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Hi all,

Well, we're off for our first 'proper' camping trip next week (fingers crossed for good weather!!) - yay!

Anyway, regarding gas...we have the Campingaz Camping Chef stove with grill.....I have decided (upon the advice on people on this site, thanks!) to buy the 4.5kg Calor gas, instead of the campingaz 907 that I was originally going to get!

Anyway, questions questions.....!.........

1) Just to confirm - the calor blue bottle is definitely compatible with my stove?

2) So long as I get a calor regulator, then the calor gas is perfectly acceptable and safe to use with my stove? (Mentions of bar and psi have baffled me - seen as I have no idea what pressure I need and what pressue I can get from which gas !!)

3) Regarding bar/psi - calor vs. campingaz for use with my stove; will using calor influence the cooking time and flame quality? (sorry, that is probably a stupid question...!)

4) What 'gas safety' suggestions do you have? (Ie. I have read that people turn the gas 'properly off' (as oppose to just off at the hob I guess?) at night etc; how would I do this - by disconnecting the hose each time?...or simply by unscrewing the regulator? Or by another method?

5) Can someone please tell me step by step set-up instructions to connect the gas bottle to my stove, thanks.

6) Oh and also, we have decided we will definitely be cooking outside of the tent - the plan is to keep the kitchen unit & stove out there constantly and to simply cover with a waterproof BBQ cover at night-time - although just to confirm, is it safe and okay to keep the gas bottle out there, constantly, too? (I presume it will be uncovered as doubt I will squeeze it under the protective BBQ cover) or do I need to cover/shield it from the elements too? ...........and is it okay to leave it all connected when not in use, or do I need to do set-up again and connect everytime I wish to use the stove? (this kind of ties in with question 4)

Thank you very much from a new and 'yet to learn the ropes' camper!!!

Cara

Hi Cara,

I can't answer all the questions as I'm no expert but....

1) Yes - it's definitely compatible, you just need the correct regulator.

2) Yes - definitely safe as long as you use it correctly / sensibly

3) No idea but I think they're both butane so there shouldn't be much difference (somebody will probably put me right here)

4) Safety-wise, never leave it unattended when in use and as an extra precaution I also turn off the gas completely until I need it. To do this, you just turn the knob on the regulator.

5) To connect the bottle to the stove, have a pipe cut to the length you want and then attach one end to the regulator and one to the stove. Make sure you put a jubilee clip on each end of the pipe first (to be tightened up later). It makes it easier to soften the ends of the pipe in hot water first. You then need to tighten up the jubilee clips. The pipe stays permanently attached to the stove and regulator and you just screw the regulator onto the top of the bottle to use.

6) My gas bottle lives in the extension and I've had no problems but I have no idea beyond this. Sorry!

Hope you have a fantastic trip!

Karen

The gas is the same.

Connect the pipe and set up the stove and test at home first - just in case you don't have warm water onsite, need a certain size of spanner/adjustable spanner (some regulators have to be attached to the bottle with a large spanner) or something is missing or doesn't work. Best to get familiar with the stove and how it works at home first.

You can get gas bottle covers, but the main bit to keep dry is the stove and the regulator.

Safety tips:

• When you have finished cooking keep the burners lit, turn off the gas at the bottle and let the burners use up any remaining gas in the pipe and then once they have gone out turn off the burners.
• Follow the instructions.
• When you connect the pipe to the stove and the regulator and connect the regulator to the gas do this outside and check for leaks via a smear of concentrated washing-up liquid, which will bubble if there is gas escaping.
• Keep the burners and working parts very clean and change the hose every 4-5 years or if you fear that it has been damaged.
• We use a piezo ignitor (as you can use on gas hobs at home) rather than matches to light the stove - saves the risk of dropping a lit match.
• Make sure your stove and stand are level (not with blocks of wood or some such heath robinson approach which could undo at a critical moment) and very stable with a good windshield behind and well away from the tent sides and any flapping fabrics (including clothes).
• Obviously, declare a children's/pets no go zone as they can knock something into the stove or trip you up, as much as fall into it themselves.
• Have a fire blanket, fire bucket of water and a newish fire extinguisher to hand.

Quote: Originally posted by Cheery_Camper on 25/5/2011

Hi all,

]2) So long as I get a calor regulator, then the calor gas is perfectly acceptable and safe to use with my stove? (Mentions of bar and psi have baffled me - seen as I have no idea what pressure I need and what pressue I can get from which gas

Cara

 

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---

Whilst  hate correcting anyone...

The 4.5kg Calor Butane takes a screw on regulator not a clip on one!

Otherwise excellent advice above.

Glen

that is the type of regulator that you need for a 4.5kg calor gas cylynder and to turn it off it has a screw tap on the top of the cylynder

I have a campinggaz camping chef stove and i always use the calor 4.5kg gas bottle and the regulator that i have shown above

 you will not have a problem and you will save money over the campingaz 907

Thankyou very much to all of you for your expertise advice

We went to Go Outdoors yesterday and bought the calor 4.5kg with screw on regulator. Tested the stove when we got home, all working fine, so that's a relief!

Regarding getting the hose connected - WOW that was tough and hard work....thanks for the 'hot water' tip, made things much easier! Did find myself wondering how I would obtain hot water on site; as at that point the stove wouldn't be connected (therefore unable to boil the kettle ) But I will remember to take a thermos flask of boiling water with us to solve this issue

THANKS AGAIN, IT'S APPRECIATED (I love this site!)

Cara

to solve the problem with the very tight hoses I have fitted my stoves with these

8mm quick release gas couplings 

fit them at home and the connection on site takes seconds I leave a short length of hose connected to the stove with the loose nozzle and the valve body with the knurled collar is on the end of the long hose from the regulator

the quick release also has a valve in it so if you disconect with the gas still on the valve will shut it off for you