Which gas bottle to buy
Which bottle you choose depends on a number of factors:
- Are you going on holiday in the Netherlands or are you going abroad?
- How long are you going on vacation?
The green 5 kg gas bottles are sufficient for two weeks of camping. These contain 10 liters of propane. However, if you go abroad, take an extra 5 kg bottle with you. Or you can opt for a gray 10.5 kg bottle.
If you are going abroad for more than two weeks, just take 2 green or 1 gray bottle with you. Refilling is usually possible. This is certainly not a problem in the Netherlands.
Storage gas cylinders
Your caravan will probably be stored in the winter? Gas bottles must then be removed from the ship! Where can you keep them and what do you pay attention to?
- close well; close the gas valve very well if you are not going to use it for a while. The tap on empty gas bottles must also be closed properly. Also remove the pressure regulator.
- Clearly visible; make sure the bottle is in an easily accessible place. It is important that any emergency services can see him.
- Ventilation; For the storage of gas cylinders, choose a ventilated room. Outside is preferred. For example in the garden, in a ventilated shed or on the balcony. At least not in the sun!
- Always keep the bottle upright during storage.
- Out of reach of children; Make sure that no children can reach the gas cylinders. Imagine them playing with it. For extra safety, I therefore recommend the GasStop. If they do turn on the tap, the gas supply is immediately shut off.
- Do not store on a floor or in the basement. Gas is heavier than air. If gas is unexpectedly released, it will fall to the bottom. You run the risk of gas build-up in the basement.
- Low temperatures are no problem; so keep the bottle outside with confidence. Temperatures down to -42 degrees Celsius are no problem, so you don't have to worry about severe frost.
- Cover the gas tap, for example use a plastic bag. You do this over the gas tap or possibly over the entire bottle. A garbage bag is also always handy. Note that the bottom still has an opening. This allows the gas to leak out through the bottom.
- Check for leakage beforehand and in the meantime. The easiest way to do this is to put a dash at the level of the content. Will the level stay the same? If not, something is wrong and requires action.
Transporting a gas bottle
The new bottle goes home in your car? How do you transport the bottle when you return from vacation? With the tips below you can be sure that it is done in a safe way.
- Not around children; always keep gas cylinders out of the reach of small children. Turning the tap is very attractive, but very dangerous.
- transport upright; always place the gas bottles upright during transport. This will prevent them from rolling. This can cause damage and in the worst case gas will be released.
- Ventilation; a trailer is ideal in that regard. If you do transport the bottle in the car, make sure there is a flow of air. In the unlikely event that gas escapes, it will in any case not accumulate.
- Check for damage.
- Gas tap closed; turn off any gas taps before transporting them. Furthermore, remove the gas hose and the pressure regulator. I would also do this with empty bottles just to be sure.
- Not in full sun; the temperature in the car sometimes rises quickly. So look carefully where you put the bottle in the car. Of course it is also very unwise to smoke near gas cylinders.
- Securing gas bottles; this will prevent them from rolling. You can use the seat belt in the car. If you have a trailer to transport the bottle, take a lashing strap.
gas cylinder safety
Handling gas cylinders always and everywhere requires caution. Therefore, a few simple tips to increase security.
- Ventilation; never put gas cylinders in a completely enclosed space. Once gas is released, it can in any case disappear and it does not accumulate in a certain room. With all its consequences. Propane gas will sink down anyway, so keep the caravan's drawbar floor grille open. Putting the bottle outside is definitely preferable. This also applies to unconnected gas cylinders.
- No fire nearby; I mainly think of smoking and open fire. Propane gas is simply fuel. If the gas bottle is connected or exchanged, check that there is no fire in the vicinity.
- keep a cool head; don't panic if something happens to the bottle. Is there a fire near the bottle full of gas? Stay calm and immediately turn off the gas valve. If it is no longer possible to get close to the bottle, cool it from a distance with water. Your own safety and that of other people always come first. Be sure to warn the fire brigade if necessary.
- Use your hands to open and close the bottle; do not use any tools. If you cannot open or close the bottle with your hands, something is often wrong. Do not use force, but return the bottle to the supplier.
- Sealed gas cylinder; so you know the bottle is safe. If the seal is broken, do not use the bottle. You then have no guarantee on a properly working and safe bottle. Also, with sealed gas bottles you always know for sure that they are filled with the right amount of propane gas.
- Approved gas hose and replaced regularly. You can replace a gas hose that you buy per meter after two years. This also applies to gas hoses that are connected to a hose tail with hose clamps. Orange gas hoses with pressed-on couplings must be replaced after 5 years.
- Get gas bottles from an authorized point of sale.
- Pressure regulator for constant pressure. The temperature determines the gas pressure in the bottle. This causes the pressure to fluctuate. If you prefer a constant pressure, use a gas pressure regulator.
Replace or connect gas hose
- Always keep the hose away from heat sources.
- Make sure that the hose is suitable for the type of gas you are using.
- Take a hose that bears the manufacturer's name and a year.
- Check the hose regularly for wear or leakage. If you discover discoloration or damage, replace the hose immediately.
- It is best to keep the hose as short as possible. This is because you always have to deal with pressure loss. Of course, the hose should not be too tight either.
Types of gas cylinders
- Plastic bottles: BP light gas bottle. BP determines the price of the gas. With these bottles you have to deal with a fixed deposit scheme.
- Campingaz bottles: the well-known small bottles with a blue color. You can buy them in different sizes.
- Lightweight plastic bottles.
- Steel gas cylinders: available in green or grey. These bottles have different deposit schemes.
Fill or exchange gas bottle
You have two options when the bottle is empty: exchange or refill. A few tips here:
- Only have it filled at an authorized gas filling station.
- When exchanging, only choose an approved supplier.
- Sometimes other bottles are known abroad. Filling a Dutch bottle is sometimes difficult.
- Do not bring foreign bottles into the Netherlands. This makes no sense, because they have no value here. Moreover, they can usually no longer be filled in the Netherlands.
- Never fill gas bottles yourself.
How full is the bottle with gas
Sometimes it's just a matter of guessing how much gas is left in the bottle. Another option is the special Primagaz app. This makes it very easy to find out how much gas is still available. How does it work?
- Take a hard object, for example a fork or spoon.
- Tap the bottle with this.
- Hold the smartphone next to it.
- This picks up the sound and the content of the bottle is determined based on resonance.
- The app also indicates how long the usage time is.
- You will also find special barbecue recipes in the app, for example.
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