How Long Does A Butane Canister Last (all required info)

Butane gas is the fuel that is used to power portable stoves and lanterns.

Propane and butane canisters are popular with campers, hunters, and others. It is very comfortable to use them outdoors because of their light weight and portability. So, here is some information about butane canisters that will help you to use them effectively.

how long does a butane canister last

Portable butane stoves

For comfortable use of butane canisters, there is a camping stove. It is a portable stove that is easy to use and very light. The most common capacity of butane canisters is 8 oz canisters.

This volume of canister looks like a normal spray can, so you can easily fit it in your camping bag.

Also, butane canisters can be used with butane stoves during a camping trip. And you might have a question about its lasting.

How long does a butane canister last if its volume is 8 oz?

This indicator can vary from the way you use it. It is very important to count what flame you need. If we talk about high heat and flame, the butane camping gas lasts 1.5 hours. And if you use low heat and flame, the working time of an 8 oz butane canister is circa 3 hours!

But is not as easy as you could think because it is significant to know that the index is only for a 7650 BTU portable butane camping stove. Using other stoves causes other indexes.

How long does a butane canister last if its volume is 8 oz

An easy calculation to know how long can a gas canister last

A normal gas burner consumes about 5 ounces of gas per hour. So, using mathematics formula, you can get exact results of butane canister lasting.

To determine this, let’s solve some simple calculations:

1 kg of gas that is in a gas cartridge produces 14 kW of heat energy. Let’s take a can with 10 000 BTU to calculate. So, you should increase the size of the gas canister in kgs by 14 kW to calculate the amount of energy inside the gas canister. The amount of energy contained in a 530 oz: 140 kW = 10 × 14. Then it is time to divide this result by the heat setting of the device you use. As a result, 140 watts/4.2 kW-h equals 50 hours of heat on the highest intensity setting of the device.

So, if you use 3 bar of pressure in your butane or propane canister rather than 1 bar of heat setting of your device, you can reduce the performance of your canister by 150 hours.

Don’t use more bars of pressure if it needn’t and the canister life will be longer.

How long does a 500g gas canister last?

500g is a big volume for canisters, so it can be expensive. To avoid worries and buy a high-quality product – buy the gas with a warranty and in professional certified shops.

If you use a camping stove properly, a full 500g canister should last roughly six and a half hours of use. So, it is a good choice for long journeys, or you can leave it for the next camping trip.

How long does a 500g gas canister last

What is the last of the 220-230g butane or propane canister?

220-230g butane canister is rated for one and a half hours on high flame and 3 hours on low flame. 220g aerosol gas canister is one of the most common.

How long does a 100g butane canister last?

The 100g butane or propane gas canister can work circa 1 – 1.5 hours. Of course, the exact time depends on different factors.

What factors should be considered to calculate the exact butane canister lasting?

  • The number of people: This factor is directly proportional to the butane canister lasting because of the time of working to prepare an appropriate number of dishes for all the people.
  • Availability of water: Not a less important factor. Glacial ponds and stream water enhances the time of water boiling.
  • Weather: Heat, humidity, and air temperature influence how much camping gas burns.
  • Kind of dishes: Simpler dishes are more economical to use gas stoves.

Different variants of butane canisters

There are various sizes of gas canisters that can be used for different applications. For example, for the kitchen, camping trips, and others.

A refill canister is a canister that uses with butane lighters, candles, and kitchen torches.

You can refill these items with special refill canisters.

Also, there are camping stove butane canisters. They usually come in 8 oz butane canisters. The most common size of canister among travelers is 8 oz volume. It is compatible with most stoves and comfortable enough to use in nature.

Of course, you can choose a suitable kind of butane gas canister in many different hardware stores.

Types of gas canisters:

  • Screw-On Canisters (The most common form of gas canister for camping stoves. It is resealable thanks to the valve and use again later).
  • Canisters Easy-Click (They are canisters without thread).
  • Pierce-able (This type of gas canister is not very expensive, but also it has a downside too – it cannot be sealed again, so it is a one-time item).
  • Aerosol (Aerosol is cheap too, but it suits only to refill other butane canisters).
  • 4 oz Steel Canisters (Excellent variant to bring on trips for camping. But they are very heavy to carry in a bag. For car camping – it is one of the best choices).
butane canisters

How do you put the butane on the gas stove?

