Connecting extra propane bottle to rv. main tank

[cencerrita]

Hi
I have a 3 port tee connector on my main propane tank which allows hook up to bbq etc.Can I get an adaptor to connect an extra separate portable propane tank instead of using the bbq? Or do I have to buy a 4 way T?

Thanks

[cencerrita]

Thanks for all the answers.I had looked at the 1lb connector and worried about the supply rating. Think I might bite the bullet and buy 4 port from Amazon as price is good.
Alan

[Dutch_12078]

wa8yxm wrote:
Short answer is yes.. The adapter you have.. Question is there a small screw in plug in the side of it, Hex plug? If so all you need is the hose

There were, in days gone past, two products made by a company called Marshall Brass.. Now I know one of them has been picked up by another company since MB no longer makes them.

Extend-a-Flow was designed for TRAILERS with removable tanks. This was exactly what you describe.. It had a POL male fitting to go into one of the RV tanks, a POL Female (Took the hose that used to be hooked to the tank) and a "Quick Connector" (Looks like the top of a 1 pound bottle).

The Extend-a-Stay was the other product
Looked exactly like the Extend-a-Flow but with the addition of a nut on the side that was actually a screw in plug/inlet fitting, A special hose with a matching screw in part connects to a portable bottle

The "Extend-A-Stay" is still very much alive and well at Marshall Excelsior (often erroneously shown as "Marshall Brass"), in Marshall, MI:

ME420P Extend-A-Stay Propane Adapter

And many other places: https://www.google.com/search?q=marshall+excelsior+me420p

Marshall Excelsior also markets the similar "Stay-Longer" adapter sets. The only "Marshall Brass" company I'm aware of is located in England.

[Chris_Bryant]

Not really sure- I have a chart around here somewhere for tank pressure orifice sizes. That connection is certainly not meant for high capacity, but it should be able to flow over 50k btu/hr, but you are correct- more than one furnace along with a water heater would most likely exceed the capacity. The correct way is to buy the 4 port adapter.

I looked around to see if I could find capacities for those "steal saver" adapoters that let you hook a 1 lb cylinder to a large grill, but could not find anything.

[Dutch_12078]

Chris Bryant wrote:
I'll say I think you can do it, but it will not be easy- you need a Pigtail with a 1/4" NTP end, a 1/4" female coupler and this cylinder adapter



which will screw on to the fitting you have now, which is really meant to be an outlet.

Chris, do you know what the maximum flow rate is for that adapter? I don't think it will handle the needs of the multiple LP devices in most modern RV's. Right now for instance, we have one of our two furnaces running, plus the water heater, oven, and two stove burners.

[Chris_Bryant]

I'll say I think you can do it, but it will not be easy- you need a Pigtail with a 1/4" NTP end, a 1/4" female coupler and this cylinder adapter



which will screw on to the fitting you have now, which is really meant to be an outlet.

[D_E_Bishop]

To answer your question, your fine as is. You will need a hose from your new cylinder to the "T" attached to your tank. You can go to a lot of places to buy the hose you need to attach your new cylinder to the fitting you have now. Pretty much it is a hose with a Type 1 tank fitting and a fitting that is the same as the fitting on a 1lb bottle. If you already have a hose with a POL fitting you can use that one.

Simple no big deal.

By the way, Marshal Brass is now Marshall Excelsior Company and Extend a Stay is Sturgisafe. Camco also carries all the fittings but all you need is the hose.

[wa8yxm]

Short answer is yes.. The adapter you have.. Question is there a small screw in plug in the side of it, Hex plug? If so all you need is the hose

There were, in days gone past, two products made by a company called Marshall Brass.. Now I know one of them has been picked up by another company since MB no longer makes them.

Extend-a-Flow was designed for TRAILERS with removable tanks. This was exactly what you describe.. It had a POL male fitting to go into one of the RV tanks, a POL Female (Took the hose that used to be hooked to the tank) and a "Quick Connector" (Looks like the top of a 1 pound bottle).

The Extend-a-Stay was the other product
Looked exactly like the Extend-a-Flow but with the addition of a nut on the side that was actually a screw in plug/inlet fitting, A special hose with a matching screw in part connects to a portable bottle

I know this one is now called "Stay-a-while" at stores like Camping world. So if you have that screw in plug.. You got the right adapter. all you need is the hose... If not, then you need the Stay-a-while.

I also found one called "Stay Longer"

Here is the Stay-a-while the fitting I talk about above is on the "Front" as photographed.. The Quick Connect is on the top.

http://propanegear.com/stay-a-while-tee/

[Dutch_12078]

You need a 4-port "Extend-A-Stay" type of adapter. The adapter screws into the fixed ASME tank service valve on one side and the regulator is connected to the other side. It has high side connections for both a BBQ or other self regulated device and an external DOT LP cylinder. The adapter you have does not allow a high enough flow rate at the external hose port to support multiple devices like a furnace and water heater.

[1492]

Moved from Forum Technical Support

[cmeade]

If the fitting is on the tank then a regulator is not required. My rv regulator is hooked next to the tank so I put a tee about 3 ft downstream and bought a regulator to connect to portable tanks directly. If I shut off rv tanks I can run the regulator/portable tank only. (I did install a gate valve between the rv regulator and the tee to be safe) I can also run a hose from that tee directly to my champion lp genset and run it off the rv system if needed. When running generator from portable tanks you need a regulator anyway so I got a residential regulator and threw away the cheap junk regulator and hose from champion and have 25 ft real propane hose. It is expensive braided hose about $6 a ft but strong enough to tow a small car!! Hope I explained this clearly enough.