Propane Tank; Safety Question

[Luisafernandes]

I have a new (never used) 20 pound propane tank bought last year but never used in the van. I know many van dwellers use them inside their vans with zero problems. But I'm a bit apprehensive. I used the one pounders all last winter with no issues, but this is a much larger tank. 
Any ideas or suggestions on how to be safe with it would be much appreciated. 
Thank you!

 

[Almost There]

Propane Safety 101 for you:

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

I like using a paint brush for checking connections, they suggest a spray bottle set on 'stream'. The paint brush doesn't get soapy water all over the place like the spray does.

Check your connections each time anything is moved, connected or reconnected.

I found that a standard milk crate held a 20 lb tank nicely and allowed me to strap it down in place or wedge it between other things when travelling. Never carry the tank on it's side, always upright and secured.

If you're using it with the Mr. Buddy, I believe you need a filter in the line.

 

[Luisafernandes]

Here's my setup done just a week ago.
A view from the back with the tank hidden;

By removing a bungee I can remove the piece of plywood that hides and also helps keeping it in place;

The tank is secure in place, not only by the bungee and plywood, but by the back of my bed, and by three pieces of poplar securing the tank at its base;

Using PVC pipe I created a pass through for the Mr buddy heater hose to reach the living area safely;

 

[Luisafernandes]

Propane Safety 101 for you:

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

I like using a paint brush for checking connections, they suggest a spray bottle set on 'stream'. The paint brush doesn't get soapy water all over the place like the spray does.

Check your connections each time anything is moved, connected or reconnected.

I found that a standard milk crate held a 20 lb tank nicely and allowed me to strap it down in place or wedge it between other things when travelling. Never carry the tank on it's side, always upright and secured.

If you're using it with the Mr. Buddy, I believe you need a filter in the line.

Thank you very much! With all your suggestions I'm good, as I'm familiar with those. But being familiar with them is not the same as being experienced with them.
How long have you used the tank in the van? And did you ever have a problem?
What kind of alarm do you have? A while back I bought a propane alarm at Lowes, but returned it after reading that one, it's not meant to run on just the battery and two, it's not meant to be used in freezing weather. So I'll be buying a 12v RV alarm.

 

[highdesertranger]

looks good to me nice install as usual. Almost There gave good advice about the checking of the connections. I feel you only need to check if you were to disconnect then reconnect, but that's just my opinion. highdesertranger

 

[Almost There]

Thank you very much! With all your suggestions I'm good, as I'm familiar with those. But being familiar with them is not the same as being experienced with them.
How long have you used the tank in the van? And did you ever have a problem?
What kind of alarm do you have? A while back I bought a propane alarm at Lowes, but returned it after reading that one, it's not meant to run on just the battery and two, it's not meant to be used in freezing weather. So I'll be buying a 12v RV alarm.

I've used 20 lb propane tanks for 40 years without a problem. However, I have never heated the inside of a van with the propane heaters and I'm not sure that I ever will...we'll see this winter.

When I first got the Class A I took advantage of a local RV dealerships training courses and took a propane safety course meant for RVr's. Very interesting but it made me cringe and get ready to run when watching some of the totally illegal and irresponsible handling when getting the onboard tanks filled....
Other than that it made me very comfortable being around propane tanks and appliances.

 

[akrvbob]

In 13 years of living in a vehicle i have always had a bulk bottle inside with me. I had one problem in all that time. I had a propane stove hooked to the bottle and the hose was very old, probably 5 years. One day I turned on the stove and all of a sudden the crimp where it screwed into the stove started spewing propane and of course it ignited from the stove--it was a butane torch shooting flames into the trailer!

The bottle was on the floor below the stove and few feet away. I reached down, closed the valve and the torch went out. No real harm done.

What would have happened if the bottle was on the tongue of the trailer (my 6x10 cargo trailer)? I would have had to run outside, unlocked the box holding the bottle, pulled out the crap stored around it and closed the valve. It would have taken much longer. So much longer I could have lost the trailer? I'll never know, but it's possible.

In that case I was very glad I had the bottle inside.

Another lesson I learned is I now replace my hose every year; it's my Christmas present to myself. It costs $20 a year but that's cheap for the peace of mind.
Bob

 

[compassrose]

I have never used a filter on any of my 20lb tanks. I use a Tag-a-long which is very similar to the Mr. Buddy. I would not run a propane tank inside. But then, I have had a propane tank off-gas. Not something I would like to have happen inside.

 

[Almost There]

I have never used a filter on any of my 20lb tanks. I use a Tag-a-long which is very similar to the Mr. Buddy. I would not run a propane tank inside. But then, I have had a propane tank off-gas. Not something I would like to have happen inside.

The newer tanks have an overfill valve that limits the filling to 80% of the tank to prevent off-gassing because of temperature variances. I'm not sure when the new valves became mandatory but it was somewhere about 15 to 20 years ago IIRC but then I suffer from CRS...

Here's a link to a very good propane safety sheet.

http://www.propanefl.com/safety_tips.htm

If I were to do one thing to improve the safety of your set up, it would be to make it so that the on/off valve could be accessed from inside the van. From the way it looks in the pictures you have to go outside and move stuff to be able to get at the tank.

