Propane (chemical formula C3H8) is a less dense gas than Butane (chemical formula C4H10). Although Butane burns hotter than Propane, Propane regulators release the gas at a faster pace to compensate, so the gas burner produces the same amount of heat in practice.
So Butane has to be superior? If if life were that easy. However, because butane has a greater temperature boiling point than propane, it does not perform well at low temperatures. Butane evaporates (cooks) at + 5 degrees Celsius, while Propane evaporates at – 44 degrees Celsius. The vapor from the gas cylinder, which is the gas that passes through the regulator, is used. When it becomes too cold, it turns into a liquid, and the gas pressure falls. Once the bottle temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius, a butane gas cylinder will produce less pressure. Furthermore, when you draw gas, all gas bottles become colder, and the faster the rate at which you utilize gas, the colder the bottle becomes. So, if you utilize Butane too quickly in cold temperatures, the gas pressure will drop dramatically. Because Propane has a significantly lower boiling point, this difficulty is eliminated, and bottles placed outside can be used all year.
Gas bottles come in a range of sizes and are color-coded according to the type of gas they contain. Butane comes in blue bottles while Propane comes in red cylinders in the UK. Propane bottles utilize red bottles with a screw-on regulator that must be tightened with a spanner, while Butane bottles use a clip-on regulator with a standard internal valve size of 21mm. Patio Gas is a novel propane format that was released a few years ago. This comes in green bottles with a clip-on regulator that measures 27mm. This means that a butane regulator cannot be connected to a propane bottle and vice versa.
To sum up, if this is your first gas bottle, be cautious. Patio gas is the ideal option because it has a simple clip-on style regulator and operates well in all weather conditions.
Is it possible to use a propane regulator with butane?
Please keep in mind that Propane gas cylinders have a far higher pressure than Butane cylinders, therefore regulators are built for either Propane or Butane and are not interchangeable due to the difference design pressures and cylinder connections.
Is it possible to use propane and butane interchangeably?
Propane and Butane are both byproducts of natural gas production, hence they should be interchangeable.
Despite the fact that they are both classified as Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPGs), they are enough distinct to make swapping them risky.
Butane is a denser gas than propane, with a density of 2.489 (kg/m3) vs 1.882 (kg/m3). For more information, see Engineering Toolbox. If that wasn’t enough, propane has a far higher vapor pressure than butane. (At 21.1C, Propane has a pressure of 109 psig, while Butane has a pressure of only 16.9 psigsource.)
This is why butane comes in much lighter canisters and propane comes in strong steel cylinders.
In other words, propane is attempting to escape from its fuel tank with greater force than butane.
If you’re new to camping stoves, you might be wondering what the various fuels are and how to even begin determining which one is best for you. Take a look at our post on the subject to get a basic understanding of the various camping stove fuels.
When you use butane in a butane stove, the system is set up to ensure that the fuel is mixed with the appropriate amount of air. As a result, you’ll have a lovely, safe flame to use when cooking. When you use propane in a propane burner, the same thing happens. The stove and jets were created specifically for the qualities of the gas.
However, it’s important to note that butane and propane require distinct combinations of oxygen and fuel to function properly. If you use propane instead of butane, the precise combination utilized for butane is unlikely to work. This is due to the fact that each fuel type has a distinct density.
Aha!
You might object, but I’ve managed to make this work!
Yes, butane and propane are both gasses that can be burned, but hold on a second.
In general, butane has a higher density than propane, which has a much lower density. So, if you add propane to a butane stove, it will continue to function as if it were still utilizing butane. As a result, you may encounter unanticipated effects, ranging from inefficiency to hazard. The stove burning with a yellow flame is one of these consequences.
What type of butane regulator do I require?
- Because patio gas bottles have a 27mm valve, make sure you have a 27mm clip-on regulator on hand.
- Because your patio gas bottle doesn’t have a protective cap, make sure the top of the valve is clean.
- Please keep in mind that the regulator should never be disconnected when the switch is turned on.
- Please read our PDF technical paper on how to use patio gas safely before using a patio gas bottle.
Is it true that all gas regulators are the same?
Every propane gas barbecue makes advantage of this.
Although all LP regulators are made equal, not all LP regulators are created equal. Regardless of the goal
essentially the same, but different settings necessitate different regulators.
The sort of regulator a grill requires is determined by the propane it uses.
prerequisites for the application
High-Pressure Regulators, First Stage Regulators, Second Stage Regulators, Integral Twin Stage Regulators, and Appliance Regulators are all examples of gas regulators.
What makes a propane regulator different from a butane regulator?
Each regulator is made to fit a specific type of cylinder valve, and one that fits one will not fit any of the others. Propane cylinders have a screw threaded valve that only accepts Propane regulators.
High-pressure regulators feature a much narrower nozzle and use a much narrower hose than low-pressure regulators (see picture below).
What is the difference between propane gas bottles and butane gas bottles?
