Propane is a highly flammable hydrocarbon gas that is obtained through natural gas processing and oil refining. The gas is pressurized to make it acceptable for personal and commercial usage, and propane is widely utilized for a variety of heating and culinary applications both at home and in enterprises.
Butane, like propane, is a highly flammable hydrocarbon gas produced by natural gas processing and oil refining. However, the two gases have very diverse applications; for example, butane is extensively employed as a fuel and a refrigerant gas.
While there are many similarities between propane and butane gas, there are several key differences to be aware of. The boiling point of these two gases differs significantly, with propane having a boiling point of -42C and butane having a much higher boiling point of -2C.
While this may not seem significant to the average person, it is crucial when deciding which type of gas to utilize, as propane is better suited to use in colder locations due to its lower boiling point. Not only that, but at the same temperature, propane exerts substantially more pressure than butane, making it perfect for outdoor storage and use all year.
Is it possible to use propane instead of butane?
The majority of appliances can run on either Butane or Propane, but the cylinders have different regulators, so double-check what size is required first. Because propane has a higher pressure than butane, a butane regulator will not work on a propane cylinder and vice versa. Butane may not give off vapour at low seasonal temperatures, often below two degrees Celsius, due to its lower boiling point. Propane can be used all year.
What’s the distinction between butane and propane?
The boiling point, or the temperature at which each gas vaporizes, is the most significant difference between propane and butane. Propane has a low boiling point of -43.6 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing it to vaporize as soon as it is released from its pressurized containers. Butane, on the other hand, boils at 30.2 degrees Fahrenheit, or barely below freezing.
There have been several times in our country’s history when temperatures have dropped below -43.6 degrees Fahrenheit, the most notable of which was the record -69.7 degrees Fahrenheit set at Rogers Pass, Montana, in 1954. Even in the coldest of climates, propane will almost certainly be available.
However, if butane were the major fuel source, you could theoretically find yourself without gas for heating or cooking in some sections of the country.
Is propane or butane required?
Propane and Butane have comparable qualities, however they serve different purposes.
Propane has a lower boiling point than natural gas, making it more suited for outdoor storage. It is widely used for central heating, cooking, transportation, and commercial operations.
Because butane is best utilized indoors, it is the greatest choice for portable mobile heaters. During the summer, it’s also utilized to power outdoor activities like camping, boating, and grilling.
Is the patio gas butane or propane?
If you possess a gas grill and are unsure what type of gas to use, we’ve put up a guide to help you find the proper BBQ gas bottle for your needs.
Butane and propane are the two kinds of this gas. Butane comes in blue cylinders and is great for camping, single-burner cooking, and indoor portable warmers. Propane, on the other hand, is a commercial heating and large appliance fuel that is also perfect for heating and cooking in catering vans. It is stored in red cylinders. Patio Gas is propane, which is perfect for outdoor living appliances like barbeques and patio heaters and is stored in green cylinders.
This is designed specifically to power outdoor appliances such as BBQs and patio heaters, and it has the added bonus of being compatible with the 27mm clip-on regulator. It also has a Gas Trac Indicator, which can help you figure out when your gas supply is going low. Patio gas is available in 5kg and 13kg bottles.
Propane cylinders are available in a wide range of sizes, ranging from 3.9 kg to 47 kg. To connect this bottle to your barbeque, you’ll need a screw-in high-pressure adjustable propane regulator.
A ‘clip on’ regulator is put onto the top of your gas bottle, while a’screw in’ regulator is screwed into the top. The sort of propane bottle you’ll need is determined by the regulator that came with your barbeque.
A regulator is always used to connect the gas bottle. This is a critical safety feature since it regulates the pressure at which the gas is transported from the bottle to the device. It’s critical to make sure your appliance has the correct regulator for the gas bottle you’ve chosen. A green Patio gas bottle can be used with a clip-on regulator, however a red propane bottle will require a screw-in regulator.
This is mostly determined by the number of burners on your gas grill. A 5kg patio gas bottle is appropriate if it has between one and three. If you have a larger barbecue, such as one with four burners or more, a 13kg bottle is advised. We offer a useful tool called ‘Which gas bottle do I need?’ that can inform you which gas bottle is best for your BBQ.
For more information on BBQ bottles and to place an order, go to our online store (subject to availability). Alternatively, you can use our Retailer Finder tool to locate a Calor retailer near you.
