NO! Portable tanks are rated by the weight of propane that the tanks can legally hold. A 20 lb tank weighs about 17 lb empty. A 100 lb tank weighs about 70 lbs empty. The tare weight is stamped on the tank. The tank is legally full when the tank weighs the sum of the tare weight plus the weight of propane that tank is designed to hold.
I had no idea how long propane lasted but when I bought my little homestead , there was an antique 1930 propane kitchen range in the garage still hooked up to the 100 lb. tank outside the building . I turned the burner on and lit it with a match and it worked perfectly after sitting there for almost 30 years unused !! Amazing !!
not so amazing. it came out of the ground in that state and only needed some filtering to be what it is. gasoline has to be processed so it has a shelf life. what is cool is that the tank was still safe after all that time and didn't fail as it lost pressure!
Propane does not deteriorate with age and it is not corrosive, so no surprise about the gas itself. I would be more concerned about the condition of the hoses, regulators, valves and burners.
Interesting considering most places won’t sell old propane tank or put gas in them due to the danger. I worked a year pumping tanks and we had a strict policy about filling tanks that were expired or showed signs of deterioration. I’ve heard of stories of people getting serious hurt or killed pumping bad tanks. Just be careful!
OK, heads up here, @5:26 this gentleman starts to tell you about how much the tanks can be filled, 80% as he says is correct. But that reason is as follows; Your dealer pumps in LIQUID PROPANE but what your appliance uses is PROPANE in a VAPOR state. Liquid propane boils, (or turns into a vapor @ -44degs). That 20% of space in the tank is room for PROPANE VAPOR. And just so you know, 1 gal of liquid propane will convert or make 270 gals of vapor. My point is you HAVE to have room in the tank for the propane to make vapor.
oh please you called me a gentleman. i am honored but its ok to call me a guy, this dude. or whatever, lol... seriously. thank you for your comment great info. and yes i was touched you said gentleman. . have a great day.
The pound rating refers to what it holds, not what it weighs empty. #20 pound weighs 18 pounds empty, 38 pounds full (difference of 20 lbs). a #40 weighs 29 empty 70 full (difference of 40 lbs). a #100 weighs 68 empty, 170 full (difference of 102).
a 100 pound tank is called a 100 lb tank because it holds a 100 pounds of propane. The tare weight is usually around 67 pounds. Therefore, a full tank usually weights about 167 pounds depending on the tare weight.
Question, I have a duel fuel generator and it said in the instructions to only use 20 or 30 lb. Tanks. I would like to use bigger. What is the difference in the tank size, I assume with regulator the all have the same psi
@@chrisnixon2179 I use 40 lb tanks without any issue. I thought about 100 lb. tanks, but got a good deal on (4) 40 lb tanks and (4) 30 lb tanks. Easier to transport. You can use 100 lb tanks and even the very large tanks, but getting the required amount of propane flow can be tricky. Bryan makes a somewhat valid point, while not really answering your question. Portable generators aren't really designed for non-stop use. While running on propane is much cleaner than gasoline, your oil will still need to be changed every couple days. Most manufacturers recommend changing the oil every 20 hours. I've stretched that to 40 - 45 hours when running on gas without a problem. After converting my generator to run on propane, the oil still looks clean after 2 full days. If I ever have to run for an extended period, I'll go 3 days between oil changes. I've heard people say that you need to shut down the generator for an hour after every tank of fuel to allow the generator to cool. I don't. I run it until it stops, change tanks, start it right back up, repeat; change oil. Run it like you stole it, and keep it far enough away from any structure that you don't want catching on fire should the generator catch fire.
I appreciate the video. I made a decision to stick with the smallest 20 pound container because I am getting older and there might be a problem trying to exchange a larger unit when it would expire. When my latest outdoor grill went down, I did not replace it. However, I have 5 small tanks for shtf with propane stove, small 1 pound cans, transfer lines, propane lanterns, extra hose/parts.
yes, thanks for sharing your knowledge, I am new to this and really liked your video. i am trying to figure out what direction i want to go. going to your site next. thank you!
think you may be better off getting a 300 gallon plus tank an refill it once a year, specially if it cheaper to fill it up in the summer time like it is here in OK
I have thought about that. prices actually don't change much. in fact the propane company I am going with had to same price for 1.5 yrs and last month reduced it by 5 cents. in the middle of winter. I asked them why now? why not wait until march or april to lower the price. they said becus they were able to get it cheaper so they pass it on to us instead of keeping it for themselves. it makes them different then the other companies. . rules hear for a 250gal or larger needs to be at least 10ft from any building mine is 6 feet. I would have to put into the ground a line for the other 4 feet. they said they wont fill a tank if it is to close to a building. I like the idea of only filling it once a year due to the fact that my road sometimes is unpassable for their trucks.
ArizonaHotHomestead propane prices don’t stabilize for that long, companies get an index update typically once to three times a week and adjust prices accordingly sounds like they gave you a first time fill price and gave a very tiny discount, if you want to save money buy a large tank and buy gas every two-three years this way you have plenty of time to shop and compare
you just totally helps me on understanding these propane tanks.. It is very confusing for me When shopping for a trailer to try and figure out all of these sizes.. thank you for this video.
I'm sure that it varies by location, but here, there's a minimum of 100lbs. of propane required for a propane truck to even come out. And a discount for anything over 150. So my tank is the more common 250 gal. size. Obviously, the small ones can't be filled by the truck, only at the fill center. So you might mention this, as it could certainly influence what size tanks are chosen.
Great video - should have included two sizes that are more for off the grid. The 5 pounder and the one pounder. The 5 pounder is an ideal size for camping and the ubiquitous 1 pounder is the best. Thanks for the video
I used to use 100 lb ones at our remote cabin and went to 40 lb ones because getting near 70 yo I just didn’t want to hurt myself at our off-road cabin. These have to be carried many miles on a sled or UTE. I find a nice way to transport the 40lb and smaller tanks fit nicely in a milk crate to transport standing up or to keep them from rolling lying down.
I hear you on the larger size. I just have to move the propane line underground a few ft. it needs to be 10ft from a building. I was thinking when that day comes to see about buying the tank and fill it once a year or once every other year.
propane tank for generator may ice up due to venturie effect if its a small one i know mine just did its a 20 pounder so be aware that 20 pounders arent the most reliable for high rate use like generators, im going to have to get a bigger one. i run my cook stove and tankless water heater on a 30 works great and lasts 3 months till the winter comes then its to cold outside and has the same problem as the 20 pounder and the generator if i dont take steps to keep it warm useually i wrap it in some towels and then put a black garbage bag over it for insulation and then its fine for day time use.
I have a 250# tank with an additional "wet leg", meaning a spout that does down to the bottom of the tank (and thus wet) so i can refill my smaller tanks from my large tank. The gas company fills my large tank, and I can fill my smaller tanks whenever I need to. Sure beats loading them into the truck and trip into town.
20 Lb tank replacement exchange type is around 30.00 for one tank and they are not quite full for storage safety in a large cage , go to Costco and get a full refill for less than 10.00 and you only pay for what you need. So a half full tank at Costco is about 5.00 to refill , but an exchange tank with a bit left in it is considered empty and you pay full price , just saying that 20.00 is better in my pocket than a large corporate retailer.
I just gotta say, the 100# tanks have their place. On the getting older part? Either build a small DIY crane or use the front end loader (FEL) to load them in and out of the truck. It's easier to move two 100#'rs with the FEL than it is to carry two, put down, go back get another two, repeat, repeat. Just saying. I will be living completely off grid. I have collected 5x20s, 4x30s, 2x 40s , 2x100#. I just don't want deliveries by strangers so I don't want larger tanks I can't handle myself. But I tend to like to have my own backups.
Those 40 pounders are about the heaviest I'd ever want to carry. I think carrying 2 20 pounders is easier than carrying one 40 pounder. I could do the pick up 2, carry them set them down, get another 2 etc etc... All day long without getting tired. But carrying 40#ers or trying to muscle around a 100#er, that'll tire you right out.
