Switch from 30 lb. to 20 lb.propane tanks?
Well, it happened. Our beloved trailer is now old enough that the 30 lb. propane tanks have expired and can't legally be refilled. I'm considering replacing them with 20 lb. tanks so when one emptys I...
Forum Discussion
rhagfo wrote:YamaDooed wrote:
If you don't run the heat much in the camper I'd say for most the 20lb tanks are fine... I ran the numbers quickly and a short fill 20lb exchange cylinder x2 gives you a whole 7 gals... Where a normal 30lb refilled cylinder gives you 13.6 gals so about half the volume is about what you get...
:h
When my 30# tank is empty it will take 7.1 gallons for a total capacity of 14.2.
Most 30# tanks will take anywhere from 6.8 to 7.2 gallons on a refill - with more when the tank is very cold and less when the tank is warm. I've had mine take as much as 7.4 in teens/single digits, and as little as 6.7 in the warmest summer months.
Propane weighs about 4.2 pounds per gallon.
Most of the "blue rhino" and other pre-filled exchange cylinders are only filled with less than 4 gallons (15#). They charge you more than getting the cylinder refilled, and you get less propane.
You can usually take the cylinder, take the label off, and get it filled as if it's your own. Some folks do that when their 20# cylinders are needing re-certification. They drop off the old tank and exchange it for one with a current date.
Re-certification takes a few minutes, and most real propane distributors will do it for free if you buy a refill, or for less than $10 a cylinder. Re-certification buys you another 5 years.
The lowest price I have found on 30# cylinders is at Home Depot in my area - they are pre-purged (not as common on 30# tanks as on 20#) and they come in under $70.
