How long can I barbecue for with a gas cylinder?

If you’re using a gas barbecue, sooner or later you will ask yourself: How long will the gas last, or how many times can I still barbecue with the gas that’s left? As is frequently the case, the answer is: It depends! In this article, we say at least what is important, provide you with a calculation tool and present a digital tool with a forecast function.

Which gas cylinder?

First of all, however, on the question which gas cylinders are even worth looking at, i.e. which gas cylinders are mainly used on gas barbecues. In the German-speaking countries, barbecues mainly use gas cylinders with the following filling weights:

• 5 kilograms
• 8 kilograms – also known as a BBQ gas cylinder or barbecue gas cylinder
• 11 kilograms

Influencing factors

Of course, the length of time that the gas will last depends on various factors. Among other things, these are, of course (1) the current filling level of the gas cylinder, (2) the maximum output of the gas barbecue, (3) how many burners are actually on, (4) the outside temperature and (5) the quality processing of the gas barbecue. This will also be explained briefly:

1. How full the cylinder is at the time x, of course, is decisive when it comes to the question of how long it will last.
2. Gas barbecues consume different amounts of gas – ok, that’s not really new information. The maximum output is indicated on the type label of the barbecue.
3. An exciting question with regard to consumption: How many burners are on or at which level are they burning?
4. Of course, the consumption varies depending on whether you barbecue at 5 or 35 degrees Celsius. To reach the target temperature on or in the barbecue, more gas is required if the outside temperature is lower.
5. The better the lid of a gas barbecue is processed, the better it keeps the temperature and the less gas the barbecue expert needs.

Withdrawal volume of gas cylinder

If all these aspects are taken into account, it is also clear that it’s difficult to make a general forecast of how long the gas will last. In addition, we have not yet mentioned that the withdrawal volume from a conventional gas cylinder varies greatly – depending on the filling quantity, temperature and capacity requirement:

Preparatory work for calculation

• Filling level of the gas cylinder in kilograms
  Procedure:
  1. Weigh the gas cylinder with a set of commercially available (luggage) scales.
  2. Subtract the tare weight (to be found on the gas cylinder label) from the determined value.
  3. The result of subtraction is the current filling level in kilograms!
• Performance of the gas barbecue in kilowatts
  Procedure:
  1. Search type label on gas barbecue
  2. The value is generally given in kilowatts (kW)

Use the calculation tool

If you have the two values, you can enter them in our calculation tool and we will make a simple forecast of how long the current filling level of the gas cylinder will last for.

In order to obtain the most accurate result possible, we have divided the calculation into two simple steps. In the first step, enter the values determined (see “Preparatory work for calculation”). The result states how many hours you could still barbecue if the gas barbecue was permanently running at full power.

As this only happens in rare cases, we have added a second part of the calculation. There, you can estimate for yourself the rough capacity stage that the gas barbecue is running at, on average.

You can find more information on the calculation method here.

Monitoring the gas cylinder digitally and smartly

As already mentioned, with the calculation tool, we only achieve an approximate indication. You get a much more precise result, and faster too, with the Senso4s. The digital tool can do the following:

• Measuring the current filling level of the gas cylinder
• Results are sent to the app on your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth
• Display in kilograms or percentage by volume
• The app creates a consumption forecast on the basis of the collected values for how long the gas will last.