Compact Jr. Propane - Butane - the Same?

[John Truitt]

I was lead to the Compact Jr. Brochure in the document center. (thank you) it says the unit shipped with a 5lb butane tank.. Is butane the same as propane?

My concern is if they are not - and the stove top is original - using butane - Is it safe or do I have to change something?

Thank you..

John

[peterh]

Here's a run down on the different cooking gasses:

Methane -- also known as natural gas -- has one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms.

Propane has three carbon atoms and eight hydrogen.

Butane has four carbon atoms and ten hydrogen.

Kerosene has around twelve carbon atoms and 26 hydrogen.

Each additional carbon atom in the fuel stores additional energy, so the larger, heavier fuels with more carbon atoms burn hotter and consume more oxygen when they burn.

Propane and butane are similar enough in size and energy that you can likely just tweak the air intakes on the burners a small amount to allow extra oxygen in to the air/fuel mix. A correctly adjusted burner should have a nice blue flame with no yellows, reds, or oranges in it. (These colors mean the fuel is not being burned completely, and the flame is producing poisonous carbon monoxide gas.)

[Gerry]

I remember back when I was backpacking in the 70's and 80's, I got a new Butane backpacking stove.
The rest of my hicking friends had propane or white gas.
Once the temps got down into the mid 20's F., My butane would not light.
The instructions said to "warm canister inside shirt to bring the temp above 32 degrees F."
This was on a small canister and I was wondering if on a larger bottle if the gas will not flow at colder temps.
Gerry

[Pete Dumbleton]

Butane is used to change the temperature characteristics of LP to compensate for seasonal ambient temperatures -- Hot air balloonists have to plan their flights and get the right mix for the expected temperatures (The LP seller will do the mix to the balloon pilot's specs).

[John Truitt]

Thank you everyone. I did some more online searching. What I came across is that I have to watch which regulators I use. As the propane and butane are under different pressures.

Also butane will not flow under certain temperatures - that is correct. So I will double check the regulator and check the flame colors...

Thank you again..

[Tom Trostel]

I've used only propane with my Compact Jr. cooktop. No problems.

[John Truitt]

Thank you all for your responses..

John