20lb Propane tanks - Can you fill from your home tank?

[Industrial Toys]

Consumers get screwed royally by the small volume containers. BBQ tanks being the worst.

I use small torches for a host of things. Fire starting and thawing flat faced connectors. Being able to fill these small containers oneself would be handy and satisfying.

One problem. The valves on these cylinders tend to freeze OPEN after the filling!

 

[Deere Dude]

I am not sure what bulk LP costs right now, but I can get my small tanks filled on town for 2.17 a gallon, which I feel is good.

A little change on the subject. To economize, I hooked my gas grill to the LP line from the bulk tank but I can never get a flame like I can from the small tanks and the small regulator. From the pressure line going to the house I hooked a 1/2" copper line to another home type regulator on the side of the porch then to a 3/8" hose to the burner. No quick disconnects.

I tried other regulators and different hoses but will only put out maybe 1/2 the gas to work like a small tank works. I can cook fine that way but it just takes longer and will still get up to 350 deg., but only slower. I lived at two different houses with the same result. Any idea about that?

 

[dpb800]

You installed a regulator prior to the regulator for the house? I've hooked mine up the same way and get good flame.

 

[jcummins]

I just plumbed our grill directly into the propane tank for the house. Don't need 20lb tanks anymore.

How did you go about doing that? I've been thinking of plumbing two valves off my house propane for some time now. I want to be able to screw in the propane hose on a BBQ grill, and a propane generator. I don't expect to use the house regulator, but the regulators that are with the devices. Making sure I have the 'right' plumbing to do that is what I'm groping with.

 

[dpb800]

I just connected into the supply line ahead of the house regulator and used copper tube and compression fittings to feed my grill on the deck. Check out for leaks before calling it good!

 

[Bird]

I don't know what LPG costs elsewhere, but I had one of my 20# bottles filled today at the Destiny RV Park for $15.

 

[charlz]

I bought a fitting to fill torch tanks from a BBQ tank in the STATES. Prime Minister DAD, won't let us play with such things here. I followed the instructions and kept the cylinder in the freezer, but never get much of a filling. Not much at all, and that is from a brand new BBQ tank.

I have wondered if the new OPD valves prevent those fittings from working?

 

[Tig]

I bought one of those fillup tingys last winter. I wanted to switch to propane for the ice fishing shack heat/light.
Following directions I turn the 20 lb tank upside down and fill the small can. It seems to get about a 10% fill. Not very useful. It was cold the day I tested it out in the the shack and we didn't last long before we switched back to the Coleman lantern.

 

[k0ua]

I bought one of those fillup tingys last winter. I wanted to switch to propane for the ice fishing shack heat/light.
Following directions I turn the 20 lb tank upside down and fill the small can. It seems to get about a 10% fill. Not very useful. It was cold the day I tested it out in the the shack and we didn't last long before we switched back to the Coleman lantern.

Little cylinder needs to be complete empty. Then put in freezer overnight. Big cylinder needs to be warm. Set in sun for a few minutes. Turn upside down and attach small cylinder immediately removed from freezer. Fill in the shade.

 

[Tig]

Little cylinder needs to be complete empty. Then put in freezer overnight. Big cylinder needs to be warm. Set in sun for a few minutes. Turn upside down and attach small cylinder immediately removed from freezer. Fill in the shade.

Thanks James. That makes sense.
I'm not sure if it will work out for me. To get the temperature differential, I would have to warm the big cylinder, since ambient is typically much colder than a freezer when I go ice fishing. I'm just not keen on warming a full cylinder. It stays in the garage.