

[Dwarfland]

Get a refillable system (at least 1 bottle) then you can fill as and when you need without worrying about getting a bottle or potentially blowing yourself up.

I’ve looked into refillable but for various reasons it’s not the best solution for us. Thanks anyway.

 

[Dorwyn]

You could use a smaller 5kg bottle standing upright (I've got one you could have). French supermarkets or shops are not too fussy about like for like exchange bottles, you can generally swop types or makes. The market not tied up like it is here with Calor.

 

[Dwarfland]

You could use a smaller 5kg bottle standing upright (I've got one you could have). French supermarkets or shops are not too fussy about like for like exchange bottles, you can generally swop types or makes. The market not tied up like it is here with Calor.

It’s the empty U.K. bottle I’ll have the problem with. My gas locker holds 2x 13kg so I can replace one with a foreign bottle but don’t want to ditch the old one knowing how hard it is to get a non exchange replacement at present.

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[March Hare]

Could you not travel over to France with just one UK Calor bottle in place, and pick up a French bottle when you arrive over there? I'm not sure if your gas system would allow you to have just one bottle connected though?

 

[bobandjanie]

Depending on how long and how much you will using in different countries, how about just taking one Calor, and buy a French bottle easily available.

Spanish gas is cheap but more difficult to obtain a bottle but not impossible, like I say it depends on your time away and how much your using. Bob.

 

[Dwarfland]

Could you not travel over to France with just one UK Calor bottle in place, and pick up a French bottle when you arrive over there? I'm not sure if your gas system would allow you to have just one bottle connected though?

Yes that’s an option hence my question on how easy it is to get one in France as a brand new customer. I know in U.K. without an exchange it’s virtually impossible at the moment.

 

[Dwarfland]

That

Depending on how long and how much you will using in different countries, how about just taking one Calor, and buy a French bottle easily available.

Spanish gas is cheap but more difficult to obtain a bottle but not impossible, like I say it depends on your time away and how much your using. Bob.

Thats probably my best option as long as I can easily get a bottle as a brand new/ no exchange customer in France. That was the reason for my question- is it still easy to get a bottle in France without one to swap?

 

[Bessy765]

The French butane bottle similar in size to the. 13kg Calor is only 1 Euro deposit.. sometimes they will ask you for an address but the last three I have got they didnt bother. (They were for our cottage inFrance butI collected them always in the motorhome. The last one I exchanges was Euro 33 butI think they are nearer 39 now. Not been back for a year.

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[bobandjanie]

That

Thats probably my best option as long as I can easily get a bottle as a brand new/ no exchange customer in France. That was the reason for my question- is it still easy to get a bottle in France without one to swap?

I have known friends to just buy them at supermarkets but that was a while ago, I'm sure someone will have up to date information. Bob.

 

[SandraL]

About 5 years ago I had no trouble buying/ renting a new cylinder at a french supermarket, ie the fuel station outside. The attendant was surprised but it wasnt an issue.

 

[March Hare]

Yes that’s an option hence my question on how easy it is to get one in France as a brand new customer. I know in U.K. without an exchange it’s virtually impossible at the moment.

Ah, I see, sorry I missed that bit

I'm afraid I can't help you with info on getting a gas bottle in France, but when we were in Spain (as you mentioned that you've also bought a Spanish connector) we had real difficulty buying a Spanish gas bottle as we didn't have an address in Spain for the Contract.

In the end we managed to buy one from the site we were staying on at the time, but that was only after we'd tried a load of other distributors and none were able to sell us a bottle. Apparently you can some times pick them up second hand but we didn't have any luck with that option.

 

[tonka]

Ah, I see, sorry I missed that bit

I'm afraid I can't help you with info on getting a gas bottle in France, but when we were in Spain (as you mentioned that you've also bought a Spanish connector) we had real difficulty buying a Spanish gas bottle as we didn't have an address in Spain for the Contract.

In the end we managed to buy one from the site we were staying on at the time, but that was only after we'd tried a load of other distributors and none were able to sell us a bottle. Apparently you can some times pick them up second hand but we didn't have any luck with that option.

Just for Info. S/hand Spanish bottles can often be found at local "rastros" these can be like a second hand shop or car boot. Facebook local selling sites or campsite notice boards. Just a few places to look

 

[MisterB]

We have had a few gas bottles in France from the local tip for free, they were quite happy to let us have them as I suppose it saves them having to deal with them. I just then took them to the local supermarket petrol station and exchanged them for a full one.

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[Stealaway]

That

Thats probably my best option as long as I can easily get a bottle as a brand new/ no exchange customer in France. That was the reason for my question- is it still easy to get a bottle in France without one to swap?

You can sign up with any of the supermarket chains for a free issue bottle.
We had a 13Kg butane Super U bottle for years and kept the calor one as the spare when it ran out.
You will need a French regulator.

