Hints for a happy life with carbide:
DO NOT get a helmet mounted stinky except for the mantlepiece.
DO NOT buy a Petzl generator, get a Malham or similar.
Do use a Petzl head set with electric back up.
Do have spare "O" rings for the generator and jet, and a spare jet (in a canister tapped to the gas pipe...).
Do hace a piece of wire for clearing soot and mud from the jet
Do carry a pig of spare carbide.
Do Jubilee clip the pipe to the headpiece and the the generator.
Do sleeve the generator pipe with a bigger pipe fixed to the genny to protect it.
Do carry a spare empty pig for spent carbide.
Until confident, check water level at each opportunity.
Do turn the water flow down all the time - only use the minimum dribble - it will fizz for a long time when damp...
Do not overfill the generator, half fill max!! Big lumps are bigger than small ones
Do replace the gauze filter with a nylon pan scourer.
Option - wrap the fills in a pices of stocking - easier to replace and handle, but I always found it far too much faff, and you cant sort out the good bits.
Always clean out the ash ASAP on return home - never leave it to set in the generator.
Before a crawl or wet bit give the genny a shake and a squirt of water.
For a "mission critical" move, put the electric on first until confident with your set up.
Be responsible and careful
Hang it over the fire and buy an LED set up....
The ash is mainly slaked lime with other bits of nastiness, keep it in a galv bucket until algae grows on it, then bin it
