Plan your camping trip in advance by deciding what kind of stove you would like to use. There is a wide variety of propane powered cookers, Camping Gaz, Coleman camping stoves, double and single burning, refillable propane gas tanks and other fuel sources

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The Modern camping cook stove is both powerful and lightweight with designs to make cooking easier while in the outdoors. Outdoor camping stoves come in a variety of sizes and designs. Gas camping stoves come in basically three different categories: multi-burner family camping stoves, single burner backpacking , and expedition stoves.

Outdoor Camping Stove Fuels – Each has its advantages and disadvantages

Most have the same basic design of a burner or burners attached to a fuel source. Your intended use will determine which stove and fuel type is the best choice. If you do some car camping and have little room extra and need to heat up a can of chili from time to time then a single burner propane stove may be the way to go. Maybe even a can of sterno if money and space is tight.

Fuel Types

Understand the pros and cons of the different types of fuel, which are liquid fuel and pressurized gas canisters. I personally recommend only two real choices – Coleman style screw on propane canisters or white gas -Coleman liquid fuel.

The most popular fuel source is white gas, which performs well in all weather conditions. White gas is readily available all over but may not be outside the U.S

White Gas Stoves

The white gas stoves will produce the most heat of any outdoor camping stove. The white gas stoves now come in “dual fuel” versions. This allows you to use unleaded auto gas in addition to the white gas. A lot of people use the auto gas and are happy with it. Nevertheless it is smelly and if you spill it on something or get it on your hands, it’s hard to get rid of the odor.

I recommend using only the white gas in the dual fuel stoves. If you run out and can’t buy any white gas – then use the unleaded gasoline. The main advantage of using unleaded gasoline over white gas is cost. This is the only advantage to the dual fuel stoves. I feel the extra cost for the few gallons of white gas used each year is worth paying so you get the cleanliness of this fuel.

Pressurized Gas – Propane, Butane

The next most popular fuel source is propane gas canisters. If simplicity of use is your main concern use a pressurized gas stove. The fuel is made from blends of butane and other gases. Gas canisters are not refillable and must be thrown away when empty. You cannot check to see how much fuel is left in the canister when using pressurized gas. When using white gas, it is easy to check remaining fuel.

Pressurized gas stoves can be lit as soon as the fuel canister is in place. No pumping, priming, preheating the burner.

Liquid white gas burns hotter than the “propane – butane” gas and works better in windy, cold and low atmospheric conditions therefore it is the primary fuel for most expedition stoves. Most often it is lighter and cheaper to use liquid fuel than gas fuel due to the gas canister being heavier and has to be purchased each time. Liquid fuel does not burn as cleanly as gas and is more difficult to regulate the temperature. As for as transporting it’s somewhat safer to carry a gas canister in the trunk of your car than a bottle of white gas.

One last note: Make sure you know how to use your outdoor camping stove before going camping, use it at home instead of waiting until you’re in the field.

By: Patkee Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

If you enjoyed this little article about camping cook stove why not check out my entire site Camping How To You’ll find all kinds of helpful camping advice, articles, photo’s and more.

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Is propane is a clean burning fuel and a good alternative for other more traditional fossil fuels?

The current fuel options on the market range from the fossil fuels we’ve been using for many years to the hybrid electric cars now made by all auto manufacturers. There are many other potential fuels as well such as biofuel and ethanol that can now be a realistic way to power your engine. Propane may not sound like much of an alternative to petroleum but it actually is.

Most of us already make use of propane for cooking on barbecues or to power outdoor accessories. Though some people have propane vehicles, it isn’t as common as petroleum.

Propane is a gas that is converted to a liquid form in order for it to be used. It must be converted so that it is in a portable form and can then be put in tanks and moved. Though propane is derived from fossil fuels, it tends to be much safer. It is perfectly safe for heating homes instead of using natural gas. It may be wise to consider using it for vehicles as well since propane clearly does have some advantages. When compared to natural gas for cooking it proves to be cleaner burning and leaves food much more flavorful.

Propane is given an additive, a certain type of alcohol called ethanethiol. This gives the propane a very distinct scent so that it can easily be detected in the event of a spill or leak. Overall propane is relatively nontoxic. If it is abused as an inhalant it could become very deadly but with proper use it is quite harmless. Another advantage of propane use is that it is often cheaper than gas and tends to last longer with normal driving. It can be a change that eases the tension on your wallet.

A propane powered vehicle might not get as much power as a gas engine but most owners claim not to notice a difference. An added safety benefit is that a propane tank is much stronger than a gas tank and therefore is more resistant to any form of damage such as punctures. Some people make the decision to convert their gasoline car over to propane. This can be done though it does cost thousands of dollars. If you plan to do something like this, be sure to see a professional so it is done correctly.

It’s important to really consider why you want to make the switch to propane

Either way, it is still a fossil fuel and regardless, most fossil fuels are bad for the earth and they are not renewable resources.

On the other hand propane is also regarded as clean and environmentally friendly because its vapor doesn’t cause air pollution and is not harmful if accidentally inhaled  and because propane doesn’t pollute drinking water or damage water or soil based ecosystems. In addition it is non-toxic and isn’t counted amongst the greenhouse gases except for emissions from propane combustion and here the level of damaging emissions following LP Gas combustion is well below other carbon based fuels used in vehicles and engines today, well within the requirements for clean fuel vehicles.

Propane fuel is listed as an approved clean fuel by the U.S. Government and it can help to reduce the smog effects created by the use of other combustible fuels such as petrol and diesel

Fueling up can be an issue. You will likely have to make note of each gas station that has propane, not all of them do. If your goal is simply to save a little money then propane may be a great option for you. However, if you wish to make a difference on a global scale then a hybrid or flex fuel may be preferable. Do your research on all fuel types so you know what you’re really dealing with. Information is a major component of going green.

Author: Levi Quinn

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I have selected a few extra sources of related information about propane if you would like to explore this subject further

Hot water heater wiring – DIY Chatroom – DIY Home Improvement Forum

Draining your propane water heater is an important annual to semi-annual maintenance project that will help to lengthen its service life and decrease energy costs. Draining your propane water heater flushes out the sediment

Rub-a-dub-dub

A Toast ! to you at Unique Gas Appliances, for that first glorious propane water heater; the Safety-vent Fridge is still going strong (and that nobody has broken any mantles in my Falks propane lights lately). 

Water Heater  Cruisers & Sailing Forums

I have a propane water heater in my new boat. The previous owner installed it because he hated running the diesel to get a shower. It can take a small separate propane tank tucked beside the holding tank, or can probably be spliced into …  

Propane Water Heaters – A Better Choice For Energy Efficient Water 

Propane water heaters possess immense utility. Any sort of household necessities such as cleaning, cooking, bathing, etc becomes convenient with the usage of propane water heaters. Propane gas is used as energy to heat water 

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