A 100 lb tank is easy to move around at any age. Just coax the empty cylinder on to a hand truck [spin rolling it] and then once in the right place strap it tight. After that it's mostly leverage moving it around. Work smart, not hard.
i like that idea but my walk ways and drive way is small rocks so the hand truck sinks in like sand . no solid surface to use the hand truck on. i thought of that. in fact i use a hand truck for the 40lb tanks and its almost easier to carry it becus the hand truck keeps digging in the rocks and getting stuck.
Even with crusher fine gravel a 100 lb propane tank filled with LP shouldn't sink very much, if at all, being that the total weight is divided evenly among the two wheels. In other words, a 200 lb load will have 100 lbs displaced evenly over each wheel. A 500 lb load will have 250 lbs displaced over each wheel, or 125 lbs over four wheels.
Yeah, I like the idea of having just 1 big tank to be filled as few times as possible. How many appliances can you fuel from 1 tank? I'm in rural Alaska. www.faithandaction.net God bless.
how many appliances can i fuel at the same time depends on the pressure test we did when we had it installed. we turned everything on and the tech adjusted the pressure. i am able to run a 3 burner stone, frig, 30k btu furnace at the same time. does that help?
I have 4 #40 tanks. Holds a total of 32 gallons. I used to have 2 100# tanks. I developed a growth in my back that crippled my ability to load the 100# tanks. With the #40 tanks I still have the ability of using gas. I just have the loading and placement designed for a dolly moving and placement setup. I suppose next step will be a big tank with deliveries.
I'm thinking along the line of using those BLUE metal tube dolly's that Harbor Freight sells to mount the tanks too, then roll the tanks to the rear of your truck that has a hitch that you can modify to lift the dolly with tank attached up off the ground at bumper height or even to level with bed, or make a rack that's inline with the bumper & have a small hand winch to winch the tank on dolly to the rack@@ArizonaHotHomestead
Should consider Barnett's Propane Tucson we can definitely take care of you. Especially of you want to lease or buy a tank you can most definitely can and have the best prices. The only place to my knowledge we don't service is anything in Phoenix currently. All of Southern Arizona
A 20# lb tank holds 4.6 gallons of liquid propane @ 4.2#/gallon. The TW stamp on the tank is the empty weight of the tank. A 100# cylinder can be fitted with a multi-valve and filled on site. The tanks are filled to 80% with liquid propane. The 20% space is so the propane can vaporize and create the gas you need to power your appliances. Every tank outputs 250 psi. The fuel is dispersed at 90k BTU/Gallon/Hour. Once you know your appliance's BTU usage rating, the math is easy for how long a type of cylinder will last. A properly trained technician can size you with the proper size tank you need for all of your appliances and in turn properly pipe your system with correct pipe sizing according to distance to appliance and proper volume regulators so that you would only need one tank.
In my state, there is a minimum distance a very large tank must be mounted from a house. Smaller ones can be much closer. Propane is good to fuel emergency generators, with a conversion kit for the gas motor. The propane never goes bad, burns cleaner, and starts easily.
for my area anything larger than 120 gallon must be 10 feet away from any building. 120 or less is 4 feet. the small portable tanks i dont know. i didnt ask about them.
Portable tanks require pressure testing on a regular basis... I believe it's about every 10 years... so the best bet is to occasionally exchange the smaller ones, when they get close to the date stamped into the tank.
if they have the adaptor. the company i use now will do it only if you let them know ahead of time so they can bring the adaptor. they dont carry it with them. not sure why.
Thumbs up Jeff. I may be able to get a 40 pounder. I can probably get that up my front door stairs on a dolly easy enough. Might not even need a dolly.
keep in mind that they call it a 40 pounder but it weights much more. 1 gallon of propane weights about 4 lbs. so a 40 pounder holds about 9.2 gallons of propane. plus the weight of the take itself. the 20lb grill tanks when full i think weights about 50lbs so expect a 40 pounder tank to weight about 100lbs.
i am sure you could mount it. be sure to check with local gov rules you may not be able to transport without a hazard material endorsement on your license.
Those type tanks are ASME tanks and are not licensed to be transported on any road. Once they are filled that’s where they stay. Tanks 100# and less are DOT labeled tanks and can be transported on road but THEY HAVE TO BE UPRIGHT!! Not laying down!
Use the gas is the obvious answer bc honestly that’s the only way a consumer should “empty” their tank bc you aren’t equipped with the knowledge or tools and valves to properly do this task safely
If you own the tank 250 is a good size. I like the 120 and I have one that is close to that. It costs a lot to move it, so renting would have been cheaper.
i can be done the problem is pressure of each tank. the pressure in the smaller tank has to be less. you wont be able to completely fill the smaller one.
So, if I’m running a 3000-watt generator, 3000 watts equal 10,236 BTU/hr and you have a 40 lb. propane tank, that equals 860,542 BTU/hr. If you divide 860,542 by 10,236 you would theoretically get 84 hrs. of use? So, that would be 3.5 days of 24 hr.use? I’m trying to figure out how large of tank I need. Thanks for the video.
great math. also consider the temp around the tank. i am noticing when the gen pulls propane out and its cold outside the pressure inside the tank gets so low that the gen cant get any propane. they make heaters for the tanks. the colder the less pressure so less propane that becomes available for the gen.
@@ArizonaHotHomestead That is what I'm looking for, info on how much propane a given tank can supply at a particular temp to determine the size tank I need. Also, does the size, capacity of the tank make a difference or is it the size of the surface of liquid in the tank?
@@BryanTorok they make electric heater/blankets for the tanks . if running a generator you could plug in the blanket into the generator too. i plan on some day doing this.
Like he said; 'It does not go-bad, so buy the biggest tank you can afford. Many companies base the price per gallon on the size of the TANK! And that is base on the concept of a 'volume sale'. ("Cheaper by the dozen") If I had to do it over, I would have bought a 1000 gal tank, and finance it if necessary.
Do you need a different regulator for a 100# than you use with a 20#?, 40#? I currently am using a 20# for my generator but want the additional capacity (run time) of a 100#.
some companies have delivery fees, depends on how much you get depends on price. depends on if you own or rent the tank, depends on how many gallons you have purchased in the last year, with owens propane i pay around 2.15 for delivery and 2.05 for small tanks i bring into them.
How much does it cost you per day in propane gallons, cost to be heating your off grid cabin if you were there like all the time? (as opposed to weekend vacations). (Assuming you were really there using it as a main winter heating source.) Thanks.
i live here full time for 10 yrs now. propane is my main heat source. lots of factors like how cold the winter, how well the place is insulated, how cold you are will to have it inside. i am using an estimated 700 galls per year. cost depends on location. just in a nearby town the cost differs by a full dollar. .
a 20lb propane tank has about 425,000 btu in it. so a 40 lb will have about 850k btu. based on the btu used you can calculate estimated hours. what is the rating on the water heater? lets say its 15,000 btu per hour. 850k/15k = 56 hours of use. for showers most tankless water heater when gets to hot shuts off so you are maybe looking at 5 to 10 minute showers. lets say 10 minute showers.. thats 6 x 56 = 336 showers.
if your large tank were to run dry and you didnt want to have your LP company come out to fill it, is it possible that you could disconnect the large tank and hook it up to one of your small tanks ? im guessing there is a regulator that only allows a certain amout into your house for a furn . just wondering because we do a summer fill at a cheaper price every year but it only lasts us til march and our company will only bring a min of 200 gal for our 500 tank and we dont need that much expecially when it costs $600-650 in mid winter for that amount ?
so far my propane company doesnt charge more in the winter. however you bring up a good point if the delivery of propane cant get there what do you do. i have a t fitting on the line going into the rv. there i havent but its set up so i could install portable tanks as backup .
