Propane OPD questions.

[Wise Old Owl]

I am still able to get an old one refilled - I drive out to farm country find a gas station run by a family of Sikh's and they don't care about OPD. But my time is running out as I use this single tank to refill multiple smaller portable tanks and to prevent them from leaking I have the hard to find brass caps from Cabellas. Part of the problem is when refilling other propane devices you have to flip the 25 pound tank upside down to get the liquid propane to move to the smaller tanks. I am thinking the OPD will float closed, on the larger tank when upside down. - is this correct?

The other solution I found is a ten pound cylinder with a Coleman tree to save space in the van.

I guess I should retire the old refill system.

[randyt]

do hundred pound cylinders have a OPD?

[Wise Old Owl]

do hundred pound cylinders have a OPD?

Uh cant flip them upside down. last I looked they port from the top.

[randyt]

I can flip mine upside down but to be honest I fill cylinders out of my 500 gallon tank, not the real small ones. I fill 20 lbs up to 100 lbs cylinders.

[kyratshooter]

I refill from the 20 pound new or updated cylinders all the time.

They fill upside down fine.

[cow_rancher]

I refill from the 20 pound new or updated cylinders all the time.

They fill upside down fine.

Yes this is true, I don't know what the float thingie is supposed to do.

I also have the wet leg from my 250 gallon tank to the 5 gallon tank but something is not right, doesn't seem to fill.

Rancher

[edr730]

Air out, liquid in. Even with a butane lighter or it won't fill very much.

[kyratshooter]

I never get the 1# cans to fill much over 50% anyway. It is just so much cheaper to refill than to buy new, especially as many as I used at one point. It was about $.50 a recharge when the new tanks were $3 each. Just meant I had to change cans every 3 hours instead of every 5 hours.

When I was living off grid refilling the 1# cans was a financial necessity.

And when camping in cold weather I always had the 20# tank along for the tent heater and Coleman tree. I could always refill from the big tank on the spot if necessary.

[edr730]

You have to press the valve down (looks like a valve on a car tire) when you fill up the 1# cans or you'll only fill them up part way.

[cow_rancher]

I never get the 1# cans to fill much over 50% anyway. It is just so much cheaper to refill than to buy new, especially as many as I used at one point. It was about $.50 a recharge when the new tanks were $3 each. Just meant I had to change cans every 3 hours instead of every 5 hours.

You can fill the 1# cans full if you pull up on that safety valve with a small forcep.

Rancher

[randyt]

I always had good luck putting the small canisters in the freezer before filling and then after they were chilled pulling them out to fill. I could overfill them that way if not careful.

[Wise Old Owl]

Yes this is true, I don't know what the float thingie is supposed to do.

I also have the wet leg from my 250 gallon tank to the 5 gallon tank but something is not right, doesn't seem to fill.

Rancher

The float is to provide a cushion of gas not liquid to prevent over filling... the early ones could be over filled by someone who did not know what they were doing at the gas station. when the cylinder warms up the liquid gas had no place to go resulting in explosions and fire. Before the OPD on a hot day people would pick up propane with their car and go "shopping" leaving the cylinder in their car.

Here is the Blue Rhino plant in Florida explosion.

[Wise Old Owl]

Honorable mention of stupidity.... when hanging out with friends. This must of been the small cylinder.

[randyt]

Yes this is true, I don't know what the float thingie is supposed to do.

I also have the wet leg from my 250 gallon tank to the 5 gallon tank but something is not right, doesn't seem to fill.

Rancher

there is a bleeder on most small tanks on the valve. The bleeder is opened and when gas quits coming and liquid comes, it is 80 percent full. Shut the fill valve off and tighten the bleeder.

[randyt]

filling 30 lbs cylinder

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[hunter63]

I see it's on a scale.....good idea.

[Wise Old Owl]

Yea that's how they do it at a good propane store.

Nice pic!