Campingaz Party Grill 400 CV: Larger Cartridge Stove and Grill

The Campingaz Party Grill 400 CV is a cartridge gas appliance that works as a grill, a griddle and a stove. It runs on butane at 145 g an hour, which the maker rates at 2 kW, and it takes only Campingaz CV 470 Plus or CV 300 Plus cartridges¹. On a CV 470 Plus cartridge the maker gives a run time of 3 hours 15 as a stove at maximum flow, or 3 hours 45 for grill preheating and cooking¹.

It is an outdoor appliance. The maker's manual says plainly not to use it in caravans, cars, tents, huts, sheds or any small enclosed areas, and to keep it at least 20 cm from a wall or combustible object¹. Used outdoors on a stable, level surface, with the water reservoir filled to the MAXI mark before lighting, it gives a household a way to cook a hot meal in the garden when the kitchen is out of action¹.

This page sets out the maker's specifications and instructions for the Party Grill 400 CV: what it burns and for how long, how to light it, where it must never go, what to do about a leak or a flame back, and how to clean, store and carry it. For the wider picture, see Camping Stoves for a Power Cut and Is It Safe to Use a Camping Stove Indoors?.

Specifications: a 2 kW burner using 145 g of butane an hour

The maker's manual gives the appliance's gas rate as 145 g/h, which it rates at 2 kW, through an injector numbered 30 B, on butane at direct pressure¹. Those figures decide what the appliance can do. A 2 kW burner is enough to sear meat on the ribbed side of the griddle, cook fish, shellfish and vegetables on the smooth side, or heat a pan when the plate and heat distributor are removed¹. It is not a fast boiler of large pans, and the maker's own run times show how much cooking a cartridge buys.

The manual warns that the appliance must be used exclusively with Campingaz CV 470 Plus or CV 300 Plus cartridges, and that using other gas cartridges is not permitted¹. The cartridge screws on clockwise until a click is heard, about one sixth of a turn, and the maker says not to force it further or the cartridge valve may be damaged¹. A cartridge can be removed even if it is not empty: unscrew it anticlockwise about one sixth of a turn until it clicks¹. Always fit or replace a cartridge in a well-ventilated place, preferably outdoors, never near fire, a heat source or sparks, and away from people and combustible materials¹. For more on cartridge types and cold weather, see Gas Cartridges: Valve Types, Cold Weather and Storage.

Run time: up to 3 hours 45 on a CV 470 Plus cartridge

How long the Party Grill 400 CV runs depends on which of the two permitted cartridges you fit and how you use it. The maker's manual gives two figures for each cartridge: one for use as a stove at maximum flow, and a longer one for grill preheating and cooking¹.

The difference between the two columns is worth planning around. Grilling gives you longer because the appliance is not held at maximum flow for the whole session, while running it as a stove at full flame uses gas fastest. If you are cooking for a household through an evening, the CV 470 Plus is the cartridge that gives the longer session, and the CV 300 Plus suits shorter meals or a smaller group¹.

Allow about 2 minutes at full flame to preheat the grill before cooking¹. That preheating time comes out of the run time, so a 3 hour 45 grill session includes the warm-up. The maker's figures are for the appliance as supplied; wind, cold and how far you open the control knob will all affect what you actually get, so treat them as the maker's stated maximum rather than a promise.

Lighting it, including when the piezo ignition fails

Before you light the appliance, fill the water reservoir to the MAXI level, whether you are using it as a stove or as a grill¹. Then remove the lid: the maker's instruction is never to light the appliance with the lid closed, only with the lid removed¹. Place it on a stable, horizontal surface and do not move it during use, which the maker says avoids large flames from burning liquid butane rather than gaseous butane¹.

To light it, press the control knob three or four times in a row until the burner lights¹. If the burner does not light, wait 5 minutes before repeating the ignition procedure¹.

If the piezo ignition fails, the maker gives a match-lighting method. Wait until the appliance is cold, wear protective gloves, open the control knob fully, remove the heat distributor or cooking plate, hold a lit match near the burner, then replace the heat distributor or cooking plate¹. Follow that order exactly: the appliance must be cold and your hands protected before you go near the burner with a flame.

