Propane tanks

GordoSD

Well-known Member
Last week I had my 500 gallon tank topped off for the winter. The price was 1.43 per gal. Yesterday I took my 40 lb stove bottle in for refill and the price was $3 per gallon
So to save a few bucks, what do I need to fill my 40 lb tank from my 500 lb tank. Is it feasible and moreover done safely here at home?
 
You can do it but you will only be able to get your small tank half full or less depending on temperatures. I think you will need a liquid connection rather then vapor.
 
i know a guy that knows a guy that does that. made up a hose rig that attaches to the wet valve on the big tank, then runs the hose to a pipe tee. installed agas rated ball valve to bleed off pressure, then the other on the tee goes to the small tank fitting. hook the works up, leave the main tank valve closed, open the little tank. then crack the bleed valve to clear any air out. close the bleeder and open the main liquid valve a liitle to let the liquid propane fill the small tank. there is a small air bleed screw at the base of the little tank to bleed gas off so more liquid can go in the tank. wont get a 100% fill, but pretty close. least thats what the guy that knows the guy says.
 
LP suppliers used to have kits to add to the tank to allow that. I"d check there first for a safe and approved setup. Maybe the same as what farmers used to refill their LP tractors? I think some dealers shy away from that now.
 
Pay the 3 bucks a gallon and dont kill yourself trying to make a fitting thats going to cost you 50 dollars in parts to make.its not worth the hassle
 
(quoted from post at 11:19:11 09/25/14) Last week I had my 500 gallon tank topped off for the winter. The price was 1.43 per gal. Yesterday I took my 40 lb stove bottle in for refill and the price was $3 per gallon
So to save a few bucks, what do I need to fill my 40 lb tank from my 500 lb tank. Is it feasible and moreover done safely here at home?
f you install all the correct stuff on your big tank, you can achieve a proper fill safely. My cost was $280, self installed.
 

I tried to get my propane supplier to install one of those wetlegs on the 500 gallon tank that I rent from them. They absolutely refused to do that, and told me in NO uncertain terms that if I installed it myself, they would refuse to fill the tank.
 
(quoted from post at 13:36:56 09/25/14)
I tried to get my propane supplier to install one of those wetlegs on the 500 gallon tank that I rent from them. They absolutely refused to do that, and told me in NO uncertain terms that if I installed it myself, they would refuse to fill the tank.
uess it depends on the supplier. Bought all my parts from supplier & he gave me full instructions on the install procedure & his personal cell number, just in case I had further questions or any problems. Good outfit!
 
(quoted from post at 10:40:04 09/25/14)
(quoted from post at 13:36:56 09/25/14)
I tried to get my propane supplier to install one of those wetlegs on the 500 gallon tank that I rent from them. They absolutely refused to do that, and told me in NO uncertain terms that if I installed it myself, they would refuse to fill the tank.
uess it depends on the supplier. Bought all my parts from supplier & he gave me full instructions on the install procedure & his personal cell number, just in case I had further questions or any problems. Good outfit!

It doesn't make any sense at all. My previous propane supplier refused to install one, so I switched suppliers, and after the new tank was put in place, THEN he told me the bad news.
 
I used to have a G1000 propane and I had the rig to fill it off of a large tank. You basically just let it equalize until no more will transfer, as long as you transfer slow from the full tank and have the bleeder cracked on the tank you are filling you will get mostly liquid until the pressures equalize.
 
(quoted from post at 13:44:19 09/25/14)
(quoted from post at 10:40:04 09/25/14)
(quoted from post at 13:36:56 09/25/14)
I tried to get my propane supplier to install one of those wetlegs on the 500 gallon tank that I rent from them. They absolutely refused to do that, and told me in NO uncertain terms that if I installed it myself, they would refuse to fill the tank.
uess it depends on the supplier. Bought all my parts from supplier & he gave me full instructions on the install procedure & his personal cell number, just in case I had further questions or any problems. Good outfit!

It doesn't make any sense at all. My previous propane supplier refused to install one, so I switched suppliers, and after the new tank was put in place, THEN he told me the bad news.
ood guys/bad guys or perhaps different regulations in different governmental jurisdictions??? :roll:
 
Why not T in to the gas line after the second regulator, run new line to stove and not fool around filling the little tank.

Better yet use line going to 40 pounder to T into furnace line.
 
Guys, Listen Up and stop B!tchin about what the supplies can/cannot do!!!
If your Main tank HAS a Single Head Unit(Fill, Vapor , Bleed, Pressure relief + a liquid screw On/Off valve that has a P.O.L female opening). and screws on to a 2 or 3in vertical stub pipe
Like a REGO Multi-Valve assembly like my tank has YOU ALREADY Have a Wet Line On your tank!!!!!!
You will Need an Unloading Valve On one end of your hose and a regular LP On/Off valve on the other.
Most unloading valves have one of two ways to Depress the Seal on the Regular Fill valve. A Screw valve to depress the seal, or a Lever with a cam that depresses the seal. With the valve mounted, the screw screws through the top! that in turn will reverse the process the Filling Process thus filling the tank you desire. When finished unscrew the valve in the center of the valve, thus to letting the seal reseat. Shut off valve on the other end of the Hose, Remember with both valves closed there is Live LP still in the hose. and between the tractor LP/BBQ tank, seal and the last valve on the Hose, Crack the hose mount of the tractor LP Tank and let the little amount of LP escape with no pressure remove the valve from the tractor LP tank replace the dust cover. and you are done.
The main draw back is there is always pressure on your hose even when not in use!
Hope this helps! If y'all have question Holler at me I will be glad to visit with you about. (512) 577-3837.... It isn't that difficult. just difficult to explain.
Later,
John A.
 
