propane 20lb tank overfilled ready to blow
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Topic: propane 20lb tank overfilled ready to blow
Posted By: BrianC
Subject: propane 20lb tank overfilled ready to blow
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2020 at 4:26pm
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Our favorite tractor supply store guy overfilled a 20 pound tank. He gave me a tag saying 6 gallons. I said that isn't right. 4.5 is more normal. So he gave me another bill for 4.5. I paid that. When I picked up the tank and put it in the trunk of my car. it felt heavy. I got home and weighed the tank, 42 pounds. So I set the bomb in the shade away from anything valuable. It got warmer today 50F, and I could hear propane releasing. Should I bleed it down some? I did open the bleed screw and liquid shot out. And should I tell the store?
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Replies:
Posted By: thendrix
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2020 at 4:35pm
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I'd say it wouldn't hurt to crack the bleeder and let some pressure off. Then call the store and talk to whoever you can ------------- "Farming is a business that makes a Las Vegas craps table look like a regular paycheck" Ronald Reagan |
Posted By: Boss Man
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2020 at 4:35pm
| I would definitely tell the store. That guy needs to be retrained. The next guy might not be so smart and have it in what is left of his garage once it blows. If your scale can be moved outside I would bleed it down to about 38 lbs. That should put you pretty close to the right weight. Look on the collar for the stamped TW and some numbers. That will tell you the actual empty weight of the cyl and add your 20 lbs to that to be more accurate. 20's range between 16 and 19 lbs empty. 18 lbs seems to be the most common. |
Posted By: desertjoe
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2020 at 4:46pm
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DANG,,,Brian,,,you are one lucky guy,,,that and it being winter months cold gave you a second chance,,,!!! MOST definately ,,you should notify the store manager so they can do the proper training of that fellow,,,because he has escaped hurting or killing himself or others around him as well,,,,DANG,,,!!!! I worked around LPG for 33 years and went thru 2 major fires at work so I am very much aware of how dangerous LPG can be if mishandled. When you opened the overfil valve,,and you got liquid you SHOULD have gotten liquid as that is what that valve is for. The person filling the bottles is suppossed to know that when you get the FIRST "spit" of liquid at the open overfill valve,,,he has got to shut his pump off right then. Dang, dang, dang,,,, Ya got any good lottery numbers you want to share,,??
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Posted By: chaskaduo
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2020 at 4:46pm
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Yep that's a good buy ya don't want. Good catch. ------------- 1938 B, 79 Dynamark 11/36 6spd, 95 Weed-Eater 16hp, 2010 Bolens 14hp |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2020 at 4:58pm
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I would TAKE IT BACK... They need to SEE what is going not, not get a phone call.. FIX IT on their dime. ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: BrianC
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2020 at 7:03pm
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It weighs 37 pounds now. Fish type scale... I will let the store manager know, or the cutie in the pet food section. BTW, 2.29 per gallon. |
Posted By: JC-WI
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2020 at 8:01pm
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Brian, it is not 2.29 pounds to a gllon, you can't get 9 gallons into a 20# cylinder. IT IS 4.24 pounds to a gallon or app. 4.7 gallons in a 20 # cylinder. YES, NOTIFY the store to retrain their employees on NOT OVER FILLING those tanks. ------------- He who says there is no evil has already deceived himself The truth is the truth, sugar coated or not. Trawler II says, "Remember that." |
Posted By: shameless dude
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2020 at 9:05pm
| LPG is $4.25 a gallon here on refills of small tanks. |
Posted By: Gary
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2020 at 9:09pm
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JC Could there be a $ sign missing - $2.29 / gal. |
Posted By: LouSWPA
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2020 at 9:59pm
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should be a safety valve on the tank, no? I suspect that is the hissing you are hearing. Maybe keep it in a barrel of water, or a swimming pool until you decide what to do with it? keep it cooler and possibly minimize the kaboom should the worse happen, but, I think it is doing what it is supposed to do ------------- I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Ps 27 |
Posted By: old farmer
