Propane tank valves/regulators

Bret4207 · Dec 11, 2015

Is there a difference between regulators for 20 lbs barbecue type tanks and for 100 lbs tanks? I ask because I bought a 100 pbs tank and used a regulator I had laying around. That regulator will run a 20 lbs tank dry but on the 100 lbs tank it seems to get down to about 50-60 obs and the regulator stops letting the gas through, act's like and empty tank. I have no idea where I got the regulator, might have come out of a camper.

IaGary · Dec 11, 2015

Regulators do go bad.

Law requires the one for your house to be replaced after 7 or it may be 10 years.

I would not use a regulator that has been laying around on anything without knowing it is ok.

Get a new regulator.

Just my opinion.

Gary

Leroy · Dec 11, 2015

That must be a local law only, the only time a regulator is replaced is when you change propane suppliers.

Mike M · Dec 11, 2015

I never heard of that law ? if so no one has been around to enforce it. Propane supplier did do some tests once and installed what looks like a tire valve stem and the house regulator.
I'm inclined to trust a really old regulator over a brand new one made in china !

hd6gtom · Dec 11, 2015

That is not a local law - it is national, was written in the 1970's, while I was in the LP business. Its for your on protection.

rrc300 u · Dec 11, 2015

Are you trying to burn the whole bottle at
one time? The regulator might be freezing
up. It might be that the connected
appliance is a larger btuh than the
regulator can supply. With intermittent use
I don't see why the regulator would care if
its hooked to a 20 lb bottle or to the
vapor connection on a 500gallon tank. By
intermittent I mean on and off like a hot
water tank or a small heater.Continued use
would be like a ventlesss wall heater with
a manual control.

IaGary · Dec 11, 2015

Kind of misstated that.

It is an insurance requirement here in Iowa.

Our local coop has to replace regulators on the tank after 7 years (or what ever the term is).

Gary

Russ from MN · Dec 11, 2015

If you shut it off for a few hours and then try it again does it work? I agree it's probably freezing up.

ohiojim · Dec 11, 2015

not a pro. but i hooked my grill into the line at the house,...works great, never run out in the middle of a cook out

Hoenes · Dec 11, 2015

Gary, same in Mo. Last time my supplier filled my tank, he checked the dates on my regulators. As far as Brets issue, I tried a BBQ type connection and small regulator on a "weed burner," but it would not deliver enough PSI for it to burn properly. I had to go back to the "internal left hand thread connector" with a slightly larger reg.

Andy Martin · Dec 11, 2015

Was the 100 lb tank used? Could it have had butane in it?

Russ from MN · Dec 11, 2015

For a weed burner you need a high pressure regulator, or none at all, I don't use one on mine.

Bret4207 · Dec 11, 2015

To be clear, this is a brand new, just filled once 1000 lbs tank. It supplies my daughters propane stove and nothing else. The regulator, now that I think about it, came off an RV propane stove. It worked great running 3 burners wide open on that and the regulator works fine on my daughters stove with a 20lbs tank. He only difference is the tank. About 6 weeks after hitching up the new 100 lbs tank she called and said the stove was dead, tank must be empty. I went to change tank and it's got to have 50-60 lbs of propane still in it.

Could the regulator be wrong for the tank?

Mike M · Dec 11, 2015

Mother in laws new grill got used 3 times at the most and then the flames were real little. I thought the tank must not of been full from new and was empty. Pulled the tank and it seemed heavy so I tried the spare still no go. Got a new regulator and wala it worked. Old and new reg. say made in china so who knows how long this one will last ?

rrc300 u · Dec 11, 2015

Might want to check the vent on the
regulator and make sure a moth or some
other debris isn't blocking it. Also check
and see if it has an inlet screen that
might be plugged.

Frank A · Dec 11, 2015

The short answer is no there isn't a difference. The same regulator should work regardless of tank size. Hard to guess what the issue could be without more info. Did you open the tank valve after disconnecting the regulator to check flow? Did you check to see if there was flow through the regulator? Was the stove used a long time straight? Was the tank purged properly? If you do replace the regulator I would advise against a barbeque regulator they are only rated for outdoor appliances only.

Frank A · Dec 11, 2015

I haven't heard of a national law. There are national codes but I believe it is up to the states to adopt them. I haven't heard of having to change regulators every 7 years either. not saying there never was such a thing I just haven't heard of it in the last 10 years of classes and training I've been to.

Bret4207 · Dec 12, 2015

(quoted from post at 00:07:07 12/12/15) The short answer is no there isn't a difference. The same regulator should work regardless of tank size. Hard to guess what the issue could be without more info. Did you open the tank valve after disconnecting the regulator to check flow? Did you check to see if there was flow through the regulator? Was the stove used a long time straight? Was the tank purged properly? If you do replace the regulator I would advise against a barbeque regulator they are only rated for outdoor appliances only.

Did all that. Stove used on and off. I think the reg is defective. THanks!

GVSII · Dec 12, 2015

Had the same sort of thing happen to me a few times.Could very well be a bad regulator but in my case(I swore the tank was empty).Called the supplier for a refill.They said you can't be out,you
were just filled 2 months ago.Try pouring some warm water over the regulator.As soon as the water hit the reg.I heard it click and I had gas flow.Happened to me twice.I didn't call the supplier the second time.The other times it happened to me I had just opened the tank valve too fast after switching tanks.In cold weather any condensation in the reg.will freeze and lock up the reg.

56 Fan 400 · Dec 12, 2015

One more thing to think about is your hose. I ran a 24 gallon tank (100 lb) for many years and finally that oil they use to make it stink filled up my hose. I was in my motorhome at the time and the fuel did not make it to the appliances as easy thru the oil. Took the hose off, back drained it and put it back on. Ran fine. I also used the little baby tanks as instead of purging them at the local place, they asked me to take care of them. I obliged. They helped me a lot when I had surgery.

I got a grill from someone that cleaned it up really sweet. Plugged in the propane and could not get too much flame out of it. I took it home after the sister or other family members made it messy by cooking with minimal heat. I cleaned it again and checked the input to the regulator. The pinhole was missing. I poked the bear..er uh hole and the grill works fine now.

Propane tank valves/regulators

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