Propane filling question

Bzeitham wrote:
....and he OPENED the relief valve to let gas escape while he was filling it.

The reason he does this is to know when the tank is filled to capacity. This is what we call the spitter valve. It is attached to a tube in the tank which will begin "spitting" liquid propane when the tank is 80% full...the maximum amount which a tank should be filled.

X2

naturist wrote:
Brand new tanks need filled that way to insure that they are purged of air. But there is no reason that I know of to fill used tanks that way. It does waste some propane. I do not have permanently mounted tanks, but around the farm I have a flock of 20, 30, and 40 pound tanks I use for various purposes, and the only times I've had a propane seller use that method at the store I get 99% of my propane from, it was on a new tank. I, too, always take in a number of tanks at once, since there is a price break if you buy more than 18 gallons at a pop.

The reason that the vent is opened is to determine when the tank has reached its 80% capacity.
It should always be opened when filling a tank by volume or weight. Why? Because if the Overfill Protection Device in the valve would fail, that vent is then the only way one would know the tank has reached its fill capacity.

Also, this is the only way one can tell that a fixed tank on a motorhome c
Is filled since it can't be weighed.

Cylinders Filled By Bleeder Valve
Cylinders filled by fixed liquid level gauge, such as forklift cylinders are not required to be filled by weight. They are subject to visual inspections and recertification requirements like all cylinders but are not filled using a scale. Some companies may use a scale but the standard practice is to use the fixed liquid level gauge (bleeder valve). Once the hose end nozzle is hooked up to the cylinder and the pump is turned on, the bottle filler will wait for liquid to spew out and turn off the pump. The bleeder valve will be closed and the hose will be disconnected. The bleeder valve is the indicator letting the attendant know when the cylinder is full. He's not inadvertently letting propane out of your cylinder but rather following the rules and abiding by the law governing cylinder filling.

The real ripp off is the LP exchange. Most people do not reaalize that the excange places only fill the 20 pound tank to 15 pounds. And, typicaly, they charge about the same as a dealer who fills the tank to 20 pounds.

I couldn't quite understand the original posters question. Was he having just one 30 pounder filled or multiple tanks. Because if it was just one under the gallon deal and it was empty, depending on weather/temperature it would only take between 6.9 to 7.2 gallons. As far as propane costs not being a big deal, it sure is a big deal. There are many rip-off artists in the propane dispensing business. Vey rarely do see pricing posted before YOU get the tank filled. Is tax included or added, just two ways that the pumper lines his pockets. In Yuma, AZ. during snowbird season the fill joint next to us has two pumpers and each pump about 1100 gallons a day during January and February. So a dime here and a nickel there if they are shady is nice pocket money.

With every tank I've had filled in the last 30 years, they opened the little valve to let gas escape while it was filled. Didn't know there was any other way to do it.

BTW, very little propane gas is lost during the process. Since propane expands at a hugh rate very little liquid is lost. Probably less than a thimble full.

Thanks for the clairification!

....and he OPENED the relief valve to let gas escape while he was filling it.

The reason he does this is to know when the tank is filled to capacity. This is what we call the spitter valve. It is attached to a tube in the tank which will begin "spitting" liquid propane when the tank is 80% full...the maximum amount which a tank should be filled.

Propane is a minor expense. Don't stress about it.

HERE is a little reading about filling propane cylinders.