This video didn't address my question. I want to know about PSI. That matters when you begin thinking about using the larger tanks to refill the smaller ones, such as the 1 lb. bottles. I have tried to research it, but can't get a straight answer from a trustworthy source. So far, my impression is that a full 20 lb. bottle has no greater PSI than a full 1 lb. bottle does. Thus, no chance of over-pressurizing the smaller bottle.
basically your right. when you try to fill a 1lber you have to first freeze it so the temp is cooler than the larger tank. if you can let the larger tank sit in the sun for awhile that will heat it up a little. the idea is to have the smaller tank with less pressure so when you combine the 2 the higher pressure (larger tank now) will feed into the lower pressure tank (frozen or cold tank) . you will probably not get exactly 1lb of propane in the smaller tank but you will get most if the temps are right. hope that helps.
Great video thanks 👍 I was wondering about maintenance on any of these tanks.......and I mean inside..... What is the safe lifespan of one of those? The other thing is... Do they loose gas after a few years if you don't use them?
every 10 yrs on the smaller tanks they need a visual inspection and certified by propane people . the small tanks the valve can be replaced. the tank should last forever if it doesnt get damaged or rusted thru from the outside.
Many people I know do that: install a very large tank that goes several years between refills. They never leak. I've never, ever heard of someone losing their tank full of propane via a leak. As mentioned above, owning such a large tank allows you to wait until the price is lower.
they sell propane by the gallon, they ship it by weight. typicly the pound rating of each tank is the maximum amount of liquid propane that can be safely stored at a specific temperature range and still be safe for transport.(?) cant find a source on that this moment.
check with your local propane folks on this. in az a new one and recertified depends on who you talk to. lol i had one person said every 8 yrs need to be recert another say 10, one said 12 and another said 15yrs. lol. the recert is really just a visual and a leak inspection.
Thanks for the video. Hope you are open mind to questions. I wanted to ask... how long do the tanks last for? What you said about propane lasting was true, but the tanks different. And how do you be safe doing that? I mean... you HAVE to reuse tanks. Only rich people don't have to reuse. The rest of us have to survive by avoiding going broke just as much or more than the danger of other things. And can you ... tell when a tank is going to fail so when they age you won't have an accident or troubles? Thanks.
how long will a tank last? as in the life span of the tank? it depends on if the gov puts in regulations changing the valve type which means the small tanks will need new valves. there really isnt a time on when a valve goes bad it could last 100yrs or just a couple of years. same for the all tanks. dont let the tank or valve rust. hope that helps. have a great day
I know a lady who lives by Ashfork.The propane folks won't come out to her place unless she gets a fill up of 500 gallons.She can't afford it. So i would go with smaller tanks you can fill.She was told that she can't legally haul a smaller tank around.I am not impressed with propane companies.
smaller as in tanks larger than 100lb portable one? I asked about that and you can haul as many 100lb tanks as you want as long as its a secure load. putting that 120gal tank on a truck or trailer I would assume you would need a hazmat endorsement to your driver license. that's all the propane drivers have is a standard CDL with a hazmat endorsement. does sound like she needs to look into some propane options.
1:55 no the weights are not the weight of the tanks when EMPTY, but the weight of the total propane they hold. i.e. subtract weight when empty from weight when full! you're welcome
mind doing a video on how propane expands at different elevations? I feel like you would have the answers. Also would you know anything about the safety valve that releases gas when tank is over filled? Please and thank you.
Containers up to 40 lbs. are required to have an OPD (overfill prevention device) to prevent the container from being filled more than 80% full. If you are talking about a pressure relief valve, small portable DOT containers (gas grill bottles) have one that opens at 375 psi. Larger stationary tanks have one that opens at 250 psi. The reason for the difference is that small containers warm up faster on a hot day (the pressure rises with temperature), and can easily reach 250 psi especially if they are exposed to direct sunlight. You wouldn't want one relieving gas while you are cooking your expensive steak!
So the question “does size matter” isn’t answered. If your place isn’t accessible for a big propane truck to come, can say multiple 40# tanks be on a manifold to supply an off grid set up that includes supplemental heat, on demand hot water heater, gas stove, gas refrigerator/freezer, backup propane generator for example, or is a larger tank required?
you can just like a trailer uses 2 tanks they have hoses that allow you to use 2 tanks and as one goes out it auto switches to the other tank allowing you to pull off that empty tank and replace it or get it filled before the other runs out. not sure about more than 2 tanks. i use multiple tanks. i have a 40# for me generator, 20# to help heat the pump house on really cold nights, 30 and 40# tanks for my buddy heaters so my furnace doesnt drain my batteries so much.
interesting idea. my new propane company doesnt charge a delivery fee. i do pay a whopping 5 cents more per gallon but for the convenience i am ok with that. although i love your idea.
andrew beaudry then what, try and sneak around for carting a hazardous load? Anything over about 500 litters requires a hazardous goods placarding and all associated requirements. You are a stunned fuck right?
Hahaha very illegal get caught by dot transporting a large tank without proper drivers license, shipping papers and placards, the fine would be so high he could fill that tank 6 times and pay the delivery charge of whatever company comes out, plus once you disconnect a tank from your house technically you interrupted the system and a leak check is now required but I can see homesteaders seem to be outlaws so go ahead and do it just post the video when you get pulled over so I can have a good laugh
Informative video, and thank you. I'm looking for information on refilling a 40lb(ish) propane tank with a smaller 20lb tank. Does anyone know of an online video of how to do this? I've seen refilling smaller coleman 1lb tanks with a 20lb tank, but I haven't seen refilling a larger tank with multiple smaller tanks. Obviously I don't want to experiment, lol. It seems like turning the smaller tank upside down, and keeping it above the larger tank and opening the valves between the two would work from what I've seen.......but once again, I don't want to experiment. I don't want to pay to have someone come out to refill it, and I the rv is permanently parked so it can't be driven. Any info. is welcome, and thanks.
Thanks for getting back to me. I appreciate it. Although still a useful thing to know, I now find that it makes more sense to install a T fitting inline to my original tank, and just use a regular twenty pound tank inline. Like RV'ers do when permanently docked. I found this after searching a little more. www.amazon.com/dp/B0014JG7RQ/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 This will easily work for what I need. Thank you again for replying back!!!!!!
Can you tell me whether or not I can run my little propane portable heaters, and propane salamanders, grills, etc. off of a 100 lb. tank ? If so, do I need any special parts ? Thanks - Jeff
We bought a Heater Buddy in case of power outages. It's designed to run off those little green bottle of propane. We have half a dozen of the 20 lb. containers, and the valve connection is too big to hook up to the heater, so we bought an adapter. Amazon has them. ArizonaHotHomstead is correct if the heater fixture is designed for at least a 20 lb. tank, it'll hook up to 100 lb. tanks. But if your heaters use the little green bottles, you'll need an adapter.
Different appliances take different pressures. Some run high pressure. Like you salamander heater. Where a house heater runs on low pressure. You would need two different regulators. I work for one of the largest propane companies in the us. Service man for 15 years. So be sure to have the right regulator or things will explode
The tare weight printed on the collar is the weight of the tank. Yes, 20 lb is the fuel in the tank when full. To determine how many lbs of propane is left in the tank or if it is full, weigh it and subtract the tare weight printed on the collar.
how often is it running and what is the btu of the heater and stove. example a 20lb grill tank hold about 4.2 gallons. each gall is about 92k btu. so a grill tank is about 400k btu. if you run a 4k btu heater off it you should get about 100 hrs , maybe small leak you havent noticed. if the calculation of btu used and btu in tank is off i would have someone look into it. .
@@phoenixgem6104 lol was so i assume its not leaking now.... on the heater there should be info on model number and or how many btu it burns. if you only use stove for cooking thats not much unless your are cooking all day for hundreds of people. lol . please i hope you are not using it for heat too.
