propane OPD conversions

[Heetseeker_1]

I have several 20 gal and 3 30gal propane tanks for the BBQ and Travel trailer and need to get them all filled. I understand that the new OPD valve tanks are the normal now but is there a grace period on filling the old style tanks?



Another question is, How difficult is it to put on adapters for the tanks or do you have to change the valve completely? What's the cost per cylinder?



Any info would be great.



Thanks,

Steve.

 

[Deezul1]

On the small ones take them to Wal Mart or Home Depot and exchange them, only costs $5-6 dolars more than a refill and you get the new style valve. On the 30s they are prolly worth spending the money to convert. If they are lay down type bottles they dont have to be converted I believe. No grace period.

 

[Heetseeker_1]

Walmart to the rescue

Perfect! I'll hit the Wally Mart on the way home from work tomorrow... Thanks



Were does one get the conversion valves for the 30's?





Steve.

 

[Deezul1]

Try places that refill propane bottles and do service work

 

[SRehberg]

Just a word of caution on the exchange cylinders; some of them can only be refilled by the exchange company, so be sure of what you are getting, or it could be more expensive over the long run.



As far as the new valves go, I priced the valves through our local propane supplier, and they were $17. 50 each, with a $2 install charge. I can't imagine the 30's being that much more. The only thing is, if your cylinders are over 10-12yrs old, they need re-certifying, which is about the same as the valves. They won't refill them if they are out of certification, but then you're good for another 12yrs.



Hope this helps.

 

[BV]

Prefilled Propane tank exchanges

Warning - Some (if not most now) of the prefilled exchange tanks (20#) are re-certified and only good for 7 years and if they have been in service for 3 that only leaves you 4 years of use.



It may just be worth a few extra bucks to buy new tanks on sale and get the full 12 years use before re-cert is required.

 

[Deezul1]

You can look at the date stamped on the bottle for the latest certification and request a newer dated bottle. I didnt check the date and one of them only had 2 years left so I took it back and they exchanged it for a newer one.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

If you have a large propane tank (say 200+ gallons) for your house or shop then install a "wet leg" on it and use it to fill your smaller cylinders. MUCH cheaper and you don't have to worry about opd, and date codes.



I do this and have saved much denero over the years. It is very easy to do.



Dan

 

[MDW]

Finally finished mine and got recertified and filled yesterday, the guy said it was good for another 5 years



Here's the thread talking about it

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36861

 

[billr]

If you have a large propane tank (say 200+ gallons) for your house or shop then install a "wet leg" on it and use it to fill your smaller

Too easy to overfill and that can be dangerous. Get the new tanks and don't put yourself and your family at risk. I've watched guys fill their tanks and none of them knew what they were doing. Kind of like playing russian roulette with a 357.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

There was a grace period but it's over now. Up here I was able to get my 30 lb tanks converted, filled, and recertified for $30 ea. I went to a rural propane supplier and they handled it for me. With the smaller tanks I don't think it would be worth it because of the recert being a shorter time period and the cost of the tanks being not that much. That said though - I've NEVER seen anyone check the cert date on my tanks when they filled them and they cert process is a JOKE!

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Originally posted by billr





Too easy to overfill and that can be dangerous. Get the new tanks and don't put yourself and your family at risk. I've watched guys fill their tanks and none of them knew what they were doing. Kind of like playing russian roulette with a 357.

Actually, Unless you have a lot of extra money and buy a propane pump, it is IMPOSSIBLE to overfill it. With a wet leg you have to use the bleed off valve (which is your 80% valve) to vent pressure out of the tank to get the liquid propane into the tank. When liquid propane comes out the vent, you stop filling (else you waste a lot of liquid propane into the atmosphere). Unlike with a pump where you don't have to use the bleed valve and can force the tank to be over 80% full.



If this method wasn't safe I and a whole bunch of other people wouldn't be doing this. I found out about this from farmers who do the same thing, only with larger bulk tanks, to fill their propane tractors.



Some people say "Well if you have to vent propane into the atmosphere to get the liquid propane into the tank then you aren't saving that much due to the wasted propane". Since 1 gallon of propane equals 35. 97 cubic feet of propane, you would have to vent a heck of a lot of not be saving a lot of money.



Around here it is about $10 to fill a 20lb tank and $42 to fill a 100 lb tank. A 20 lb tank (BBQ grill size) holds approx 4. 73 gallons and a 100 lb tank holds approx 23. 64 gallons. At $1. 05 per gallon that saves me $5. 04 and $17. 18 respectively. Do that serveral times a year and that adds up REAL QUICK. ( I fill about 5 100lb tanks and 10-15 20 lb tanks and some other sizes each year).



Bill - you are right - there are and will be too many morons who fill propane tanks who don't know what they are doing, but they all use pumps. That is why big brother had mandated OPD (overfill protection devices) on all smaller tanks not designed for commercial use.



Dan

 

[DBazley]

Wet leg .....works for me

I've got a 500 gal tank here that is set up for a "wet leg" fill method on smaller tanks... ... ... . but now that I've got to convert my small RV tanks (7. 5 gal each) to the OPD style valve, I wonder what is needed to make them refillable then,... . don't you just love these "safer" set-ups they have to keep implementing to keep stupid people from blowing themselves up or whatever...



Ever notice how as soon as you get yourself together & organized, some tinhorn congressman or bureaucrat creates legislation that throws a wrench in your way... ...



back to the drawing board... keeps me busy I guess



David

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Hi David



They don't want to throw wrenches - they want to throw the whole tool box!



As far as filling the tanks with the OPD valve - you can just fill them as normal.



I just filled my Father-in-law's new 40lb tank last weekend.



Dan

 

[DBazley]

thanks......

Hi Dan,



Do you mean that the new valves also accept old style connections ??



If that's so, then I guess I can rest easier, and be glad that new tanks are the only thing that will drill a hole in my wallet... ... ...



One question (this may need a new thread): has anyone been refused at a filling station for having the old style tanks ??



It would be quite disheartening to be many miles from home & be unable to refill on propane, or pay a premium price for "gotta have it" new OPD tanks !! Oo.



Just Curious.



David B

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Yep, the old valves and the new ones are virtually identical on the outside (both acme and POL threads) - it just has a float to prevent filling it too much.



Technically they should refuse to fill it - a BIG fine if a company fills an older tank.



Dan

 

[Deezul1]

I was refused at 2 different places but had a new style as a back up and have since exchanged them out at Wal Mart.