Picnics and short stationary trips are pleasant with their bonfire gatherings. Live fire enchants, sets you in a philosophical way, helps to forget the bustle of megacities. But for lovers of extreme tourism, climbers, gambling fishermen and hunters, fans of river rafting, long hiking or cycling tours, fire is primarily a source of hot food.
For them, not romance and the beauty of the flame come to the fore, but pragmatism. Therefore, camping burners of various types have become familiar tourist companions. They help to quickly and autonomously prepare food in the cold, during torrential rains, in high mountains and the complete absence of firewood. Compact and lightweight burners save travelers time and effort.
Types of burners
Wood Burners. In fact, this is a wood- burning stove . It differs from the fire only in that it consumes fuel more economically, it is possible to put dishes on it, and the fire is protected from rain and wind. But at the same time, the minuses are obvious: the stove is bulky, does not solve the problem of lack of firewood, it is difficult to light it in winter or in rain.
Dry alcohol burners . Easy to operate, cheap, very light. But they give a too weak flame, which is practically impossible to regulate. On it you can warm up a can of canned food or a mug of water, but it’s difficult to cook something more serious.
Gas burners . At the moment, they are experiencing a peak of popularity, they are happy to get tourists, summer residents, fishermen. They make bonfires and coals at picnics, they make tea and food. There are many types of gas burners: from miniature hand burners to full-fledged stoves with a volumetric cylinder, which motorists purchase for long autonomous tours. Their advantages include: ease of use, simplicity of design, the ability to control the intensity of the flame.
Gas burners (primuses) are the main competitors of gas analogues for consumer sympathies. At one time, it seemed that convenient gas burners completely replaced gasoline tourist primusers from the market, but travelers and climbers continued to use them, drawing on common sense and many years of experience from their predecessors.
Historical excursion
The first primus was created at the end of the nineteenth century by the Swede Franz Lindquist, who called his invention the Latin word Primus (translated as “first”). The name became fixed and over time became a household name for all such burners. At first, kerosene served as the fuel for the primus, but in 1927 the Swedish company Svea patented a gasoline burner, which became the progenitor of a myriad of gasoline burner models.
The advantages of primus stoves were quickly appreciated not only by housewives, but also by travelers. Gas burners have become indispensable participants in many great expeditions of the twentieth century: with the Lindquist primus, the Norwegian Amudsen broke through to the South Pole, the Svea burner helped the first conquerors of Everest to cook, bask, and warm icy shoes at an altitude of 8,000.
Primus tourist PT-1: equipment and features
The world is developing rapidly, technological leaps ahead of the possibilities to realize them, but there are things that seem to have frozen in time. For example, the PT-1 gasoline primus, practically without changing its design, has already served several generations of travelers.
Its configuration is surprisingly simple. These are: a burner, a funnel for gasoline, a universal key, a handle, spare glands.
Characteristics:
- Size - width and length of 132 mm, height 82 mm.
- Weight - 750 g (minimum 305 g).
- Power - 1.8-2 kW.
- Maximum thermal load - 1650 kcal / hour.
- The type of fuel is Galosha gasoline, automobile gasoline, preferably with a low octane rating.
- The volume of the fuel tank is 120 ml.
- Burner operating time - 35 minutes at maximum power, 55 minutes - at medium.
- The boiling time of one liter of water is 8 minutes (at an air temperature of 20 ° C).
Design
Although the PT-1 Primus has earned the rather ominous nickname "death of a tourist", in reality, when used properly, it is safe and reliable. The device consists of a burner and a fuel tank, which are installed in a steel box. The burner is screwed to the bottom. The tank is mounted on a bracket to the side of the burner; it is protected from an open flame by a movable steel screen. A universal key is fixed to the box lid with which you can tighten the fittings.
Primus type PT-1 is equipped with a device for quick cleaning of the nozzle by turning the adjustment knob to the “Clean” position. The fuel tank is made of high-quality brass (wall thickness one and a half millimeters) and has the shape of a cylinder, therefore it is characterized by uniform heat conductivity and high strength. On the locking lid there is a valve that operates when the pressure in the tank is excessive, excluding its structural damage, in particular an explosion.
Operating principle
Primus PT-1 does not have pumps and operates on the excess pressure that is created in the fuel tank when it is heated. To create excess pressure in the tank, the primus must be warmed up, for this the burner is equipped with a bowl in which liquid or dry fuel is ignited .