ANother issue with the big tanks is that it's illegal to bring more than 50 pounds of propane in a motor vehicle on a public road in the USA unless you are a hazardous materials licensed driver. So a pair of 20 pounders or a single 40 pounder. Motor homes and RVs with more propane onboard than that have to go through a NHTSA certification during manufacture.
interesting i was told by many that in az there isnt a limit on how many portable tanks you can transport. if there is we have thousands of people who are transporting many tanks even the 100lbers
@@ArizonaHotHomestead In practice, as long as you are not driving like a knucklehead, piss off a cop, or have a car wreck, you will unlikely to have a problem. Guy I knew bumped into this when he was converting a van into a food truck, and had a pair of hundred pound tanks to fuel the stove and grill. Commercial plates on your vehicle, you have a higher profile.
There is an adaptor... It is a 5/8th REVERSE THREAD which fits inside the 100lb cylinder and often has the standard Grille type connection on the downstream side... I have found these available on Amazon and Walmart ... (about 10 to 15 dollars or so).. I have at least 4 of these because of have 8 100lb tanks... From there, I insert a tank gauge, then a two stage regulator, then to hosing to the appliance... (most lp heaters require a 1/2 NPT thread at the connection point to the appliance.. I find it best to have a 90 degree brass elbow changing from flare fittings from the hose end to the NPT thread at the appliance...)
Hi i have a question for you, a man of experience. We have a leaky 20lb bbq propane tank. We'd like to transfer the propane from the leaky 20 lb cylinder to an rv propane tank. 30 or 40 lb cylinder. Can we use the adapter we have to transfer propane from a 20 lb to a 1 gal. Cylinder. If not what adapter do i need. Thank you for your knowledge. Propane is not a mistake id like to make, rather here it from someone whos experienced and already made the mistakes before hand. Thanks again.
It’s difficult to move propane from one cylinder to another bc once their pressures equalize the product will no longer transfer, sometimes it’s safer to cut your losses and not try something, so I’d suggest dropping it off at a propane company and let them have it ( by law they are required to take any and all cylinders you don’t want leaking or not) also they can’t not charge you for a disposal so don’t fall for that truck either
to transfer you need pressure difference between the tanks. good luck with that. even transferring from a 20lb tank to a 1 lb tank they say to freeze the 1 lb tank first to reduce that pressure so its less than the 20lb. i wouldnt do it. 20lb holds only up to 4.2 gallons its also better to trade the tank and take the loss on the fuel. i ran into the same problem with a 20lb tank they my propane company said its better to trade it. their cost to replace the value was more than trading the tank.
the pound designator ie 20 pound is the weight of the fuel it will hold 20 # tank weighs 38# full 18# empty = 20# fuel, not the approximate weight of the empty tank
use any size for generator. fill them? i dont recommend personally filling them unless you have a propane pump. to fill any propane tank by yourself you have to count on pressure. lower pressure for the tank to fill and higher pressure in the other tank . its to hard to control the pressure to make this happen. even trying to fill the tiny 1 lb canister you have to freeze the canister first and even then you wont get the full fill.
NO! Portable tanks are rated by the weight of propane that the tanks can legally hold. A 20 lb tank weighs about 17 lb empty. A 100 lb tank weighs about 70 lbs empty. The tare weight is stamped on the tank. The tank is legally full when the tank weighs the sum of the tare weight plus the weight of propane that tank is designed to hold.
thanks for your comment
I had no idea how long propane lasted but when I bought my little homestead , there was an antique 1930 propane kitchen range in the garage still hooked up to the 100 lb. tank outside the building . I turned the burner on and lit it with a match and it worked perfectly after sitting there for almost 30 years unused !! Amazing !!
that's cool.
not so amazing. it came out of the ground in that state and only needed some filtering to be what it is. gasoline has to be processed so it has a shelf life.
what is cool is that the tank was still safe after all that time and didn't fail as it lost pressure!
Propane does not deteriorate with age and it is not corrosive, so no surprise about the gas itself. I would be more concerned about the condition of the hoses, regulators, valves and burners.
Interesting considering most places won’t sell old propane tank or put gas in them due to the danger. I worked a year pumping tanks and we had a strict policy about filling tanks that were expired or showed signs of deterioration. I’ve heard of stories of people getting serious hurt or killed pumping bad tanks. Just be careful!
OK, heads up here, @5:26 this gentleman starts to tell you about how much the tanks can be filled, 80% as he says is correct. But that reason is as follows; Your dealer pumps in LIQUID PROPANE but what your appliance uses is PROPANE in a VAPOR state. Liquid propane boils, (or turns into a vapor @ -44degs). That 20% of space in the tank is room for PROPANE VAPOR. And just so you know, 1 gal of liquid propane will convert or make 270 gals of vapor. My point is you HAVE to have room in the tank for the propane to make vapor.
oh please you called me a gentleman. i am honored but its ok to call me a guy, this dude. or whatever, lol... seriously. thank you for your comment great info. and yes i was touched you said gentleman. . have a great day.
The pound rating refers to what it holds, not what it weighs empty. #20 pound weighs 18 pounds empty, 38 pounds full (difference of 20 lbs). a #40 weighs 29 empty 70 full (difference of 40 lbs). a #100 weighs 68 empty, 170 full (difference of 102).
thanks for the information.
To much schooling LOL
You’re right. The tare wt. is stamped on the collar along with the manufacture date for refilling purposes.
I was literally about to correct this haha
a 100 pound tank is called a 100 lb tank because it holds a 100 pounds of propane. The tare weight is usually around 67 pounds. Therefore, a full tank usually weights about 167 pounds depending on the tare weight.
thanks for the info
Yes. Bigger is better. Just ask my wife Peggy.
I can provide tanks in all sizes. Get in touch. Strickland Propane, Arlen TX
thanks
Question, I have a duel fuel generator and it said in the instructions to only use 20 or 30 lb. Tanks. I would like to use bigger. What is the difference in the tank size, I assume with regulator the all have the same psi
@@chrisnixon2179 Run time on the generator. They are not designed for continuous use.
@@chrisnixon2179 I use 40 lb tanks without any issue. I thought about 100 lb. tanks, but got a good deal on (4) 40 lb tanks and (4) 30 lb tanks. Easier to transport. You can use 100 lb tanks and even the very large tanks, but getting the required amount of propane flow can be tricky. Bryan makes a somewhat valid point, while not really answering your question. Portable generators aren't really designed for non-stop use. While running on propane is much cleaner than gasoline, your oil will still need to be changed every couple days. Most manufacturers recommend changing the oil every 20 hours. I've stretched that to 40 - 45 hours when running on gas without a problem. After converting my generator to run on propane, the oil still looks clean after 2 full days. If I ever have to run for an extended period, I'll go 3 days between oil changes. I've heard people say that you need to shut down the generator for an hour after every tank of fuel to allow the generator to cool. I don't. I run it until it stops, change tanks, start it right back up, repeat; change oil. Run it like you stole it, and keep it far enough away from any structure that you don't want catching on fire should the generator catch fire.
Lmao
I appreciate the video. I made a decision to stick with the smallest 20 pound container because I am getting older and there might be a problem trying to exchange a larger unit when it would expire. When my latest outdoor grill went down, I did not replace it. However, I have 5 small tanks for shtf with propane stove, small 1 pound cans, transfer lines, propane lanterns, extra hose/parts.
.
Good idea, those 20 pounders are just about the perfect size
yes, thanks for sharing your knowledge, I am new to this and really liked your video. i am trying to figure out what direction i want to go. going to your site next. thank you!
glad it was helpful.
Thanks Buddy , this was very helpful ,,, i have to go with 40 pounders .
great. keep in mind when you are 85 yrs old will you still be able to carry the tank around. lol.
@@ArizonaHotHomestead , Wow propane sure got expensive , i just filled my 2 - 40# tanks , $81.03 was my bill 😳😳😳
think you may be better off getting a 300 gallon plus tank an refill it once a year, specially if it cheaper to fill it up in the summer time like it is here in OK
I have thought about that. prices actually don't change much. in fact the propane company I am going with had to same price for 1.5 yrs and last month reduced it by 5 cents. in the middle of winter. I asked them why now? why not wait until march or april to lower the price. they said becus they were able to get it cheaper so they pass it on to us instead of keeping it for themselves. it makes them different then the other companies. . rules hear for a 250gal or larger needs to be at least 10ft from any building mine is 6 feet. I would have to put into the ground a line for the other 4 feet. they said they wont fill a tank if it is to close to a building. I like the idea of only filling it once a year due to the fact that my road sometimes is unpassable for their trucks.