 

[gus-lopez]

Is it dangerous to carry them lying flat?

It is illegal in spain. Upright & secured

 

[MisterB]

It is illegal in spain. Upright & secured

To the OP, the reason is that if the valve assembly is beneath the liquid level, then if the valve is opened (or faulty), liquid can be discharged as opposed to gas, which could cause serious burns and a potentially dangerous rapidly expanding gas cloud as the LPG turns into vapour.

Underslung tanks have the vapour take off on top of the tank, which means they can be carried in a horizontal position.

 

[Nyvern]

I have a spare French bottle fitted in my van and I saw that the regulators on French bottle are only 30mb compared to the 32mb British regulator. Doesn’t make much difference but you notice it.

 

[Dwarfland]

You can sign up with any of the supermarket chains for a free issue bottle.
We had a 13Kg butane Super U bottle for years and kept the calor one as the spare when it ran out.
You will need a French regulator.

View attachment 584849

Do we need a French regulator? I sent a photo of mine to Hamilton Gas and they said I just needed a new pigtail and French connector and the regulator would be okay.

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[Dwarfland]

To the OP, the reason is that if the valve assembly is beneath the liquid level, then if the valve is opened (or faulty), liquid can be discharged as opposed to gas, which could cause serious burns and a potentially dangerous rapidly expanding gas cloud as the LPG turns into vapour.

Underslung tanks have the vapour take off on top of the tank, which means they can be carried in a horizontal position.

To the OP, the reason is that if the valve assembly is beneath the liquid level, then if the valve is opened (or faulty), liquid can be discharged as opposed to gas, which could cause serious burns and a potentially dangerous rapidly expanding gas cloud as the LPG turns into vapour.

Underslung tanks have the vapour take off on top of the tank, which means they can be carried

,

Thanks, that makes sense. If the bottle is empty though or very nearly empty, due to the narrowed bottle neck on a calor 13kg bottle, surely any residual liquid would rest in the bottom of the bottle, well below the valve?

 

[Lenny HB]

I have a spare French bottle fitted in my van and I saw that the regulators on French bottle are only 30mb compared to the 32mb British regulator. Doesn’t make much difference but you notice it.

All European regulators are 30mb including the UK, have been since about 2002.
Previously the UK had 28mb for butane & 37mb for propane & Germany was 50mb not sure about other countries.

 

[Dwarfland]

All European regulators are 30mb including the UK, have been since about 2002.
Previously the UK had 28mb for butane & 37mb for propane & Germany was 50mb not sure about other countries.

So with the correct connectors all countries bottles should now work with the same regulator?

 

[Lenny HB]

So with the correct connectors all countries bottles should now work with the same regulator?

Yes, if you have a bulkhead regulator you mustn't fit a regulator on the bottle, be careful in Spain a lot of the clip-on bottle connections have a regulator built in.

 

[2657]

Yes, if you have a bulkhead regulator you mustn't fit a regulator on the bottle, be careful in Spain a lot of the clip-on bottle connections have a regulator built in.

If it's a flip switch on the top it's a regulator, if it has a knob that needs turning then it is a connector/adaptor.

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[Stealaway]

Do we need a French regulator? I sent a photo of mine to Hamilton Gas and they said I just needed a new pigtail and French connector and the regulator would be okay.

I bought a regulator because I wanted to keep both bottles connected via the Tee and easily switchable.
A French pig tail would be fine
They have a rubber insert and only need to be hand tight

 

[Basildog]

You can sign up with any of the supermarket chains for a free issue bottle.
We had a 13Kg butane Super U bottle for years and kept the calor one as the spare when it ran out.
You will need a French regulator.

View attachment 584849

So someone has changed a 2 stage 30 mbar leisure vehicle regulator for what looks like 37 mbar single stage regulators without any over pressure protection.
Good luck with any insurance claim in the event of a gas related claim if the assessor knows his stuff .

 

[Stealaway]

So someone has changed a 2 stage 30 mbar leisure vehicle regulator for what looks like 37 mbar single stage regulators without any over pressure protection.

Do you mean the regulator screwed to the wall that is not connected?
I had two simple regulator's connected to individual bottles and only ever used one at a time.

 

[Bessy765]

The bulkhead regulator. If you get a French bottle, and the French pigtail will fit The bulkhead regulator. At least is does on mine. I have an underslung tank, but carry a French propane bottle in. The winter as a back up. Make sure you ask for Propane, as a lot of French ovens the bottle fits inside the cooker so does not suffer so much from low temperature.

 

[Basildog]

Do you mean the regulator screwed to the wall that is not connected?
I had two simple regulator's connected to individual bottles and only ever used one at a time.

Those simple regulators as you call them aren’t actually up to the requirements of the leisure industry standards.
Single stage is a much more unstable pressure / flow to your appliances and they don’t have the required safety protection with over pressure protection.

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