Jimmy&Jeannie Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 I know propane runs at lower temperatures than butane gas but are there any other differences? We have just changed to propane and Jeannie thinks it runs hotter than butane but is that just imagination? Jimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ter Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Check here http://www. wisegeek. com/what-is-the-difference-between-propane-and-butane. htm it should answer all your questions Quote 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Premium 2.2 CDRi Bailey Senator Wyoming Series 6 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumdrop Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Propane, all year round Butane for the BBQ season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geemac Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 I know propane runs at lower temperatures than butane gas but are there any other differences? We have just changed to propane and Jeannie thinks it runs hotter than butane but is that just imagination? Jimmy The other way around, butane has a higher calorific value than propane. Taken from pages on the Calor site: The Calorific Value (CV) of a fuel mixture is the amount of energy released when a known fuel quantity undergoes combustion. Propane has a CV of 95. 8MJ/m3 whereas natural gas has a CV of 38MJ/m3 Butane has a CV of 126MJ/m3 whereas natural gas has a CV of 38MJ/m3 As for value for money, you would have to work out cost to buy, volume bought, and energy produced. I don't think there will be much difference but, of course, I will stand corrected if anyone has the figures, I don't go winter caravanning so use whatever was on the van in the first place. Gordon Quote Nissan Qashqai 1. 6 dCi (130 PS) + Avondale Rialto 390-2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shipbroker Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 I had forgotten people still used blue bottles. ..must be 20 years since I last bought one. .........still in garage! geoff Quote Kia Sorento KX-1 CRDI 4WD towing an Elddis Affinity 530 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevonheronlake Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Propane every time for us don't have to purchase two types of gas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tynesider Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 I know propane runs at lower temperatures than butane gas but are there any other differences? We have just changed to propane and Jeannie thinks it runs hotter than butane but is that just imagination? Jimmy Hi Jimmy We have been caravaning for over 30 years now and 100% for using propane gas. Tell your wife to keep an eye on the oven when used as we are totally convinced it is hotter and cooks quicker. We also caravan 'all' year round and never had a freeze up yet with propane gas, we also carry twin bottles all the time. Mike Quote Toyota Avensis Tourer TR 2. 0 Diesel, towing a Bailey Ranger GT60 520/4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lefthand Down Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 I may be wrong but the hottest gas I have used seems to be in those small gas cylinders fitted in the cheap tabletop cookers. I believe it is a mixture of both gases. Or is my imagination? Quote Ford C-Max and Coachman Festival 380/2 SE 2006 Motto Carpe Diem Still trying to find the perfect pitch. ..110 amp Battery+ 65 watt roof mounted Solar and 25 watt Wind Turbine. LED lighting. Status Aerial 315. Loose chattels marked with UV,. Safefill Gas Fitted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreadly Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Butane burns hotter and cleaner. Propane has the temperature advantage? Quote An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind. Mahatma Gandhi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy&Jeannie Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 looks like I done the right thing then. I had two 4. 5kg butane cylinders and was having trouble exchanging them for 6kg propane cylinders. I did manage to find a building suppliers willing to do the exchange so I shot done there and got the propane bottles before they changed their mind. It seems Calor have recently changed their exchange policy so it's harder to change between cylinder volumes. Jimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxcat Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 The other way around, butane has a higher calorific value than propane. Taken from pages on the Calor site: The Calorific Value (CV) of a fuel mixture is the amount of energy released when a known fuel quantity undergoes combustion. Propane has a CV of 95. 8MJ/m3 whereas natural gas has a CV of 38MJ/m3 Butane has a CV of 126MJ/m3 whereas natural gas has a CV of 38MJ/m3 As for value for money, you would have to work out cost to buy, volume bought, and energy produced. I don't think there will be much difference but, of course, I will stand corrected if anyone has the figures, I don't go winter caravanning so use whatever was on the van in the first place. Gordon *Exclamation* now the gas you cook on is fattening! X Quote I love my Bailey Unicorn Madrid, I do, I do, I do!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limecc Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 (edited) My Gas Safe friend told me that Butane has an extra molecule which gives it the higher calorific value and a hotter burn. Because Propane runs at a higher pressure this compensates to some degree as more gas can be forced through a jet of any given size which is why you can run your cooker, BBQ or patio heater successfully on either gas without modification. My take is it's bad (<10 deg C) when you can't get the volume you need for a decent sized flame because the bottle is too cold to evaporate the contents! I'd sooner have Propane any day and you are never exchanging the cylinder with some contents left behind. Refillable Gaslow or Safefill bottles for Autogas is even better! Useless LPG fact 1: Autogas in Europe (Le GPL) is a mix of the two gases. . Useless LPG fact 2: Fully synthetic engine oil is manufactured from LPG and it works better than nature's finest because the oil molecules obtained are all a common size which reduces friction between sliding surfaces more effectively. .. Edited June 20, 2012 by limecc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy&Jeannie Posted June 20, 2012 Author Share Posted June 20, 2012 I had to show Jeannie your footer Maxcat and she went into hysterics. we