Swap Butane For Propane?

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Fleurette Wincester
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Does anyone in the Bath area want to swap my 7kg Butane calor bottle (with "some" gas in it, I think it's quite full but I have no way of telling!) for their (can be) empty 6kg Propane bottle?

I have no use for my Butane bottle but could do with a Propane one.
 
You should be able to exchange that at a calor depot, but I would use it first. (y)
 
to check the level, pour warm water down a narrow portion of the side and where it condenses, you have gas to that physical amount - if for whatever reason it doesn't condense, touch the side of the bottle to note where it suddenly gets a lot cooler = the level of your gas in the bottle.
 
It’s actually looking like it could be an interesting summer season as far as LPG exchangeable cylinders are concerned ⚠️
Dealers are supposed to exchange any cylinder in the same group which would mean a swap to a 6kg propane shouldn’t be an issue .

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It’s actually looking like it could be an interesting summer season as far as LPG exchangeable cylinders are concerned ⚠️
Dealers are supposed to exchange any cylinder in the same group which would mean a swap to a 6kg propane shouldn’t be an issue .

The bloke I spoke to actually went away to check, came back and said that they were not allowed to by calor. No idea who he checked with, probably just his boss rather than calor, but either way that doesn't help me.

I have space for two bottles, so am looking to keep one calor and convert the other to a refillable (either gaslow or safefill, I still don't know what's best seeing as I'm going to be 50/50 UK and Europe).

This is the most stressful part of MH'ing so far, having run out of calor once and had every garage tell me they had not been refilled in ages. I ended up paying full price for what I'm pretty sure was a half empty bottle. Not experienced enough yet to tell the difference. It was heavier than my empty one and it was 1 degree and I needed heating, so ...

Might have to upgrade my blood pressure tablets :)
 
to check the level, pour warm water down a narrow portion of the side and where it condenses, you have gas to that physical amount - if for whatever reason it doesn't condense, touch the side of the bottle to note where it suddenly gets a lot cooler = the level of your gas in the bottle.
Does that work for butane & propane?
 
best way is to weigh it - the bottle will be stamped its tare weight - put it on a house weighing scale - subtract the tare wieight ( the weight of the the empty bottle) from the weight of the bottle on the scales and you have the weight of the gas .. so ... tare plus weight of GAS in bottle - The Tare weight is printed on the aluminum plate around the bottle neck. EASY !!!
 
may i enquire why you wanna to swap to propane ? its only benefit is if its used in winter - and that has nearly gone now, also propane has a lower calarific value ( you use more ) so frankly unless you plan to go somewhere bloody cold in the next couple of weeks - dont bother - if your determined ( and i hope to god is not cus some bloody salesman told you to) swap it when empty. And .. you will also need a new tail for the differant bottle ( connecting gas pipe to van) ( about 15 quid )
 
may i enquire why you wanna to swap to propane ? its only benefit is if its used in winter - and that has nearly gone now, also propane has a lower calarific value ( you use more ) so frankly unless you plan to go somewhere bloody cold in the next couple of weeks - dont bother - if your determined ( and i hope to god is not cus some bloody salesman told you to) swap it when empty. And .. you will also need a new tail for the differant bottle ( connecting gas pipe to van) ( about 15 quid )

I have two pigtails set up for propane (ie they have the reverse thread connector). I intend to swap one side for a refillable, but that's probably not going to be for a few months. In the mean time I'm going away a lot in the UK for which two propane bottles would be handy. I could change one side to be butane. I guess I'm looking for the easiest intermediate solution.

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I would connect up the butane bottle ,run it to empty while your out and about and check with other suppliers to change it for a propane bottle whilst on your travels( worst case you can swap for another butane)
I would go with a refillable though.
We have gaslow, never run out ,always managed to fill up, we have 2, use one and top up whenever we see an lpg outlet ,2 litres or 10.we alternative the bottle use at every top up so we know the valves are ok also.
If your in the EU it's a lot easier. Plenty of gpl stations around .
 
The bloke I spoke to actually went away to check, came back and said that they were not allowed to by calor. No idea who he checked with, probably just his boss rather than calor, but either way that doesn't help me.
Calor own website says you can exchange, like for like👍👍
 
with repect you have still not explained why you want propane ? tails are cheaper than gas so use what gas you have first -frankly if you say you planning to use it alot why would you want to use propane any way ? and if you actually plan to use a lot of gas- 6kg propane bottles is the most expensive way you can possible use, at least get a 13kg bottle - twice the capacity and almost the same price .
 
with repect you have still not explained why you want propane ?

If someone in Bath had a propane bottle they wanted to swap, it would have been the easiest way for me to get a backup bottle. That's about the limit of the thought that went into it. The gas cupboard is set up for two propane bottles. As it seems no one does, I may look to set up one side for butane.

at least get a 13kg bottle
Getting a new bottle of any size seems difficult at the moment, unless that situation has changed very recently? I vaguely remember our local calor shop using the lack of availability of new bottles as the reason he wouldn't swap my blue bottle for a red one.

