1 lb propane bottle debate revisited

[Vedette]

Good Idea!
And now that I have gone back to the picture I can see that.
Light weight and inexpensive storage!!
Brian

[markhusbands]

The economy issue is legitimate, but for 20 bucks I can get a fitting to refill the disposable canisters and obviate that drawback. And, if you ever run out while you're on the road, you just buy a couple more disposables, use them on the trip, and retire the oldest in your disposable fleet after the trip. That's my plan anyway.

I'm just trying to figure out what hardware store fittings I need to make a homemade version of the Coleman Gemini. Can't be that hard...

http://www.coleman.com/product/geminitr ... WBzaqLvvTo

[Corwin C]

Personally, I use the 20# tanks because there's a manual positive shutoff valve (no leaks), the economy of refilling the tank rather then discarding the bottles ($$$), and my trailer serves as a "bug out" resource. In case of a bug out, with two 20# tanks on my TTT, I'm prepared for over a week of judicious use even running the furnace, without the furnace more than a month wouldn't be difficult to achieve. Another nice fact is that propane doesn't go bad over time, so it's always ready.

When I get a tear built, if there's not room for the 20# I'll most likely use a 10# or even a 5#. I have tried re-filling the 1# bottles (actually illegal to do) with poor success. The valves in a 1# bottle are just too cheaply built to be reliable and in many cases, the appliance valves that these bottles fit aren't much better so leaving the bottle attached doesn't necessarily help.

[GuitarPhotog]

So would one of you folks who are successfully refilling 1lb bottles please weigh a 1 lb bottle before and after and post exactly how much propane you are putting in the 1 lb bottle. Please.

I was told that using modern (OPD equipped) tanks, that you can't actually transfer liquid from large tank to small, but my source has been wrong before.

Also where do you get the tool to open the vent side of the 1 lb cans? Just like when they fill your 20 lb tank at the propane service, the tank has to be vented to allow liquid to flow from the large to small tank.

Thanks,

<Chas>

[Treeview]

There are several posts on how to refill one pounders here:

http://www.instructables.com/

This is the most informative article that I've found:

http://www.neon-john.net/RV/Propane/Propane_index.htm

Tom

[GerryS]

How do Overflow protection valves affect refilling?

[Dale M.]

IF you are talking about refilling a large tank.....There is a float and valve assembly inside tank that limits a 5 gallon (potential) capacity cylinder to maximum 4.7 gallons .... As the level of liquid propane reached maximum allowable level it lifts the float and closes inlet valve... Pretty much like the "float" valve in standard toilet tank....

IF you are refilling small cylinder from a "bulk" tank, to get liquid you have to invert bulk tank so liquid is available at tank outlet (inlet) with tank upside down (inverted) the OPD valve should not effect flow.... With tank right side up all you get is a equalization of pressure and vapor in two tanks, you get no liquid transfer... Where the volume in refilling tank comes to play is how much actual liquid is in tank that can boil off (vaporize) into vapor (gaseous state)....

Also OPD valve have a anti free flow valve in POL connector...If shout on connector (regulator or filler device) is not fully seated in tank valve body, there will not be any propane flow.....

Further reading...

http://www.propane101.com/opdcylindervalves.htm

Dale

[CARS]

A few years ago my dad volunteered to refill my 1lb cylinders. The issue I noticed is that my dad filled off his 1000 lb home tank and the gas smelled of that "rotten eggs" additive they add to let you know you have a leak or failure in your home. I've never noticed that before when I bought the factory filled cylinders or 20lb gas grill cylinders.

But then, maybe it was me. Ever since I started using my pellet grill and charcoal again on camping trips, I can't stand the taste of gas grilled meats.

[parnold]

So would one of you folks who are successfully refilling 1lb bottles please weigh a 1 lb bottle before and after and post exactly how much propane you are putting in the 1 lb bottle. Please.

I was told that using modern (OPD equipped) tanks, that you can't actually transfer liquid from large tank to small, but my source has been wrong before.

Also where do you get the tool to open the vent side of the 1 lb cans? Just like when they fill your 20 lb tank at the propane service, the tank has to be vented to allow liquid to flow from the large to small tank.

Thanks,

<Chas>

I have filled numerous tanks, but only weigh them and leave them outside for a couple days to make sure they are not leaking before storing them. I weigh them to an accuracy of 1/10 of a gram. I do not vent them when filling, I fill just like I used to fill paintball gun co@ tanks. I put some gas in them (my filling 20lb tank is upside down so I get liquid not gas), then let some of the gas escape. Letting some gas escape chills the bottles and allows you to get more gas in them. The next time I have an empty, I'll weigh before and after.

[jjjonz]

I have been refilling 1lb propane bottles for years.Here is a good simple video showing you how.I leave my bottles in the freezer a hour or so before refilling...,,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q2Jhbbmnos

[Dale M.]

A few years ago my dad volunteered to refill my 1lb cylinders. The issue I noticed is that my dad filled off his 1000 lb home tank and the gas smelled of that "rotten eggs" additive they add to let you know you have a leak or failure in your home. I've never noticed that before when I bought the factory filled cylinders or 20lb gas grill cylinders.

But then, maybe it was me. Ever since I started using my pellet grill and charcoal again on camping trips, I can't stand the taste of gas grilled meats.

The odor is from, a odorant called Ethyl Mercaptan..... And almost all domestic propane contain it .... From #1 bottles to large commercial bulk 10,000 gallon storage...

A while back there was a recall because a batch of #1 bottle got through the filling process that was NOT odorized....

Dale

[GuitarPhotog]

OK, well I've got an empty 1# can now, and a friend has the adapter. Here we go with a test

Thanks for the info, there's so much contradictory, and often wrong, info that it's hard to figure out sometimes. I'll pass this stuff on to the guy who told me it can't be done -- after I refill a 1# can

<Chas>

[cleonard]

A couple of points on refilling.

As previously mentioned the valves in the disposables are not the best. Eventually they start leaking.

Don't overfill. There has to be room for expansion due to temperature changes. The only way to do this for sure is by weight.

[parnold]

As an added precaution, besides weighing mine, and leaving them outdoors for a couple days until I know they aren't leaking by weighing again, I also bought special brass caps with gaskets, so even if the valves do fail, they still won't fill my trailer up with propane. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I figure the couple extra bucks I spent on the caps has already been offset by the savings of having filled them myself twice now.