Butane or propane, which is better for camping?
If you’ve ever tented in the cold, you know that certain types of fuel won’t function below a particular temperature. The temperature at which gaseous fuels such as butane and propane work is referred to as the flash point; below this temperature, your fuel will turn liquid and will not pass through your stove.
Propane has a flash point of -43.6F/-42C, which implies it will never be too cold to use unless you’re going to Antarctica. Butane’s flash point is 30.2F/-1C, or just below freezing, therefore you won’t be able to use it if you’re going winter camping in a cold region. It also doesn’t work as well above 5,000 feet in altitude. To summarize, propane is excellent for all-season camping at high altitudes, whereas butane is only suitable for warm-weather camping and lower heights.
Is it possible to use propane with a butane lighter?
Because it must withstand heating (which raises the pressure) while maintaining a large safety margin, every gas canister has substantially thicker walls than is required at ambient temperature. In some circumstances, this allows propane to be used in butane canisters.
Why is butane used instead of propane in lighters?
A lighter is a small device that produces a flame and can be used to light a variety of flammable objects, including cigars, cigarettes, gas stoves, pyrotechnics, and candles. It is made out of a metal or plastic container filled with pressurized liquid gas, as well as a means of igniting the flame.
Butane lighters come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each with its own set of additional benefits tailored to the needs and aspirations of the user. Decorated lighters, lighters with engraved or attached logos, limited edition lighters, “dress” lighters, disposable lighters in various sizes, lighters for lighting candles, outdoor cooking stoves, or wood-based fires, and other lighters can be found. Because of features such as viscosity, vapour pressure, and autoignition temperature, butane is employed in more lighters than propane.
There are propane-fueled lighters on the market, but their use is limited. One of the factors is the vapor pressure of each substance at room temperature. Butane has a vapor pressure of 35.4 psia at ambient temperature (25C). It’s 135.7 psia for propane. As a result, the cost of making a lighter that can safely hold propane is likely to be higher than the cost of making a lighter that can only hold butane.
Furthermore, butane is better suitable for this use than propane and is more efficient per volume of gas. Propane has a lower boiling point than butane, therefore it’s better for cold conditions (butane’s boiling point is approximately -1C below that, so it won’t convert to gas quickly).
What type of gas should I use for my grill?
Propane is a popular choice among BBQ enthusiasts in the United Kingdom, and here are a few of the reasons why:
Propane Gas Cooks All Year Because propane gas can burn efficiently all year, it may be your best option if you can’t wait for summer to fire up your grill.
Ease of Use When it comes to beginning a BBQ, propane is a no-brainer. Simply connect your BBQ to the propane gas cannister and you’ll have your food cooking in no time.
Taste Some believe that butane-powered BBQs don’t taste as good as propane-powered BBQs. When cooking with butane, if you use too much gas, your meal may have a little taste of gas. However, we’ll leave it up to you to decide which is best!
Instant and Efficient Burn Having to wait for a coal fire to light and heat up may be a pain, especially when you have a hungry family eager to eat some excellent BBQ food. Propane gas is easy to light and burns at nearly full heat right away, making it an excellent alternative for anyone who wants to avoid the headache of lighting a coal fire.
Easy to Clean Propane-powered BBQs are substantially easier to clean than most other BBQ heating options, thanks to a naturally cleaner burn. Simply wipe down the grill and it’s ready to use once more.
Is propane and patio gas the same thing?
Patio gas can be propane or butane, and it’s available in patio gas bottles or cylinders. Both are equally effective, while propane is preferable in the winter.
Is butane safer to use indoors than propane?
Outside, a winter storm is raging when you are suddenly engulfed in an eerie, silent darkness. After getting a flashlight, you realize that your hungry family will be hungry in a few minutes. What will you do for dinner if you don’t have access to electricity?
Preparing to cook safely indoors may be simpler than you think. You can cook securely indoors with a range of excellent indoor cooking gadgets and fuels. For indoor use, the challenge is to employ a mix of the proper gadget and the right fuel.
These are our top picks for safe indoor cooking solutions when the power goes out.
- In the cooler months, a wood-burning cookstove is an excellent option for cooking indoors.
- Propane can only be safely burnt indoors in an equipment designed for that purpose.
- Candles are an emergency fuel source that can be used to heat food slowly and safely inside.
