BugsRLB
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mkletka wrote:Logan80 wrote:I actually registered here to clear up a few misconceptions you folks seem to have regarding OPD Valves.
They are NOT required on HORIZONTAL tanks manufactured before 1998. The older tanks are not able to be retrofitted due to the J-Tube design inside the tank that allows you to pick up propane vapor while the tank is on it's side.
Here is a website that shows the actual rules, pay particular attention to the part regarding horizontally mounted tanks.
http://www.damouth.org/RVStuff/OPD.shtml
So if I've read this information correctly, I do not need to get my tanks retrofitted. My tanks do have a sticker attached that states that the tank is equipped with an OPD device. This was helpful information that I did not know. Now, to find a place that will understand the rules and fill them.
That's what I found out! The local hardware store would not fill them but any RV dealer would. I used to carry a copy of the rule to show people that wouldn't fill. Most BBQ tank type filling stations have no idea about the horizontal tanks!
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JoeChiOhki
Sauvie Island, OR
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Logan80 wrote:I actually registered here to clear up a few misconceptions you folks seem to have regarding OPD Valves.
They are NOT required on HORIZONTAL tanks manufactured before 1998. The older tanks are not able to be retrofitted due to the J-Tube design inside the tank that allows you to pick up propane vapor while the tank is on it's side.
Here is a website that shows the actual rules, pay particular attention to the part regarding horizontally mounted tanks.
http://www.damouth.org/RVStuff/OPD.shtml
The problem comes, Logan, with 90% of the filling stations that have your average high schooler with the bare minimum training doing the tank fills.
They see a star valve handle on anything smaller than a 100lber and they'll immediately go into "Can't fill it" mode, regardless if it's exempt or not.
I got tired of this song and dance and bought two brand new Manchester 20lb Horizontals only to find that they wouldn't take more than 3.2 gallons when filled vertically (As the Sticker on them said to), which have been nothing but a pain in the a$$.
So, given how much I paid for them, I'm selling them off to whoever wants them and completely rebuilding my entire propane compartment so that it can accommodate 20lb vertical tanks, which fill properly and cost $25 to replace.
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Raften
Northern Calfornia
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Joined: 01/27/2003
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3.2 gallons Joe, are these tanks the ones most people think of seven gallon tanks at first glance? I have a fully empty one and when I fill I'll post a number. I do know that I have put more than that in but my OPD valves are over ten years old and they may have changed the design.
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recycler
michigan
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$150 for a 20lbs that isn't to bad for a price try a 40lbs horizontal tank they are scary expensive
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Logan80
Spanaway, Washington
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They should hold approx. 4.7 gallons whether they are the older style or newer. The newer OPD equipped tanks must be filled vertically, but should still take 4.7 gallons if they were properly purged before the first filling.
The older tanks are required to have a sticker on them saying that they are not equipped with OPD valves and also saying they are exempt from the OPD valve requirement. If you have the proper decals in place you shouldn't have any issues getting them filled as long as the employee has had proper training, and if they haven't I wouldn't want them touching my stuff anyways.
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JoeChiOhki
Sauvie Island, OR
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Raften wrote:3.2 gallons Joe, are these tanks the ones most people think of seven gallon tanks at first glance? I have a fully empty one and when I fill I'll post a number. I do know that I have put more than that in but my OPD valves are over ten years old and they may have changed the design.
Just a standard Manchester horizontal 20lber, looks like a bbq tank laying on its side. Brand new as of July 2008, have never taken more than 3.2 gallons and after an extended email conversation with Manchester, was told that that was expected capacity of the bottle.
My original tanks were also standard 20lb style horizontals (Also made by Manchester, but were originals from 1973 with a screw valve 80% check on them instead of the OPD valve), I've been greatly disappointed with the new bottles.
I plan to sell them off at a loss after I finish the compartment conversion so I can fit standard 20lb vertical bottles in there.
The original bottles were twice as heavy of steel than their modern counter parts and never gave me any trouble, but were a royal pain to get someone to refill given their age and the non-existent OPD valves.
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ticki2
NH
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Logan80 wrote:They should hold approx. 4.7 gallons whether they are the older style or newer. The newer OPD equipped tanks must be filled vertically, but should still take 4.7 gallons if they were properly purged before the first filling.
The older tanks are required to have a sticker on them saying that they are not equipped with OPD valves and also saying they are exempt from the OPD valve requirement. If you have the proper decals in place you shouldn't have any issues getting them filled as long as the employee has had proper training, and if they haven't I wouldn't want them touching my stuff anyways.
Where and from whom would you get those stickers for the tanks ?
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ticki2
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JoeChiOhki wrote:
The original bottles were twice as heavy of steel than their modern counter parts and never gave me any trouble, but were a royal pain to get someone to refill given their age and the non-existent OPD valves.
That is probably because your originals were ASME tanks and not DOT cylinders . ASME tank do not require re-certification , but most people don't know that . Even my state Fire Marshals office could not give a definitive answer on this question so I wouldn't put too much blame on a local fill station .
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JoeChiOhki
Sauvie Island, OR
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ticki2 wrote:JoeChiOhki wrote:
The original bottles were twice as heavy of steel than their modern counter parts and never gave me any trouble, but were a royal pain to get someone to refill given their age and the non-existent OPD valves.
That is probably because your originals were ASME tanks and not DOT cylinders . ASME tank do not require re-certification , but most people don't know that . Even my state Fire Marshals office could not give a definitive answer on this question so I wouldn't put too much blame on a local fill station .
Since I still have them, I will have to check, but I do believe I recall them having DOT stamped in the valve guards. The no recertification needed was actually what somewhat drove me towards wanting to convert over to a permanently mounted ASME tank, but I decided that it was more hassle than it was worth vs just rebuilding the old propane compartment.
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Logan80
Spanaway, Washington
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You can get the stickers from any reputable propane or rv parts/supply shop I'm sure. We used to charge $1 each for them and required you to buy them in order to get your cylinders filled if they didn't have the sticker already.
I doubt his tanks were ASME to be honest, the older cylinders were just much better built than modern ones, same with most anything else these days. But you are correct that ASME Tanks (as opposed to DOT Cylinders) do not require a re-certification.
Before you get rid of those tanks, I'd suggest running them empty then seeing if you can get a propane shop to vacuum purge them, or put a splash of methanol in them and try again. They should hold 4.7 gallons which is approx. 20 pounds.
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