[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Propane (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 7/5/2016 10:07:35 PM EDT
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I have a couple 20lb tanks and for my usage that's enough. This being Arfcom enough isn't enough, because overkill is best kill. How many tanks, and what size, do you keep on hand?
Also, it's definitely worth it to refill instead of exchange. Getting more and paying less is always preferred. Has anyone shown friends and family the light, steering them away from exchanges? |
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Quoted: House runs on a 500 gallon tank with a wet leg. I fill 20 pound bottles when I need them, propane is $.89 a gallon now. That's the way to do it. Buy in bulk and fill up your portables out of your bulk supply.  I used to have a company pick-up that also ran off of propane. I could fill portable bottles off the trucks 250 gallon tank.
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Does your 30 fit under your grill? Adding capacity to the grill seems like a good idea. Quoted:
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Two 20's and a 30. Reminds me now that I need to get the 30 recertified. Does your 30 fit under your grill? Adding capacity to the grill seems like a good idea. Yes it does, barely. I use it more for my turkey fryer though, I can cook 6 turkeys with that tank and then use it for large chickens or a crab boil and whatnot. If my 20's are empty I can grab the 30 and it always seems to have gas in it. It's worth having around. |
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9 20lb tanks, one is usually hooked up to the grill. Don't use it often so the tank lasts about 6 months at a time. Only time I burn through them is crawfish season.
Been meaning to get a propane conversion for the Generac 8000XL but haven't got around to it. When I do, probably move to 12 or so tanks. Finding gas after Hurricane Ike was a bitch. |
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Quoted: I keep three 20 lb tanks and rotate through them, filling as needed. Edit - I've dumpster dived 3 of 4 of my 20LB tanks and traded them at Lowes for good dates. Their morons never check...anything. Check a stamp date past 2014 and fill it at tractor supply. They fill them for about $8. |
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Quoted:
That's the way to do it. Buy in bulk and fill up your portables out of your bulk supply.
I used to have a company pick-up that also ran off of propane. I could fill portable bottles off the trucks 250 gallon tank. Quoted:
Quoted:
House runs on a 500 gallon tank with a wet leg. I fill 20 pound bottles when I need them, propane is $.89 a gallon now.
I used to have a company pick-up that also ran off of propane. I could fill portable bottles off the trucks 250 gallon tank. Not using the propane grill much now. Bought a pellet grill and use it instead. |
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I have two one hundred pounders. In before one of these cats has a 100,000 gallon tanker in the back yard. 
Funny you say that, not quite 100,000, but quite a bit in several different storages, and quite a bit on wheels at most any time. Family business. |
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you don't really need to rotate stock, propane never goes bad Quoted:
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I keep three 20 lb tanks and rotate through them, filling as needed. you don't really need to rotate stock, propane never goes bad I've told myself this a million times, but I still make sure to FIFO the tanks -- first in, first out. Probably because there is so much other stuff around the house that actually needs rotation that its just become habit. |
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I've told myself this a million times, but I still make sure to FIFO the tanks -- first in, first out. Probably because there is so much other stuff around the house that actually needs rotation that its just become habit. Quoted:
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I keep three 20 lb tanks and rotate through them, filling as needed. you don't really need to rotate stock, propane never goes bad I've told myself this a million times, but I still make sure to FIFO the tanks -- first in, first out. Probably because there is so much other stuff around the house that actually needs rotation that its just become habit. well if it's with the faggy new tanks with the bitch valves it's probably a good thing because of the rubber o-rings they rely on to get a seal the gas might be good but if your super great .gov mandated awesomesauce safety valve won't make a seal it's irrelevant ETA: if it's a real valve with a brass on brass connection don't worry about it |
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I have several, mostly picked up from curbside from people ditching them. I think I paid for one, but have five now.
Date good, no rust, refill and carry on. 
Aside from grill and fireplace fuel, they're good with an oxy torch for gas cutting and brazing and silver soldering. No go for welding but that's fine. Acetylene tank is handy for that. Just be sure you have the right hoses, some don't like propane. |
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Quoted:
I have a couple 20lb tanks and for my usage that's enough. This being Arfcom enough isn't enough, because overkill is best kill. How many tanks, and what size, do you keep on hand? Also, it's definitely worth it to refill instead of exchange. Getting more and paying less is always preferred. Has anyone shown friends and family the light, steering them away from exchanges? I have 2 30lb tanks in the camper and 3 100lb tanks that run the house stove and a backup boiler for heat in the winter should the wood boiler run out of fuel. Be careful with the refill places, some charge a flat rate for tank size, doesn't matter if it's empty or half full when you bring it in. |
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appropriate username is appropriate |
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I have 2 30lb tanks in the camper and 3 100lb tanks that run the house stove and a backup boiler for heat in the winter should the wood boiler run out of fuel. Be careful with the refill places, some charge a flat rate for tank size, doesn't matter if it's empty or half full when you bring it in. Quoted:
Quoted:
I have a couple 20lb tanks and for my usage that's enough. This being Arfcom enough isn't enough, because overkill is best kill. How many tanks, and what size, do you keep on hand? Also, it's definitely worth it to refill instead of exchange. Getting more and paying less is always preferred. Has anyone shown friends and family the light, steering them away from exchanges? I have 2 30lb tanks in the camper and 3 100lb tanks that run the house stove and a backup boiler for heat in the winter should the wood boiler run out of fuel. Be careful with the refill places, some charge a flat rate for tank size, doesn't matter if it's empty or half full when you bring it in. Oddly enough, it's a U-Haul/storage place sells me the refills. They put your tank on a scale when they fill it. All the refill places use a scale here and only charge by what they actually pump. I've been told that the exchange places short customers a healthy percentage. The guys at the place I like top off a lot of exchanges for people "wanting to make sure." The Home Depot across the street sells a lot of tanks to their former exchange customers because of it. |