Good idea of running the line through PVC pipe so it can't be rubbing or damaged by other items in the compartment. I like that!

 

[compassrose]

The newer tanks have an overfill valve that limits the filling to 80% of the tank to prevent off-gassing because of temperature variances. I'm not sure when the new valves became mandatory but it was somewhere about 15 to 20 years ago IIRC but then I suffer from CRS...

It was a newer valve that off gassed on a hot summer day. I had an old valve off gas one winter day too. Had a talk with the LP guys that made my custom LP hoses about the off gassing of both of the tanks. Got an answer that satisfied me and a warning to never put a tank inside my house or RV. Nor leave a tank in a hot car.

 

[akrvbob]

I would NOT use a Mr Buddy on a bulk tank without a filter. You are nearly certain to plug up it;s jets.
Bob

 

[highdesertranger]

I think Mr Buddy say you must use a filter. any full propane tank on an extremely hot day left in the direct sun light will off gas. it's a safety feature. highdesertranger

 

[ccbreder]

The inside of a vehicle in the sun will get hot enough to over pressure a propane bottle and cause it to discharge some gas. If not upright, it will release liquid propane and you can say goodbye to your van. The same is true with the one pound canisters.
There is a new type hose from Mr Buddy that does not need a filter. I would use a filter, anyway.

 

[offroad]

The inside of a vehicle in the sun will get hot enough to over pressure a propane bottle and cause it to discharge some gas. If not upright, it will release liquid propane and you can say goodbye to your van. The same is true with the one pound canisters.
There is a new type hose from Mr Buddy that does not need a filter. I would use a filter, anyway.

Just OMG. A one pound canister off gas liquid propane danger spill death trap? This really can happen and does ?

 

[highdesertranger]

on those small disposable cylinders, that's the main reason it's against the law to refill them and transport them. you can refill them you just can't transport them once they have been refilled. highdesertranger

 

[offroad]

on those small disposable cylinders, that's the main reason it's against the law to refill them and transport them. you can refill them you just can't transport them once they have been refilled. highdesertranger

Even if they are original filled they are a hazard still?

 

[compassrose]

I would NOT use a Mr Buddy on a bulk tank without a filter. You are nearly certain to plug up it;s jets.
Bob

The Tag-a-long must be different. I bought it in 2004. I have only used it twice on 1lb bottles. Other than that, it has always been used on 20# tanks. It does not have a built in filter either.

My daughter has a Mr. Buddy that she has used for two winters (only heat). She never used a filter either.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

i have used propane now inside a van for 6 years and I used it inside a sailboat for 6 years, on the boat I kept the 20 lb tank on the outside, ran the flex hose inside. Whenever I suspected/worried that there was propane on board I emptied the bilge, then used a bucket to remove propane. In the van I have a cabinet that has a couple of holes in the floor to vent any propane leakage/gassing, I have access to the cabinet from inside, I test the connection every time I change tanks, with a soapy water spray bottle, I have never changed a hose and don't feel the need, I think in Bobs case he moves his stove in and out so his hose gets a lot more movement then a permanent set up also he has had a bad experience. I have one 6 lb tank for the heater one for the cook stove. I have a propane snifter/ alarm. I plan on installing a 20 lb tank this fall for the heater as the 6 lb one has to be changed too often, I will build a seperate cabinet with floor vents for this new tank. I turn the propane off at the tank every time I am finished using it. I don't like sleeping with the heater on even if it is a vented Dickenson so I lite it first thing in the morning, and turn it off before going to sleep, I have never had a problem, I feel safe with this setup, that is how I role with my propane set up so far so good.

 

[janihenn]

akrvbobIn 13 years of living in a vehicle i have always had a bulk bottle inside with me.

Hi Bob,

Thank you so much for this site and everyone that posts so much useful information.  I'm getting prepped to full-time in Denver this coming fall.  I have a little 13' 1979 Serro Scotty and am very excited to save $500 - $600 or more a month in rent.

It gets very cold some days/nights here in Denver so I need something that can run all night when it's really cold out.  I get cold easily and I plan on staying in Denver for the next 2 years to #1) get out of debt and #2) save and quit my current work and head further out west.

I was planning on purchasing the Olympian Wave-6 6000 BTU LP Gas Catalytic Heater and connect a 20 lb propane tank which I can place the tank up front easily on top or of under one of my wooden storage areas at the front of the trailer.  I'm thinking this will be perfectly safe, taking all precautions (carbon monoxide/propane alarm/smoke alarm and a fire extinguisher.

And I think it's a great idea for me to take a safety course for propane use.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

How cold is really cold?  Propane stops working completely at 40 below, and the conversion from liquid to gas can slow down quite a bit at temperatures below zero.  So much so that the gas flow can't keep up with the appliances demand, and it shuts off.   I believe that's why you see so many big horizontal tanks - they have more surface area for the liquid gas interface than a vertical tank does.

I believe Bob has written that when he was living in a box truck in Anchorage AK, he kept his tanks inside in the heated area.