LPG Bottle sizes in France.

[Biggles]

I am forward thinking my gas locker. As I plan to use the boat in France at some stage I think it wise to consider the size of various French LPG bottles. Indeed thinking even broader who has the largest ones.

 

I am thinking of a maximum size similar to the UK 19kg bottle.

 

Any other relevant continental LPG info welcome.

 

Biggles

Edited February 13, 2010 by Biggles

[springy]

<snip> As I plan to use the boat in Farce at some stage <snip>

 

Biggles

 

Will it be French farce ?

 

 

 

springy

[Biggles]

Will it be French farce ?

 

 

 

springy

 

Only the English can do farce. I don't know what you mean Thanks goodness for edit!

 

Biggles

[Guest wanted]

If I remember rightly the bottle sizes are the same, in my experience only the regs are different.

[Albion]

I am forward thinking my gas locker. As I plan to use the boat in France at some stage I think it wise to consider the size of various French LPG bottles. Indeed thinking even broader who has the largest ones.

 

I am thinking of a maximum size similar to the UK 19kg bottle.

 

Any other relevant continental LPG info welcome.

 

Biggles

 

In all the French supermarkets that I've been into I can't recall seeing anything bigger than our 13kg size but I may be wrong. There are generally a multitude of suppliers available and in both Propane and Butane. There are also smaller, lighter, cube type (plastic) bottles becoming available now and, the last time I was there, they were promoting these heavily by offering a free connector to suit the stub pipe, push on connector (like a patio gas bottle) that they had. The connector for the ordinary bottle is different to the UK ones, of course, and we had to buy a regulator for the bottle which fitted at the bottle end of the pipe (unlike the UK design where the regulator is usually at the boat end of the pipe). You can sign an agreement for the bottle hire at the supermarket but you need some sort of local address to put on the form which, in the case of a boat, seems to be OK to use the port address where you are based. I chose to use a supplier that was stocked by my port (which runs a hire boat base also) so that I didn't have to lug heavy bottles up to the supermarket. You can buy the regulators, hoses and such at the nearest Bricolage (DIY store) but, like a lot of DIY stuff in France it can be very expensive compared to the UK. Sometimes I wonder how the French can afford to DIY when you see the high prices for that type of stuff, tools especially, compared to the UK (and that was before the slump of the Pound v the Euro).

Try this Total site for gas bottle sizes: http://www.totalgaz.fr/moving-to-france/totalgaz-bottles but there are plenty of other suppliers.

Roger

[Priston]

Talk to any mobile home company. It is a common problem for anyone touring France. The regulators and the connectors are different.

[Boaty Jo]

In all the French supermarkets that I've been into I can't recall seeing anything bigger than our 13kg size but I may be wrong. There are generally a multitude of suppliers available and in both Propane and Butane. There are also smaller, lighter, cube type (plastic) bottles becoming available now and, the last time I was there, they were promoting these heavily by offering a free connector to suit the stub pipe, push on connector (like a patio gas bottle) that they had. The connector for the ordinary bottle is different to the UK ones, of course, and we had to buy a regulator for the bottle which fitted at the bottle end of the pipe (unlike the UK design where the regulator is usually at the boat end of the pipe). You can sign an agreement for the bottle hire at the supermarket but you need some sort of local address to put on the form which, in the case of a boat, seems to be OK to use the port address where you are based. I chose to use a supplier that was stocked by my port (which runs a hire boat base also) so that I didn't have to lug heavy bottles up to the supermarket. You can buy the regulators, hoses and such at the nearest Bricolage (DIY store) but, like a lot of DIY stuff in France it can be very expensive compared to the UK. Sometimes I wonder how the French can afford to DIY when you see the high prices for that type of stuff, tools especially, compared to the UK (and that was before the slump of the Pound v the Euro).

Try this Total site for gas bottle sizes: http://www.totalgaz.fr/moving-to-france/totalgaz-bottles but there are plenty of other suppliers.

Roger

 

Our bottles are 13kg. They are a fraction under 60cm high by 30cm diameter.

As Albion says the connections are different and a new regulator will be needed.

Gas costs around 23 Euros for 13kg

First time you buy you pay for the bottle in addition to the gas. We got a 'contract' which means that we can claim the cost of the bottle back if we want to. Bottle cost @ 25 Euros at our local Casino supermarket.

Bottle gas is pretty popular here, not only on boats but domestic applications too I think, presumably as there are many isolated properties.

Dutch bottles (10.5 kg) are smaller than the French ones but have the same fittings.

[Biggles]

Is there a problem of different suppliers or can you like here only exchange with the same bottle. eg. Calor, Flo Gas, Shell, etc? or do most outlets have different suppliers to hand. I know when you go to any supermarket or prtrol station in France there is always a stack of bottles, just I have never really taken any notice of whats going on with them.

 

Biggles

[Albion]

Is there a problem of different suppliers or can you like here only exchange with the same bottle. eg. Calor, Flo Gas, Shell, etc? or do most outlets have different suppliers to hand. I know when you go to any supermarket or petrol station in France there is always a stack of bottles, just I have never really taken any notice of whats going on with them.

 

Biggles

 

As far as I am aware, although I haven't tried otherwise, you can only swap like for like. Most supermarkets have a large range of different supplier's bottles available and in the relatively small area of France that I have managed to cruise so far they all seem to stock the same (or similar) range of different suppliers.

Roger

[XAlan W]

Is there a problem of different suppliers or can you like here only exchange with the same bottle. eg. Calor, Flo Gas, Shell, etc? or do most outlets have different suppliers to hand. I know when you go to any supermarket or prtrol station in France there is always a stack of bottles, just I have never really taken any notice of whats going on with them.

 

Biggles

 

You can only change bottles like for like but most super markets & bricolage have at least 6 different makes. Various sizes are available I would suspect the 12/15kg size would be most suitable it`s more or less the same as the CALOR that most boats seem to have The household size is the next one up &stands about 55ins high &16or so ins in dia holds around 70ish litres of GPL as it`s known over here +it weighs a ton takes at least 2 strong bods to lift it full. A way around theregulater problem if it`s a new build is to fit one of the new type 30 mlbr regs that bolt to a bulkhead & then buy different pig tails to suit the bottles the newer motor caravans are like that & it makes it much easier. Mostly the French bottles have a male left hand thread but beware if you travel near to the German border,some bottles are German fittings [different again!!!] hence 1 reg many pigtails.At the moment Std Regs are between 9 &14 euros, refills of gas,18 to 26e`s. LECLERC smkt`s gas is the cheapest in their own bottles, but you can only buy at LECLERC Most of the other bands are much easier to obtain Hope this helps.