Can anyone tell me ABOUT how long a single 1lb bottle of propane will keep a coleman one-burner stove going?

I am weighing propane vs dual-fuel (hope to eventually get both). BTW, the old-timers on the camping news-groups indicate the gasoline is horrible in a dual-fuel stove (destroys the pump/generator after 1-2 hours).

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous.com), February 13, 1999

Answers

They seem to last around 6 hours, depending on how high you've got the burner. I talked to reps. at the Coleman Store in Tennessee and they said the dual burner stoves with the 20lb. lp tank conversion hoses were hot items. These are available at Wal-Mart. The stove runs around $40.00, the hose adapter $20.00, and the distribution tee around $30.00. These seem to be readily available thus far. A 20 pound propane tank allows for cooking a long time.

-- trafficjam (roadconstruction@darntraffic.com), February 13, 1999.

I posted this in response to your question further down the board entitled "Sterno or LP gas stove?" - I assume you missed it:

"I'd recommend a two-burner propane camp stove. Can be used inside a dwelling, produces little CO2 (still, crack a window), and is safe providing all connections are tight. You can attach the disposable 1 lb. bottles if you like, but a few 20 lb.tanks, the kind used on BBQ grills, are cheaper overall. Camp stove dealers should also have, or be able to obtain, the necessary hose and adapter for using the 20 lb. tanks with the stove. Using the stove for an hour a day, a 20 lb. tank will last about 2 months. Propane stores well, and most places let you store up to 60 gallons (220 lbs.) of propane - check with local authorities."

20 lbs. for 60 days = 1 lb. for 3 days, used 2 hours per day - 6 hours a bottle, like trafficjam says.

Y'know, sometimes I really, really think I'm wasting my time answering stuff on this board - especially when the ones asking apparently don't bother reading it.

-- Why2K? (who@knows.com), February 13, 1999.

"BTW, the old-timers on the camping news-groups indicate the gasoline is horrible in a dual-fuel stove (destroys the pump/generator after 1-2 hours)."

Absolutely false. I first used mine in 1992 after hurricane Andrew, and have used it 6-8 times a year since, and still have the original pump that works fine. If it is a concern, go to K-Mart and pick up an extra pump or two - they are $7.00 each, and also fit the coleman lanterns. I just got back from K-Mart this morning, and they had a dozen of them on the shelf.

-- Online2Much (_@_._), February 13, 1999.

Why2K, I didn't ask the question, but I read it, and learned something. I've been wondering about this question myself. I've been coming to the forum since June of 1998, but, I mostly lurk. I've been flamed one to many times, here and on other forums, for being naive. I appreciate the time that you and others take to answer questions over and over. Although some may seem ungrateful, some of us are forever indebted to you and the others who have helped us (you know who you are!). THANKS!

-- gina (gngdecker@ckt.net), February 13, 1999.

"Y'know, sometimes I really, really think I'm wasting my time answering stuff on this board - especially when the ones asking apparently don't bother reading it."

I did read your answer but forgot about it. By the time I read it I was leaning towards dual-fuel, and failed to do the math to convert your answer for a 20-lb bottle to a 1-lb bottle. Also, I thought there was a tremendous degree of variability and was looking for as much input as possible.

Thank-you for answering twice!

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous.com), February 13, 1999.

Anonymous99 & Gina -

Thanks very much for your kind words. I don't feel that I deserve them... I felt bad about adding those last lines to my post as soon as I hit 'send', and I apologize for my tone.

I'm truly thankful that forums like this exist, I've learned a great deal from the folks here. I'm also grateful that I've been able to share what I know with others. Individually, we don't know whether we're having an overall positive effect or not, but we keep going regardless, and that's to the good.

-- Why2K? (who@knows.com), February 13, 1999.

I used to live in a mobile home and my 20 pound propane tank lasted about 3 months!

-- Freddie the Freeloader (freddie@aol.com), February 13, 1999.

Y2K: I read your posts and I think you are giving good information to people who really don't know the answer. Remember when we you were a little kid and you kept asking you parents why? How come? What's that? Well we have to treat newbies the same way. I know it gets tiring to keep answering the same questions over and over again, but at least people are asking and wanting to know. I would rather answer people here than the nit wits I know telling you, you are crazy. Keep up the good work!

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), February 13, 1999.

For the record, I just bought a 2-burner Coleman. The instructions are "rather humble" (almost non-existant), but on the box, it says that a single 1lb bottle should last from 1.1 to 4.5 hours.

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous.com), February 13, 1999.