You'll be "B!tchin" about what the suppliers can't/won't do when they refuse to fill your tank because you put an "unauthorized" wet line on it.
 
All suppliers that I know will not do that on a rental tank The solution BUY THE DAM TANK, like you should have done in the first place. Then go to any propane supplier and get your stuff. Do you know you will have to replace the rubber hose after so many years. They are dated. Supplier cannot fill the tank with an outdated hose hooked to it. Just to fill 1 40 lb tank per year may not be practical.
 
(quoted from post at 12:25:11 09/25/14) Guys, Listen Up and stop B!tchin about what the supplies can/cannot do!!!
If your Main tank HAS a Single Head Unit(Fill, Vapor , Bleed, Pressure relief + a liquid screw On/Off valve that has a P.O.L female opening). and screws on to a 2 or 3in vertical stub pipe
Like a REGO Multi-Valve assembly like my tank has YOU ALREADY Have a Wet Line On your tank!!!!!!
You will Need an Unloading Valve On one end of your hose and a regular LP On/Off valve on the other.
Most unloading valves have one of two ways to Depress the Seal on the Regular Fill valve. A Screw valve to depress the seal, or a Lever with a cam that depresses the seal. With the valve mounted, the screw screws through the top! that in turn will reverse the process the Filling Process thus filling the tank you desire. When finished unscrew the valve in the center of the valve, thus to letting the seal reseat. Shut off valve on the other end of the Hose, Remember with both valves closed there is Live LP still in the hose. and between the tractor LP/BBQ tank, seal and the last valve on the Hose, Crack the hose mount of the tractor LP Tank and let the little amount of LP escape with no pressure remove the valve from the tractor LP tank replace the dust cover. and you are done.
The main draw back is there is always pressure on your hose even when not in use!
Hope this helps! If y'all have question Holler at me I will be glad to visit with you about. (512) 577-3837.... It isn't that difficult. just difficult to explain.
Later,
John A.

My current tank has a port on top of it for what I presume is the wetleg. The old tank had that same port, but it was on the bottom. Both of these ports are totally seperate from the valve that supplies my house.
 
use double wire i/2 inch hyd hose between valves. I knew a guy that knew someone that did this. Gee just cannot recall who he is
 
he prolly knows the guy that knows the guy i know. the whole outfit he made was about 40 dollars or so, all with propane fittings and hoses from a big box store.
 
(quoted from post at 17:00:04 09/25/14) use double wire i/2 inch hyd hose between valves. I knew a guy that knew someone that did this. Gee just cannot recall who he is
ou don't obtain much of a fill without a wet-line.
 
I bet they do know at least who each other is by virtue of this forum.. I f I go Wyoming Ill to harvest this year I would like to meet some of you western Ill guys.
used anhydrous valves are basically same as propane. Back in the day my trucks could haul a load on propane, load say 20 gallon of anhrydous. Drive in country vent tank, return and load propane, as well as vice vursey
 
It is not that difficult to fill a 40 lb tank from the 500 gallon one but it may not be worth the effort for you.

If you do not have a liquid tap on the tank you will need to remove the regulator and then connect the tanks. Fuel will migrate to the tank with the lower temperature. On a warm day if you run cool water over the tank you want to fill the fuel will vaporize in the larger, warmer tank and condense in the smaller, cooler tank. The amount of time it will take will depend upon any restrictions between the tanks and the temperature difference between the tanks. If you small tank does not have the automatic shut off valve installed it is possible to fill it to 100%, something you do not want to do.

If your house has appliances with pilot lights they will have to be re-lit after reinstalling the regulator back on the 500 gallon tank.
 

With the right setup it is easy to do. First ask your supplier they might be accommodating. If not check to see if you have a liquid withdrawal valve on your tank. Take the number off of it and enter into Google. You should be able to find the mating fitting online. You need a shutoff to screw into the withdrawal valve fitting, a hose, another shutoff, and a fitting to hook to your tank. If you fill your tank in the evening, the small (empty) tank cools quicker than the large one making a pressure differential letting the liquid transfer without even needing to open the vent port. I usually let them set for a couple hours. I do have one tank that will overfill even with the OPD. I just make sure to use some out of that one right away if I think it may have too much in it. For me it isn't the cost of propane that is the problem for filling little ones, its the 40 miles to the nearest filling station, waiting a couple days and going back to get them. Burns more gas in the pickup than an LP tank holds.

Note that the hose is not on the big tank because it was filled recently. No sense giving my supplier something they don't need to worry about.
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"If you do not have a liquid tap on the tank you will need to remove the regulator and then connect the tanks."

I may be a bit naive here, but most 500 or 1000 gal tanks have a liquid port, and a few refills of small cylinders will cover the cost of getting the needed liquid valve.
 
Rusty, Call Me, and I will visit with you about it and Text a few pics of my tanks head unit and Unloading Valve!
Later,
John A.
 
You will be a little north west of kruser in peoria. Im a couplebhours away. Drop down to tales and maybe we can set up a shindig!!!
 

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