Refilling Propane Bottles

[VanTrekker]

I've got some little 1 pounders that I plan to refill tomorrow using an adapter.&nbsp; Is anyone else refilling their own green propane canisters?<br /><br />The only thing that really appears to be dangerous is if a person messes with the little "bike tire" style valve on the side of the tank.&nbsp; That can cause leaks.<br /><br />V.T.

 

[sl1966]

Personally speaking, lose them. Go for the 20# containers and the multi-point connectors. You'll save a fortune on top of all the other benefits of having a larger tank.<br /><br />

 

[bk2valve]

Bradford....if you do it, this tutorial is very close to the demo that was given at the last RTR. I can't remember the fella's name who showed us but he had built the same coupling so he could fill the bottles up while they are upright...you get a complete fill that way...use a postal scale to be sure it is full.......<br /><br /> http://www.navagear.com/2009/08/27/how-to-refill-disposable-propane-cylinders/<br /><br />Bri

 

[wandering mike]

I have done it. &nbsp;Lots of videos out there. &nbsp;A bit of trepidation the first time. &nbsp;The challenge is getting more than a half pound in there. &nbsp;I tried freezing the empties and that helped. &nbsp;I finally did mess with the valve and with some medical pincher scissor type things, pulled the valve on the empty to get it fully empty. &nbsp;Small needle nose pliers would work too. &nbsp;Then after a few times, I did start pulling the valve to release some pressure after the first fill attempt. &nbsp;That then let me fill it to the 1 lb. &nbsp;Actually it was over a lb and I let some out so that it was exactly a pound net weight of propane added. I used a kitchen digital scale and weighed as I went; before and after, that sort of thing. &nbsp;<br /><br />Looking the way that the propane hisses around when you get your tank filled on the RV, you start to realize that propane can be as safe as gasoline. &nbsp;But yes, please make sure you do understand what you are doing first, and second and then yet a third time thinking it through, then try the reload.&nbsp;<br /><br />I picked up some brass caps as well to screw on to the tops instead of the white plastic things. &nbsp;The leakage from the top is what mostly concerns me.<br /><br />I do like the little canisters with the Buddy Heater even though I do have both a tank and the RV mounted tank adapter with the hose. &nbsp;It is easier to move it around the rig without the hose.

 

[VanTrekker]

<p>Thanks for the helpful comments!&nbsp; I don't want to carry a 20# tank with me for a couple of reasons...&nbsp; I'm in a standard length Chevy Express.&nbsp; Granted, it's roomy enough to sleep in but space is also at a premium.&nbsp; Also, my Mr. Heater Buddy is mounted on the side door of the van.&nbsp; That means running a hose under the kitchen counter (or down through the floor) and out to the back of the van somehow.&nbsp; I'm not fond of the idea of plumbing some gas pipe or running a hose...&nbsp; The possibility of rupture and a gas leak worries (more like terrifies)&nbsp;me.<br /><br />I plan to follow the tutorial almost exactly.&nbsp; Tomorrow morning I will go get a scale at Walmart.&nbsp; That's the best way to know how full you are getting the bottles.&nbsp; The biggest reason I really want to refill these things is because I can stick a few of them here and there much easier than I can store a 20# tank...&nbsp;<br /><br />I also believe refilling can be very safe.&nbsp; The plan is not to mess with the relief valve.&nbsp; I also intend to do the soapy water test with each refilled bottle.<br /><br />***&nbsp; Thanks for the note about the brass caps!&nbsp; It's very helpful.&nbsp; I can't find most of the white caps and I think like you that the brass would work better. ***</p><p>Thanks for the input!</p><p>VT</p>

 

[highdesertranger]

what you are worried is exactly what wrong with refilling the small bottles.&nbsp; they leak.&nbsp; they are not meant to be refilled.&nbsp; if you do refill&nbsp; put on your appliance immediately this seems to help with leaks.&nbsp; btw you do know that t is illegal to transport those small bottles after you refill them.&nbsp; dot regs.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[VanTrekker]

From what I read, it's okay to refill them for personal use... illegal to transport them commercially.&nbsp; No biggie though... I'm looking at another option now... running the Mr. Buddy from a 20# tank.&nbsp; That will be the next thread.&nbsp; Thanks for weighing in.&nbsp;&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br /><br />V.T.

 

[wandering mike]

Agreed it is not illegal for a consumer to either refill a bottle or transport a bottle. &nbsp;Those dot regs are for commercial trucks and such. &nbsp;Lord know why the government and the relevant industry have regs adopted. &nbsp;And the empty bottles can be found in most any campground, especially those without electric. &nbsp;The good brass caps also give comfort as to avoiding leaks. &nbsp;Leaks are not a huge problem unless the area is too small to allow the gas to dissipate. &nbsp;If leaking bottles was such a big problem, I am sure all of these threads on propane would have stories and pictures and videos of exploding little bottles. &nbsp;I don't hear about them. &nbsp;Before I started refilling, the only story I found was about a guy who was stupid enough to do it inside his rv; and then the issue was the big 20 lb tank letting the propane out, not the little one.

 

[highdesertranger]

dot regs are for everyone not just commercial.&nbsp; i know of this first hand.&nbsp; also i have a problem with like 1 in 4 of those little bottles leaking even if they haven't been refilled just by removing them from the appliance.&nbsp; sometimes you can mess with the valve to get them to seal.&nbsp; i am not saying if you refill them they are going to explode but propane is both flammable and explosive in the right circumstances.&nbsp; i personally like to stop a problem before it's a major problem.&nbsp; saying all this i have a refiller and have used it, &nbsp;just be careful after all you wouldn't store a gas can in the passenger compartment.&nbsp; i hope.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[oldnjung]

We use a ONE GALLON tank inside our van for heating and cooking. Adaptor hose with filter inline for Mister Buddy and coleman stove. No problems and 2.75 per gallon compared to 3.00 each per cannister.

 

[wandering mike]

Here is what the back of the package for the coupler says: &nbsp;"Refilled cylinders not to be sold or transported (49 USC 1809) in Commerce". Since these folks have been selling these for quite a while, (the <span style="color: #ff0000;"><a href="http://www.google.com/patents/US4807848" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: #ff0000;">patent</span></a></span> has actually expired since it issued in 1989), I suspect they have had occasion to discuss this with the good folks at DOT and the fact that they are still being sold, and the warning as to the law is what it is. &nbsp;I am pretty confident it has been carefully reviewed with their lawyers and their insurance underwriters.<br /><br />&nbsp;<img rel="lightbox" src="https://photos-3.dropbox.com/t/0/AA...7sb0i/gnX64ggKy3/ScreenGrab_01 2012-12-10.jpg" class="bbc_img" />