Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Advent Calendar

Advertisement

Message Forums

Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
  Caravans and Caravanning
Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Gas bottle regulators with level gauge. Post Reply Post New Topic
11/9/2013 at 6:52am
 Location:  Lancashire
 Outfit: Vango Samara 400 +Coachman VIP 520 4
View Ma+Pa Clampett.'s Profile View Profile   Reply to Ma+Pa Clampett. Reply   Quote Ma+Pa Clampett. Quote  
Joined: 08/9/2010

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   455
Tent Reviews:   6

Site Reviews Total: 15
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 1  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 2  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 14
Site Nights 2021: 14
Site Nights 2020: 21
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I was thinking of purchasing a  gas bottle regulator with a gas level indicator gauge.My questions are:- Does anyone use them and how accurate are they? Does anyone use the magnetic type,and are these accurate? We use propane gas in the caravan,and as I am unsure of the pressure the gas is under,are different regulators required for different bottle sizes i.e 6kg and 13kg.At the moment we have a 6kg bottle,but we have a 15kg butane bottle which I was thinking of exchanging for a 13kg propane bottle as I know propane works better in cooler weather.I'msorry if these seem to be daft questions,but you need to ask to find out.

-------------
If the moon reflects the suns light,why does it not reflect the suns heat?


11/9/2013 at 7:04am
 Location: Hertfordshire
 Outfit: Esterelle Caramatic T39
View JOHN BYRNE's Profile View Profile   Reply to JOHN BYRNE Reply   Quote JOHN BYRNE Quote  
Joined: 06/11/2004

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1130

Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I use a gaslow one which fits to the gas bottle without having to use a spanner.
As well as showing the gas levels in the bottle it also acts as a leak detector.
To use it as a leak detector you just turn the gas on at the bottle, after a minute turn it back off again and the gauge should show green.
If there is a leak it will gradually turn yellow and then red.
John


Discounted Insurance Quotes for UKCampsite.co.uk visitors! Up to 12.5% off!
UKCampsite.co.uk users are rewarded with up to 12.5% off Caravan Guard touring caravan insurance, folding camper and trailer tent insurance, and 5% off motorhome and campervan insurance. Static caravan insurance is also available. Get an online quote now

11/9/2013 at 7:13am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Hymer 530
View Hymer530's Profile View Profile   Reply to Hymer530 Reply   Quote Hymer530 Quote  
Joined: 13/4/2013

Silver Member
Silver Member

Forum Posts:   176

Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Calor lite bottle have a gauge built in to the bottle

-------------
Mike


11/9/2013 at 7:40am
 Location: N Wales
 Outfit: Hymer Nova 590GL
View boff's Profile View Profile   Reply to boff Reply   Quote boff Quote  
Joined: 13/2/2005

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   528

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

The pressure of gas in the bottle is independent of the bottle size. The pressure of propane is higher than butane though.

If you have a bulkhead mounted regulator then it works at a pressure of 30mb and you can connect to either butane or propane by having the correct pigtail connectors.

Calorlite bottles have a gauge fitted I is not accurate at all they do nothing until the bottle is half empty then it drops rapidly to nothing then the bottle carries on working for ages.

Gaslite bottles are plastic and you can see the level of gas in them.

The magnetic gauges work by noting the temperature change as the gas evaporates. If you are using a lot of gas you get condensation or even frost where the gas level is works for me.


11/9/2013 at 8:50am
 Location: Gloucestershie
 Outfit:  Fiat Ducato campervan
View kenles's Profile View Profile   Reply to kenles Reply   Quote kenles Quote  
Joined: 25/2/2007

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   1541

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

You could pour hot water over the gas cylinder.And that will show you how much ther is in the cylinder


Advertisement



11/9/2013 at 10:26am
 Location: north wales
 Outfit: Sprite Quattro FB
View brianconwy's Profile View Profile   Reply to brianconwy Reply   Quote brianconwy Quote  
Joined: 25/9/2005

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4286

Site Reviews Total: 11
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

All calor bottles have the tare printed ( stamped ) on them.  if you get a digital parcel scale you can weigh the bottle and subtract the tare.  We use calorlite bottles and the gauges are poor.


11/9/2013 at 11:05am
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View blueexpo97's Profile View Profile   Reply to blueexpo97 Reply   Quote blueexpo97 Quote  
Joined: 07/2/2009

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9851

Site Reviews Total: 24
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 2
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Second that about the gauges being poor on the Calor Lite bottles, they just seem to jump straight from full to empty, nothing in between .

-------------
XVI yes?

As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.


