1lb propane up in price

[northernontario]

Check places like Sail... I've found they have better prices on fuel (propane, coleman naptha/white gas)

[woody1948]

No such thing as overfill, the small tank equalizes o the pressure in the larger tank.

[JUDGE]

No such thing as overfill, the small tank equalizes o the pressure in the larger tank.

You obviously know nothing about filling propane tanks.

[rick_iles]

haven't filled any myself, but would be something I might do (if the DIY kit is cheap enough).
does anyone know how to prevent overfilling; do the little green tanks have a relief valve (e.g. filled in the winter, stored in the sun in the summer)? or do you have to rely on a scale reading?

The 20 lb tank is placed valve down. After I attach the small tank, I use a pair of needle nose pliers to pull the relief valve open...open the 20, and when I see liquid spurt from the open relief valve, I close the 20 valve. You tube has good info...you should weigh them to make sure there's only 1 lb. I found that I'm usually not quite full. I have had some problem tanks where the relief valve won't completely seal, and they leak.

[middlewick]

I also bought the adapter to fill my own but now for the most part i use my 5lber with the hose and filter for my buddy heater and then get it refilled at Costco for $2.34 which is an amazing deal.

[scarkner]

The valves on the new 20 lb tanks were designed to stop DIY refills. The 5 and 10 lb tanks are still available to use with a hose kit though.
When you open the relief valves on the little tanks and get liquid propane, that means they are full and still have the expansion chamber empty. This occurs normally when you are refilling them.

I had read that too, but my tanks at home seem to be fine, they are the propane swap-system. So either not all tanks have this yet, or perhaps it just isn't effective.

It is EASY to test your tank. Just screw in the refill adapter, turn the tank over and open the valve (without the 1lb tank attached). You will get a stream of liquid propane at very high pressures.

Dangerous? You bet! Just do a quick shot outdoors. Don't let the propane hit you as it can cause instant "cold" burns.

AS for the questions about overfilling - Yes you can overfill them, but to be honest it is generally much harder to get them to fill all the way, most of the time they only get to about 3/4 full.

Use a weigh scale. Measure before and after filling, looking for a 450g or 16Oz change.

Make sure the 1lb tank is completely empty before you start as even a small amount of remaining propane liquid in the small tank will prevent it from filling. However, do not let the tank stand open (ie. don't put a torch on the tank and leave the valve open for an hour). Mixing air and propane inside the tank is very bad. You just want to release the pressure until there is no liquid left.

[sawbill]

I'm with middlewick on this one. I have a 10 lb'er that's indispensable on overnight fishing trips. Its easy to carry and doesn't take up much space or weight.
A 5 lb'er would be absolutely ideal for a fishing shack or treehouse and the price of a refill makes it even more attractive.

[Wahoo]

AS for the questions about overfilling - Yes you can overfill them, but to be honest it is generally much harder to get them to fill all the way, most of the time they only get to about 3/4 full.

Use a weigh scale. Measure before and after filling, looking for a 450g or 16Oz change.

I've seen about 40 one pounders refilled, (following the recommended procedure), using the mac adapter. They were all weighed before and after and ALL of them can in well under what a factory filled one pounder cylinder weighed. I don't know how they could be overfilled.

Propane was $12+HST for a 20 pounder at Costco last year. You can save bundle of money if you use a lot of the small tanks and choose to refill.

[woody1948]

You obviously know nothing about filling propane tanks.

I have refilled a led a lot more than you have ever used.

[PaulR]

The refilling procedure has been discussed here many times before, and I have posted the information on this in the past, but here goes again.
If you are going to refill cylinders, please don't transport them in a vehicle with anyone else. If you want to blow yourself up, that is fine, but to take an unsuspecting individual along just isn't right.
Some think that if you fill them until liquid just starts to come out the Schrader valve, a 1 lb will not be over filled. This is absolutely incorrect. The proper max fill on a propane cylinder is 80%m filling the way you describe will put it closer to 95%. If necessary, I can dig up the pictures of a cutaway 1 lb cylinder and post them again along with all the info on what the cylinder ends up filled to.
But then again, I do speed, which is also dangerous, so go ahead and refill your 1 lb cylinders and transport them in the trunk of your car, at least you won't get ticket.