On board propane filling question

[pasusan]

We have an on board propane tank in our B.

Can someone explain the procedure for filling it?

We have a gas station near us that can do it, but no one is familiar with the process and they don't seem to know what to do. Is there something to loosen to let out excess? There's a tag on a nut looking thing that says to stop filling when we see liquid. One guy thought we were supposed to loosen that nut. Another guy didn't.

So far we watch the tank gauge and have them turn it off when it gets to full.

How's it supposed to be done?

[drsteve]

Go to a propane supplier, the guys who deliver to people's homes. They will have the proper training to do it safely.

[wa8yxm]

HOw I do it.. TUrn off DC (House battery disconnect) this disabled the Fridge. Furnace, Water heater and all the "Sparkey" stuff in the RV alt: Turn off all the "Sparkey stuff".. Also kill the generator if running.

Next.. TURN OFF tank outlet valve.. Hook up hose (using proper adapter) to the inlet. Open the Visual Overflow Indicator Valve (sometimes called the "Spitter valve") and start pumping till it spits. Stop pump. close valve. releive pressure in adapter and unhook recap and optional open tank valve. Or pull away and open tank valve.. I pull away BEFORE I restore 12 volts to all the "Sparkey Stuff".

NOTE.. Save for turning off all the "Sparkey" Stuff (12 volt disconnect) and the adapter for the fill port.. No different than filling a 20 pound luggable.

[Ductape]

In brief, the small valve is left slightly open during filling. It's positioned at the 80% level. During the filling process, at first it discharges vapor, which is invisible, just like air escaping.

At the full level (80%), it begins to discharge liquid, which looks and sounds similar to a CO2 fog from a fire extinguisher. At that point stop filling and close the indicator valve.

I encourage everyone to know the correct process, because you'll meet plenty of workers who've not been trained or don't know the correct method.

[pasusan]

OK - thanks everyone for the responses. You all made me nervous so I went to You Tube. (I know - should have gone there in the first place...)

Got it figured out now. 🙂

[Dutch_12078]

That "bleed" valve is actually the "Fixed Liquid Level Gauge" that indicates to a trained operator when the tank is full to its rated capacity. As the others have said, find a different LP supplier that knows what they're doing.

[donn0128]

There is always a bleed valve near the shut off valve. Your local must be some kind of blithering idiot not to know the basica of filling propane tanks.

[maillemaker]

Yup - you need to find a filling station that knows how to fill propane tanks. This is not something you should need to know how to do. If they don't know how to do it, find another shop.

[midnightsadie]

very first thing you do is, RUN FROM THAT STATION. if they have no idea what there doing, don,t let them fool with it. good way to make the 6pm news.

[jerseyjim]

Go to a PROPANE ONLY outfit near you. They have the equipment and the knowledge to fill your tank.
Your tank is bolted on...drive the RV to the filling station. They have the long hoses to get to it.