Refilling 1 lb. propane bottles

[Tunce the traveler]

Maybe you already knew about this little adapter but I didn't so thought I would post it just in case.

[bedrck46]

One of the problems that I ran into when re-filling the 1 lb bottles is that sometimes the o-ring would leak unless after re-filling you attached the bottle to the stove, lamp etc.

[RedHorse1]

They don't seem to show that you need to invert the big bottle to fill. You want to fill with liquid not gas. IRV also read that the seals start to leak after a few refills. No first hand experience just repeating what I've read.

[edatlanta]

You get a fuller fill if the 1 lb tank is put in your freezer for a while prior to filling. I did it for years when I was using the 1 lb tanks and it works fine. I never had a leak issue.

[Edd505]

Originally Posted by RedHorse1

They don't seem to show that you need to invert the big bottle to fill. You want to fill with liquid not gas. IRV also read that the seals start to leak after a few refills. No first hand experience just repeating what I've read.

I use the refill adapter and learned by trial and error to invert the large fill bottle and have had no other issues. I'll try the freezer trick to see if I get fuller fills.

[Seann45]

I have been doing this for years... they say to freeze it for an hour I say leave it in there overnight.. then fill it... and always have the supply bottle upside down.. After a while the 1lb bottle will start to leak... I mark it with an X, I have several bottles, and when it is again empty it goes to the recycler.

[troutslayer]

I just looked at a 1lb tank and the label says that its a federal law to transport a refilled bottle-"penalty up to $500,000 fine and 5 years imprisonment". One of the few times that I've actually read a label.

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by troutslayer

I just looked at a 1lb tank and the label says that its a federal law to transport a refilled bottle-"penalty up to $500,000 fine and 5 years imprisonment". One of the few times that I've actually read a label.

Another useless law.. how would they ever prove you refilled the bottle?

[mike837go]

Originally Posted by troutslayer

I just looked at a 1lb tank and the label says that its a federal law to transport a refilled bottle-"penalty up to $500,000 fine and 5 years imprisonment". One of the few times that I've actually read a label.

You missed the part about "across state lines" it is U.S. federal law.

I just feel that the whole process is near useless anyway. To truly refill a container with liquid propane, you have to do something with the compressed gas. Yeah, chilling the can will reduce the pressure but you still can't get the can full (or within 90%, "safely filled") of liquid without a pump. And possibly, a vent to bleed off the excess gas.

Watch the way a 20# BBQ tank is filled by the professionals some time. Discuss what they are doing and why. You'll discover what actually is going on when a propane bottle is being refilled.

After that you'll abandon the practice of just repressurizing a steel can that should be sent for recycling.

All my propane appliances run off the tanks on the tongue of the trailer. So I stopped bothering with those expensive little things.

[Bassdogs]

Also have used an adapter for several years w/ great success and no issues. Yes put the empties in a freezer overnite before filling. Yes the end result is a bottle that is filled more than a store bought one. Never weighed one but have used the same refilled bottle for several days on our tailgater grill with daily usage.

Store bought bottles are by law [???] filled to a limited level as are the 20lb tanks you get with an exchange at Wmart etc. This is supposed to be for safety to prevent overfilling, but it also allows the vendor to sell more product.

Do this only in an outside location [NEVER IN DOORS] and like the warning signs say, No smoking or open flames.

[mike837go]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

Also have used an adapter for several years w/ great success and no issues.... Never weighed one ....

Try weighing one prior to putting it in the freezer and then after you have recharged it.

That will tell you precisely (if you wipe the condensate off) how much propane has been transferred from the bulk tank into your small can.

Let us know how many ounces of propane you get into the 14oz can.

[norty1]

I tried it once and the seal leaked. If you do this, do not store them in a closed compartment.

[troutslayer]

Originally Posted by troutslayer

I just looked at a 1lb tank and the label says that its a federal law to transport a refilled bottle-"penalty up to $500,000 fine and 5 years imprisonment". One of the few times that I've actually read a label.

A half a mil is one thing but do you know what they do in the "joint' to guys that refill propane bottles??? Not me...I'm staying clean

[edatlanta]

I refilled them for many years. I did weigh a few along the way before and after filing and compared that to a brand new full one. I almost always saw 90% fill as compared to a new unused 1 lb tank. Worth doing in my opinion.

What is here about this refilled tank that says "I have been refilled"?

When they started getting rusty I would throw them away.

I don't use them now at all. What is the statute of limitations on refilling these tanks?

[chrismoore701]

I have been doing this for years, I store the bottles in socks to keep the bottle from getting scratched and rusting. If the seal leaks I smack it on the ground and it stops. If it still leaks get a lighter and look in there to see where the leak is coming from.

Simple you will know if it leaks right away, toss it. This way has worked for years. I have been using the same bottles for about 5 years now with no problems. But again I don't use them that much

[gmapatime]

Walmart sells these bottle's (2) for $6. Is it really worth the effort and risk for this little amount

Steve

[FishAr]

Originally Posted by gmapatime

Walmart sells these bottle's (2) for $6. Is it really worth the effort and risk for this little amount

Steve

I don't think so. I use them for winter heat in the golf cart when golfing. Someone asked me if I refilled them, I just kind of looked at him because I didn't know what to say.

[us71na]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

Yes the end result is a bottle that is filled more than a store bought one. Never weighed one but have used the same refilled bottle for several days on our tailgater grill with daily usage.

Store bought bottles are by law [???] filled to a limited level as are the 20lb tanks you get with an exchange at Wmart etc. This is supposed to be for safety to prevent overfilling, but it also allows the vendor to sell more product.

Do this only in an outside location [NEVER IN DOORS] and like the warning signs say, No smoking or open flames.

There is a reason why they don't fill those small bottles completely full with liquid. Liquids don't compress, but they will shrink and expand with temperature. If you don't leave head space in a container filled with liquid you can burst the container when the liquid warms up. With propane this could be really bad. It really has nothing to do with how much product the vendor is selling. A few years ago it was mandated by law that all propane bottles over a certain size had to have over fill protection devices built into the tank to mechanically prevent overfilling. The reason this law was passed was because people filling bottles were overfilling them and some burst or popped the safety a short time after filling when the liquid warmed up a bit and consumers were filling their vehicles up with propane on the way home from the filling station.

[Poppy]

I have 2 propane stoves that take the one pound bottles, but I don't refill them. Until I read this thread, I never thought about it or knew you could. A couple of months ago I bought a 12' hose at CW that had a fitting for those stoves on one end. The other end attached to the 20 pound bottle.

[Murphie]

I came across a adapter for sale other day and remembered the story about the guy who blew up his garage doing this. I was surprised they were still for sale. I'm always amazed how many meals we can cook using just one cylinder.