Gaslow refillable bottles (1 Viewer)

[Dazcaz]

The new van has a pair of 11Kg refillable cylinders. Each of these cylinders has an valve to turn the cylinder off. Do we open both valves and run the two bottles at the same time, or do we run one bottle at a time.
Part of me wants to run both bottles as we would regularly top up as we check the level before each trip away (Our older van has just one refillable cylinder).
Is it OK to run both together or do we have to run one at a time?

 

[EuroTrotters]

Hi,

Depends what type of manifold / regulator you have (Auto Changeover etc)

Any photos of your setup would help.

TM

 

[Richard n Ann]

Ours is auto changeover but I keep one bottle closed so I know when we've used half. The gauges aren't very good.

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[Minxy]

Bear in mind though that as mentioned already the gauges are terrible so when the gauge on one of them goes to empty you've probably got at least 5 litres still in ... probably a lot more ... that's our experience anyway!

Open one and keep the other closed, when you think you're getting low turn the second one on and the first one off, then look to fill up. If you have both on all the time you could end up with both showing 'empty' even though there's some still in but you'll then worry as you won't easily be able to guesstimate how much and won't have a guaranteed 'back-up' bottle.

 

[JJ]

I would strongly suggest you run on one of the bottles and when/if it runs out you change over to the full one.

Then top up at the first opportunity.

There is no advantage at all in running on gas from both bottles at the same time and, if you do, you have the possibility of running out altogether.

JJ

 

[KeithChesterfield]

One on, one off means you'll not run out without knowing how little gas you have left.

Even with 42 litres of gas, when both full, a long winter trip will deplete them quite quickly - think freezing weather and long nights - and running out is not a good idea in those circumstances.

With both open there's always the possibility of being caught short - gas, that is!

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[Mr Colpot]

We used to have an autochangeover and kept both bottles on. When the autochangeover was showing red I would refill. Never ran out of gas in the time we had the system.

 

[denisejoe]

Auto change over but as said before when one runs out in winter you still probably have a week or two to refill better than having nothing

Joe

 

[seanoo]

I run one bottle then change to the other when that's empty. In Portugal in winter I usually get 14 days out of a 11kg gaslow bottle

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[JJ]

I have an auto change device but after running out of gas once, I no longer use it.

I have less exciting things to do than opening my gas bottle cupboard to check gauges all the time.

Lettuces need careful attention...

JJ

 

[Alistair33]

I run one bottle then change to the other when that's empty. In Portugal in winter I usually get 14 days out of a 11kg gaslow bottle

This doesn't sound like a long time, is that the same in others experience ?

 

[JJ]

This doesn't sound like a long time, is that the same in others experience ?

Yep... more or less the same for me... gas fridge on all the time... gas water heating and cooking and, the gas guzzler, gas heating in the evenings occasionally.

JJ

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[Norman Jones]

We keep one closed, then we know that we have plenty to spare, when the first gets low, fill up and use the other one. (Alternating their use regularly)

 

[icantremember]

We have two 14Kg Alugas and as others have said can use with both turned on but normally keep one full and turned off until the first one expires. Have got a digital read out on the dashboard but it's useless.

Our system fitted at Thirsk by Autogas 2000 .......

View media item 19493​

 

[hilldweller]

This doesn't sound like a long time, is that the same in others experience ?

Scotland winter 3 days per tank.

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[Bart]

Scotland winter 3 days per tank.

 

[Minxy]

Scotland winter 3 days per tank.

... probably due to firing up the heater for the sauna all the time!

 

[Deleted member 29692]

We have an auto changeover and I keep both bottles on.

It's no great hardship to open the locker and check it once or twice a week. When it's changed over it's time to start keeping an eye open for somewhere to top up.

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[hilldweller]

... probably due to firing up the heater for the sauna all the time!

It was Feb and I was watching ice flowing down the Dee. Heating 24/7 or die. It was a bit exciting driving too, 3.5T of FWD on ice is like that. I did enjoy it though, especially being paid for it. That was when I discovered Grantown on Spey. And it's story, apparently "they" wanted it to be the Scottish winter ski resort but the Grants, the Lairds would not have it so Aviemore was created.

I've had many good times in Scotland, usually on business, whenever I took 'er indoors the weather closed in and she never believed just how good it could be.

 

[Dazcaz]

It's no great hardship to open the locker and check it once or twice a week.

Our older van only has the one cylinder. We know how much gas we use on average, but we check the level before each outing. This is why I'm never worried about running out. We've only run out once and that was because I forgot to fill up en route to a steam rally. It wasn't until we pulled onto the rally field did I get the D'oh moment! We ran out on the Sunday morning! 10 mile drive to find gas early in the morning!

 

[Stagman]

Bear in mind though that as mentioned already the gauges are terrible so when the gauge on one of them goes to empty you've probably got at least 5 litres still in ... probably a lot more ... that's our experience anyway!

Open one and keep the other closed, when you think you're getting low turn the second one on and the first one off, then look to fill up. If you have both on all the time you could end up with both showing 'empty' even though there's some still in but you'll then worry as you won't easily be able to guesstimate how much and won't have a guaranteed 'back-up' bottle.

Our gauges useless too, but opposite problem to others.

Ours Claims both bottles still full after days of wilding in cold weather. We know theyre not full by how much we fill at pump....

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[Minxy]

Our gauges useless too, but opposite problem to others.

Ours Claims both bottles still full after days of wilding in cold weather. We know theyre not full by how much we fill at pump....

You need to remember that the gauges usually 'tell lies' and show as full until you get to around 50% left, then they suddenly drop!

 

[Dorset Diver]

Both bottles on and we rely on the auto change. I just do an occasional check to see if there has been a change over. Then find a filling point.

 

[Puddleduck]

You need to remember that the gauges usually 'tell lies' and show as full until you get to around 50% left, then they suddenly drop!

Yes, ours does that

How long they last depends on the time of year, type of heating system and if you are on sites using electric rather than gas

6 weeks in Eire with a mix of wild, BritStops and sites and we topped up twice - probably used 18kg in total.

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[Lenny HB]

This doesn't sound like a long time, is that the same in others experience ?

only get 20-25 days in summer out of 14kg. red light inside the van comes on when ours changes over. 8 weeks in Spain & Portugal last winter used about 70 L (approx 35kg).

 

[Lenny HB]

You need to remember that the gauges usually 'tell lies' and show as full until you get to around 50% left, then they suddenly drop!

Have had Stako bottles and now Alugas both types gauges very accurate, just need to make sure you buy the bottles with float gauges if you want accuracy.

 

[Minxy]

We work on using 1 litre of gas a day on average - in summer we use less and in winter a bit more. Note that we don't 'do' sites, but use aires or wild camp so are always using gas for all our cooking, heating and refrigeration needs when 'static'.

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[Alistair33]

@Lenny HB & @Minxy Girl do you both travel with one bottle off?

 

[Zigisla]

Both on with auto change over v/v. I have to switch off when returning to storage, so good opportunity to check when I set off and switch back on. One Gaslow and one calor.

 

[Lenny HB]

@Lenny HB & @Minxy Girl do you both travel with one bottle off?

No, auto changeover with remote indication won't work unless both bottles are on.

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