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2020 at 10:25pm
| Sounds like the tank is not equipped with a over fill protection valve. Those valves have been required for probably 20 plus years. It is illegal to fill the tank if it doesn’t have a current certificate. |
Posted By: JohnCO
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2020 at 11:15pm
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A little off the subject but does anyone know what maap gas is? I assume it's some kind of propane. ------------- "If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer" Allis Express participant |
Posted By: HD6GTOM
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2020 at 11:30pm
| Brian in the 37 years I filled lp tanks, all you need to do is open the fill valve and let some go. Don't do it near anyone's basement. It's heavier than air and will settle in your basement. I still have have my certificate to recertify the tanks. If it has the little 80% screw, open that and when it stopped spitting liquid, close the spit valve and you will be ok. |
Posted By: m16ty
Date Posted: 08 Mar 2020 at 11:43pm
| It is very dangerous to transport a propane tank in the truck of a car, overfilled, the right amount, or empty. |
Posted By: JC-WI
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2020 at 12:34am
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Old farmer, when operating a torch off of a twenty pound cylinder, the
new valves tend to shut off when you trigger the torch to start
cutting... So that leaves the old tanks more reliable for the scrapper
or the mechanic that uses lpg for his choice of fuels and doesn't want
to cart around a big tank. John, here's a google explanation for mapp-pro gas.. the old Mapp is gone... MAPP gas production was https://mappgasexplosions.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/best-help-for-mapp-gas-cylinders-victims-and-the-legal-action-for-compensation/" rel="nofollow - discontinued in 2008 . MAPP is an acronym for methylacetylene-propadiene propane, which were its http://lakeland.edu/PDFs/MSDS/428/MAPP%20gas%20%28Worthington%29.pdf" rel="nofollow - main ingredients ,
although it also contained iso-butane and butane. MAPP gas turned out
to be less than ideal for welding steel because of its high hydrogen
content, and it burned slightly too hot to be safe for soldering. http://www.worthingtonindustries.com/getmedia/ff77868e-b526-44ae-9064-e51aaa5ea02f/wc001-map-pro-premium-hand-torch-fuel" rel="nofollow - MAP-Pro gas , on the other hand, is almost entirely composed of propylene, with a half percent or less of propane. MAP-Pro gas burns at a temperature of http://www.bernzomatic.com/safety.html" rel="nofollow - 3,730 degrees Fahrenheit ,
while propane burns at 3,600 F. Because it heats copper faster and to a
higher temperature, MAP-Pro gas is a superior alternative to propane
for soldering. If you opt to use it, the manufacturer recommends using a
specially designed torch. Adding oxygen to the flame raises the
temperature to 5,200 F, which is suitable for cutting and welding steel
when precision is not required. ------------- He who says there is no evil has already deceived himself The truth is the truth, sugar coated or not. Trawler II says, "Remember that." |
Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2020 at 7:37am
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old farmer wrote:Posted By: TimCNY
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2020 at 7:49am
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At least when you bring it back, it's well, maybe not "better" but you know what I mean, that it's overfilled instead of underfilled. If underfilled, you'd get stuff like "How much did you use before you brought it back?" This way, you're holding all the cards. (Just don't light one!) ------------- I need more than 200 characters for my "signature." I'd love to see that changed to 250! |
Posted By: desertjoe
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2020 at 10:23am
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Chit,,,maybe ole Old Farmer has the best observation on this one,,,? Maybe the tank is one with the "old" style fill valves without the OFV,,,and the person filling it did not know the difference?? Dangerous sitiation ,,,,whew, whew,,,,,
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Posted By: 200 10and20
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2020 at 11:34am
| JC is correct should weigh between 37 and 40 lbs full. |
Posted By: BrianC
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2020 at 11:41am
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The price was $2.29 per gallon. TW of the cylinder is stamped 16.6 pounds. Purchased new by me less than 5 years ago. Yes in the town I purchased it, it is illegal to transport cylinders in the trunk. I was told the safety logic was partially so the fire department doesn't get any surprises. New for me was working the bleed screw. It spit out liquid for a while, then sputtered intermittent, then just gas. If I tilted/kicked it, it would spit out some more liquid. I get the impression there must be a tube running down to that level.