ArizonaHotHomestead propane prices don’t stabilize for that long, companies get an index update typically once to three times a week and adjust prices accordingly sounds like they gave you a first time fill price and gave a very tiny discount, if you want to save money buy a large tank and buy gas every two-three years this way you have plenty of time to shop and compare
you just totally helps me on understanding these propane tanks.. It is very confusing for me When shopping for a trailer to try and figure out all of these sizes.. thank you for this video.
you betcha. glad i was able to clear up some things for you.
I'm sure that it varies by location, but here, there's a minimum of 100lbs. of propane required for a propane truck to even come out. And a discount for anything over 150. So my tank is the more common 250 gal. size. Obviously, the small ones can't be filled by the truck, only at the fill center. So you might mention this, as it could certainly influence what size tanks are chosen.
good point.
Some delivery companies will actually fill small tanks when they fill your large tank.
Thanks for making this video I’m going to buy the thirty pounder
your welcome. have a great day
How did it work out? I just bought a 30 pounder
Great video - should have included two sizes that are more for off the grid. The 5 pounder and the one pounder. The 5 pounder is an ideal size for camping and the ubiquitous 1 pounder is the best. Thanks for the video
i dont have either. i use the 20 lber when going camping. but great point you bring up. thanks for watching.
I used to use 100 lb ones at our remote cabin and went to 40 lb ones because getting near 70 yo I just didn’t want to hurt myself at our off-road cabin. These have to be carried many miles on a sled or UTE. I find a nice way to transport the 40lb and smaller tanks fit nicely in a milk crate to transport standing up or to keep them from rolling lying down.
great idea. i have seen people lug those 100 lbers wow i agree with you no way am i moving them at age 70. even the 40's i am thinking what if.......
Thanks Jeff yea thats about right 300 a year i think i would just get a 400 gal tank and fill it once a year but thats me great video!
I hear you on the larger size. I just have to move the propane line underground a few ft. it needs to be 10ft from a building. I was thinking when that day comes to see about buying the tank and fill it once a year or once every other year.
Exactly what i was looking for.
sweet. have a great day.
propane tank for generator may ice up due to venturie effect if its a small one i know mine just did its a 20 pounder so be aware that 20 pounders arent the most reliable for high rate use like generators, im going to have to get a bigger one. i run my cook stove and tankless water heater on a 30 works great and lasts 3 months till the winter comes then its to cold outside and has the same problem as the 20 pounder and the generator if i dont take steps to keep it warm useually i wrap it in some towels and then put a black garbage bag over it for insulation and then its fine for day time use.
plus you have to fill it more often. i like using the 40 and 30 pounders.
I have a 250# tank with an additional "wet leg", meaning a spout that does down to the bottom of the tank (and thus wet) so i can refill my smaller tanks from my large tank. The gas company fills my large tank, and I can fill my smaller tanks whenever I need to. Sure beats loading them into the truck and trip into town.
interesting that sounds like something to look into.
20 Lb tank replacement exchange type is around 30.00 for one tank and they are not quite full for storage safety in a large cage , go to Costco and get a full refill for less than 10.00 and you only pay for what you need. So a half full tank at Costco is about 5.00 to refill , but an exchange tank with a bit left in it is considered empty and you pay full price , just saying that 20.00 is better in my pocket than a large corporate retailer.
i agree filling the tanks make so much better sense.
MrDynamitd I bring 3-4 20lbs tanks to get bulk pricing at over 12 gallon purchase!
MrDynamitd tractor supply fill the tank for you $2.99 a pound.
Don't you mean $2.99 per gallon?
I just gotta say, the 100# tanks have their place. On the getting older part? Either build a small DIY crane or use the front end loader (FEL) to load them in and out of the truck. It's easier to move two 100#'rs with the FEL than it is to carry two, put down, go back get another two, repeat, repeat. Just saying. I will be living completely off grid. I have collected 5x20s, 4x30s, 2x 40s , 2x100#. I just don't want deliveries by strangers so I don't want larger tanks I can't handle myself. But I tend to like to have my own backups.
i like your thinking . i do plan on getting a couple more 40 pounders.
Those 40 pounders are about the heaviest I'd ever want to carry. I think carrying 2 20 pounders is easier than carrying one 40 pounder. I could do the pick up 2, carry them set them down, get another 2 etc etc... All day long without getting tired. But carrying 40#ers or trying to muscle around a 100#er, that'll tire you right out.
A 100 lb tank is easy to move around at any age. Just coax the empty cylinder on to a hand truck [spin rolling it] and then once in the right place strap it tight. After that it's mostly leverage moving it around. Work smart, not hard.
i like that idea but my walk ways and drive way is small rocks so the hand truck sinks in like sand . no solid surface to use the hand truck on. i thought of that. in fact i use a hand truck for the 40lb tanks and its almost easier to carry it becus the hand truck keeps digging in the rocks and getting stuck.
Even with crusher fine gravel a 100 lb propane tank filled with LP shouldn't sink very much, if at all, being that the total weight is divided evenly among the two wheels. In other words, a 200 lb load will have 100 lbs displaced evenly over each wheel. A 500 lb load will have 250 lbs displaced over each wheel, or 125 lbs over four wheels.
The big hand trucks with the large pneumatic tires will get the job done. That'll get you over gravel, sand, just about anything
Moving and lifting are 2 different concerns.
Thanks Jeff. I look forward to having my own propane tanks off grid. God bless.
i am beginning to think if i could find a large tank cheap enough to buy one.
Yeah, I like the idea of having just 1 big tank to be filled as few times as possible. How many appliances can you fuel from 1 tank? I'm in rural Alaska. www.faithandaction.net God bless.
how many appliances can i fuel at the same time depends on the pressure test we did when we had it installed. we turned everything on and the tech adjusted the pressure. i am able to run a 3 burner stone, frig, 30k btu furnace at the same time. does that help?
Hank Hill would love this channel
nice
Yes.
True
Look 5 comments up! ☝️🤣
Questionable bc there is misinformation in this video so the fake hank that said yes is just that fake
I have 4 #40 tanks. Holds a total of 32 gallons. I used to have 2 100# tanks. I developed a growth in my back that crippled my ability to load the 100# tanks. With the #40 tanks I still have the ability of using gas. I just have the loading and placement designed for a dolly moving and placement setup.
I suppose next step will be a big tank with deliveries.
i have been thinking of that as i get older handling the larger thanks will be tuff.
I'm thinking along the line of using those BLUE metal tube dolly's that Harbor Freight sells to mount the tanks too, then roll the tanks to the rear of your truck that has a hitch that you can modify to lift the dolly with tank attached up off the ground at bumper height or even to level with bed, or make a rack that's inline with the bumper & have a small hand winch to winch the tank on dolly to the rack@@ArizonaHotHomestead
@@REVNUMANEWBERN great idea
Propane "boils" at -44F. Liquid propane occurs at -45F/-42C.
Freezer burn from boiling propane...when a tank leaks.
good info i didnt know that.
Well hopefully he’s not messing with the liquid anyways
Good job Bobby Hill, 👍
.
Should consider Barnett's Propane Tucson we can definitely take care of you. Especially of you want to lease or buy a tank you can most definitely can and have the best prices. The only place to my knowledge we don't service is anything in Phoenix currently. All of Southern Arizona
thanks. i am up in show low area. i using owens so far they have been great.
With the right equipment you can actually refill those smaller tanks from your big 120 tank.
that sounds like work. lol
Explain
Thanks Jeff. Im learning how to live off grid.
sweet. it awesome living off grid. every challenge is learning, growing and making life better. good luck i hope my videos help you out.
@ArizonaHotHomestead Thank you. So far it's helpful!!
