Butane safety

[urbankid12]

So I been cooking with butane in my minivan for about a month or two and I’m liking it.  Was thinking about switching over to propane the little green bottles but is propane safer? 

As far as I know as long as the bottles don’t get hot over 100 degrees they are ok. And no direct sun light and protect the stem.

I usually lock and unlock the bottle on the cooktop between uses but I’m just starting to have anxiety that I’m doing it wrong. I keep extra water around and door is open when cooking and I never cook that long and no overlap on the pan.  

My minivan does throw the loose gas cap code so I need to change that before it gets to be spring but if anyone has any resources to cooking on butane safely that be appreciated.

 

[XERTYX]

I disconnect my butane tank between uses as well. It seems to be good practice as I have noticed it seems to last longer that way. Maybe mine has a leak but this was from new. 

As far as safety there will be those who say one way or the other. Many people do use propane in their vans. I will not do so personally I have in a trailer but with lots of ventilation. Even the butane indoors I'm a little gun shy about HOWEVER...

When I was researching butane safety I came across this tidbit of information. In a commercial setting (restaurant, grocery store sample kiosks, etc) butane cooktops are approved heating sources indoors. Unventilated propane heating sources are NOT. 

Burning fuel inside creates a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Period. Some sources are inherently more risky. Some are less. I am comfortable burning butane in an enclosed area given adequate ventilation. It's wise to install a carbon monoxide detector in your vehicle either way.

 

[RVTravel]

Butane is safer than propane. Backpackers use isobutane canisters even at high altitude and in cold conditions with tips for those conditions.

 

[Freelander]

The only downside I know with Butane, it is doesn't work when its cold, it doesn't vaporize at cold temperatures.

 

[highdesertranger]

I can't see why there is a difference in safety. all those who say that one is safer than the other needs to post a link to the studies/laws that back this up. common sense tells us that connecting and reconnecting multiple times is more than likely to cause a leak in the canister seal on the disposable cylinders on either one.

I can tell you from first hand experience that butane does not work well at high altitude or cold temperature.

butane is insanely expensive compared to propane.

butane is very hard to find in the sticks.

highdesertranger

 

[jacqueg]

I disconnect the propane when I'm traveling. Otherwise, it stays connected to the stove, and the stove stays out of the van.

Now I could imagine a rube goldberg-style accident that could result in a disaster, but I do have a wild imagination when I put my mind to it. You will all be relieved to know that my imagination seldom has anything to do with consensual reality.

 

[XERTYX]

I can't see why there is a difference in safety.  all those who say that one is safer than the other needs to post a link to the studies/laws that back this up.  common sense tells us that connecting and reconnecting multiple times is more than likely to cause a leak in the canister seal on the disposable cylinders on either one.

I can tell you from first hand experience that butane does not work well at high altitude or cold temperature.

butane is insanely expensive compared to propane.

butane is very hard to find in the sticks.

highdesertranger

HDR I dont have sources, but as far as propane burners being the same as household burners and those being safe indoors argument I have always understood that range burners indoors use a catalytic reaction (similar to Coleman et al tent heaters) to fully combust all the fuel and lower the emissions. 

I used to use a bear cat I think it was catalytic tent heater on top of the bottom half of a take-down distribution tree (it was too tall on top of the tree AND I could smell a leak from one of the other 2 connections) when I had my boat. 

One night I woke up (lucky thing) gasping for air like a fish out of water. My chest felt like I had a concrete block on it and I threw open the port above the V-berth. A single breath of fresh air was like.... well a breath of fresh air. After about 20 mins of breathing while hanging out of the vent hatch I felt like I could stand again and I was able to come back inside.

CO poisoning is the only logical explanation and I was using a heater with a catalytic converter. So I'll not be burning unventilated propane without LOTS of airflow but that's just my 2 bits.

 

[highdesertranger]

" I have always understood that range burners indoors use a catalytic reaction"

not true. the catalytic process does NOT have an open flame. it is a chemical reaction and there is NO open flame.

highdesertranger

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

No matter what fuel source you use, just always vent properly.

 

[Trebor English]

Combustion is a fickle mistress.  Some people fear gaseous  fuels.  Some people fear liquids like gasoline, diesel, and kerosene.  Most people don't realize that solid fuels can explode like coal dust, flour, etc.  Candles that appear to be a solid fuel actually burn gas evaporated from the puddle of melted wax.  Steel wool has a huge surface area like coal dust.  It can be lit with a match.  Be careful as sputtering dripping burning molten iron can hurt you. 

All fuels use oxygen when burning.  They will continue to burn long after the remaining oxygen is insufficient for humans.

Propane tanks contain dense incompressable liquid propane at the bottom and light compressible propane vapor at the top.  When a container gets heated the liquid expands.  If it becomes too big to fit in the available space the pressure rises dramatically and the over pressure vent valve releases some propane.  The temperature at which this happens depends on how full the tank is.  If the tank is totally full at 40 degrees it will vent significantly when you heat it to 50 degrees.  That's why propane tanks never get filled fully.  The 100 degree figure in post # 1 would require an overfilled tank.  The portable 20 pound back yard BBQ tanks when only filled with 15 pounds can go, if I recall correctly, to about 136 degrees Fahrenheit. When I fill my green one pound tanks I only put in 8 to 12 ounces by weight instead of the 16 ounces that they can hold and still be safe in my van in the summer.  By doing that I never unintentionally test the pressure relief valve to see if it really works.

