I have a Coleman 2 burner propane stove that uses the 16.4 ounce screw in bottles. Does anyone out there know if there is an adapter hose kit for these stoves to run off of 5 gallon propane tanks?

-- Scout (tenderfoot@be.prepared), September 02, 1999

Answers

Yes. I got mine at a sporting goods store that sells camping equipment. There were two parts, a hose and an adaptor to fit on the stove.

-- Lynn Ratcliffe (mcgrew@ntr.net), September 02, 1999.

Around here the adapters are available at Fleet Farm ("the Man's Mall" to quote their t-shirt) which used to be a farm supply place but now is more general but still has lots of farm and hardware and other real stuff. A good hardware store should have them, or most any place that sells the stove or lights should be able to get them if they don't have them. Don't know about Wal-Mart kind of places, though.

-- Jim (jiminwis@yahoo.com), September 02, 1999.

Wally World (Walmart) had those last time I checked. They also had the gas "tree" that you could plumb a propane line and stove too in tandem.

DCK

-- Don Kulha (dkulha@vom.com), September 02, 1999.

By the way, does anyone know how long the 16.4 oz bottle last?

-- Kasia (kasia@nctimes.net), September 03, 1999.

We got ours directly from Coleman. On the longevity of propane bottles, it depends on how much you use it. When the ice crystal start forming on the bottom of the bottle, shake it to extend the life. My best guess is 4 hours of continuous burning, but then it depends if you have the stove on high or low burn.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), September 03, 1999.

Walmart sells the hose ($15) in the camping supplies area. But you must also buy a "bulk adapter" ($6) to attach to the larger tank. I got mine from a hydrolics/plumming store. You can also buy a refill adapter ($20) to refill the small bottles from bulk tanks. I also got mine from this hydrolic/plumming store.

-- cb (I'm_tanked@nd.ready), September 03, 1999.

I bought my 5ft hose from local Coast to Coast to run off a 20lb tank.The hose is mfg by Mr. Heater (stock# f273701) and ran about $19.00. One end screws into 20lb tank (left hand tread) and the other end has the Throwaway cylinder tread which screws in where you would normally have your little l lb bottle. Hope that helps.

-- kelly (sticky@2sides.tape), September 03, 1999.

How about those gallon containers from coleman (white fuel)

anyone know how long they last---say on high heat??

Thank you in advance for your astute timely informative answer!

-- David Butts (dciinc@aol.com), September 03, 1999.

Here it's Walmart...

Best,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), September 03, 1999.

Kasia,

I do the same recipe every time, on different kinds of cookers, to tell people how much fuel they need. 1 cup of beans soaked for 8 to 10 hours in 5 cups of water. Then cook until beans are tender but not mush. It's more meaningful than "how long to boil 1 quart", because my numbers are real meals, but it's not as precise because "tender" is a little vague, to say the least.

The 16-ish ounce propane tanks in a single-burner stove will do that 7 times, using the lowest stable flame you can set. The higher the flame, the faster you use the fuel, but it won't necessarily cook any faster. You want a low enough flame that all the heat goes to the pot, not up past the pot into the room.

Pyromid (with the pot in the optional oven, not sitting on a bare grate) with 9 charcoal briquets does the same recipe easily, 6 briquets would probably do fine but haven't had time to try it. A 16 ox can of AlcoBrite (with their clip-on burner) does this meal 3 times.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), September 03, 1999.

Now, a can that holds 16 oxen is a big can, so you can use the 16 ounce one, instead, if you want ...

-- bw (home@puget.sound), September 03, 1999.

Oops, just went and looked up my numbers.

The 16.4 ounce tank will cook 8.7 of my standard bean meals. Or about 19 Kraft Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese dinners (Deluxe is the only way to face Y2k).

For lighting, the 16.4 ounce tank lights a double-mantle lantern for 7.5 hours on maximum setting, or 18 hours on the lowest setting that doesn't cause flickering. It lights a single-mantle lantern on maximum setting for just under 12 hours, or on a minimum (non-flicker) setting for over 27 hours.

Propane seems like the most efficient way to store energy, and is not too expensive, but raises leakage problems. Jelled alcohol has no leakage problems, but costs more and takes more space.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), September 03, 1999.

bw, thanks for your detailed info

-- Kasia (kasia@nctimes.net), September 03, 1999.