A 20# lb tank holds 4.6 gallons of liquid propane @ 4.2#/gallon. The TW stamp on the tank is the empty weight of the tank. A 100# cylinder can be fitted with a multi-valve and filled on site. The tanks are filled to 80% with liquid propane. The 20% space is so the propane can vaporize and create the gas you need to power your appliances. Every tank outputs 250 psi. The fuel is dispersed at 90k BTU/Gallon/Hour. Once you know your appliance's BTU usage rating, the math is easy for how long a type of cylinder will last. A properly trained technician can size you with the proper size tank you need for all of your appliances and in turn properly pipe your system with correct pipe sizing according to distance to appliance and proper volume regulators so that you would only need one tank.
good info thanks.
In my state, there is a minimum distance a very large tank must be mounted from a house. Smaller ones can be much closer. Propane is good to fuel emergency generators, with a conversion kit for the gas motor. The propane never goes bad, burns cleaner, and starts easily.
for my area anything larger than 120 gallon must be 10 feet away from any building. 120 or less is 4 feet. the small portable tanks i dont know. i didnt ask about them.
In nyc for the 20 lb it 10 feet from any building
Using propane in your backup generator will generate more kilowatts natural gas ... about 10% more.
Equipment needed from supply to hook up 30 thousand but heater from heater to tank
Portable tanks require pressure testing on a regular basis... I believe it's about every 10 years... so the best bet is to occasionally exchange the smaller ones, when they get close to the date stamped into the tank.
my propane folks do the inspection for free. i did have a grill tank the 20lb with a bad valve instead of replacing the valve i did exchanged. it.
He would also fill your small tanks to when the propane truck comes to fill you large tank.
if they have the adaptor. the company i use now will do it only if you let them know ahead of time so they can bring the adaptor. they dont carry it with them. not sure why.
Thumbs up Jeff. I may be able to get a 40 pounder. I can probably get that up my front door stairs on a dolly easy enough. Might not even need a dolly.
keep in mind that they call it a 40 pounder but it weights much more. 1 gallon of propane weights about 4 lbs. so a 40 pounder holds about 9.2 gallons of propane. plus the weight of the take itself. the 20lb grill tanks when full i think weights about 50lbs so expect a 40 pounder tank to weight about 100lbs.
Great..even my propane tank has to worry about size also?! Gezz
lol size matters lol
Can the 96 gal tank be mounted on a trolley that you would tow with a truck?
i am sure you could mount it. be sure to check with local gov rules you may not be able to transport without a hazard material endorsement on your license.
Those type tanks are ASME tanks and are not licensed to be transported on any road. Once they are filled that’s where they stay. Tanks 100# and less are DOT labeled tanks and can be transported on road but THEY HAVE TO BE UPRIGHT!! Not laying down!
I have a 250 gallon tank like that big one filled 80% and I need to empty it. What’s the safest way to empty the propane in it?
Use the gas is the obvious answer bc honestly that’s the only way a consumer should “empty” their tank bc you aren’t equipped with the knowledge or tools and valves to properly do this task safely
why would you want to empty it? safety way is to use or have a company tank the tank away. let them empty it.
If you own the tank 250 is a good size. I like the 120 and I have one that is close to that. It costs a lot to move it, so renting would have been cheaper.
also need to consider distance from building and sometimes the line needs to be in the ground. I like the idea of owning a larger tank more and more.
ArizonaHotHomestead
Good video. It looks like you are in my neck of the woods. Apache County?
shh yes. lol
Not too far from the "Big City" of Young. Think Pleasent Vally War, look it up.
Depending on where you live , you may want 2 of the 1000 gallon tanks hooked together.
Less refilling that way.
and my usage will increase as i complete my house so i will need a larger tank.
I was in Williams ,Az 2 years ago.
They have the same weather there as in Minnesota.
Winters with snow and ice up at altitude .
Would it be possible to have a big tank and use it to fill up smaller tanks? Does that make sense?
i can be done the problem is pressure of each tank. the pressure in the smaller tank has to be less. you wont be able to completely fill the smaller one.
So, if I’m running a 3000-watt generator, 3000 watts equal 10,236 BTU/hr and you have a 40 lb. propane tank, that equals 860,542 BTU/hr. If you divide 860,542 by 10,236 you would theoretically get 84 hrs. of use? So, that would be 3.5 days of 24 hr.use? I’m trying to figure out how large of tank I need. Thanks for the video.
great math. also consider the temp around the tank. i am noticing when the gen pulls propane out and its cold outside the pressure inside the tank gets so low that the gen cant get any propane. they make heaters for the tanks. the colder the less pressure so less propane that becomes available for the gen.
@@ArizonaHotHomestead go as big as you can fit. Less trips means savings.
@@jonathanrall5091 go big. lol
@@ArizonaHotHomestead That is what I'm looking for, info on how much propane a given tank can supply at a particular temp to determine the size tank I need. Also, does the size, capacity of the tank make a difference or is it the size of the surface of liquid in the tank?
@@BryanTorok they make electric heater/blankets for the tanks . if running a generator you could plug in the blanket into the generator too. i plan on some day doing this.
Like he said; 'It does not go-bad, so buy the biggest tank you can afford. Many companies base the price per gallon on the size of the TANK! And that is base on the concept of a 'volume sale'. ("Cheaper by the dozen") If I had to do it over, I would have bought a 1000 gal tank, and finance it if necessary.
yes plus less trips out to your property.
Thank you for your painstaking work. Your lecture is very helpful and precise. More grease to your elbow.
Lol just not too accurate
Many thanks!
thank U for this info . my
house has no heating system .
I have to use propane tanks .
propane is a great way to heat just have to be careful. stay warm.
Just picked up a few acres of BOL. Subbed to your channel in hopes of surviving a little longer in a SHTF senario. Haha!
nice welcome aboard.
Do you need a different regulator for a 100# than you use with a 20#?, 40#? I currently am using a 20# for my generator but want the additional capacity (run time) of a 100#.
the 100# does need an adapter to connect. not sure on the regulator maybe a 2 stage one.
ty
😎
What about cost per gallon? Do you get a discount per gallon when filling a larger tank?
some companies have delivery fees, depends on how much you get depends on price. depends on if you own or rent the tank, depends on how many gallons you have purchased in the last year, with owens propane i pay around 2.15 for delivery and 2.05 for small tanks i bring into them.
How much does it cost you per day in propane gallons, cost to be heating your off grid cabin if you were there like all the time? (as opposed to weekend vacations). (Assuming you were really there using it as a main winter heating source.) Thanks.
i live here full time for 10 yrs now. propane is my main heat source. lots of factors like how cold the winter, how well the place is insulated, how cold you are will to have it inside. i am using an estimated 700 galls per year. cost depends on location. just in a nearby town the cost differs by a full dollar. .
@@ArizonaHotHomestead Thank you. 10 years is amazing! You must have a ton of experience now.
Jeff reminds me of Hank Hill.
lol
*PROPANE AND PROPANE ACCESSORIES*
Yes.
Y e s
.
How long can a 40 lb tank last? Using it only for a tankless hot water heater in a small 390sqft space
a 20lb propane tank has about 425,000 btu in it. so a 40 lb will have about 850k btu. based on the btu used you can calculate estimated hours. what is the rating on the water heater? lets say its 15,000 btu per hour. 850k/15k = 56 hours of use. for showers most tankless water heater when gets to hot shuts off so you are maybe looking at 5 to 10 minute showers. lets say 10 minute showers.. thats 6 x 56 = 336 showers.
Learned something new... Thanks
nice. you are welcome.
Great video Jeff I live in Arizona as well think about homestead will follow you good information on those tanks !!!!!!!
nice. good luck to you. hint it seems the small local propane companies seem to care more.
