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OH told me Propane burns hotter than Butane so you can only use Propane on gas appliances that are marked as taking Butane or Propane. If you gas appliance is only maked as being for Butane, then don't use Propane for it.

Hope that helps!

I know more than I thought

Suzy

Hi,

Propane works better when it's cold, and both should work on any appliance. I use propane to easter, then butane over summer. Bottle for bottle, butane will last a bit longer, as the regulator is set at a lower pressure than propane.

The regulator controls the amount of gas supplied to the appliance,  the amount of air is constant.

Propane needs more gas to air than butane to work properly, hence the regulator pressure is higher at 37mbar. Butane pressure is 28 mbar.

Mike

Quote: Originally posted by bobnsuz on 04/7/2007

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OH told me Propane burns hotter than Butane so you can only use Propane on gas appliances that are marked as taking Butane or Propane. If you gas appliance is only maked as being for Butane, then don't use Propane for it.

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The difference is only 10 degrees C - which is essentially irrelevant.

Propane actually gives less energy per kilo than Butane - but again the difference is pretty irrelevant.

What really matters is that Propane boils at a lower temperature than Butane - meaning you can use Propane on colder mornings than Butane.  That's why caravanners who have longer seasons than tenters prefer Propane (despite the extra cost).

Any appliance which will burn Butane will burn Propane quite happily.  But you will need the correct regulator.

Butane stops evaporating at 4 degrees C. Actually around 0 degrees C, but due to the cooling effect the gas exercises itself during evaporation the regulator and bottle will become colder than ambient temperature. So when ambient temperature is 4 degrees C butane stops functioning.

Propane stops functioning at minus 30 degrees C.

Many modern regulators are dual purpose, are set to 30 Mbar and will work for both types of gas. Like my van: I can use both. And I have used propane during winter in frost and snow. It's just the easiest option for camping all year around.