- Although conservation tactics are not a substitute for actual gasoline, they can considerably extend the life of the fuel you already have. They’re worth looking into.
Emergency Powerless Cooking Advice
Reduce the number of options on the menu! Any crisis carries with it a slew of problems that will eat up a lot of your time. Simple, healthful, and comfortable meals are ideal. Emergency choices include heating canned foods or boiling water to make mashed potatoes from potato flakes.
Keep a supply of shelf-stable foods on hand that you can eat without having to cook. Due to the inability to refrigerate leftovers, prepare only the amount of food that will be consumed immediately.
Fuels that Produce Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is your adversary, and it must be avoided at all costs. If there isn’t enough oxygen for full combustion, any flame can emit carbon monoxide. Some carbon monoxide-producing fuels can be safely burned indoors by venting combustion products to the outside (think fireplace chimney).
When burned, carbon monoxide is produced by charcoal, coal, gasoline, diesel, Coleman fuel (white gas), kerosene, natural gas, fuel tablets, and wood. We strongly advise that these fuels be used only in properly ventilated appliances or outside.
Make sure your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are working in your home. When burning anything, we recommend maintaining a carbon monoxide detector with a digital display nearby that will alert you to low levels of carbon monoxide.
Wood Burning Cook Stove or Fireplace
A wood-burning cookstove was formerly a commonplace element in every home. The stove was the only device for baking and cooking, and it warmed the entire house.
Our way of life has changed dramatically, yet if you’re fortunate enough to have a good wood stove, it will come in handy when calamity comes.
Our wood-burning stove is one of my favorites. I agree that the ashes are a little dirty, and the stove requires some attention in order to maintain a consistent temperature, but the wonderful warmth is well worth the effort. Our model features a 5-gallon copper water reservoir, which keeps us in hot water for a long time.
Alcohol My favorite fuel for indoor cooking
Because it burns cleanly, ignites easily, and stores indefinitely in a well sealed container, alcohol is an excellent cooking fuel. It does not burn as hot as certain other types of fuel. It is not, however, explosive like some other fuels.
With a little ventilation, pure forms of alcohol can be safely burned indoors. Some types, such as methanol (wood alcohol), can be dangerous if absorbed via the skin or inhaled, therefore use cautious.
Carbon monoxide can be produced when any fuel is burned in an oxygen-depleted environment.
Denatured alcohol is a good alcohol fuel that can be found in the paint area of most hardware stores. Denatured alcohol is recommended as a fuel by most alcohol device makers.
Ethanol, often known as ethyl (Everclear), is a grain alcohol that contains roughly 95% alcohol. It’s an excellent cooking fuel. Be careful not to burn yourself with Everclear because it produces a practically undetectable blue or clear flame.
Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) is an approved alcohol fuel. It is available in a variety of strengths. The higher the alcohol concentration, the better it burns. There are three types of rubbing alcohol available: 70 percent, 91 percent, and 99 percent strength. Isopropyl alcohol burns with a yellow sooty flame and not as cleanly as other types of alcohol.
Alcohol Cooker
I’d want to try the Dometic Origo 1500 Single Burner or 3000 Double Burner, which is a non-pressurized free-standing alcohol stove. It boils 1 quart of water in 6-8 minutes and produces 7000 BTUs per burner when powered by denatured alcohol. 6-8 hours of cooking time can be obtained from a quart of alcohol.
Alcohol Space Heater/Stove
The Dometic Origo Heat Pal 5100 is a single-burner stove with a safe, non-pressurized heat source. This stove is great since it can be used as a heater as well as a single burner stove.
The Heat Pal can contain 1 gallon of alcohol and burn for up to 5 hours. It’s small and light (5.10 pounds), but it produces up to 5200 BTUs. This stove was meant for use on ships, but it’s also great for cooking inside during a power outage.
Alcohol Burners
A portable folding stove is placed beneath a small metal burner that has been filled with alcohol and lighted. Vapors exit through a ring of microscopic holes, resulting in a lovely, even fire. Depending on the stove and type of alcohol, two ounces of alcohol will burn for about 10-15 minutes in a stove.
To put out the flames, smother them. You can lose your eyebrows if you blow on them. The lid should not be replaced until the burner has totally cooled. As the lid cools, it will become increasingly difficult to remove.
Boy Scouts and trekkers typically utilize alcohol burners or stoves since they are tiny and portable. A brief search on the internet will turn up alcohol burners constructed from soda cans. Brass, titanium, and aluminum-alloy burners are all high-quality options.