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i think your limiting yourself to just calor the company - there are dozens/100's of small places that sell bottled gas - all are interchangeable and usually much more emeanable
 
TRUE! But whilst you can swop a Calor to a FlowGas, try swopping the other direction - no chance.

Gordon
 
i think your limiting yourself to just calor the company - there are dozens/100's of small places that sell bottled gas - all are interchangeable and usually much more emeanable

What are good alternatives to calor? I'd be happy to consider another supplier. I've seen Campingaz and (just now) Flowgas.

Please remember this is all completely new to me. I've only ever bought gas for a BBQ, and my bottles last years.
 
If you check on Facebook local selling sites, you can always find empty 13kg calor bottles, sometimes even full ones. If you can fit them of course for about £20

6kg calor propane cylinders sell for £40+ empty and I have even seen a full one sell for £120. Utter madness and poor planning by calor has led to a big shortage UK wide. Add to that the chaos the last couple of years where Propane/Butane was in extremely short supply due to a refinery being closed for maintenance and repair and it's a mad world

I even had to resort to buying a 19kg cylinder and an external filler hose last year to be able to keep camping. Then when gas started to come back into forecourts, they rapidly sold out as soon as they had deliveries
 
What are good alternatives to calor? I'd be happy to consider another supplier. I've seen Campingaz and (just now) Flowgas.

Please remember this is all completely new to me. I've only ever bought gas for a BBQ, and my bottles last years.
Don't report to camping gaz, it's more expensive than calor

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ring some of them up for prices - you need to understand - ITS ALL THE SAME GAS...
THINGS TO KNOW.. all the same gas, differant prices, all the bottles are the same but painted in company colours - but remember the fittings can vary. propane burns at a lower calorific value so less heat that butane and its only real use is if you want to use it in very low temperatures ie 5c and below.
Most none officail vendors will take any bottle from any make of bottle - sometimes up or down sizes as well, dont use calor or campingaz - just silly prices so avoid.
almost any caravan or motorhome can take at least one 13k bottle - never had a van so no idea there.
 
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I hadn’t noticed that one ⚠️☹️
But I have heard that they aren’t investing in any new cylinders , my guess is they either want rid of the cylinder business or perhaps just the leisure sector.
The rumour that they were stopping the cylinders that they have now done turned out to be true so who knows what they are up to 🤔
 
may i enquire why you wanna to swap to propane ? its only benefit is if its used in winter - and that has nearly gone now, also propane has a lower calarific value ( you use more ) so frankly unless you plan to go somewhere bloody cold in the next couple of weeks - dont bother - if your determined ( and i hope to god is not cus some bloody salesman told you to) swap it when empty. And .. you will also need a new tail for the differant bottle ( connecting gas pipe to van) ( about 15 quid )

Propane produces MORE heat than Butane.
 
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Propane produces MORE heat than Butane.
Actually the other way around Butane burns fractionally hotter than Propane 👍
But it’s just a few degrees difference so in reality makes no difference.
Butane is pretty much useless in any Caravan / Motorhome / Camper unless you only want to go summer camping.
 
may i enquire why you wanna to swap to propane ? its only benefit is if its used in winter - and that has nearly gone now, also propane has a lower calarific value ( you use more ) so frankly unless you plan to go somewhere bloody cold in the next couple of weeks - dont bother - if your determined ( and i hope to god is not cus some bloody salesman told you to) swap it when empty. And .. you will also need a new tail for the differant bottle ( connecting gas pipe to van) ( about 15 quid )
Butane is only useful it mid summer below about 10° it's gasing rate starts to slow.
Also it often can't supply the flow rate required for a Combi boiler so pretty much useless in a Motorhome.
 
Butane is only useful it mid summer below about 10° it's gasing rate starts to slow.
Also it often can't supply the flow rate required for a Combi boiler so pretty much useless in a Motorhome.
I didn’t want to get too technical 😂
You can explain off take rates and how the surface area of different size cylinders affects these 😂
Something I did notice this winter was just how much ice formed on composite cylinders so am guessing that the material used to construct a cylinder would also have an effect on off take rates .
 
Looks to me that the groups have changed https://www.calor.co.uk/gas-bottles/refills-and-returns/refills I am pretty sure I small blue and red were in the same group previously
Are those the prices to swap an empty bottle for a full one? Seems strange as why would a 4.5Kg bottle cost the same as a 15Kg bottle? or a 13Kg bottle same price as a 47kg bottle. (and the cost of a 6Kg will be nearly double what is typically charged!).
I think it might be the cost of taking out a "CRA" but I don't think you can take out a new CRA so why show the price of that IF it is that?
Doesn't make any sense.
 
Are those the prices to swap an empty bottle for a full one? Seems strange as why would a 4.5Kg bottle cost the same as a 15Kg bottle? or a 13Kg bottle same price as a 47kg bottle. I think it might be the cost of taking out a "CRA" but I don't think you can take out a new CRA so why show the price of that IF it is that
Doesn't make any sense.

Cost me £36 to swap an empty 6KG Propane for a full one, so I recon those prices are for a new CRA (which you can't get!)

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