Hi, Jon here.. first time to BM!
part of a 60 person camp from London building 3 installations.
I have a specific issue right now.. trying to work out how much gas we need to run 4 big Bayou Classic gas cookers, cooking 2 meals a day for 60 people for 16 days
and any good local suppliers...
any help welcome!
propane
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jongoodbun
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gaminwench
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Re: propane
Local suppliers will be limited to the approved vendors list, if y'all want it delivered to your address.
"the prophecies of doom were better last year" trilo
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GreyCoyote
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Re: propane
As to the "how much you will need": Google says the most common Bayou Classic Cooker is 60,000 btu/hr. Propane has 20,000 btu/lb, so you will need 3 lbs per hour to run the burner. Assume for the sake of discussion it takes an hour of burner time per meal, and you are cooking two meals per day, you need 6 lbs/day, thats 96 lbs for 16 days, so a 100 lb cylinder should do it with no reserve. Thats PER BURNER. You have four. 
Of course, the reality is these numbers are for full-throttle use. Usually you run wide open just long enough to bring something to a boil, and then it goes to a low heat to cook. YMMV. Best way? Cook a meal and measure the weight difference in a tank. Scale accordingly, with due regard for playa conditions (altitude, wind).
Naturally you'd want a considerable reserve. If I had 60 folks counting on me for meals, I'd plan on 50% extra. Nothing is grumpier than a hungry burner!
One other point: the "20 lb tanks" you see exchanged everywhere for BBQ use (Blue Rhino, etc) are not filled to 20 lbs. Read the label carefully and you will see anywhere from 15 to 17 lbs. Consider this when planning your cooking heat budget.
Good luck.
Of course, the reality is these numbers are for full-throttle use. Usually you run wide open just long enough to bring something to a boil, and then it goes to a low heat to cook. YMMV. Best way? Cook a meal and measure the weight difference in a tank. Scale accordingly, with due regard for playa conditions (altitude, wind).Naturally you'd want a considerable reserve. If I had 60 folks counting on me for meals, I'd plan on 50% extra. Nothing is grumpier than a hungry burner!
One other point: the "20 lb tanks" you see exchanged everywhere for BBQ use (Blue Rhino, etc) are not filled to 20 lbs. Read the label carefully and you will see anywhere from 15 to 17 lbs. Consider this when planning your cooking heat budget.
Good luck.
"To sum up my compassion level, I think we should feed the unwanted animals to the homeless. Or visa versa. Too much attention and money is spent on both."
(A Beautiful Mind)
(A Beautiful Mind)
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Elderberry
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Re: propane
Thanks for posting that GreyCoyote. The most useful thing I learned all week.
Elderberry
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle.
Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle.
Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me
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jongoodbun
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- Camp Name: Bismuth Bivouac
Re: propane
many thanks all.. really useful, and a great intro to eplaya!