ArizonaHotHomestead those eventually get bought out at some point though
which one makes the biggest exploisiion
i will let you show us that video. lol
if your large tank were to run dry and you didnt want to have your LP company come out to fill it, is it possible that you could disconnect the large tank and hook it up to one of your small tanks ? im guessing there is a regulator that only allows a certain amout into your house for a furn . just wondering because we do a summer fill at a cheaper price every year but it only lasts us til march and our company will only bring a min of 200 gal for our 500 tank and we dont need that much expecially when it costs $600-650 in mid winter for that amount ?
so far my propane company doesnt charge more in the winter. however you bring up a good point if the delivery of propane cant get there what do you do. i have a t fitting on the line going into the rv. there i havent but its set up so i could install portable tanks as backup .
Thankyou
your welcome , have a great day
Great. Thanks for the info.
you bet
I hope you do live to be 150, buddy. You're cool.
lol thanks. as long as its a quality 150. lol
ArizonaHotHomestead some days i feel 150... does that count,haha
There are no rules
yes he is cool guy.
@@ArizonaHotHomestead I hope you live to 150 with the guns (but not the need) to lift a 90 liter tank.
This video didn't address my question. I want to know about PSI. That matters when you begin thinking about using the larger tanks to refill the smaller ones, such as the 1 lb. bottles. I have tried to research it, but can't get a straight answer from a trustworthy source. So far, my impression is that a full 20 lb. bottle has no greater PSI than a full 1 lb. bottle does. Thus, no chance of over-pressurizing the smaller bottle.
basically your right. when you try to fill a 1lber you have to first freeze it so the temp is cooler than the larger tank. if you can let the larger tank sit in the sun for awhile that will heat it up a little. the idea is to have the smaller tank with less pressure so when you combine the 2 the higher pressure (larger tank now) will feed into the lower pressure tank (frozen or cold tank) . you will probably not get exactly 1lb of propane in the smaller tank but you will get most if the temps are right. hope that helps.
Pound = how much propane it holds
20pound cylinder =20 pounds of propane
thanks.
great job explaining all, thx
your welcome
Question: Can I use a 40lb tank for BBQ grilling?
Yes I do all the time
@jackiedaytona2644 that's awesome thank you so much 🙏🏻
yes do it.
I use a 100 pounder for fish fry’s. Lol
Great video thanks 👍
I was wondering about maintenance on any of these tanks.......and I mean inside..... What is the safe lifespan of one of those?
The other thing is... Do they loose gas after a few years if you don't use them?
every 10 yrs on the smaller tanks they need a visual inspection and certified by propane people . the small tanks the valve can be replaced. the tank should last forever if it doesnt get damaged or rusted thru from the outside.
@@ArizonaHotHomestead thank you 👍
We sound a lot alike... I can't say "no" to a free or discounted propane tank. 😁
lol
Very Good!!!
thanks
One UA-camr bought 3 years supply tank. One leak and that can be devastating.
lol no doubt
Many people I know do that: install a very large tank that goes several years between refills. They never leak. I've never, ever heard of someone losing their tank full of propane via a leak. As mentioned above, owning such a large tank allows you to wait until the price is lower.
If the tank owner was paying attention they would smell the leaking propane.
Because of dangers of a huge explosion or because you could lose it all
they sell propane by the gallon, they ship it by weight. typicly the pound rating of each tank is the maximum amount of liquid propane that can be safely stored at a specific temperature range and still be safe for transport.(?) cant find a source on that this moment.
thanks for the info
I think the small propane tanks for the grills last 10 years, is that the same for bigger tanks? The bigger ones are probably not cheap.
check with your local propane folks on this. in az a new one and recertified depends on who you talk to. lol i had one person said every 8 yrs need to be recert another say 10, one said 12 and another said 15yrs. lol. the recert is really just a visual and a leak inspection.
Thanks for the video. Hope you are open mind to questions.
I wanted to ask... how long do the tanks last for? What you said about propane lasting was true, but the tanks different. And how do you be safe doing that? I mean... you HAVE to reuse tanks. Only rich people don't have to reuse. The rest of us have to survive by avoiding going broke just as much or more than the danger of other things. And can you ... tell when a tank is going to fail so when they age you won't have an accident or troubles?
Thanks.
how long will a tank last? as in the life span of the tank? it depends on if the gov puts in regulations changing the valve type which means the small tanks will need new valves. there really isnt a time on when a valve goes bad it could last 100yrs or just a couple of years. same for the all tanks. dont let the tank or valve rust. hope that helps. have a great day
@@ArizonaHotHomestead thanks.
I know a lady who lives by Ashfork.The propane folks won't come out to her place unless she gets a fill up of 500 gallons.She can't afford it. So i would go with smaller tanks you can fill.She was told that she can't legally haul a smaller tank around.I am not impressed with propane companies.
smaller as in tanks larger than 100lb portable one? I asked about that and you can haul as many 100lb tanks as you want as long as its a secure load. putting that 120gal tank on a truck or trailer I would assume you would need a hazmat endorsement to your driver license. that's all the propane drivers have is a standard CDL with a hazmat endorsement. does sound like she needs to look into some propane options.
I admit I haven't looked into it.But I think the local propane company was blowing smoke.Evil!
Great information. Thanks alot, how do I figure 20lb propane take to how many hours of heating, Olympian wave 6 or 3200btu- 6000btu.
4000btu buddy heater last about 100plus hrs. i think 20lb tank has about 425,000 btu
Great Video, thank you....
thanks
1:55 no the weights are not the weight of the tanks when EMPTY, but the weight of the total propane they hold. i.e. subtract weight when empty from weight when full! you're welcome
thanks
Good info
thanks
mind doing a video on how propane expands at different elevations? I feel like you would have the answers. Also would you know anything about the safety valve that releases gas when tank is over filled? Please and thank you.
no idea. sorry.
Containers up to 40 lbs. are required to have an OPD (overfill prevention device) to prevent the container from being filled more than 80% full. If you are talking about a pressure relief valve, small portable DOT containers (gas grill bottles) have one that opens at 375 psi. Larger stationary tanks have one that opens at 250 psi. The reason for the difference is that small containers warm up faster on a hot day (the pressure rises with temperature), and can easily reach 250 psi especially if they are exposed to direct sunlight. You wouldn't want one relieving gas while you are cooking your expensive steak!
So the question “does size matter” isn’t answered. If your place isn’t accessible for a big propane truck to come, can say multiple 40# tanks be on a manifold to supply an off grid set up that includes supplemental heat, on demand hot water heater, gas stove, gas refrigerator/freezer, backup propane generator for example, or is a larger tank required?
you can just like a trailer uses 2 tanks they have hoses that allow you to use 2 tanks and as one goes out it auto switches to the other tank allowing you to pull off that empty tank and replace it or get it filled before the other runs out. not sure about more than 2 tanks. i use multiple tanks. i have a 40# for me generator, 20# to help heat the pump house on really cold nights, 30 and 40# tanks for my buddy heaters so my furnace doesnt drain my batteries so much.
*All you tank wipes remember:* "Wipe head to feet - it looks real neat. Wipe feed to head, we'll all end up dead."
😎
Secure large tank in trailer, tow to refill station (save delivery fee) park trailer beside shop, run lines until the next trip to refill station
interesting idea. my new propane company doesnt charge a delivery fee. i do pay a whopping 5 cents more per gallon but for the convenience i am ok with that. although i love your idea.
Sounds like the delivery fee is 5 cents a gallon.
andrew beaudry then what, try and sneak around for carting a hazardous load? Anything over about 500 litters requires a hazardous goods placarding and all associated requirements. You are a stunned fuck right?
Limits trailer use but cool idea
Hahaha very illegal get caught by dot transporting a large tank without proper drivers license, shipping papers and placards, the fine would be so high he could fill that tank 6 times and pay the delivery charge of whatever company comes out, plus once you disconnect a tank from your house technically you interrupted the system and a leak check is now required but I can see homesteaders seem to be outlaws so go ahead and do it just post the video when you get pulled over so I can have a good laugh
thank you
you betcha
ArizonaHothomestead Hey Jeff how do you transport your tanks to be refilled?
the portable tanks just by car. put them in the back and drive to show low to fill them. the larger one i call and they show up to fill it.
Informative video, and thank you.
