100% Propane For Backpacking? Yes!

What's the "holy grail" of canister gas for mutual frigidity atmospheric condition backpacking?  100% propane.  Propane is the best.  Plain butane won't vaporize below 31F/-0.5C.  Even isobutane simply sits in that place in addition to looks at you lot below 11F/-12C.  But propane?  Propane vaporizes all the agency downwards to -44F/-42C.  Sweet!

What's that you lot say?  Propane is only available inward those large heavy steel cylinders that are 16.4oz/465g net weight?  And the total weight is fifty-fifty to a greater extent than than that?  And you're non close to send that on your back?

Hey, I'm alongside you.  Don't blame you lot a bit.  Those large light-green steel cylinders are simply impractical for backpacking.  Too bulky, equally good heavy, in addition to the stoves that become alongside them aren't whatever better.  But what if in that place were a amend way?

Introducing the Bernzomatic Power Cell.
A Bernzomatic Power Cell
Take a unopen hold off at that label
A Bernzomatic Power Cell is 100% propane
That's propane baby!

But volition it piece of occupation alongside backpacking stoves?  Let's direct maintain a look.
The connexion on a Bernzomatic Power Cell is a criterion 7/16 UNEF threaded connector
That's a criterion 7/16 UNEF threaded connector, the same 1 used past times backpacking stoves.  Let's endeavour it out.
A Snow Peak GS-100 stove on a Bernzomatic Power Cell
Well, I'll hold out danged.  Sure enough, it works.  But right away you've got an upright type canister stove mounted on a long, slender bottle.  No agency is that going to hold out stable.  We're dorsum to impractical again. What to do?

Well, what if you lot could split upward the burner from the bottle?  You tin -- if you lot direct maintain something similar a Brunton Stove Stand.
A GS-100 stove connected to a Bernzomatic Power Cell via a Brunton Stove Stand
Well, that's an improvement, but that canister is yet a petty on the tippy side.  Can't nosotros simply lay it down?
A Bernzomatic Power Cell laying on its side.
As a affair of fact, nosotros can.  And, inward example you lot can't run into it inward the inward a higher house photo, that stove is on in addition to inward use.
 

Warning:  When you lot lay this canister on its side or plow the canister upside down, you lot are feeding liquid propane into your stove.  Burning liquid propane tin hold out extremely dangerous.
To play it safe, you lot should follow the manufacturer's recommendations.  The manufacturer recommends that the canister ever hold out used inward the upright position.  See the total alert at the bottom of this post before you lot endeavour laying the canister on its side or turning the canister upside down.
A unopen upward of the flaming of a GS-100 stove running on 100% propane from a Bernzomatic Power Cell
Now, I started alongside a completely total canister, then past times putting the canister on its side, I should hold out getting liquid feed, the sort of feed you'd desire to move inward mutual frigidity weather.  But, simply to hold out sure, I leaned the canister upward against the hillside.
A Bernzomatic Power Cell, completely inverted
And how does it piece of occupation when completely inverted?  Just fine thanks.
A GS-100 stove running on liquid propane from a Bernzomatic Power Cell
The actually interesting thing close these tests I ran alongside 100% propane is that I made absolutely no modifications to the stove or stove stand upward inward whatever way, shape, or form.  In other words, I was able to run the stove on liquid propane (which is what you lot instruct when you lot invert the canister) without adding whatever pre-heating device.  I ran my tests inward atmospheric condition that was close 50F/10C air temperature.  In colder weather, a device to comport rut from the flaming to vaporize the fuel earlier it reaches the burner caput may hold out needed.  At the temperatures I was operating in, the normal properties of propane were sufficient to vaporize the fuel.  I experienced no flaring.  I did allow the stove to warm upward earlier inverting the canister.

There you lot direct maintain it, ladies in addition to gentlemen, practical  propane for backpacking, the holy grail of mutual frigidity atmospheric condition canister stoves.  You saw it hither first, on Adventures inward Stoving.

OK, but right away the bad news.  These are hard to find.  They are out there, in addition to they create exist, but they aren't widely available.  But they're really worthwhile if you lot tin honor some.  It appears that Bernzomatic may no longer hold out making these, then 1 time the existing render is gone, that may hold out it.  Grab 'em piece you lot can!
UPDATE 12 January 2012:  A thoughtful reader wrote Bernzomatic.  Bernzomatic has indeed discontinued the PowerCell (PC8).  The only such canisters available are the ones currently on shelves.  Once those are gone, no to a greater extent than volition hold out available.

WARNINGAny move of a fuel or a stove inward a mode non recommended past times the manufacturer may hold out unsafe or fifty-fifty deadly.  You may also void whatever warranty and/or nullify whatever legal protections you lot mightiness otherwise have.  The preceding weblog postal service shows techniques that are inherently dangerous.   Inverting the canister is against the manufacturer's recommendation.  Burning liquid propane tin hold out extremely dangerous.  If you lot invert (turn upside down) the canister or lay the canister on its side, you lot will instruct liquid propane. Screw upward here, in addition to you lot may hold out cooking a lot to a greater extent than than your dinner, instruct it?
The writer mentions these techniques only because he believes that they mightiness hold out of interest, but the writer does not warrant inward whatever agency that these techniques are safe.  Indeed, these techniques are not safe in addition to are past times their really nature dangerous.  Use of these techniques may Pb to belongings damage, smashing bodily harm, or fifty-fifty death.  The writer does not recommend the techniques shown inward this weblog post.  If you lot create upward one's heed to move the unsafe techniques shown inward this blog, that is your decision, in addition to you lot must direct maintain that you direct maintain deliberately chosen to engage inward a unsafe activity. 

HJ

Technical Appendix
Net weight:      226g/8oz of liquefied propane.
Gross weight:    365g/12.87oz (about 3/4lbs inward other words)
Empty weight:    139g/4.90oz
Connector type:  Standard 7/16 UNEF threaded alongside a woman mortal Lindal type valve.
Manfucturer:     Bernzomatic
Stove stand:     142g/5.00oz

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