Once lit, you can cook with the lid closed, using the appliance as a grill oven¹. To use it as a stove, remove the cooking plate and the heat distributor, then either turn the lid over and place it on the grid as a wok, or put another pan centrally on the burner; the flame must not extend beyond the bottom of the cookware¹. Heat is at maximum power in the centre of the plate and more moderate towards the outside, so use the middle for searing and the edges for gentler cooking¹.

Where the Party Grill must never be used

The Party Grill 400 CV is for outdoor use. The maker's manual says: "Do not use this appliance in caravans, cars, tents, huts, sheds or any small enclosed areas."¹ The same instruction appears in the manual's list of places to avoid: a caravan, car, tent, hut, under a canopy or in a small closed room¹. The reason is ventilation. The manual requires use only in properly ventilated areas, with a minimum of 2 m3/h/kw, and away from inflammable materials¹.

Keep at least 20 cm between the appliance and any wall or combustible object¹. That clearance matters on a balcony, against a shed wall or under a garden parasol. Set it on a stable, horizontal surface and leave it there while it is lit¹.

The same rule applies to caravans and tents as a whole. Fire and rescue service guidance for caravans and camping covers gas appliances and the risks of using them in confined spaces². If you are cooking in a tent or caravan, see Keeping Warm and Cooking in Tents and Caravans.

Gas leaks and flame back: what to do straight away

A gas leak is the emergency to plan for before you light anything. The maker's manual says that in case of leakage, recognised by the smell of gas before the tap is opened, you should take the appliance immediately outdoors to a well-ventilated area without heat sources so the leak can be located and stopped¹. Check for leaks outdoors using soapy water, never with a flame¹.

Fire and rescue service guidance for caravans gives the wider routine: if you suspect a gas leak, turn off all appliances and the cylinder main valve, open all doors and windows, and do not smoke or turn on switches or electrical devices until you know everything is clear². Government fire safety guidance for outdoor cooking adds that after cooking you should turn the gas supply off first and then the barbecue control, which stops any gas from leaking⁴.

Flame back is different. If ignition happens under the burner cover, the maker says to switch the appliance off, let it cool for about five minutes, then relight it; if it persists, contact your local Campingaz representative¹.

If the appliance leaks, works badly or is damaged, the maker says to return it to the dealer, who will give you information about repair and other service options¹. Do not carry on using it.

Cleaning, storing and carrying it between uses

Let the appliance cool before you take it apart. The maker says to remove the cooking plate and the grid once the unit is cold, at approximately 15 minutes¹. Clean greasy parts with water and soap or a non-abrasive detergent, and do not use an abrasive cleaning agent on the cooking plate or the water reservoir¹.

The two cooking surfaces need different care. The cooking plate is coated with a high quality non-stick material that lets you cook without added fat or oil, and it has a ribbed side for searing meat and a smooth side for fish, shellfish and vegetables¹. The grill rack has no non-stick coating, so brush it lightly with cooking oil before use to prevent food sticking¹.

For washing up, the lid, cooking plate, water reservoir and grid can go in the dishwasher; the legs are cleaned with a sponge, without powder detergents¹.

For storage, keep the unit in a safe, secure and dry place, out of the reach of children and never in a cellar¹. If it will not be used for a long time, disconnect the cartridge following the manual's instructions¹. For carrying, the legs can be placed in the water reservoir to make the appliance as compact as possible for transport¹.

A bluish discolouration of the hot plate is normal: the maker says it comes from strong heat development and has no effect on the quality of the material¹. Some parts can become very hot, and the maker warns that young children should be kept away from the appliance¹.

Where to get help and what to do if it goes wrong

If the appliance leaks, works badly or is damaged, return it to the dealer for repair or service information, as the maker's manual instructs¹. If flame back persists after you have switched off, let it cool and relit it, contact your local Campingaz representative¹. Keep the manual with the appliance: it carries the reference 4010045618 (ECN20066921-04)¹.

For a household building a cooking backup, this appliance sits alongside other cartridge stoves. Compare it with the Campingaz Party Grill 200 and the Campingaz Camping Kitchen 2 CV, and see Gas Cartridge or Spirit Burner Stoves for the wider choice. A Backup Stove Kit Checklist helps you gather what you need before an outage, and the Heating and Cooking Without Mains Power or Gas section covers the rest of the household plan.