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Posted By: Coke-in-MN
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2020 at 11:57am
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Using a 30 or 40 pound tank on table torch - had old style valve so they would not fill - took the valve off a new 20# tank - removed the overfill float and the check valve from the valve and put it on the 40# so it will allow enough draw to use table torch - otherwise the excess flow part would shut down torch . Also have another 20# set up without the float as when you invert the tank you could not get liquid from tank to refill the small torch tanks for camp lights or small camp stover with the adapter they use to sell . ------------- Faith isn't a jump in the dark. It is a walk in the light. Faith is not guessing; it is knowing something. "Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." |
Posted By: HD6GTOM
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2020 at 12:01pm
| Guys it is Not illegal to fill the tanks with old style valves as long as you will sign a certificate that it will be used on a cutting torch. If someone is telling you got is, you need to find another supplier. |
Posted By: ac fleet
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2020 at 1:15pm
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NOBODY around here will fill the old style tanks! ---Nothing to sign either! They just refuse them, period! ------------- http://machinebuildersnetwork.com/ |
Posted By: old farmer
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2020 at 2:02pm
| They won’t fill in southern Michigan either. |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2020 at 2:46pm
| Local LP services here when see the Old Style valve will offer to replace the tank to the new style for a price and dispose of old cylinder, most if not all have eliminated the old style fill port equipment. Can go to Farm Supply Stores and buy new tanks relatively cheap for what get, to have filled most do a partial load and bleed to remove air then fill to 80%, you do get charged ALL the LP used. |
Posted By: Dusty MI
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2020 at 4:43pm
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I talked to employee at Lowe's and they said just bring in old tank, and for a refilled one. ------------- 917 H, '48 G, '65 D-10 series III "Allis Express" |
Posted By: TimCNY
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2020 at 6:07pm
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Yeah, over the years all of mine have been exchanged for the new safety style. ------------- I need more than 200 characters for my "signature." I'd love to see that changed to 250! |
Posted By: LouSWPA
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2020 at 8:04pm
well, I'm scratching me head.....if it doesn't have a overfill/overpressure valve then, what is hissing? ------------- I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Ps 27 |
Posted By: FredinInd
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2020 at 3:29am
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He over filled you about 3/4 of a gallon! The volume for a 20# tank full to the top is 5.88 gallons. So he stuffed 5.4 gallon into your tank, instead of the usual 4.7 gal. You were at 92% filled instead of the recommended 80%! On an older tank, that could have been trouble. ------------- Oh well, I won't do that again! |
Posted By: TimCNY
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2020 at 8:40am
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Just had 3 filled yesterday (used for finishing maple syrup). Price per pound was $0.70. Up some from last summer. ------------- I need more than 200 characters for my "signature." I'd love to see that changed to 250! |
Posted By: old farmer
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2020 at 2:35pm
| When I was hauling LP we filled 20 tank by placing the tank on a set scales at the fill station as a double check for proper weight |
Posted By: JohnCO
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2020 at 3:15pm
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That's the way my neighbors do it at their LP delivery site. ------------- "If at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer" Allis Express participant |
Posted By: JC-WI
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2020 at 5:00pm
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"I talked to employee at Lowe's and they said just bring in old tank, and for a refilled one.
" Well that ends the ability to use your torch on a 20# cylinder.... ------------- He who says there is no evil has already deceived himself The truth is the truth, sugar coated or not. Trawler II says, "Remember that." |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2020 at 5:22pm
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I have 2 old tanks in the garage I use on my torch. Last time I brought them in to get filled, I told the guy I use em on my torch. He winked at me and said "Sure". I guess he didn't believe me, but he did fill it. He has since sold the business to FS Gold Star, as they have taken over almost every little outfit around. I doubt I could have them filled now days. ------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
Posted By: HudCo
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2020 at 12:28pm
| we just fill out of our bigger tank and let theem fill till we get liquid out of the ten percent valve it has worked just fine for forty years |