Safe barbecue on gas

Safe barbecue on gas


Safe barbecue on gas

Many people who have never barbecued on gas are a little scared of using gas. As long as you stick to the safety rules, nothing can go wrong. In this blog we inform you how to use gas barbecues safely, what type of gas facilities we offer and we give you some tips & tricks!

Gas bottle or gas cartridge?

CADAC camping barbecues  work on gas. You have the choice between a refillable gas bottle or a (disposable) gas cartridge. A refillable gas bottle naturally contains much more gas and therefore lasts a lot longer. On the other hand, it is quite big and heavy, so not really handy when you go camping.

Do you have enough space in your camper, caravan or car and does the weight not matter? Then you should go for a refillable gas bottle. You have the choice between a universal gas bottle or a Campingaz bottle. Universal gas bottles come in various shapes and sizes; made of metal or lightweight fiber, from various brands and in different colours.

If you have less space, you would rather not take a heavy gas bottle with you and choose for a more compact and lighter alternative. Gas cartridges offer a solution here. They are light weight and you can throw them away after using them. Our camping barbecues can all be used in combination with gas cartridges. CADAC gas cartridges fitted with standard type EN417 threaded self-sealing safety valve. You can unscrew them after use, even if they are not yet empty. If you want to barbecue again, simply screw the cartridge back to your pressure regulator.

Do you find a gas cartridge too small, but don't want to take a heavy gas bottle with you on vacation? Then there is the Power Pak : a lightweight device that combines the gas supply of 2 gas cartridges and replaces the standard pressure regulator.

Which pressure regulator should I choose for my camping barbecue?

You can connect a gas bottle or gas cartridge to your barbecue using a gas pressure regulator. This pressure regulator ensures that your barbecue is always supplied with a good, constant pressure.

The pressure regulator that you need depends on the type of gas supply you choose. In the table below we show which pressure regulator you need for which type of gas supply.

Gas supply


Universal gas bottle

Universal regulator

Campingaz gas bottle

CG regulator

CADAC Gas cartridge

EN417 regulator or CADAC Power Pak

How long can you barbecue with a gas cartridge?

A frequently asked question is how long the BBQ will work on a gas cartridge or a gas bottle. This depends on a number of things:

  • The type of gas cartridge or gas bottle that you use.
  • The type of BBQ you use; a large barbecue naturally uses more gas than a small model since they often have a larger gas burner with a more powerful flame.
  • Weather conditions; in cold weather, more gas is used than in warm weather; you need more power (and therefore gas).
  • The variable heat setting; grill on full gas, medium or on the lowest setting.

To give you an indication, in the table below you can check how long a barbecue works on average while using a gas cartridge or gas bottle.


Safari Chef

Grillo Chef

Carri Chef

Gas cartridge 500g

4 hours

3 hours

2 hours

CADAC Trio Power Pak


6 hours

4,5 hours

3 hours

CADAC Power Pak

8 hours

6 hours

4 hours

Universal gas bottle 5kg

40 hours

23 hours

20 hours

Universal gas bottle 10kg

77 hours

46 hours

37 hours

Frozen cartridges

Sometimes it can happen that a gas cartridge freezes. This usually happens when it is cold outside or when gas consumption is very high. There is liquefied gas in a cartridge. Liquefied gas needs heat to become gaseous. This heat is extracted from the environment. If very fast and / or a lot of gas is used, moisture can form on the outside of the cartridge, which can then freeze. If your gas cartridge is frozen, turn off your barbecue until the cartridge is heated up again. The problem will be less likely to occur when using the Power Pak.

Gas cartridges generally work well with an outside temperature of 10-15 ° C. A temperature from 5-10 ° C applies to the Power Pak.

30mBar vs 50mBar

In most EU countries, including the Netherlands and Belgium, the standard gas pressure is 28-37mBar. Our barbecues are tailored and approved for this. They must therefore also be used with a 30mBar gas pressure regulator. This is not supplied as standard. The reason for this is that everyone has their own preference for the type of gas supply. We leave this choice to the customer. Depending on the chosen gas supply, you choose the corresponding regulator.

The standard gas pressure in Germany, Austria and Switzerland is 50mBar. That is why you can only order 50mBar gas barbecues on our German website. These gas barbecues must be used in combination with a 50mBar pressure regulator.

In the Netherlands and Belgium we use a hose pillar and hose clamps. A 50mBar pressure regulator almost always has a fixed coupling to the hose.

Tips & tricks

We have listed a number of tips for you:

  • Make sure your gas bottle / gas cartridge is always upright.
  • Gas appliances require ventilation for proper operation; therefore only use your device outdoors.
  • Do a gas leak test before using your barbecue. This is very easy to do with soap and water: spread some soapy water on the couplings of the gas hose. If bubbles arise, there is a gas leak. If this happens, immediately turn off the gas supply on both the barbecue and the gas bottle. Check the connections and do the gas leak test again. Does the leak persist? Do not use your BBQ and then go to your CADAC dealer.
  • Always close the gas supply of the gas cylinder first, and then the barbecue.
  • Are you using the Power Pak? Then first connect the gas hose before the gas tap is turned on, otherwise the protection will break.
  • Use a Quick Release to (dis) connect your gas hose quickly and safely. With this handy connection you simply click the gas hose on / off your BBQ. The Quick Release is also available with a double coupling so that you can easily switch between multiple devices, such as patio heaters, cookers and outdoor kitchens.
  • Replace your gas pressure regulator and the hose every 5 years!



Do you still have questions after reading this article? Then please contact our customer service. They are happy to help you!

    1. Quick Release | CADAC Gasbarbecues
    2. Gas cartridge 500g | CADAC
    3. Dual Power Pak | CADAC