Propane Adapters

[MichaelBikel]

-I am looking to make or buy an adapter that will allow me to refill 4-8 oz fuel canister from either a 1LB-20 propane tank or a butane can.

-There are a few types out there, the butane adapters I don't care for as they don't thread onto the cans. The others just seem kind of expensive, something i'd like to avoid. If I had the ability or access to a machine I would make one, unfortunately that isn't the case.

-Essentially the main issue is that I don't know/can't figure out the thread size/count on the cans I have and the same for a 20 or 1lb tank as I don't have the tools to check. Home depot has 1lb tank adapters that I was hoping I could fashion to fit my MSR cans but this would require a second adapter. Here are the cans I use, as you can see the price is nuts but I only buy them when I can get them for pennies on sale:
http://www.ems.com/msr-isopro-fuel-canister-8-oz. /1309518.html#sz=24&start=49

-Does anyone have any experience with this? This is somewhat of a camping related question so I apologize for this being on the wrong forum! I know there are crafty people in here, so I thought i'd ask.

 

[MichaelBikel]

Looks like I found a bit more information, the valve size on my can is 7/16-28.

Does anyone know the thread size/count on a 20# propane tank?

 

[WWheeler]

Hiking Appalachia I've seen people just use a can of butane and refill them with no adapter. They just flip the butane can over and shove the tip in and get almost a full refill. Not sure it saved anyone much money that way but butane was readily available and those isobutane camp fuel canisters notsomuch, and it was a good thing to head back onto the trail knowing your can was full and not half empty. If it got down to near freezing though the butane by itself wouldn't work.

As far as what you're looking to do, you're probably going to have to fabricate your own. I doubt any companies would sell anything like that for either legal or liability reasons.

 

[Richard Cranium]

They make an adaptor for doing this. The problem is now that the new tanks have a float in them. You need to turn the full tank upside down to get the liquid out to the empty tank. With the new valves this don't work.

 

[MichaelBikel]

Hiking Appalachia I've seen people just use a can of butane and refill them with no adapter. They just flip the butane can over and shove the tip in and get almost a full refill. Not sure it saved anyone much money that way but butane was readily available and those isobutane camp fuel canisters notsomuch, and it was a good thing to head back onto the trail knowing your can was full and not half empty. If it got down to near freezing though the butane by itself wouldn't work.

As far as what you're looking to do, you're probably going to have to fabricate your own. I doubt any companies would sell anything like that for either legal or liability reasons.

I have seen the adapters for the regular butane cans. You are right, it wouldn't save me any money that way. It would also just cause me to use more butane cans which I don't want to do. I have found a 7/16'-28 to 1'-20 UNEF propane adapter on eBay but I wanted a straight connection from a 7/16-28 to a 20# tank not a 1#, not to mention its about $20-$25.

Heres one off the net
http://www.campingoutletdirect.com/artifact/6925906/

 

[MichaelBikel]

They make an adaptor for doing this. The problem is now that the new tanks have a float in them. You need to turn the full tank upside down to get the liquid out to the empty tank. With the new valves this don't work.

Can you explain this a bit more? Is the propane industry trying to prevent people from refilling canisters, or is this an actual safety feature?

 

[Advan]

Buy a cheap propane torch and remove the restrictor if you're ok filling from 1 lb cans. That way you have a needle valve built right in to control the liquid. Of course you'll still have to fashion the other end for your tanks....

 

[unslow1]

I've often thought about getting one of these. They seem to get good reviews.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EV59S1W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Richard Cranium]

Just part of the new safety valves that has been in use for over 10 yrs now.
Unslow, that is the piece that I was talking about, They don't work with the new tanks, You can still fill the little tanks with vapor, but they will not last very long on just vapor.

 

[MichaelBikel]

Just part of the new safety valves that has been in use for over 10 yrs now.
Unslow, that is the piece that I was talking about, They don't work with the new tanks, You can still fill the little tanks with vapor, but they will not last very long on just vapor.

Thanks thats good to know, maybe I won't invest the time/money into it after all...

 

[unslow1]

Yes, thanks now I won't even consider it.

 

[MichaelBikel]

So first off I want to address the comment about this procedure not working properly. I have investigated the matter and it turns out that you can sucessfully transfer liquid propane between tanks with many of the current valves being used. Secondly, I found the exact adapter necessary for transfer between a 20# tank and a 7/16"-28 TPI style can. The only problem is, at $9 with a few plastic components this particular model does not look dependable. Still, I have made some progress in the right direction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gas-Stove-B...e6e8c7b&pid=100010&rk=3&rkt=6&sd=272141559869

 

[theoldwizard1]

Can you explain this a bit more? Is the propane industry trying to prevent people from refilling canisters, or is this an actual safety feature?

Over Flow Prevention devices have bee around for awhile now. As stated they are there to prevent overfilling portable containers.

The propane industry NEVER sanctioned people refilling their own bottles and it still CAN be done although a bit slower.

First, refillable tanks are typical LIQUID filled. The tank is connected, the pump turned on and the vent opened. It is "full" (some head space for vapor is required) when liquid starts to escape from the vent. It closed and the pump turned off.

The best way to "fill our own" is via pressure differential. A 10-20F difference in the tank temperatures will create sufficient pressure to fill the empty tank. Make your adapter with 5-10' of hose so that the empty tank can be placed in an ice water bath.

Disposable tanks also have a safety/vent valve. It is that funny little "belly button" on the side, near the top. Once you have hooked your tanks together, use a forceps to pull up on the needle valve. It will fill faster. Make sure this valve is pointing up.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I've often thought about getting one of these. They seem to get good reviews.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EV59S1W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

These type of devices have been around for years and do work. Put a bag of ice on the small cylinder for 5-10 minutes before you open the valve. Don't forget the forceps on the safety/vent valve.

 

[theoldwizard1]

... you can sucessfully transfer liquid propane between tanks with many of the current valves being used.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gas-Stove-B...e6e8c7b&pid=100010&rk=3&rkt=6&sd=272141559869

That rig is doing a gas transfer. If the two tanks are NOT at different temperature, the smaller one will never be 100% "full". If the tanks are the same temperature, they will equalize at the same gas pressure and the same percentage of liquid.

 

[MEngineer]

https://propanewarehouse.com

This guy has what you need, is quick with shipping and is reasonable in price. I use him for my propane projects.

 

[FigureItOut]

I frequently fill those little 1lb. Coleman canisters from a 30lb. bottle. I leave the canisters in the freezer overnight and it goes quickly. Be careful though and get your tare weight on the canister. Before I got the hang of it I was overfilling badly.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I frequently fill those little 1lb. Coleman canisters from a 30lb. bottle. I leave the canisters in the freezer overnight and it goes quickly. Be careful though and get your tare weight on the canister. Before I got the hang of it I was overfilling badly.

Not good, especially if they are going to be stored.

 

[MichaelBikel]

Thank you all for your input. While reading some harder to find articles on the net, I found a useful piece of information. Apparently the isobutane cans are not safe to fill with propane alone due to the higher pressure. A butane/propane mix or 100% butane fill would be suitable though.

This leads me to the next question:

Are there gas cylinders that I can purchase that are smaller than the Coleman 1# tank that would work with propane? Almost like the cans used for brazing torches but smaller.