How to put the butane on the stove is an often question for a lot of people. So, there is an answer:

All you need to do is just open the fuel canister and pull out the cap.

Then you can just put the butane canister upward, and the valve on the canister should just go into the funnel-shaped fitting.

Where should I store butane canisters?

According to safety precautions, you cannot leave butane fuel canisters anywhere. Butane comes in thin and light cans, so you should be careful with the use.

There are some useful rules to keep butane fuel canisters:

  • You should keep the canister as further as possible from direct sunlight, sparks, and flame. Don’t let it heat! (to avoid it, you can keep cans in bags or put clothes on them to pre-heat).
  • Don’t keep butane gas canisters next to the stove.
  • A place that is near sharp items is a bad choice to keep butane cans. (Any sharp or metal piece can puncture a canister because it is made of aluminum).
  • If the weather during your camping is cold or freezing, you should choose a propane tank instead of a butane canister. (This is due to the fact that butane pressure in the canister drops below the boiling point (30.2 °F or -1 °C) and you cannot light up your camping stove.

In condition, you use the gas canisters following the rules, butane will be the safest and the most reliable fuel fount in the world.

Where should I store butane canisters

Can butane canisters explode?

Of course, as combustible gas canisters, they can explode. So, you should be very careful and attentive during using this item.

At what temperature does butane explode?

These canisters can explode when the temperature achieves 120 °F (49 °C). So keep it far from direct sunlight.

Will a butane canister explode when used for several hours straight?

No, you can be calm. It is safe to use gas canisters with liquid fuel stoves as long as you need them because the pressure inside the canister gets weaker during burning – which means the risk of explosion gets lower too.

Is it possible to refill butane canisters yourself?

Unfortunately, the butane canister is designed to be a one-off item, so you shouldn’t refill it, especially yourself. It is professional and responsible work because it is important to consider the form and current condition of each can.

Thus, you shouldn’t use it more than one time, and you must utilize it in the right way.

Where to buy butane gas canisters?

Certainly, butane canisters are available online and in any hardware store. Just compare prices and choose the best shop for yourself. An important thing when choosing a canister of gas is to pay attention to its origin and quality to avoid problems in use.

Where to buy butane gas canisters

Does butane have an expiration date?

No, it doesn’t. Butane gas is not a perishable product. It will last from 8 to 10 years if you have bought it in a certified shop. Of course, you can extend the life of butane if you put it in a cool and dry place. Because of this instability, we should store butane at temperatures below 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius).

If you have already bought butane or propane canister, check their quality on the Internet or by the reviews from other people. Provided that the gas is low-quality, you should hurry up to use it; otherwise, it can get out of its expiration date.

Which is safer to store butane or propane?

Butane gas is much safer than propane gas. Butane is not toxic, while propane is combustible and toxic, so it is more dangerous to the atmosphere and people.

Butane also vaporizes less than propane, so butane can be stored where propane can’t. Butane stoves are safer to use than propane stoves. This is because butane has no open flames. Since butane gas is heavier than air, its presence cannot be detected by sight or smell, which could prove dangerous in different situations.

However, propane gas is lighter than air, and it can be seen and smelled, making it easier to detect leaks.

Is butane gas lighter or heavier than air?

Butane is heavier than air. That is a fact that considers results under similar temperature and pressure conditions.

Butane has a molar mass of about 58 g/mol and air has about 28 g/mol. So, butane is slightly more than twice the size of the weight of air.

butane gas lighter or heavier than air

Summing Up

Butane is environment-friendly gas for a camping stove. It is popular to use not only as camping gas but for home.

Using a butane canister is a comfortable opportunity because you can light up a fire, heat food, cook different dishes and melt ice if it is necessary. Purchasing this item is a must-have for modern travelers and campers.

Butane canister has higher importance in countries with rough and cold climates, where you need to drink hot tea or water and eat hot food to keep warm.

Also, butane can be kept for a very long time. But you should choose only high-quality canisters to avoid problems with them. The more expensive the gas containers, the better at use. Now you know the answer to the question “how long does a butane canister last?”.

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