fill MH propane tank

Thanks DrewE.

tenbear wrote:
The local hardware store that fills my motorhome propane tank cannot fill it by weight and the tank is usually partially full. He must have a different way to tell how full the tank is. I would guess it is by pressure???

Overfilling the tanks is prevented by cracking open a bleeder valve that is physically located at 80 percent of the water capacity of the tank and stopping filling when liquid propane comes out the valve. Although portable tanks are usually filled to capacity based on weight (at least in my experience), it's also acceptable to fill them based on their bleeder valves too.

The propane is of course metered for sale based on its liquid volume, I would hope being corrected for temperature.

The pressure in any propane tank is independent of the fill level, being the vapor pressure of the liquid propane at whatever temperature it's at.

The local hardware store that fills my motorhome propane tank cannot fill it by weight and the tank is usually partially full. He must have a different way to tell how full the tank is. I would guess it is by pressure???

There needs to be some clarification. There are in fact two different kinds of propane vessels. There are propane ASME tanks which are permanently mounted to the RV and therefore canNOT be filled by weight. These tanks have an internal system that terminates the inflow of propane when the 80% of volume capacity is reached. Can't put the tank on a scale therefor cannot fill by weight. There are propane cylinders that are securely fastened to an RV, but removable. These tanks MUST be removed from the RV to be filled and may be filled either by weight change from the pumping in of propane or metered in based on the volume capacity of the vessel. Both of these vessels are subject to the maximum load of 80% of the total gross capacity of the vessel. Therefore all propane vendors may not be able to fill the ASME tanks as they may not have the capability of metering the propane. As I noted above I have seldom encountered that incapability and the incapability has usually been at campgrounds. The likely reason is the campground is a re-seller and not a primary vendor of propane. The required space and additional cost for the equipment to dispense by meter are the likely explanation for the inability to meter propane.

I have included a web site address:

http://www.mantank.com/products/rvproducts.htm

Something is amuck! I just tried to post the above through the Sams RV Net portal and the link would not work. Just fine here on Woodalls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dakzuki wrote:

Ponderosa wrote:
Anyone who refills propane bottles can refill an RV tank. The fittings are the same. I get mine filled at the corner convenience store.

Not entirely true. Some places will not fill an RV but will fill portable gas cylinders.

There is a difference between "will" and "can." I "can" rob a store, but I "will" not.

Ponderosa wrote:
Anyone who refills propane bottles can refill an RV tank. The fittings are the same. I get mine filled at the corner convenience store.

Not entirely true. Some places will not fill an RV but will fill portable gas cylinders.

Ponderosa wrote:
Anyone who refills propane bottles can refill an RV tank. The fittings are the same. I get mine filled at the corner convenience store.

Isn't it difficult to get the Motorhome on the scales to tell how much you're getting?

Only propane dealers with a trade-legal volume meter, like those used to fill vehicle fuel tanks, can do it properly.

It is theoretically possible to fill without a meter, but the dealer would need to guess at how much they're putting in, and I'm going to suggest that guess will always be in their favour not yours.

Some or maybe most Camping World's now can fill propane tanks.

Some Menards home improvement centers sell propane like gas stations. Just let the service desk know you have your motor home parked in the filling area, ready for filling. Someone comes out and fills it for you. Their prices are generally very cheap. About one out of every three Menards in my area sells propane that way.

As others have mentioned, truck stops generally have propane filling stations of which I go to for the convenience when on a trip. But if needed when at home, it's off to Menards.

If your rig has a really small tank, you might want to have a connector for a portable tank installed. Connect portable tank when/if needed.