Kestrel
Flashaholic
Edit: Long update (w/ add'l fuel options) added in Post #7.
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While I am very satisfied with my backpacking stove (a Jetboil w/ isobutane canisters), I am currently in the process of setting up a Toyota Sienna minivan as a camper.
While that would be a topic (-and-a-half) for another thread, the more modest topic for today is, Campstoves for car camping.
I recently purchased an extremely rare (in the US) Martin two-burner isobutane campstove. One of the advantages of this design was the independent burners (i.e. redundant fuel delivery systems), and a configuration that lends itself well to the larger 440g canisters (~$7-8 at WalMart). For example, this stove actually gets more stable with the taller canisters due to the lower overall center of gravity.
Furthermore, due to the larger platform & supports, this design is somewhat adaptable to doing propane conversions with the taller 1-lb propane cans (more on that later).
(link to picture album in post#2)
After acquiring all the necessary supplies, a test was in order: the necessary time to boil 2 cups of 55-degree water.
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Test #1:
- Jetboil backpacking stove
- Isobutane fuel
- 'Zip' kettle (w/ heat exchangers on bottom for add'l efficiency)
Boiling time : 5min 20sec
Edit: The test has been redone with proper (more efficient) nesting of the Jet kettle, and a new Isobutane fuel can (explained fully in the Post #7 update).
Updated boiling time: 2min 55sec
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Test #2:
- Jetboil stove
- Isobutane fuel
- MSR stainless steel kettle
Boiling time: 7 minutes
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Test #3:
- Jetboil stove
- Propane fuel (w/ brass adaptor)
- MSR kettle
Boiling time: 2min 15sec
(The more efficient 'Zip' kettle was not used due to the substantial propane flame on 'high'. For more practical use, the Jetboil stove burner should be turned down so as to not destroy the insulating neoprene on the outside of the 'Zip' kettle.)
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Test #4:
- Martin camp stove
- Isobutane fuel
- MSR kettle
Boiling time: 4min 50sec
(The more efficient 'Zip' kettle was not used due to the wider burners on the Martin stove.)
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Test #5:
- Martin camp stove
- Propane fuel (w/ adaptor)
- MSR kettle
Boiling time: 2min 30sec
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While isobutane canisters would normally be the preferred fuel source, I really wanted to have propane as an alternate option for the Martin camp stove: Less expensive ($3 for the one-pound canisters @ WalMart), widespread availability, and compatibility with my small Coleman space heater (pictured in my 'Breakfast nook' thread). Propane will also perform much better in winter conditions - I have had problems with getting satisfactory output from isobutane when temps get below freezing.
Although the height of the propane cans can certainly be a disadvantage due to their decreased stability, there are workarounds for this (visible here for the Martin stove, and pictured in my 'Breakfast nook' thread for the Jetboil).
Another propane aspect is that 'high/max' should probably not be used with stoves designed for isobutane, as the flame height is excessive. I did do all of these propane tests on 'high' as a proof-of-concept to ensure proper function, however.
By lowering the output of the adjustable burner on the Jetboil stove, the flame size can be reduced (last two pics in the album) so that the more efficient 'Zip' kettle could still be used when desired.
And I certainly understand that the boiling time is in no way related to efficiency for these configurations; while this metric is often used in backpacking circles, it is of less concern here: weight is far less relevant, and it will be easy to have a few extra fuel canisters on a car camping trip. In this particular case, convenience and operational reliability / redundancy are more important to me than the degree of efficiency.
Thanks for reading,
-----
While I am very satisfied with my backpacking stove (a Jetboil w/ isobutane canisters), I am currently in the process of setting up a Toyota Sienna minivan as a camper.
While that would be a topic (-and-a-half) for another thread, the more modest topic for today is, Campstoves for car camping.
I recently purchased an extremely rare (in the US) Martin two-burner isobutane campstove. One of the advantages of this design was the independent burners (i.e. redundant fuel delivery systems), and a configuration that lends itself well to the larger 440g canisters (~$7-8 at WalMart). For example, this stove actually gets more stable with the taller canisters due to the lower overall center of gravity.
Furthermore, due to the larger platform & supports, this design is somewhat adaptable to doing propane conversions with the taller 1-lb propane cans (more on that later).
(link to picture album in post#2)
After acquiring all the necessary supplies, a test was in order: the necessary time to boil 2 cups of 55-degree water.
-----
Test #1:
- Jetboil backpacking stove
- Isobutane fuel
- 'Zip' kettle (w/ heat exchangers on bottom for add'l efficiency)
Boiling time : 5min 20sec
Edit: The test has been redone with proper (more efficient) nesting of the Jet kettle, and a new Isobutane fuel can (explained fully in the Post #7 update).
Updated boiling time: 2min 55sec
-----
Test #2:
- Jetboil stove
- Isobutane fuel
- MSR stainless steel kettle
Boiling time: 7 minutes
-----
Test #3:
- Jetboil stove
- Propane fuel (w/ brass adaptor)
- MSR kettle
Boiling time: 2min 15sec
(The more efficient 'Zip' kettle was not used due to the substantial propane flame on 'high'. For more practical use, the Jetboil stove burner should be turned down so as to not destroy the insulating neoprene on the outside of the 'Zip' kettle.)
-----
Test #4:
- Martin camp stove
- Isobutane fuel
- MSR kettle
Boiling time: 4min 50sec
(The more efficient 'Zip' kettle was not used due to the wider burners on the Martin stove.)
-----
Test #5:
- Martin camp stove
- Propane fuel (w/ adaptor)
- MSR kettle
Boiling time: 2min 30sec
-----
While isobutane canisters would normally be the preferred fuel source, I really wanted to have propane as an alternate option for the Martin camp stove: Less expensive ($3 for the one-pound canisters @ WalMart), widespread availability, and compatibility with my small Coleman space heater (pictured in my 'Breakfast nook' thread). Propane will also perform much better in winter conditions - I have had problems with getting satisfactory output from isobutane when temps get below freezing.
Although the height of the propane cans can certainly be a disadvantage due to their decreased stability, there are workarounds for this (visible here for the Martin stove, and pictured in my 'Breakfast nook' thread for the Jetboil).
Another propane aspect is that 'high/max' should probably not be used with stoves designed for isobutane, as the flame height is excessive. I did do all of these propane tests on 'high' as a proof-of-concept to ensure proper function, however.
By lowering the output of the adjustable burner on the Jetboil stove, the flame size can be reduced (last two pics in the album) so that the more efficient 'Zip' kettle could still be used when desired.
And I certainly understand that the boiling time is in no way related to efficiency for these configurations; while this metric is often used in backpacking circles, it is of less concern here: weight is far less relevant, and it will be easy to have a few extra fuel canisters on a car camping trip. In this particular case, convenience and operational reliability / redundancy are more important to me than the degree of efficiency.
Thanks for reading,
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