A military surplus merchant can sell you an alcohol burner that is military-grade. These burners are virtually indestructible and extremely easy to operate.
The FireCone is an unbreakable alcohol burner with a distinctive design. It is made up of a base and a cone that create movable inlet ports for greater versatility. This is yet another product that piques my interest. Let me know what you think if you’ve tried the FireCone.
Canned Heat
The alcohol burner is a disposable form of canned heat. Caterers regularly use these little metal cans under chafing dishes to maintain hot items at serving temperature. An cheap option to provide 72 hours of emergency indoor cooking fuel is with a case of SafeHeat and a folding camp stove.
The burn time of the can varies by brand and ranges from 2 to 6 hours. The 6-hour cans are my favorite. The fuel inside canned heat is flammable alcohol or petroleum gel that takes a long time to burn.
The can produces a visible flame as well as a significant amount of heat. The heat and flame are directed straight up with little spread, concentrating the heat in one area and necessitating regular stirring to avoid burning the food.
With proper ventilation, canned heat can be safely burned indoors. It keeps well and can be used to safely heat food indoors in the event of a power outage. A portable folding burner, chafing dish (similar to a double boiler), or fondue pot are commonly used with canned heat.
Because canned heat is such a great fuel for indoor cooking, we like to get a little creative with it. The amount of heat produced is determined on the number of cans utilized. In an EcoQue portable grill, formerly known as Pyromid, we can use up to four cans of SafeHeat.
We made a little stove out of a portable, counter-top charcoal barbeque and three cans of canned heat. It was a great success. Note: The manufacturer suggests using no more than two cans at a time. You do so at your own peril!
We buy canned heat in bulk from Amazon or from warehouse shops’ catering area. They come in 12-piece flats that stack neatly for storage. The shelf life varies by manufacturer and can last anywhere from a few years to indefinitely. Cans should be stored between 40 and 120 Fahrenheit, upright and away from heat sources, and damaged or dented cans should be discarded.
In our piece Canned Heat – Safe Fuel for Indoor Emergency Cooking, we go over more about cooking with canned heat.
Butane
Butane is extremely flammable, colorless, and liquefies rapidly. It creates both carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide when burned. It is necessary to ensure adequate ventilation. Butane does not operate well at temperatures below freezing.
Butane cylinders must be kept away from open flames and heat sources at temperatures over 32F and below 120F. They pose a significant threat. Because butane is heavier than air, it can pool and cause an explosion if it leaks.
Butane is a practical fuel. It’s a little pricey, but it works well in a variety of situations. At near-freezing conditions, butane does not evaporate effectively and may splutter or misfire. A butane canister has an eight-year suggested shelf life.
Butane burners are popular among caterers because they are light, convenient, and safe to use indoors with proper ventilation. The majority of stoves have excellent flame control, and many include an automatic piezo-electric igniting system. At maximum output, one eight-ounce butane canister can last up to 2 hours, and on low, it can last up to 4 hours.
For more information on utilizing butane stoves indoors, see our post Butane Stove: Portable and Convenient Power Outage Cooking. Many butane burners are only meant to be used indoors in a well-ventilated location. If you’re going to buy one, be sure it’s rated for indoor use. Additional information can be found in the previous post.
Propane
Propane produces a good, clean, hot fire. The fuel will last an endless amount of time. Because propane is heavier than air, any leakage could gather in low-lying locations, posing an explosive threat.
When propane is burned, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water vapor are produced. However, if there is insufficient oxygen, incomplete combustion can occur, resulting in the generation of carbon monoxide.
Propane is a terrific fuel, but it can only be used inside in an indoor appliance. It is not advisable to use a propane Coleman stove indoors. Coleman issued the following statement regarding the use of their goods indoors:
Your Coleman liquid-fuel or propane-fueled stove and lamp are only intended for use outside. Due to the risk of fire, the production of carbon monoxide (CO) from burning fuel, and the effects of carbon monoxide exposure, all fuel appliances (Stoves and Lanterns) should be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas free of combustible items.
Finding a propane appliance that is not built-in and is rated for indoor usage can be difficult. Tar Hong produces a single or double propane gas stove that may be used indoors. I have no knowledge of the product’s quality. Indoors, I’d use alcohol and outside, I’d use propane.