Refilling 16 oz propane bottle off a 20# tank

Allow me to 'tube' that for you.

Youtube -refill bottles

Thank you, problem resolved, but I do have a leaking valve on the 16 oz bottle. D'oh! Probably why it is empty. Doggone it. Time to scrounge some camp sites for some empty bottles.

Do not transport after refilling. Generally, I would plan to refill shortly before starting up a little BBQ.

AFTER 300+ BOTTLES I ARE EXPERIENCED

• You need an accurate scale with TARE setting PERIOD
• The POT is set on a table upside down to make only liquid available
• Tweak the bottle valve to flush most of the air out of the hose
• FREEZE the empty bottles or spend the rest of your life waiting for them to fill
• Screw bottle onto the connector pigtail
• Set scale tare to zero
• Carefully open valve on pot and watch scale go to 14 oz, then tweak valve shut
• Did the "over-run" fill the bottle to 16oz. NET?
• Overages must be bled down to 16 oz. NET
• Dunk filled bottles into a pail of water
• See bubbles?
• If there are bubbles, use ice-pick to bleed off a spootch of gas, then re-test
• Leaking bottles are a bomb
• Absolutely zero rust permitted on threads, fill port on anywhere on bottle
• Vaseline petroleum jelly smeared lightly onto bottle threads will reduce corrosion in storage
• Tilt pot upright to allow liquid to fall to bottom
• Liquid LPG has every ability to cause frostbite
• Have a fire extinguisher handy
• Threaten the life of any smoker who may approach.

I filled some 150 bottles on a popular Mexican beach back in the eighties. They squawked about the four dollar charge until they drove 50-miles to discover the hardware store had long since run out of ten dollar bottles.

I typically keep 10 or more refilled, but they are kept in an outdoor, well ventilated space. In the years I've been doing this, I've only had one that leaked. Recently I've had a couple Coleman branded bottles that will only accept 1/3 fill.

Disclaimer: Use at your own risk.

This link should help as well.

Personally, I just use 1# cylinders for emergencies since they can be stored inside. If I needed something refillable but small, I'd go for a 2-5 pound Manchester mini-cylinder.

I know people have success with refilling those, but since the only item propane related that isn't connected to the rig's LP gas supply is a Buddy heater, I just don't bother.

I think refilling right before attaching to a little CharBroil BBQ, regardless of volume, as long as it's 90% or less is fine, or keep the 16 oz bottle upright so it only lets out gas to start, not liquid, should be fine.

Maybe a little off topic...but,
I keep a 16oz bottle only as a backup.

Went with a "pony" tank below. Easy to carry, easy to store, easy and inexpensive to have refilled, lasts a long time with our RV sized Weber Q.

Freeze 1 lb for a few hours, turn 20 lb upside down, keep 1 lb upright, screw on, take it off when it stops hissing.

You should be aware of the explosive potential of 1 lb of LP under pressure. The videos are out there.

everything is explosive, if put under the right pressure and/or impact

coal dust. the first diesel engines used powered coal dust
stationary use, did not catch on until somebody redesigned the engine to use petroleum

those exploding videos are fun to watch, but way out of contex
burning or shooting things to make them explode