As with most of you we have a gas bottle for the van. Can anyone recommend a product that tells you the true level of gas in the bottle and genuinely works. The magnetic gauges seem too be good to be true, and I don’t want to pour water over the side of it to see where it goes white. Thank you.
The only accurate way to determine exactly how much gas is left is to weigh it. The total weight minus the empty bottle weight for that particular gas bottle type (these can easily be found on-line) will give you the answer.
Dave.
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
Much easier to carry 2 bottles and simply switch over when one runs out. Replace at leisure!
I have one Calor and one CampingGaz. When on the continent use the CampingGaz and vice versa in the UK.
DaveS1
I just use a spring balance. Or you can get digi types for weighing luggage for a few quid. As stated amount left is bottle tare ie empty weight as marked on the bottle + the weight of the gas left in it.
But even if you know how much liquid is left inside it won't tell you how long it will last. As mentioned, when I had a caravan I carried two bottles so no problem. When one ran out I swapped them over then had the empty one exchanged.
Almost geek-like, when I first started camping with gaz, I did the weighing thing (with the digital luggage scales we already had) after each trip. After a few trips, that gave me some average figures for a typical weekend, and even for usage for a two week holiday. Transfer those given (used) weights to a percentage of a full weight, and it gives you a good idea of the percentage (of a full bottle) remaining.
Obviously can't give any figures now, as although I wrote them down at the time (and therefore kept a track of what percentage was left in the bottle/how many more average weekends it would last for), I don't have those figures anymore. I stopped weighing and writing it down when I chilled out... and was gifted a second bottle, to be fair!
It's a plausible plan though, and one I had great confidence in!
Yeah, the second bottle is the way to go, it doesn't always have to be full, just enough to get you bye in an emergengy. I got mine free at the local tip.
Dave.
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
Mucker, you are not alone. I too have weighed the bottle before and after a camping trip to see how much I use! I haven't taken it quite to the level you have, but if the weight of the bottle is less than empty weight plus expected usage then I know it's not going to last. I do still have the figures, but they're probably not much use to anyone else.
Our car is always full to bursting on a camping trip, so no space for a spare bottle.
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Topic: Gas bottle level
