Optimus Nova on Gas

The Optimus Nova is a great stove -- if you get the right version (see my Optimus Nova Review for how to tell).

But the Nova is a liquid fuel only stove.  Wouldn't it be nice if it could run on gas?  Well, hold on here. I mean why not?  What's stopping us? 

But how to do it?  Well, let's take a look at an Optimus Nova

An Optimus Nova stove in its case

An Optimus Nova stove

Yep, that's the stove all right.  :)  No obvious clues there, so let's dig a little deeper.  Let's look at the fuel line.

An Optimus Nova with the fuel line showing

First let's look at the distal end of the fuel line.

The distal end of an Optimus Nova

On the distal end of the fuel line, we can see the excellent and proven CEJN connector.  The CEJN connector is perhaps the best connector on any stove in the world.  The connector plugs into the Nova's pump (liquid fuel only).  The connector will not mate with a canister of gas, and there's no adapter available.  So, no help on the distal end of the fuel line.


What about the proximal end?

The proximal end of a Nova's fuel line

Well, now isn't that interesting?  There's a nut there.  A nut as in the type that you can unscrew.  But what to attach it to?  Hmm.  Now, interestingly enough the fuel line on a Primus Omnifuel is already set up to run on gas, and the fuel line of a Primus Omnifuel also ends in a nut, a nut that is very similar to the Nova's

Optimus Nova stove (top).  Fuel line from a Primus Omnifuel (bottom).

Notice the similarity between the nut on the Nova's fuel line and the nut on the Omnifuel's fuel line?  Could it be?  Rats.  Nope.  Not the same.  But they're so close!


Hmm.  What if we could get a small adapter?  Enter our friends at Bluewater Stove Restoration.  Yes, Bluewater Stove Restoration is famous for making silent caps both for classic stoves like the Primus 96 and the Svea 123 as well as for modern stoves like the Dragonfly and the Omnifuel, but Bluewater does a whole lot more.  Indeed, they've come up with an adapter to connect an Optimus Nova to the fuel hose of a Primus Omnifuel so that a Nova can be run on gas. 

An adapter from Bluewater Stove Restoration.  This adapter will mate the fuel line from a Primus Omnifuel to an Optimus Nova stove.

A word on safety:  Any time you modify any stove, you take your life in your hands.  Be aware that you could have a fire, and that there are serious risks involved including severe burns and possibly even death.  If you "try this at home," be really careful.  In the case of using an adapter like the one shown in this post, take care not to cross thread, and make sure the fittings are tightened securely.  Always test with a low volume of fuel first before you open the valve fully.  In, the specific case of the Optimus Nova, close the valve at the burner, open the valve at the canister, and listen.  There should be no sound of escaping gas.  If you hear gas, something is wrong, and you need to STOP and correct the problem before you light the burner.  Fair warning.

OK, enough safety talk.  Let's give it a whirl!  First, let's take the Nova's fuel line off.

Disconnecting the fuel line from an Optimus Nova stove

And let's try out that adapter!

The Bluewater Stove Restoration adapter installed on an Optimus Nova stove

Fits great.  Now for the fuel line from the Omnifuel.

A fuel line from a Primus Omnifuel mated to an Optimus Nova stove via an adapter

The fuel line also fits great.  Now we're ready to start cooking with gas!

A fuel line from a Primus Omnifuel mated to an Optimus Nova stove via an adapter.

So, let's hook it up.

An Optimus Nova stove attached to a canister of gas

And let's fire it up!

An Optimus Nova stove running on canister gas.

It's a little hard to see the flames, but the adapter works great, and the Nova runs well on gas.  One could probably get slightly better heat output if one had a jet optimized for gas, but the factory installed Nova jet (optimized for liquid fuel) works just fine on canister gas.  I've noticed as I've tested various stoves that in general using a jet designed for a less volatile fuel (like white gasoline) will work reasonably well with a more volatile fuel (like gas).

I noticed that the stove went out a couple of times when I tried to get a really low simmering flame when just adjusting the at-the-canister valve.  It was broad daylight, and the flame was hard to see, so I don't think the stove going out was any reflection on the adapter or any indication that a Nova doesn't run well on gas.  However, I thought I'd try something different:  Running with the canister inverted.

An Optimus Nova stove running on gas with the canister inverted (liquid feed mode)

Running a stove with the canister inverted causes liquefied gas to flow out the bottom of the canister.  Liquefied gas is very similar to the Nova's intended (liquid) fuels.  When I ran the Nova on liquefied gas and used the at-the-burner valve to regulate the flame, I found that the stove was able to get a really nice "barely there" simmer.

An Optimus Nova stove with a  low simmering type flame running on gas with the canister inverted (liquid feed mode)

 I did find the control valve on the Primus Omnifuel's fuel line to be a bit of a pain with the canister inverted.

Inverted canister (liquid feed mode).

So, I just lifted the canister with one hand and adjusted the valve with the other.  An inconvenience, but no big deal.

As for keeping the canister in position, adding a couple of rocks kept the canister inverted, no problem.  I've seen people use small plastic tubs, like the kind that margarine or yogurt come in, to hold a canister inverted.  That might be a bit more convenient, but my stack of rocks did just fine.

By the way, when running on gas, you've got no less power than when running on liquid fuel.  I found that I could quickly bring water to a vigorous roiling boil.

Passing the "tea test".  You've got oodles of power when running on gas.

Well, there you have it, an Optimus Nova stove running on canister gas.  A big thank you to Gary at Bluewater Stove Restoration for making these tests possible.

HJ

Note:  I was approached by Bluewater Stove Restoration and asked if I might like to evaluate the adapter featured in this review.  As a part of the review process, I received an adapter from Bluewater Stove Restoration.  Other than the adapter itself, I received no remuneration for my review.  The receipt of the adapter was not contingent on the nature of my review (in other words I didn't have to promise to do a positive review in return for the adapter).  Further, I receive no part of the proceeds from the sale of any Bluewater Stove Restoration products.  All comments regarding the adapter shown on this page are strictly my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bluewater Stove Restoration.