Under pressure, gasoline is forced out of the tank and fed through thin tubes to the burner, where it turns into steam and lights up. The characteristic noise arising during the operation of the primus is caused by the intense burning of gasoline vapors, if the flame is large and vibrating, it means that not the vapors are burning, but the gasoline itself, that is, the pressure is insufficient. This often happens in the cold, when it takes more heat to warm up the tank than in summer.
Primus PT-1: instruction
The algorithm for working with a primus is simple, it is only necessary to consistently perform all the steps, then there are no problems. Sometimes the first time it’s not possible to light the burner normally, but don’t worry, this is a matter of skill. It is enough to calmly light the burner a couple of times, and the PT-1 tourist will become a reliable assistant in any conditions.
1. Pour fuel into the tank. The design of the tank does not provide for full filling, so do not try to fill gasoline to the brim.
2. Preheat the burner: to do this, in the bowl you need to light alcohol, gasoline or solid fuel.
3. For warming up, several minutes are enough, all this time the primus valve must be closed so that the vapor pressure necessary for operation is created in the tank.
4. Open the faucet and light the burner, from which gasoline vapors will start to sizzle.
5. To extinguish the primus, simply stop the fuel supply by closing the control valve.
Operation Nuances
Work with a gas burner will be more comfortable and safer, given the following nuances:
• before transporting the primus, it is necessary to completely drain the fuel from the tank, it is especially important to do this before transportation by plane;
• in a primus it is extremely better not to use gasoline with a high octane rating, there are reviews: the PT-1 primus works most effectively on Galosha gasoline;
• Kerosene must not be poured, it does not provide normal combustion and strongly clogs the burner, which has to be painstakingly cleaned;
• before operating the primus, it is necessary to open the tank in order to equalize the negative pressure remaining from the previous ignition;
• gasoline is conveniently transported in plastic bottles: they are reliable, lightweight and take up little space;
• It is advisable to always have a set of spare parts and seals;
• for the primus to last longer, you need to take care of it: periodically clean the nozzle, clean after each use, store in a dry place.
Advantages
For more than half a century, Primus PT-1 remains a relevant and demanded source of fire for tourists. If its popularity during the time of the Union can be explained by the shortage and meager choice of such devices, then in our well-fed and abundant age, the consumer chooses primarily on the basis of the ratio of advantages and disadvantages of products. In this regard, the tourist gasoline PT-1 primus gives odds to many new-fangled burners, because it has a whole bunch of advantages:
• affordable price in the region of 2,000 rubles, and it can be purchased much cheaper on hand;
• durability: with careful and proper use, the primus will work for decades, it is easy to repair and clean;
• Reliability and operation in extreme conditions: the PT-1 Primus stove reliably works at extremely low temperatures, at high altitudes, in rains and blizzards, which compares favorably with gas burners that refuse to burn in frost and wind;
• compact and lightweight;
• affordable and cheap fuel: gasoline is easy to carry, if necessary it is much easier to find than gas in cylinders;
• the power of the primus is one and a half to two times higher than that of gas burners;
• gasoline primus can be transported on an airplane; gas cylinders are prohibited.
disadvantages
Of course, the primus has some disadvantages:
• beginners sometimes have problems with ignition, but they are usually temporary;
• in case of errors in operation or the selection of the wrong fuel, the tube system of the burner becomes clogged or the adjustment needle sticks to the nozzle;
• long preparation for work;
• Gasoline is more dangerous than solid fuel or gas.
Safety precautions
Even in experienced hands, a device filled with gasoline and operating under pressure is a danger. Therefore, you can not neglect the operation of the Primus PT -1. You need to accustom yourself to the procedure for working with the burner, to be vigilant and not to forget about simple rules:
1. Follow the instructions.
2. Check the tightness of the connections.
3. Securely tighten the tank cap.
4. Do not light the stove in a cramped and unventilated area (in a tent, car).
5. Do not operate the burner near combustible materials.
6. Do not place on flammable surfaces: the bottom of the box is very hot.
7. Make sure that the tank does not overheat. Do not use cookware with a large bottom, as there is a high probability of contact of the flame with the tank.
8. If, nevertheless, it overheats and the protective valve has tripped, do not panic. Of course, the flame tongue escaping from the gas tank looks intimidating, but you can cover it with a thick cloth or, by relieving pressure, wait until it goes out by itself.