Measuring the gas in a large Calor gas bottle?

4NilJohn

I saw some adverts for a stick- on that would measure the gas in a large calor gas bottle some time ago but haven't seen any lately. Has anyone tried this, is it any good and if so where can I get one please?

G Cherokee

Hi fellow Midlander!!

The stick on gauge you mention aren`t all their made up to be.

I have bought a relativley cheap in line gauge that screws into the bottle ahead of the pigtail. and its good.

There is a vid on Youtube by Dan Trudgian where he pours warm water down the side of the bottle (obviously the bottle is taken out of the locker!)  this does work a treat and a definate line is seen at the gas level

EasyT

If you are lifting it out you can always do it by weight.

 

ChemicalJasper

Or go for a gaslight bottle, so you can actually see the level of gas inside (and very light in the front locker too!)

https://www.gas-uk.co.uk/bp-gaslight-propane-10kg.html

Boff

Depends on how much gas you use mine had layer of frost up to the level of the gas.   The easiest way is probably just to buy a luggage scale from a bargain shop and weigh it occasionally. 

EasyT

Indeed it does depend on usage. I am away a third of the year and don't use much more than 6 kg. So I use two 3.9kg bottles. That means that the only time I check my gas bottles is after an annual service when I repack the caravan. I weigh mainly to make sure that I connect up the part used one rather than a full one. 

Boff

Where as I can chug through almost 6kg in a weekend. 

Kennine

 Answer ------------ "Weigh it"

The weight of the empty cylinder is stamped on the cylinder. Any weight above that is the weight of the gas. 

Hope this helps ....................K

The Ovaltineys

Easier to weigh it as soon as you get it, rather than trying to decipher and convert lbs/ozs to kgs.

I wonder why they stamp the weight in lbs and ozs and they fill in kgs? OK I can understand it many years ago when imperial measures were used but surely they don't do it to new bottles 

 

4NilJohn

Thank you very much all you guys, I am sorry I haven't replied sooner, it has taken me till now to find where I posted the question! It seems the consensuss of opinion is to weight it and the adverts that I saw didn't really work. I think I will use the wife's bathroom scales!

Pippah45

A kettle of very hot water may give you the place - and tapping can help too - but now I am on Safefill I can see the level so that is that problem sorted! 

BlueVanMan

I read somewhere that there is a significant difference in the empty or tare weight from one bottle to another. If you cant be bothered converting from pounds and ounces there are plenty apps to do it for you. On the other hand the bottle itself wont get lighter so you could work out the difference being the amount used and infer that it the gas was filled to the correct weight how much is left.   

Merve

Safefill 4NilJohn! Cheaper gas, lighter, you can see how much gas you have and it won't mark your van- you'll never go back to a Calor cylinder if you get one.