Propane Tank Valve Question

ultrarunner · Jul 13, 2015

When you open the valve should it be opened until it stops or is opening it a turn enough?

The reason I ask is because welding Oxygen is opened until it stops because the valve is double seated... whereas Acetylene is opened less than a turn.

bigtiller · Jul 13, 2015

There is 150~ pounds trying to escape through a 10 pound hole. I think 1/2 a turn would be plenty. But i was only in the business 2 years so i will defer to a more knowledgeable expert.

ultrarunner · Jul 13, 2015

Thank you... seems logical to me.

RedNeckGeek · Jul 13, 2015

I don't know if the propane valves are double seated or not, but I usually open the valve on the big tank that supplies the house all the way until it stops. The ones on the BBQ tanks I just crack, then close them again after I'm done. I've never smelled a gas leak doing this, but if I was really worried about it, a call to the propane man would get a good answer.

The ones on Oxygen and other high pressure tanks have to be double seatied to take the high pressures (~3000 psi). If you leave the valve partially open it will usually leak and you'll waste gas.

Acetylene is prone to detonation at pressures over 15 psi, so it comes dissolved in acetone, which is kept from sloshing around by a fiber filler in the tank. That's why you should try to keep an acetylene tank upright, and let it sit at least an hour before trying to use it if it gets tipped over.

JerryK · Jul 13, 2015

Propane tanks are filled to 80% most of the year. Starting when the weather turns real cold, they fill to 85%, say late November up here in Michigan...... depending....

ultrarunner · Jul 13, 2015

Can't really call the propane supplier since they told me hands off... thing is I own the tank and they have been trying to get it back for years... like waiving the rental and delivery charges for 2 years and such... thing is we don't pay a rental charge!

Tractor Seabee · Jul 13, 2015

In line with the OP; not only bears like propane. Squirrels, chip monks, and other like rodents also go after the flex hoses and chew thru them. Enough of the smell comes through the hoses that it attracts them to start chewing to get more. RV hook ups are common bait.

Ron