thought we were the only ones that had thoughts about outside and inside bed positions. Mind you in our caravan its usually the dogs that get the last say. Jimmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KontikiKid Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 Hi As you say, propane works all year round where as butane does n't - this in itself swings the argument for us. There are other differences and costs - have a read of this blurb I wrote a while back. .. Propane and butane Russell Quote Online blog and travels, although sometimes there is a lack of travel due to work! It's an uncharted sea, it's an unopened door but you've got to reach out and you've got to explore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muddywheels Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 In 2010 I set up my new caravan for butane as I already had the bottles from last time and the BBQ - also cheaper Was ok during summer but October half term was a disaster with no heat due to temperature drop so changed over to propane and wish I did it years ago - higher output so faster heat up of caravan and hot water Now use it year round and on BBQ which now cooks quicker too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_B Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 I use both propane by choice & butane whenever I get a bottle for nowt Quote Paul B . .......Mondeo Estate & Elddis Avanté 505 (Tobago) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PR1 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 I prefer to use butane, rather than propane. Our local gas stockist exchanges one for the other when I go for a refill. Usually use propane between late October and March. Picked up my bottles from boot sales for a couple of pounds each, so I have some in stock, Quote 2019 Bailey Platinum (640) Phoenix from Chipping Sodbury caravans, towed by our 2017 my Discovery Sport! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limecc Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 I prefer to use butane, rather than propane. Our local gas stockist exchanges one for the other when I go for a refill. Usually use propane between late October and March. Picked up my bottles from boot sales for a couple of pounds each, so I have some in stock, Can you say why you prefer it and go to the extra trouble of using both? I struggling to think of any positives for butane myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geemac Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 so changed over to propane and wish I did it years ago - higher output so faster heat up of caravan and hot water I must have misunderstood something. I was under the impression that butane had the higher calorific output not propane, but that propane was under higher pressure to compensate ( from limecc's post). So someone please put me right. Which burns hotter, butane or propane? Which will boil a pint of water quicker? I'm not bothered either way, I have used both and have not paid enough attention to notice a difference. If I caravanned in winter, of course I would choose propane. Gordon Quote Nissan Qashqai 1. 6 dCi (130 PS) + Avondale Rialto 390-2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 I must have misunderstood something. I was under the impression that butane had the higher calorific output not propane, but that propane was under higher pressure to compensate ( from limecc's post). So someone please put me right. Which burns hotter, butane or propane? Which will boil a pint of water quicker? I'm not bothered either way, I have used both and have not paid enough attention to notice a difference. If I caravanned in winter, of course I would choose propane. Gordon My understanding is it depends! In olden days when you had a 28mb regulator for Butane and a 37mb regulator for propane then you got a quika cuppa from propane. Today in a caravan at least, both opperate on 30mb then the Butane would win the race. Though the fact that propane works at low temps makes the decision a no brainer for me at least Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limecc Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 Fred is right. Out of interest I had a look at the plate on my patio heater. For butane at 28mb it says 10kw max output, for propane at 37mb it says 13kw output so propane is hotter despite it having a cooler flame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ldsundance Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 if you're using butane in lower temps i suppose you could use an insulating jacket for the butane bottles? Quote Towing with 2. 0 darkside mk3 Ford Focus hatch named the Naked Turtle, towing a 1993 Abi Jubilee Emperor Named Michelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianI Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 if you're using butane in lower temps i suppose you could use an insulating jacket for the butane bottles? Actually that would make the performance worse. Butane is liquid in the cylinder with gas on top. As you draw off the gas, the liquid "boils" creating more gas but in doing so gives up latent heat so the liquid cools. Once the liquid gets down to a certain temperature it stops boiling or gassing so you then dont get any gas. It needs heat from the ambient surrounds for the liquid to warm up and start gassing. If the cylinder is insulated it would prevent this happening. The same thing happens with propane, except this will boil or gas at much lower temperatures than butane. Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poolebob Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 To back up Brian, One widely sold capacity gauge uses the principle that temperature changes the colour of certain crystals. It attaches magnetically to the bottom of the cylinder and utilises the fact that the liquid is colder than the gas above it. Also if you look at a gas cylinder used outside in cold damp weather you can seed ice forming on the outside where the liquid is. I think the debate about temps and calorific values is somewhat pointless. The difference between propane and butane for heating and cooking is not noticeable. poolebob poolebob Quote Honda CRV Diesel Petrol & No caravan now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ondaroadagain Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 So for summer?? Propane then? Quote I have a Mercedes 220 CDI AMG SPORT and following closely behind is a sterling 564 Sport 2012, I live in France and spend loads and loads of time in campsites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.