JudoJeff wrote: I've done that and they work fine, but are never as full as when new.
What I did instead is buy a 5' hose with the adapter like the bottle's, and a small, 5 pound LP bottle. Lasts a long time, is easy to store, and easier to use.
Yes they will fill to the amount they had when new. The trick is to take a pair of needle nose pliers and pull out on the schrader valve when filling. This will allow some gas to escape but it will be filled with liquid. I weight them when done to make sure they aren't overfilled. YMMV
Ron & Charlotte
WD8CBT since 1976
28' Prowler & 05 Ram QC LB
I started with nothing and I still have most of it left
I never fail, I just succeed in finding out what doesn't work
Filled them many times in the past, but gave the adapter for doing it away…
It just wasn’t worth it to me … I now use a refillable 5 pound tank and hose…
I have had the refills leak… even had them leak after the first use on the original fill… I still carry one or two of them (new) but have little use for them anymore, and wouldn’t return to using them…
I use to give empties to a guy I know until I found out he stored his refills in his basement, so now I just turn them in to a recycler that takes old propane tanks…
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet
JudoJeff wrote: I've done that and they work fine, but are never as full as when new.
eubank wrote: It is basically impossible to determine exactly what is "full" with these little cylinders.Lynn
Not true. Weigh the empty and weigh after you’re done. If you over fill burn some off or purge slightly before you store. I’ve found that if I follow the instructions that came with the valve (freeze the empty for 20 minutes, fill for one minute) it comes out almost exactly at one lb.
skipnchar wrote: Yes it can be done but they cost a buck so why bother?
Try $2.50 to $3.00 each or more at the captive markets. Refill for less than $1.00.
Dave & Gean
2007 Tundra DC 4X4 5.7
2009 Cougar 245RKS
370 watts ET solar
Rogue 3024 MPPT controller
440 Ah battery bank
ProWatt 2000 inverter
2007 Forester 2941DS
2005 KIA Spectra
Zamboni, Long Haired Mini Dachshund
You can have my RV, when you pry my cold dead fingers from the Steering Wheel
Yes it can be done. There is a reason it is not permitted for commercial establishments and a valid one. The bottles were designed to be disposable. I am not willing to risk an LP incident for a couple of bucks. Most folks think practicing safety is just something some that paranoid folks do until something happens to them that could have been prevented.
To do this right, you'd need to know the exact weight of the empty cylinder at the time of manufacture (i.e., absolutely no propane in it), the exact weight-capacity of the cylinder, and the weight of any auxiliary equipment needed to do it. That's basically all what is available to licensed fillers for refillable cylinders: TW, WC, and weight of aux equipment on a scale that is tested for accuracy repeatedly.
Lynn
12thgenusa wrote:
eubank wrote: It is basically impossible to determine exactly what is "full" with these little cylinders.Lynn
Not true. Weigh the empty and weigh after you’re done. If you over fill burn some off or purge slightly before you store. I’ve found that if I follow the instructions that came with the valve (freeze the empty for 20 minutes, fill for one minute) it comes out almost exactly at one lb.
Cost effective . . OK
Easy to do . . . OK
Legal? Yeah, but just as long as we don't carry them in our rigs . . . Coleman canister clearly states that transport of the canister, if refilled, is prohibited . . . federal penalty of up to $500,000 and/or 5 years in prison. . .
Personally, I don't bother. But to each his own, I'm not about to critize those who do.
Wil, Tara, Nakeeta (Alaskan husky 6 yr.-old), and Keeko (Jack Russel/Chihuahua mix 3 yr.-old)
(Joey our 6-yr. old Jack Russel mix, passed over the Rainbow Bridge 12/19/09.)
2008 Jay Flight 24RKS; 2006 Chevy Suburban 1500 4X4 Z71
I added a tee and hose in my permanent LP system so I never have to mess with the 1-lb'ers again. I've had so much trouble with leaky valves, I never attempted to refill them. I would weigh a few new/unused tanks to get an average gross weight if I were to refill them. I refill my 30lb tanks from my home 250lb. The OPD works well but I weigh them to make sure they didn't overfill. Craig
I thank all of you for your replies to the propane bottle question. I opted to go with the 5# tank as it seemed the best and safest way. Again thank you.
eubank wrote: To do this right, you'd need to know the exact weight of the empty cylinder at the time of manufacture (i.e., absolutely no propane in it), the exact weight-capacity of the cylinder, and the weight of any auxiliary equipment needed to do it. That's basically all what is available to licensed fillers for refillable cylinders: TW, WC, and weight of aux equipment on a scale that is tested for accuracy repeatedly.
Lynn
12thgenusa wrote:
eubank wrote: It is basically impossible to determine exactly what is "full" with these little cylinders.Lynn
Not true. Weigh the empty and weigh after you’re done. If you over fill burn some off or purge slightly before you store. I’ve found that if I follow the instructions that came with the valve (freeze the empty for 20 minutes, fill for one minute) it comes out almost exactly at one lb.
Silly me. I just weigh a brand new bottle from the store. Then I fill mine up to or under (never over) that weight. Done, for about 75 cents and not 5 bucksn a bottle.
Skip I would like to know where your buying yours for a buck. I would jump on that deal!
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