11/9/2013 at 11:13am
 Location: Yeadon Leeds!
 Outfit: Swift Challenger & Defender 110SW
View timtheenchanter's Profile View Profile   Reply to timtheenchanter Reply   Quote timtheenchanter Quote  
Joined: 27/6/2005

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   3331

Site Reviews Total: 10
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Propane, all bottles use the same regulator for the normal red bottles, reverse thread remember :)
Butane, the 4.5 is a screw on, the rest clip on.

the calor lites guage is fairly useless, but I find shaking/lifing them gives abetter approximation with the cyl being so light, if it says empty, but moves when shaken a bit, its got a few more nights in it yet, if not, get a new one nearby.


11/9/2013 at 11:29am
 Location: Rochdale
 Outfit: Hymer Nova 470 Mondeo titanium 140tdc
View janus's Profile View Profile   Reply to janus Reply   Quote janus Quote  
Joined: 05/2/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2979

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Quote: Originally posted by blueexpo97 on 11/9/2013
Second that about the gauges being poor on the Calor Lite bottles, they just seem to jump straight from full to empty, nothing in between .



And they do so when the bottle is still nearly full.

-------------
Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci


11/9/2013 at 12:22pm
 Location: Cambs
 Outfit: Tin tent diddy tent BIG tent
View birder99's Profile View Profile   Reply to birder99 Reply   Quote birder99 Quote  
Joined: 24/9/2010

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   1847

Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

The gauges on the bottles measure nothing except the pressure of the gas. There is no way that they are or can be an indication of the level of gas in the bottle. The only time they may give an indication is when the bottle is nearly empty.

By the way Tim, not all propane bottles have the same fittings as BP/Macgas Gaslight has a clip on as do many continental bottles.

Truma do an ultrasonic level detector but it is very expensive and imho not worth the expense even though it appears to be quite accurate.



-------------
'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'


Advertisement



11/9/2013 at 3:26pm
 Location: Yeadon Leeds!
 Outfit: Swift Challenger & Defender 110SW
View timtheenchanter's Profile View Profile   Reply to timtheenchanter Reply   Quote timtheenchanter Quote  
Joined: 27/6/2005

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   3331

Site Reviews Total: 10
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

ok, forgot about the gaslight, never heard of MacGas tbh, patiogas is also propane and uses a clip on...

the guage on the calor lite is a float guage, theoretically it should say "full" until it gets to 1/2 full, then start to drop.


11/9/2013 at 3:46pm
 Location: Cambs
 Outfit: Tin tent diddy tent BIG tent
View birder99's Profile View Profile   Reply to birder99 Reply   Quote birder99 Quote  
Joined: 24/9/2010

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   1847

Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Macgas are part of Flowgas who took over the BP bottled gas business

-------------
'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'


11/9/2013 at 9:49pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
Joined: 15/5/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9587

Site Reviews Total: 23
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 3  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 4  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 11
Site Nights 2021: 3
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 24
Site Nights 2018: 0

The magnetic gauges are a waste of time really as you can't see exactly where the line is especially on the smaller 3.9kg. Propane cylinders due to the odd shape. I have used one in the past but eventually discarded it because it was useless. I now use the Calor-Lite 6kg. cylinders with the built in gauge at the top which I find really useful and reasonably accurate too and although you do get the occasional cylinder whereby the gauge will stick, the solution is just to turn the cylinder upside down and then turn it back again and it should re-activate the gauge. I have only ever had one in the past that was stuck and the upside down method rectified the problem instantly. The Calor-Lite cylinders are 49.7% lighter than the standard steel cylinders so having two full ones in the front locker equals one standard steel one which helps reducing the caravan noseweight.

http://www.calor.co.uk/outdoor-living/calorlite/


11/9/2013 at 11:16pm
 Location: Northamptonshire
 Outfit: 1983 ABI ACE MARAUDER
View AceMarauders's Profile View Profile   Reply to AceMarauders Reply   Quote AceMarauders Quote  
Joined: 12/8/2013

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   238

Site Reviews Total: 4
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 1  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 1
Site Nights 2018: 0

I brought one of those magnetic ones for are 7kg bottles but im still confused how the read it as all the diffrent color squares hopefully work it out over the weekend.

-------------
She may be old, she may be rough around the edges but she is our home from home and we love it.


13/9/2013 at 4:32pm
 Location:  Lancashire
 Outfit: Vango Samara 400 +Coachman VIP 520 4
View Ma+Pa Clampett.'s Profile View Profile   Reply to Ma+Pa Clampett. Reply   Quote Ma+Pa Clampett. Quote  
Joined: 08/9/2010

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   455
Tent Reviews:   6

Site Reviews Total: 15
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 1  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 2  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 14
Site Nights 2021: 14
Site Nights 2020: 21
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Ok   everyone thanks for the replies.Once again it would seem it'sup to the individual.

 



-------------
If the moon reflects the suns light,why does it not reflect the suns heat?



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Caravans and Caravanning - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...














7465 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement


Advertisement


UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar


Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder