[90073]

I have a Hymer 694 from Germany, which has gas regulators set at 50mbar. Can someone advise what impact this has, compared to running at the uk rates?
Also what is the easiest gas to obtain in the EU? And are german gas bottles refilable in other countries? :roll:
thanks for your time.

 

[89425]

Hi Rob,

I've seen your post on another forum and I'm surprised you haven’t had any replies yet. I sat back to see if someone would help you but......

Personally the 10mb difference isn't going to make any noticeable difference with your cooker, however it may make a slight difference with your water boiler or space heating. That is if it HAD originally been fitted with a lower rated regulator. However as your vehicle came out of the factory with a 50mb regulator, the equipment will already been set-up for use with a 50mb regulator. Basically its fine, don’t change it.

Most pressure regulator will probably be 40mb, again I wouldn’t worry about this slight change. You will have to get an additional regulator (or joining hoses) if you change your bottle or gas type.

Gas bottles. Can’t really help you on this one, however I understand CampinGaz is widely available on the continent (though expensive in comparison to Calor gas etc. You’ll probably far better off in the long run to fit an under body storage vessel. Then you’ll be able to get it filled up almost anywhere. If you do go for this option, remember when paying for the gas at petrol stations etc. to tell the clerk its for domestic use and not road fuel so that you don’t pay the extra road duty tax.

Perhaps others would like to suggest some alternative ‘portable’ gas bottles/cylinders.

 

[89425]

Hi Rob,

I've just seen another of your posts stating the intended countries you want to visit, Spain being one of them.

Spain apparently are very ‘funny’ (Stroppy) about gas installations. I have no facts to hand, but I ‘think’ you won’t be able to obtain portable gas bottles there (I may be wrong). I understand travellers fill their bottles before crossing the border, and return to refill. I don’t think there is the same hassle when refilling ‘on board’ tank installations.

You will need to make further enquiries, sorry I cant be more helpful

 

[89425]

Just to keep everyone up to speed on this thread, I have pasted below a reply from another forum to the original question regarding bottles in Spain;

hello Rob

If you are going to Spain you can obtain camping gaz very easily from most sites and from any hardware store. It is a fraction of the cost here and works out cheaper than calor gas here but the bottles are much smaller. You can purchase cespa gas bottles which are Spanish style they look like an aluminium beer keg, you will have to buy a regulator to fit the Spanish bottle. You will have to fill in a form to say that you are a resident in Spain but they will accept a campsite in the area as a place of abode.
Sorry its a bit long. Best of luck if you are going to Spain its a lovely place this time of year NO snow.

Regards,- Alan

 

[Boff]

Also what is the easiest gas to obtain in the EU? And are german gas bottles refilable in other countries? :roll:
thanks for your time.

With "German gas bottles" you probably mean the grey 11-kg steel bottles, which are most common in Germany.

Most shops in Germany do not refill them, but swap full against empty and return the empty bottles to a central filling station. Cheapest sources in Germany are the big DIY-store chains. Swapping them is also possible in Austria (sure) and (rumour has it) in some east European countries like Poland.

In the Netherlands most camp shops or gas dealers also have some "Duitse flessen" (German bottles) on stock, because many Dutch campers prefer them to their own models. However, compared to Germany you pay about double the price.

In the rest of Europe it is more difficult. While in many southern European countries you will find somebody who will fill any gas in any bottle (except Spain, they are very restrictive) you will have problems in northern Europe.

If you are looking for a system which works all over Europe, there are three alternatives:
1. Blue "Camping-Gaz" bottles: Available (almost) everywhere, swap system. Disadvantages: Quite expensive, small, only butane (not suitable for winter conditions)
2. Build in a fixed gas tank which can be filled at petrol stations with "LPG" or "Autogas". They are most abundant in Netherlands, France and Germany.
3. Buy the German "tank bottle" from Wynen-Gas, which is just a self-refillable tank in the size of a standard gas bottle: http://www.wynen-gas.de/

Best Regards,
Gerhard