Storing and using a gas bottle on its side

[southoftheborder]

Hi
First post on here. Love Planet Bongo.
We have a JAL conversion. We can only use a 904 sized Calorgas bottle without it obstructing the bed when we put the bed down, a 907 bottle is too tall.
My question is - Is it safe to store and use a 907 bottle on its side once we're on site? I would envisage using some sort of cradle to hold the bottle in place.
I would always travel with the bottle upright.
Apart from cost and going longer without a refill, I keep reading the 904s are being phased out. Any truth in this?
Thanks
Sean

[Muzorewa]

No, you need gas to be coming out of the tap, not liquid. You can store & travel with it on its side but only use it upright.

[Bob]

Personaly, and I've delivered a lot of Calor Gas, in cylinders and bulk, I would transport, use, and store it upright.

If you get a fire the pressure relief valve will vent liquid, not gas, and this will immediately expand to 200 times the volume.

The fork lift cylinders you see used on their side have the take off pipe in a different place and arrows to indicate 'Up'.

Edit: Re read the post, Muzz is right, do not under any circumstances use it on its side. You will get liquid LPG coming out of the burner and expanding as above.

And welcome to the Forum.

[winchman]

The best plan is never store or use any gas cylinder on its side.
There are two that can be used but neither of them have camping type gasses in them.
Regarding the 904 being phased out I would just Email Camping Gaz and ask?
The biggest problem with them is the expence

[weebrian]

I've got a JAL conversion and have managed to squeeze in the smallest size Calor bottle by cutting a disc of the plywood flooring away to fit the bottle. Not only does it allow the higher bottle but it also holds it tightly in place.

If you can manage a 3.9kg propane you will find it much more effective in lower temperatures where below a certain temperature, off hand I think about 4degC, butane won't gas off making it unusable. Propane on the other hand can be used at temperatures less than -10degC.

[Muzorewa]

I've got a JAL conversion and have managed to squeeze in the smallest size Calor bottle by cutting a disc of the plywood flooring away to fit the bottle. Not only does it allow the higher bottle but it also holds it tightly in place.

If you can manage a 3.9kg propane you will find it much more effective in lower temperatures where below a certain temperature, off hand I think about 4degC, butane won't gas off making it unusable. Propane on the other hand can be used at temperatures less than -10degC.

Correct, you just need a different regulator, available in caravan shops. Butane boils at -1C but below 4 or 5C isn't much use. Propane boils at -42C.

[Bob]

And just for interest -40 degrees is the same in F and C.

[JoeC]

I have a JAL and Phil told me do not use cylinder above 4.5Kg. I have not tested for size but was going to get a butane 4.5 but just as well I did not ... will measure now.

[Bob]

Someone near you may well let you offer one up before you buy, and bear in mind they can be had from some tips for free.

[Simon Jones]

Go to your local Calor Gas centre as they usually stock Camping Gaz and ask if you can try one of their empty bottles for size. I did that and they loaned me one so I could work out how much space I needed in my conversion. You may have to leave them a deposit if taking it off-site.

[southoftheborder]

Thanks people the 904 it is, or the 3.9kg propane if it fits

[alan]

am i not reading this right
if you got a conversion done by a company you should have a gas locker for the gas.

[g8dhe]

Yes, hadn't spotted before that its under the bed and presumably not within a locker with a gas vent.