Propane Refill Kit.. Anyone use it?

[xJoey Dubsx]

http://www.harborfreight.com/propane-bottle-refill-kit-45989.html

Anyone ever use this? Would be nice if I can do them cheap enough..

 

[honcho]

They sorta work, but you can't get close to full on due to the nature of propane pressure equalizing. It helps a little if the receiving tank is cold and the supply tank is warmed.

 

[FiveFinger]

Yep. Put the empty tanks in the freezer and put the 20 pound tank out in the sun.

 

[Loudpipes66]

I have one similar that was bought off ebay and can also be found at Tractor Supply. They work fairly simple and effectively. Do a search on youtube and you will find quite a few instructional videos. Personally I would stick to a name brand when dealing with anything flamable under preasure

 

[mharmon]

I have used it and it works alright. I have heard that since the little tanks are not DOT certified for refill you "cannot" transport them once refilled. Does any more know about this?

 

[metaleltr]

I have used it and it works alright. I have heard that since the little tanks are not DOT certified for refill you "cannot" transport them once refilled. Does any more know about this?

Technically true, but how are they going to tell?

 

[Twelvevoltman]

I had thought about refilling the 1lb tanks but got the adapter hose to use 20lb tanks with my Buddy heater.

 

[Wiggum]

This is something i have done before but not using this kit. Are there any propane knowedge-rich members on this board? I have some questions...

 

[malibu101]

I have used one for quite a few years now. As was said, you don't get as full of a "charge" as a store-bought cylinder but they certainly do work.
Our hunting cabin has no electric and we burn propane lanterns for light for alot of hours and go through alot small tanks.
It has paid for itself many times over to me.

 

[djb2]

A specific danger is that the original propane fill has minimal water, while the propane refill might be "wet" with a little oxygen. This could result in internal corrosion.

Also a refill may overfill, resulting in insufficient expansion space when the tank gets hot from sitting in the sun, or sitting close to an operating appliance.

Neither is under the control of the original vendor, thus their D.O.T. rating is lost.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

my life is not worth $18.99

 

[Farmall450]

Yep. Put the empty tanks in the freezer and put the 20 pound tank out in the sun.

That's what I've heard...I was going to get one, but I figured it isn't worth taking a propane tank inside....cold here!

 

[Outlawmws]

Actually you can get a full refill. I have refiled smaller 1 - 3 gallon, tanks off of a 20 Gal. tank many times; the trick is that the "donor" tank has to be upside down so you are getting liquid propane, not the gas on the top of the liquid, and the receiving tank has to be right side up so the relief overflow valve is doing it's job properly (and preventing an overfill), and that adapter won't allow that to be properly done.

I had one that DID work for small 16 oz tanks, (I had the refillable type (I didn't do the throw away types...), but it had a 10" or so side tube, and the bit that goes on the receiving tank was 90 deg to that so the receiver tank could be set upright.

It was intended to be used with a 20 lb portable and set the portable up upside down on its "handle/valve guard, then setup the tank to be filled.

The only way that adapter can be used effectively is on the end of a hose, but that will waste near as much fuel as you get into the small tank. The hose just has too much volume to be efficient. you could add a valve at the end of the hose and do a bunch to minimize the waste, but a small short feeder tube is better.

 

[Outlawmws]

I have used one for quite a few years now. As was said, you don't get as full of a "charge" as a store-bought cylinder but they certainly do work.
Our hunting cabin has no electric and we burn propane lanterns for light for alot of hours and go through alot small tanks.
It has paid for itself many times over to me.

Get a mast and some hose, and plumb the lanterns to one 5 gal/20 lb bulk tank, but if you are using these for inside light, you would be wise to get a battery operated CO alarm as Carbon monoxide is a silent, deadly, killer...

 

[blazemaster83]

I use one of these all the time. Yeah they don't really fill em up all they way...I just bought 5-6 tanks over a few months and now I refill those. As soon as they are empty just throw em in the freezer to get cold and refill. I even picked up a 20lb tank i fill just for filling the small ones. It has saved me a lot of money, and is really easy once you do it a few times. About as dangerous as taking your bbq tank to the gas station to get refilled...just dont do it while your buddies stand around smoking.

 

[humber2]

Are those green throwaway cans rated for propane pressure?

I think not.

Most of those thin wall cans are filled with a mix of Propane and Butane which dramatically drops the pressure.

The small blue Primus bottles are propane rated and I regularly refill these cylinders that are in current test using a digital weigh scale so as to not overfill.

 

[malibu101]

Get a mast and some hose, and plumb the lanterns to one 5 gal/20 lb bulk tank, but if you are using these for inside light, you would be wise to get a battery operated CO alarm as Carbon monoxide is a silent, deadly, killer...

I've seen the mast things. It just seems bulky and in the way for our inside uses.

We are very keenly aware of the CO and fire dangers as we use the lantern and also since we heat it with either a kerosene heater or the coal stove.
We always err on the side of caution with keeping cross windows open probably farther than they need to be anytime there is combustion inside.
Thanks for the idea though!