pacsur - 9-30-2003 at 05:26 PM
Can anyone explain in an easy format how to figure usage and cost of propane in a very large oven in Mexico? Also how the cost and usage compares to
Natural gas in the states? I am trying to work out a per hour cost. Thank you...
[Edited on 10-1-2003 by pacsur]
Bajabus - 9-30-2003 at 05:49 PM
one cubic ft of natural gas has 1031 btu's
one cubic ft of propane has 2516
temperature of the gas has an effect on this figure but it's close enough for your purposes.
go to this site and use their cool comparison calculator to figure it out.
last I looked propane was around 6 pesos per liter but I could be wrong.
http://www.mipga.org/PhysProp.htm
Bajabus - 9-30-2003 at 05:51 PM
also the propane in baja is blended with butane so the actual btu's will be somewhat lower.
Bajabus - 9-30-2003 at 05:53 PM
oops sorry got that backwards butane burns hotter, it has 3260 btu's per cuft.
Bajabus - 9-30-2003 at 05:56 PM
here is another good link for info on propane/butane mixes.
http://www.altenergy.com/PDF%20Files/PropDataPdf.PDF
propane
pacsur - 9-30-2003 at 07:39 PM
Thank's a bunch!!! I have been researching a new business down here and this has been a sticking point with me from the wide assortment of info I have
been receiving from the U.S. and here. This is a big help!
Dave - 9-30-2003 at 08:01 PM
I own a restaurant in Baja and cook/bake with propane. I have a double gas convection oven and it is a b-tch to keep regulated. The conversion
orifices for propane have to be fudged one way or the other to get the proper flame because of inconsistent gas mixture. Contamination can also play
havoc with your equipment. Bottom line is you have to constantly check your ovens.
David K - 9-30-2003 at 08:45 PM
A question about the small (5 gal?) tanks, please...
I have two, from years ago. They won't refill them, I heard. Can my two tanks be modified? How?
Bajabus - 10-1-2003 at 03:10 AM
David, they will fill old style tanks, hell those guys will fill balloons for you as long as you have the dough re mi.
David K - 10-1-2003 at 07:23 AM
Max, I am talking about the tanks on my bar-b-ques here in California. I am sure filling them in Mexico is as easy as you said.
Bajabus - 10-1-2003 at 07:36 AM
yep Dave they will fill them, at least they did for me 2 months ago when I was last down there.
bajaloco - 10-1-2003 at 08:29 AM
David... California has made it mandatory for older propane tanks to be up-dated with a new style of valve. Tanks must have a visual interior
inspection and valve replaced. It is usually more cost effective to replace the tank completly, depending on the tanks age and condition....GM
Les - 10-1-2003 at 12:37 PM
David.... Once you have the valve replaced on the old tanks, you'll have to have them recertified every 5 years. Get new ones and use the old ones
for Baja. Like Bajabus said, they'll fill most any container in Baja.
David....
Bedman - 10-6-2003 at 07:53 PM
I took my Old tank to the X-change tank place. You know, those places that you buy a new filled tank for a few dollars more than the empty old rusty
one you have and they are already filled. The guy never said a thing about the different old valve and I got a new tank with the New valve on it.
Bedman
David K - 10-6-2003 at 08:46 PM
Thanks Steve!!! When I'm ready to bbq again, I will look for one of those places!