The boiling point of propane and butane differs significantly. Propane is utilized in homes with outdoor storage because it can withstand significantly lower temperatures. Butane, on the other hand, should be kept indoors because it doesn’t work as well in colder temperatures.
In the United Kingdom, for example, January 2021 was the coldest January in over a decade.
***. Butane, which has a boiling point of -2C, would not work properly outside in these conditions, although propane would.
Both fuels can be kept in a variety of methods when it comes to storage. You may learn more about the various storage options here, or you can look for the gas bottle you require here.
Are all regulators compatible with all gas bottles?
Different brands (such as Campingaz) have distinct fittings for their gas cylinders, and both Butane and Propane gas bottles have different fittings. You must obtain the proper fit.
To discover the proper regulator and hose for your gas bottle, look below. To give you a sense of how much each item costs, we’ve included a pricing search.
Kits that combine the regulator and the hose are sometimes available, which can save you money. The one drawback I’ve discovered with the kits is that when your stove is on your camping table, the hose can be a little short. Your gas cylinder should be out of the way of your stove, on the ground. To figure out how long a hose you’ll need, measure the height of your camping table and add a few inches to allow you to easily put your stove on it.
Remember that if you have a camping kitchen table with a built-in windshield for stoves, as I recommend, these are higher than standard camping tables, thus you’ll need a longer gas hose.
- Calor Gas Butane Gas Regulator 4.5kg
- The 7kg Calor Gas Gas regulator for butane
- The E907 gas regulator by Campingaz
- Calor Gas Propane Gas Regulator 3.9kg
Here’s a video from GoOutdoors that gives you a decent overview:
Is the size of all butane regulators the same?
For connection to the gas bottle, all butane and propane gas bottle appliances require a hose and regulator; these connectors are provided with most portable heaters, patio heaters, and non-portable barbecues. Some items, such as three-way camping fridges, boiling rings, portable ovens, and water boiler tea urns, come with an optional hose and regulator for various gas kinds. Calor and Flo Gas butane or propane bottles, as well as the CampinGaz type, are some of the most prevalent LPG bottles in the UK, commonly known as cylinders and canisters.
The majority of appliances that do not come with gas connection hoses and regulators can be used while camping, and many of the potential users will be experienced caravan owners or campers who already have the connectors for various gas bottle kinds. Most caravan and camping gadgets, including as gas fridges, boiling rings, portable stoves, and ovens, may be powered by a variety of LPG gas bottles, cylinders, and canisters, thus supplying with just one type of gas bottle connection would be a waste in many circumstances.
Which gas should they use is one of the most popular queries we get, especially from people who are interested in the 3 way gas camping fridges and boiling rings. All of the camping equipment can be powered by any of the standard gas bottles, so if you already use bottled gas for any reason, we encourage continuing to use it. If you’re new to bottled gas, keep in mind that propane and butane gas are very similar and generally burn at the same rate and cost about the same depending on supplier. The main difference is that propane gas will work in extremely cold temperatures, whereas butane will not due to the higher evaporating temperature.
We propose utilizing regular butane gas because most individuals will not need to use their outdoor recreational gas appliances when it is below freezing. If you elect to use butane gas, you have two options for regulators: the conventional 21mm clip on regulator (recommended) for 7kg to 15kg bottles, or the bolt on regulator for 4.5kg bottles. Additional information is provided below to assist you in selecting the appropriate regulator and hose for your needs.
Fits all 4.5 butane gas bottles and uses the conventional bolt-on connection. The 4.5 has the obvious advantage of being smaller and lighter, and is frequently the favored choice for camping trips. A 4.5kg cylinder will last over two weeks when used with our three-way gas camping fridges, such as the Combicool RC1700.
The basic bolt-on propane regulator is compatible with all propane gas cylinders ranging in size from 6 kg to 47 kg. The 47 kg is unlikely to be utilized with any of our portable gas appliances, and a longer hose would be necessary in most cases. 6 kg propane gas cylinders are often used for caravan and camping cookers, stoves, and refrigerators, and this regulator allows you to utilize 13 and 19 kg propane cylinders as well.
The 13 and 15 kg patio gas bottles, as well as the 6 kg barbeque gas bottles, are compatible with the easy connect clip on patio gas regulator. Patio and BBQ gas cylinders are usually green in color and may be found at large DIY stores and petrol stations. Patio gas is just propane gas in a convenient green cylinder, and if you currently use patio gas at home for your patio heater or BBQ, you may prefer this variety.
The CampinGaz regulator is distinct from the others in that it attaches with a screw-on mechanism. The CampinGaz 901 400 gram, 904 1.8 kg, and 907 2.75 kg gas canisters are all compatible with this design. Calor Gas vendors in the UK stock the bottles (canisters), and they are also commonly accessible throughout Europe where calor gas is not as readily available, therefore they may be preferred when camping in France or Spain.
All regulator and hose gas connectors come with two jubilee clips, one to secure the regulator to the hose and the other to secure the hose to the appliance, for easy connection.