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Quoted:
Oddly enough, it's a U-Haul/storage place sells me the refills. They put your tank on a scale when they fill it. All the refill places use a scale here and only charge by what they actually pump. I've been told that the exchange places short customers a healthy percentage. The guys at the place I like top off a lot of exchanges for people "wanting to make sure." The Home Depot across the street sells a lot of tanks to their former exchange customers because of it. Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I have a couple 20lb tanks and for my usage that's enough. This being Arfcom enough isn't enough, because overkill is best kill. How many tanks, and what size, do you keep on hand? Also, it's definitely worth it to refill instead of exchange. Getting more and paying less is always preferred. Has anyone shown friends and family the light, steering them away from exchanges? I have 2 30lb tanks in the camper and 3 100lb tanks that run the house stove and a backup boiler for heat in the winter should the wood boiler run out of fuel. Be careful with the refill places, some charge a flat rate for tank size, doesn't matter if it's empty or half full when you bring it in. Oddly enough, it's a U-Haul/storage place sells me the refills. They put your tank on a scale when they fill it. All the refill places use a scale here and only charge by what they actually pump. I've been told that the exchange places short customers a healthy percentage. The guys at the place I like top off a lot of exchanges for people "wanting to make sure." The Home Depot across the street sells a lot of tanks to their former exchange customers because of it. they will always put it on a scale to fill it. thats how they tell when it is full. but if your places are just charging what they put in thats great. |
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now that I have converted my small generators to propane I have 6 20# bottles around.. previously i kept 2 or 3 for the grill and smoker
I only exchange a tank when i have a tank that is expired - and then I look through the racks of filled tanks to get the most recent date that i can. Most exchange places around here now sell a 20# tank that is about 3/4 full, so beware of that.. my last refill at the Farmers coop was $2/gal - so a its less than $10 for a refill. |
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now that I have converted my small generators to propane I have 6 20# bottles around.. previously i kept 2 or 3 for the grill and smoker I only exchange a tank when i have a tank that is expired - and then I look through the racks of filled tanks to get the most recent date that i can. Most exchange places around here now sell a 20# tank that is about 3/4 full, so beware of that.. my last refill at the Farmers coop was $2/gal - so a its less than $10 for a refill. How much runtime can your generator get from a 20lb tank? For SHTF would a guy be smart to get a couple 100lb tanks for his generator? |
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How much runtime can your generator get from a 20lb tank? For SHTF would a guy be smart to get a couple 100lb tanks for his generator? Quoted:
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now that I have converted my small generators to propane I have 6 20# bottles around.. previously i kept 2 or 3 for the grill and smoker I only exchange a tank when i have a tank that is expired - and then I look through the racks of filled tanks to get the most recent date that i can. Most exchange places around here now sell a 20# tank that is about 3/4 full, so beware of that.. my last refill at the Farmers coop was $2/gal - so a its less than $10 for a refill. How much runtime can your generator get from a 20lb tank? For SHTF would a guy be smart to get a couple 100lb tanks for his generator? Based on what I can find online.. which varies.. some say propane puts out less BTU's vs Gasonline.. other says is close to the same.. I have Honda EU2000's - and it will run a 5,000 btu window air conditioner (or kitchen fridge) for just over 7 hrs on a tank of gasoline (a little over 1 gallon).. Im expecting to get at least 6 hrs per gallon of propane - so at 4.7 gallons in a 20# tank = 28 hrs or so per tank.. I considered 100# tanks.. BUT taking them in to be refilled would be an issue for me - since they need to stay upright.. I have to haul them on a hitch mounted cargo carrier.. IF 30 or 40# tanks werent so expensive compared to 20#, id go that way.. 20# tanks are about $40.. the 30 and 40# are double that from what i found.. Also i read something about larger tanks and too much or too little pressure when using a larger tank.. since i have the 20#'s i didnt research it much more Brian |
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it's not disputable, propane has less BTUs per gallon than gasoline. you'll get about 15% less work out of a gallon of propane than gasoline
100# don't need to be shipped upright, they say that because if there's a leak at the valve it's better to be vapor than liquid, which expands 200x. if it's not leaking and not inside a vehicle it doesn't make a damn (i'm just joking of course, i would NEVER recommend that propane not be shipped in a super safe upright manner!) the smaller the tank the less able they are to supply a large demand ever had a tank form an ice ring around the liquid level? then you weren't using enough tank for the job |
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they will always put it on a scale to fill it. thats how they tell when it is full. but if your places are just charging what they put in thats great. Quoted:
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I have a couple 20lb tanks and for my usage that's enough. This being Arfcom enough isn't enough, because overkill is best kill. How many tanks, and what size, do you keep on hand? Also, it's definitely worth it to refill instead of exchange. Getting more and paying less is always preferred. Has anyone shown friends and family the light, steering them away from exchanges? I have 2 30lb tanks in the camper and 3 100lb tanks that run the house stove and a backup boiler for heat in the winter should the wood boiler run out of fuel. Be careful with the refill places, some charge a flat rate for tank size, doesn't matter if it's empty or half full when you bring it in. Oddly enough, it's a U-Haul/storage place sells me the refills. They put your tank on a scale when they fill it. All the refill places use a scale here and only charge by what they actually pump. I've been told that the exchange places short customers a healthy percentage. The guys at the place I like top off a lot of exchanges for people "wanting to make sure." The Home Depot across the street sells a lot of tanks to their former exchange customers because of it. they will always put it on a scale to fill it. thats how they tell when it is full. but if your places are just charging what they put in thats great. The ones I use weighs it. But, I still pay a flat rate. |