Refillable 16 oz. Propane Cylinder

[HopCar]

For those of you who use a lot of the one pound propane cylinders, there is now a cylinder designed to be refilled. Yes I know you can refill the disposable ones but this makes it safer and easier.

I saw it at Home Depot yesterday. The cylinder was $10 and the kit with a cylinder was $30. That would make the break even point about 10 refills.

The problem with refilling the disposable cylinders is that it is hard to get a good fill. You have to either freeze the cylinder before you start or pull up on the safety vent with pliers while filling it. They often leak after refilling as the valves were not designed for refilling.

The refillable cylinder has a vent that you can open and close with an Allen key.

I haven't tried this yet, but it looks good to me. I have a 2.5 hp Lehr Outboard that I normally run on an eleven pound tank because the disposables are expensive. I might just change to the 16 oz refillable cylinders.

Here is a link to a video of it in action.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AKvxlhiKfFA

[a64pilot]

I gave up on the 1lb myself, concern with leaks and mostly rust.
If this one has brass fittings it may be worth it for that.

[steve77]

Looks like a good idea to me. Anyone know of a source for this in Europe?

Cheers!

Steve

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I gave up on the 1lb myself, concern with leaks and mostly rust.
If this one has brass fittings it may be worth it for that.

I would never, ever have one of those cylinders on my boat, inside the hull volume. Seems to me a disaster waiting to happen.

I have used them on land, and they frequently rust and leak, which is usually harmless on land but deadly on a boat.

[wingless]

Correct, propane should never be stored where leaking propane could be dangerous.

Mine are stored, high and dry, hanging over the bow rail, in a custom two-tank storage holder.

[misfits]

Thanks for sharing that!

[HopCar]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I would never, ever have one of those cylinders on my boat, inside the hull volume. Seems to me a disaster waiting to happen.

I have used them on land, and they frequently rust and leak, which is usually harmless on land but deadly on a boat.

No propane tanks should be stored any where leaking propane can get into the hull. This is true for these little tanks as well as the bigger tanks used to supply your stove.

All propane containers, no matter the size, should be treated as if they contain gasoline.

Wingless, nice holder
I've seen some made from PVC pipe but they are not as attractive as yours.

[Valmika]

I thought that the new valves had a safety which kept them closed at unusual angles (like upside down) Can anyone verify I am wrong?

[gardeningal]

Thanks for this information. As an aside, how to do you like your propane Lehr outboard? We are considering this for our dinghy?

[Cadence]

My question would be the venting and where do you fill it, from you onboard tank? The supply tank would need to be turned up side down to get the liquid out. The vent, on the 16oz, probably needs to be open until liquid comes out turning to gas when released.
Sounds like a nightmare for onboard use.

[HopCar]

Originally Posted by Valmika

I thought that the new valves had a safety which kept them closed at unusual angles (like upside down) Can anyone verify I am wrong?

The 20 pound tanks that would be used to refill the small cylinder are equipped with internal float valves that prevent them from being over filled. If you turn the tank upside down, the float will just hold the valve open.

The reason you turn the big tank upside down is so liquid propane, not gas, will flow into the small cylinder.

[HopCar]

Originally Posted by gardeningal

Thanks for this information. As an aside, how to do you like your propane Lehr outboard? We are considering this for our dinghy?

I love it. The carb never gums up no matter how long it sits between uses.

[HopCar]

Originally Posted by Cadence

My question would be the venting and where do you fill it, from you onboard tank? The supply tank would need to be turned up side down to get the liquid out. The vent, on the 16oz, probably needs to be open until liquid comes out turning to gas when released.
Sounds like a nightmare for onboard use.

I wouldn't do it onboard, but it looks like only a small amount of gas is vented during the filling process. Now that I think about it, maybe it would be safe to do on an open deck. Even a slight breeze would disperse the vapor before it could accumulate to a dangerous level. Probably less dangerous than filling a small outboard tank with gasoline on deck.

Did you watch the video?

[a64pilot]

A big portion of my problem was storage. I could put one in the LPG locker, but on my boat there is no where else safe, so I have to keep them on deck under the spray hood where they are in the way, and of course rust.
I ended up with an adapter hose and mounted a 10 lb aluminum tank on the rail under the grill.
If I had a propane outboard, I think mounting the tank upside down on the rail at the stern would be safe and would do away with the four legged stand.
I do not understand the admonishment of having the tank inverted for more than 10 min.
As an alternative propane tanks are sold that are intended to dispense liquid as opposed to gas, they have a dip tube I think, I believe forklift tanks dispense liquid.

I just can't have a steel propane tank on board, turns to rust quickly, maybe on an exchange basis.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by HopCar

I wouldn't do it onboard, but it looks like only a small amount of gas is vented during the filling process. Now that I think about it, maybe it would be safe to do on an open deck. Even a slight breeze would disperse the vapor before it could accumulate to a dangerous level. Probably less dangerous than filling a small outboard tank with gasoline on deck.

Did you watch the video?

Truthfully I didn't watch it. I will go back and do so. My comment was purely based in my knowledge, opinion and paranoia of LPG onboard. I think the gas, petrol,fumes are lighter than air.

As long as someone is smart enough to do it on the lee deck with a breeze I guess it would be OK. I can envision someone getting very comfortable sitting in the cockpit and doing it.