I'm looking for information on refilling a 40lb(ish) propane tank with a smaller 20lb tank. Does anyone know of an online video of how to do this? I've seen refilling smaller coleman 1lb tanks with a 20lb tank, but I haven't seen refilling a larger tank with multiple smaller tanks. Obviously I don't want to experiment, lol. It seems like turning the smaller tank upside down, and keeping it above the larger tank and opening the valves between the two would work from what I've seen.......but once again, I don't want to experiment.
I don't want to pay to have someone come out to refill it, and I the rv is permanently parked so it can't be driven.
Any info. is welcome, and thanks.
interesting question. maybe someone out there has the answer becus i dont.
Thanks for getting back to me. I appreciate it. Although still a useful thing to know, I now find that it makes more sense to install a T fitting inline to my original tank, and just use a regular twenty pound tank inline. Like RV'ers do when permanently docked. I found this after searching a little more. www.amazon.com/dp/B0014JG7RQ/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
This will easily work for what I need.
Thank you again for replying back!!!!!!
any time. good luck to you
That's why they make hand trucks
they are helpful but i have tried the hand truck on the loose soil with little success. sinks to much and when hits a hard spot it tips over. lol.
Can you tell me whether or not I can run my little propane portable heaters, and propane salamanders, grills, etc. off of a 100 lb. tank ? If so, do I need any special parts ? Thanks - Jeff
your 100lb propane tank is nothing more than 5 of the grill size 20lb tanks in one. the fittings should be the same, mine are.
We bought a Heater Buddy in case of power outages. It's designed to run off those little green bottle of propane. We have half a dozen of the 20 lb. containers, and the valve connection is too big to hook up to the heater, so we bought an adapter. Amazon has them. ArizonaHotHomstead is correct if the heater fixture is designed for at least a 20 lb. tank, it'll hook up to 100 lb. tanks. But if your heaters use the little green bottles, you'll need an adapter.
Different appliances take different pressures. Some run high pressure. Like you salamander heater. Where a house heater runs on low pressure. You would need two different regulators. I work for one of the largest propane companies in the us. Service man for 15 years. So be sure to have the right regulator or things will explode
great info new sub
awesome, welcome aboard.
20 lb is the fuel in the tank! Not the tank!
thanks for the info.
The tare weight printed on the collar is the weight of the tank. Yes, 20 lb is the fuel in the tank when full. To determine how many lbs of propane is left in the tank or if it is full, weigh it and subtract the tare weight printed on the collar.
Most of the 20lb cylinders will weigh around 40lbs full weight. 20lbs is empty.
I have a 50lb propane and I'm paying 180 every two weeks. What am I doing wrong it keeps running out quickly. I do use heater and stove.
how often is it running and what is the btu of the heater and stove. example a 20lb grill tank hold about 4.2 gallons. each gall is about 92k btu. so a grill tank is about 400k btu. if you run a 4k btu heater off it you should get about 100 hrs , maybe small leak you havent noticed. if the calculation of btu used and btu in tank is off i would have someone look into it. .
@@ArizonaHotHomestead I don't know any details about it but there was small leak and I was running it 24/7 lol
@@ArizonaHotHomestead I don't know any details about it but there was small leak and I was running it 24/7 lol
@@phoenixgem6104 lol was so i assume its not leaking now.... on the heater there should be info on model number and or how many btu it burns. if you only use stove for cooking thats not much unless your are cooking all day for hundreds of people. lol . please i hope you are not using it for heat too.
@@ArizonaHotHomestead Yes I was using it for heat but not anymore since I bought two small heaters
Marital tip: Don't get married. Get a 120# propane-tank instead. You will be so much happier.
I vouch for that your friend from Kentucky
sweet thanks for the tip
ANother issue with the big tanks is that it's illegal to bring more than 50 pounds of propane in a motor vehicle on a public road in the USA unless you are a hazardous materials licensed driver. So a pair of 20 pounders or a single 40 pounder. Motor homes and RVs with more propane onboard than that have to go through a NHTSA certification during manufacture.
interesting i was told by many that in az there isnt a limit on how many portable tanks you can transport. if there is we have thousands of people who are transporting many tanks even the 100lbers
@@ArizonaHotHomestead In practice, as long as you are not driving like a knucklehead, piss off a cop, or have a car wreck, you will unlikely to have a problem. Guy I knew bumped into this when he was converting a van into a food truck, and had a pair of hundred pound tanks to fuel the stove and grill. Commercial plates on your vehicle, you have a higher profile.
I just bought a 100 lb propane tank for my grill. The brass connections are not the same as the 20 lb tanks I have been using. Is there an adapter ?
There is an adaptor... It is a 5/8th REVERSE THREAD which fits inside the 100lb cylinder and often has the standard Grille type connection on the downstream side... I have found these available on Amazon and Walmart ... (about 10 to 15 dollars or so)..
I have at least 4 of these because of have 8 100lb tanks... From there, I insert a tank gauge, then a two stage regulator, then to hosing to the appliance... (most lp heaters require a 1/2 NPT thread at the connection point to the appliance.. I find it best to have a 90 degree brass elbow changing from flare fittings from the hose end to the NPT thread at the appliance...)
@@robertprestonsr2453 thank you - that was absolutely perfect
look at that team work. i love it when i see people coming together to help each other..... . 😎💓
Hi i have a question for you, a man of experience. We have a leaky 20lb bbq propane tank. We'd like to transfer the propane from the leaky 20 lb cylinder to an rv propane tank. 30 or 40 lb cylinder. Can we use the adapter we have to transfer propane from a 20 lb to a 1 gal. Cylinder. If not what adapter do i need. Thank you for your knowledge. Propane is not a mistake id like to make, rather here it from someone whos experienced and already made the mistakes before hand. Thanks again.
It’s difficult to move propane from one cylinder to another bc once their pressures equalize the product will no longer transfer, sometimes it’s safer to cut your losses and not try something, so I’d suggest dropping it off at a propane company and let them have it ( by law they are required to take any and all cylinders you don’t want leaking or not) also they can’t not charge you for a disposal so don’t fall for that truck either
to transfer you need pressure difference between the tanks. good luck with that. even transferring from a 20lb tank to a 1 lb tank they say to freeze the 1 lb tank first to reduce that pressure so its less than the 20lb. i wouldnt do it. 20lb holds only up to 4.2 gallons its also better to trade the tank and take the loss on the fuel. i ran into the same problem with a 20lb tank they my propane company said its better to trade it. their cost to replace the value was more than trading the tank.
I want to know are the connections all the same sizes
for the smaller tanks yes. 100lb and up are different types on connections.
@@ArizonaHotHomestead i was able to use a 100lbs tank and hooked it to my home worked like a dream
@@michaeld954 sweet
The lb terminology your using. IE 20lb , 30 lb etc refers to the amount of propane they hold and not the tare weight of the container.
thanks. isnt it 1 gall equates to about 4.2 or so lbs. ??
FYI, Propane expands 275 times its compressed volume,
good to know.
sniper152 wow... i guess thats why people worry about leaks in small confined spaces
From a liquid state to a gaseous state, yes that is true. One gallon of LP will expand to 279 gallons of vapor when released to atmosphere.
the pound designator ie 20 pound is the weight of the fuel it will hold 20 # tank weighs 38# full 18# empty = 20# fuel, not the approximate weight of the empty tank
thanks for the info
Can you fill them. What size for generator
use any size for generator. fill them? i dont recommend personally filling them unless you have a propane pump. to fill any propane tank by yourself you have to count on pressure. lower pressure for the tank to fill and higher pressure in the other tank . its to hard to control the pressure to make this happen. even trying to fill the tiny 1 lb canister you have to freeze the canister first and even then you wont get the full fill.
@@ArizonaHotHomestead bosshoggery
It's like a lot of things, SIZE does matter !!
lol
what is the dimensons of a hrizontal 120lbs propane tank
great question not sure. i dont have it anymore. maybe look online to see if there is info... thanks for watching.
@@ArizonaHotHomestead thanks