I live in NH and got mine re-certified a year ago at the Suburban Propane distribution center in Milford. It was like $26 including the tank refill
Propane tank recertification?
- Thread starter scottdube
- Start date
NotCook
.
- Dec 29, 2008
- 805
That assumes you have 20# tanks. Ours, for example, are 10# aluminum tanks for our gas stove, and 7# steel tanks for our grill on deck. Neither are exchangeable. We need those sizes because that's what fits in our respective lazarette spaces.
Buy the 20 Blue Rhino then refill your 10's using a refill adapter, then take the Blue Rhino back empty and say it didn't fit but leave a tip to cover the gas.
NotCook
.
- Dec 29, 2008
- 805
So, you're saying, if I interpret that correctly, that one can basically fill a 10# tank by equalizing the pressure between the two tanks, leaving the 20# tank half full? I guess I could still use the remaining 10# on my home grill. Sounds like a great idea. I'll have to locate a refill adapter. I find the exchange prices pretty high in general, though. We pay $1.20 per pound for refills here. Seems like most of the exchange places charge about $1.45 per pound here. Still, gets around the old tank issue when it gets old. Thanks for the tip!
I couldn't support the last part of the suggestion, though.
Nope!
LPG is Liquid under pressure. You can take 1 - 20# [80% full of liquid propane] and use it to fill a 10# about ≈40% full using Ice and this neat adapter.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AMC5WO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
You will "ice bath" cool down the 10# "receiver" tank [valve up], which lowers the vapor pressure inside the tank.
Using that adapter and perhaps some hosing, you take your 20# , with valve down and above the 10# open slowly both valves.
You will "squirt" the liquid propane into the #10 tank. It will NOT gravity drain.
If you build a filling contraption [mount], you can leave it that way to slowly fill, but you must maintain the 10# in a ice bath.
Warmer 20# versus colder 10# uses vapor pressure differences to "pump" liquid propane. It is a bit slow after the first rush in, since the Liquid propane entering the 10# tank is warm and that recharge liquid must be cooled to maintain transferring.
Jim...
PS: You can partially refill the 10" tank again with the remaining 20# later.
PSS: You cannot use a BBQ grill hosing that has a gas pressure regulator on it.
PSS: This is better adapter for 10# tanks
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VVNGW5...&pd_rd_r=02a9b4dd-844b-11e8-a16a-6b0b8f76d431
That's a great explanation by @JamesG161 . I bought an adapter to refill my small, green disposable propane cylinders for my Magma and found out that I could only fill them half way, and decided the time and hassle wasn't worth the minimal savings so now I'm back to paying $3+ per can.
The trick on the small 1 lb ones is to put the empty in the freezer for about an hour. My cost to refill them is $.25.
Leave your big tank in the direct Sun. The vapor pressure is big time different then.
I get about 3/4th a pound on each refill.
Tip: All LPG tanks are only filled to ≈80% anyway, you have to leave a vapor space to use the Vapor to burn only.
Jim...
PS: You can get more fill by putting the partial filled one in the freezer again.
But I found it wasn't worth the effort and time to do it for just a little more.
PSS: I fill about 4 empties at the same time. No biggie then.
The other trick with the 1# tanks is to vent pressure out of the safety over pressure device as you fill. That lets as much liquid as you want to flow right in. Don't over do it though. As was said, you need a little head space at the top. 80% is design maximum fill. This is for two reasons. First, you need some space for the liquid to boil off inside the tank when you use it. Second, that liquid does expand when the temperature goes up & it needs some space to expand into.
When venting gas out of the 1# tank, you want the big tank to be upside down, so that the gas you let out gets replaced with liquid. Some of the medium sized tanks have similar relief valves that allow a fast liquid fill by this same method.
There are a few 1# tanks out there that are legal to refill, but most of them are not. The disposable ones that you buy for $3-4 each are not supposed to be refilled. It is a DOT regulation. If you don't transport them over a road after refilling, I think that you are technically not breaking any laws. It's a real silly set of laws, but that is what I think is written.
When venting gas out of the 1# tank, you want the big tank to be upside down, so that the gas you let out gets replaced with liquid. Some of the medium sized tanks have similar relief valves that allow a fast liquid fill by this same method.
There are a few 1# tanks out there that are legal to refill, but most of them are not. The disposable ones that you buy for $3-4 each are not supposed to be refilled. It is a DOT regulation. If you don't transport them over a road after refilling, I think that you are technically not breaking any laws. It's a real silly set of laws, but that is what I think is written.
Warning NEVER do that! You can overfill and put liquid propane in your service!
Never mess with the pressure relief valve.
Jim...
That's how I've done it, freeze the small tanks, set the 20# tank in the sun. When I say half, I'm estimating the weight. Perhaps I'll try again, and actually weigh the little tanks before and after.The trick on the small 1 lb ones is to put the empty in the freezer for about an hour. My cost to refill them is $.25.
Leave your big tank in the direct Sun. The vapor pressure is big time different then.
I get about 3/4th a pound on each refill.
Tip: All LPG tanks are only filled to ≈80% anyway, you have to leave a vapor space to use the Vapor to burn only.
Jim...
PS: You can get more fill by putting the partial filled one in the freezer again.
But I found it wasn't worth the effort and time to do it for just a little more.
PSS: I fill about 4 empties at the same time. No biggie then.
Ummm, you can overfill with the freezer trick too, or by just leaving the tanks connected for a very long time. It is easier to overfill if you vent gas from the secondary tank, but it is possible to do it using any of the listed methods.Warning NEVER do that! You can overfill and put liquid propane in your service!
Never mess with the pressure relief valve.
Jim...
My main concern with venting is that on the cheap tanks, after you do it a bunch of times, eventually the seal wears out & the tank gets a leak at the safety valve.
I agree that overfilling is to be avoided.
No way.!
I don't mean to argue, but this has Safety involved.
You cannot cause propane to liquify at household freezer temperatures.
You can never over pressurize with this procedure, if the fill tank is at outside temperatures and the receiver is just freezer cold.
Jim...
NotCook
.
- Dec 29, 2008
- 805
Interestingly, that's what prompted my interest in the thread. I was getting our 10# refilled at the local gas company. The guy brought back our filled tank and handed it to me, and another lady walked up with a 20# tank. He looked at it and said, "I'll fill it this time, but you need a new tank. They have to be less than 12 years old." I thought that was interesting, because ours came with the boat when we bought it in 2003, and has a date of "10 00". So, it's interesting because he checked and rejected hers, but did not seem to have checked ours. We have three of these 8# tanks (in turns out, not 10# as I had thought), in a lazarette for the galley stove. We also have two more even smaller tanks, for the grill, that we bought (at Fawcett's in Annapolis) when we bought the boat, and they would have to be expired by now, too. I've never been challenged while having any of them filled, any time in the past 15 years, in Ohio, Virginia, or down here...