Just a reminder..... Propane tank.....

I noted several using the old tanks. I have one old tank with an adapter for the then new regulation valves. It sat filled, as winter emergency backup for many years. got it out one day and it wouldn't fit the new BBQ so bought an adapter at Wally World. Now I can't get anyone to fill it even with the adapter. They charge eleven dollars and change to fill a 20 lb tank at gas company near here.

Ok...just a quick review to make sure I got the "take home" lessons...

- a tank is not a cylinder... check
- re-cert. is important unless you don't think it is... check
- date stamps on cylinders are unimportant if the cylinder looks
good... check
- pre-purging is a good thing unless more then 180 days prior to the sale... check
- if your fill station won't fill it...the next one will... check
- AK47's + flame source + Propane cylinder = a good time had by all...
check
- NH cops have no sense of humor... check

so, I got it ...right ? :C

Charles

cdlaine wrote:
12 years in Az. aint the
same as 12 in New Hampshire...is it ? Maybe quasi science ??

Say it ain't so!!!! Does that mean that I am not really 67 years old? Are AZ years kinda like dog years? Here in NH when a cop stops you for drinking and asks how many beers have you been drinking. The answer is always..."Two beers sir." He knows that in NH we count beers as "Dog Beers". So two NH beers is like 14 Non Dog beers. So it doesn't work with NH cops. But they say, it does seem to work with Massachusetts cops.

But the propane deal is different. Several years ago, a family was blown out of their house, due to a faulty propane line repair by an unlicensed repairman. An 8 year old girl killed. Since then, it is very difficult to get a propane cylinder re-qualified. Even propane companies will not risk the liability. Have a faulty regulator on your gas grill? A propane supplier will not sell you a replacement unless they perform the replacement. The propane laws here are just crazy.

Every re-fill station that I have been to here in NH DOES CHECK the certification date. And they do enforce the 12 year date. RELIGIOUSLY.

I did not know about vacuum purging in a new tank. Good information. I need a new cylinder and will look for the purge tag.

Arcamper wrote:
I have not had a date checked before. However if a tank looks bad and has rust around the neck I take them out into our big field, get one of the DW's bathroom candles and my AK47. Light the candle about 2 feet from the tank, walk back about 75 yards and let the fun begin. A tank about 1/4 full makes quite a show.

Red, red, red, red, redneck LOL :B

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUHPg2zrzgk

I have not had a date checked before. However if a tank looks bad and has rust around the neck I take them out into our big field, get one of the DW's bathroom candles and my AK47. Light the candle about 2 feet from the tank, walk back about 75 yards and let the fun begin. A tank about 1/4 full makes quite a show.

I have not seen anyone checking dates on my tanks when refilling. Maybe they do and I just don't notice. Seeing that I usually have several tanks filled at one time I am usually busy getting them out of truck so that's possible.

I know there are lots of companies who operate forklifts and have their own tanks for refilling. Not sure how many of those forklift tanks ever get checked or re-certified but imagine there are a good number that don't.

Here's another site with good info: http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/gasoline-and-propane/propane-safety/propane-cylinder-overfilling-prevention-devices

The last paragraph discusses exemptions.

Copied from this website that discusses all that is propane.

Cylinder Certification and Recertification

"Cylinders are subject to recertification (also known as requalification) twelve years from their date of manufacture and every five years after that. For example, a cylinder manufactured in January of 2000 will have to be recertified in January of 2012 meaning if you take your bottle to the propane company in April of 2012 to be refilled, it will have to be requalified by authorized personnel before it can be filled. The recertification process is simple and does not take too long to complete. Think of cylinder recertification as an inspection similar to that of your car. A vehicle has to be inspected annually so that it may continue to operate safely on the road. Similarly, a propane cylinder must be inspected so that it may continue to operate safely in LP Gas service."

If you have had a cylinder that is approaching 12 years old, it doesn't owe you anything. Go buy a new one. They are cheap enough or trade it in at a cylinder exchange place.

Carb Cleaner wrote:
I believe the DOT has jurisdiction over tanks and re-cert intervals. That's who monitors scuba tanks (cylinders), and every tank will have a DOT cert date and other data stamped into it. It's not just a simple visual inspection. Typically, they're rather picky about which tanks they'll fill in regard to a current cert. I would hope for, and expect, the same from a propane fill station. It appears, not.

This is correct

I use some of the old style valves and even with those I have never had a problem . As some one above has said the non-opd tanks are still legal for many instances , I burn steel with a oxy-propane torch . If a fill station gives you trouble just go to a nuther !

Watch out for "prepurged" cylinders. It is a vacuum purge done by the factory to "remove" all air from the cylinder.

I bought a brand new 30 lb cylinder mfg by Worthington at my local Northern Tools. The date on the collar indicated the cylinder was only 3 months old. The cylinder wrapper/label stated on it that the cylinder had been vacuum purged at the factory and that the vacuum purge was only good for 6 months and that after that the cylinder would have to be purged in accordance with a certain regulation (can't remember the reg) but it is referring to propane gas purging.

So read the label before filling new cylinders. If the cylinder is over 6 months you may need to have the cylinder purged with propane before filling it.

Just make sure the person filling it doesn't open the spitter screw first sucking cold humid air into the cylinder before starting to pump liquid into the cylinder like they did mine. He said he purged it for me by opening the screw before he filled it.