"Stephen" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I was reading the Calor Gas FAQ at:
http://www.calorgas.co.uk/faq/which-gas.htm

It makes the interesting point that butane boils at 0 degrees Celsius,
so butane cylinders won't work in the cold.

It also says that propane should be used for barbeques and patio
heaters. Is this for the same reason or is propane cheaper to produce?
Surely no-one would want to be under a patio heater or be barbequing
when it is freezing? Why can't butane be used?

As others have explained butane becomes ineffectice well before the ambient
air reaches 0C as the state change from liquid to gas consumes energy so the
liquid cools below the temperature of the ambient air.

I thought I read somewhere on the same site that only butane can be
used and stored indoors and that propane can only be used indoors on a
temporary basis, e.g. a plumber's blow torch. Is there a safety reason
for this? Is propane inherently more dangerous? Why?

Yes. Propane has a higher vapour pressure so is more likely to
leak/decompress at a given temperature. That's a particularly important
consideration when using gas in say a camper van where it might be subjected
to extreemes of temperature.

I presume that is why indoor heaters have to use butane? That can't be
helpful if the temperature drops to freezing! I guess you have to turn
the heater on before it gets that cold. That said, are such heaters
recommended? I thought that for domestic use they cause condensation
issues and didn't someone die from poisoning (carbon monoxide)?
Probably best to use a fan heater if possible?


I recall once camping in South Wales in December with a university canoeing
club where the butane cylinders we were using were only producing a tiny
flame. We balanced one on top of the other to heat it up and make it
useful...