 

[PlethoraOfGuns]

Diesel and kerosene are pretty safe in terms of accidental combustion. Now filling the smaller propane canisters from the larger ones, are you weighing them as you fill them? Most people I see that fill them just equalize the tanks. That seems crazy, I just stay away from gaseous fuels now. I remember when I was a kid we used to play paintball in the woods. Going to the local bait and tackle shop to get our co2 tanks filled, they would weigh them and only put in the weight that the bottle said. Always wondered why they didn't equalize the tanks. I know better now and assume the same principal carries over to propane canisters.

 

[Cousin_Eddie]

[size=small][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I have a two burner propane cook-top that is a direct instal[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]l [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]ran to my [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]tank[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]. However on such occasions as [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]I travel with a nice butane single burner cook top that I use for cooking a steak [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]in an iron skillet [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]mostly or anything that might create a lot of smoke or leave a odor.[/font][/size]


[size=small][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]Yes, Butane is safer! Ever heard of a propane cigarette lighter? I don’t think so! Another big plus for some may be that you never need to vent a Butane [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]its very safe[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]. As a matter of fact Butane is far more widely used than most image especially in Asia where you live in a tiny room without a conventional stove. [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]Asians still use [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]Butane cook top[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]s widely in the USA[/font][/size]


[size=small][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]On the fuel, The last 1lbs bottle of propane I purchased was like $15 at walmart for a four-pack. [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]As far as Butane goes I picked a case at an Asia Market (always in stock and the cheapest place to get it) for about $1.50 per bottle. I can get about 4 steaks on single bottle of Butane. That would be 3 minutes preheat and 3 minute s on each side normally shutting if off after about a minute on the second side when using an iron skillet because its really holds the heat. So about 30 minutes per bottle on med/med-high heat on my stove.[/font][/size]

 

[highdesertranger]

Eddie you just convinced me. That's all the proof I need. LOL. highdesertranger

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

[size=small][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]Yes, Butane is safer! Ever heard of a propane cigarette lighter? I don’t think so! Another big plus for some may be that you never need to vent a Butane [/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]its very safe[/font][font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]. . . [/font][/size]

You always need to ventilate when you have a flame in an enclosed space!  Butane combines with oxygen in the air as does propane.  Their combustion byproducts are the same: carbon dioxide and water.

As to safety: the only way it is safer is the canisters are under lower pressure than a propane bottle.  The are less safe in that the attachment is less secure than a propane bottle.  As to thermal energy they are almost the same, 23 mJ/lb.

 

[GntlStone]

Just dont be like this guy and light a cigarette in a truck of butane, like this guy:

 

[MrNoodly]

I usually lock and unlock the bottle on the cooktop between uses but I’m just starting to have anxiety that I’m doing it wrong.

Flipping the lever up, when the dial is turned all the way off, disengages the can and everything is fine.

I have a dual fuel stove that uses either the butane cans or propane attached via a hose/regulator that came with it. The only problem is remembering to disconnect the bottle from the hose before disconnecting the hose from the stove. Bottle connects last, disconnects first.

 

[tradesman]

So I been cooking with butane in my minivan for about a month or two and I’m liking it.  Was thinking about switching over to propane the little green bottles but is propane safer? 

 I keep extra water around and door is open when cooking and I never cook that long and no overlap on the pan.  

One thing you DO NOT want to use on any type of gas fire is water. You should have a BC rated fire extinguisher for that.

 

[Weight]

Combustion is a fickle mistress.  Some people fear gaseous  fuels. 

True words. I can start a fire with a wad of Brillo steel wool and a spent 9 volt battery. Saw a house burn down due to this in a trash can. Battery shorted on the steel and then the paper. Once the paper started, then plastic trash bag and then the plastic trash can. It was unstoppable.
My expert opinion, many years in hazardous waste industry, propane is very dangerous, more than many give it credit. Then gasoline and such volatile liquids. Then Butane in the small packages we use. Butane is the safest fuel for indoors. Cleanest burning and lowest pressure containers.

 

[Weight]

That truck, the butane was not in containers. If that was propane, he would not have got out. Thinking Nashville.

 

[maki2]

Butane vs propane. They both work for cooking. As to safety, probably not a significant enough difference to make that even a little blip in your decision factor for what to buy.

I have cooked with both fuels, in the suitable temperature ranges. Truthfully as far as coking goes there was not enough of a difference in performance to influence a purchase of one type of fuel over the other type on the dual fuel stove I owned.

Easier to find propane 1 lb cylinders when out camping.

Cost wise if you have a 20lb cylinder then get an adapter hose and run it from that source. That will give you the most cooking time for fuel cost.

You are just going to have to get a stove and use it. Most likely you will keep with that stove until it fails unless you find you simply detest the stove. But it is not going to be that you detest the fuel, just that the performance of stove itself is what you have issues with. People get very frustrated with not being able to get a stove burner to go low enough for a slow simmer or have enough BTUs for heat to quickly boil water. Or be able to balance a small pot on the sdupports or fit a large pot on the stove top. Or they want two burners instead of one. Or they don't work well in the wind. Or they are not stable when in use. Those are the things that drive people nuts about stoves. As you can see there is a lot more to the decision that the type of fuel, its safety and fuel cost.