Small propane tanks

7153 Views 21 Replies 10 Participants Last post by I Fish, Jan 26, 2015

brunswicker

Discussion Starter · Jan 23, 2015

Just a question, I go through a crap ton of those small green propane tanks, how do I dispose of the empty ones?

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

Retroboy

· #2 · Jan 23, 2015 (Edited by Moderator)

If you're going through a bunch, why not refill 'em?

They sell adapters like this: http://www.mrheater.com/sporting/propane-tank-refill-adapter-1385.html that allow you to recharge them from a standard tank. Won't fill them completely , but carrying two small half-full bottles has to be easier than carrying a big 20-lber in some fishing circumstances, and it's got to save money in the longer run.

Ebay has lots of options: http://www.ebay.com/bhp/propane-refill-adapter

TheRealCraigAC

· #3 · Jan 23, 2015

Thanks Retro! I'll check those out

GoverL

· #4 · Jan 23, 2015

I purchased a 5 lb refillable propane tank. they are pricey but well worth the money. only costs at most 5$ to fill. I carry this around with me plus a propane ladder with hoses to fuel stove, bbq, lantern, heater....etc. I do alot of camping and fishing in the summer time. this 5 lb came in handy!

Stroover

· #5 · Jan 23, 2015

Retroboy said:
If you're going through a bunch, why not refill 'em?

They sell adapters like this: http://www.mrheater.com/sporting/propane-tank-refill-adapter-1385.html that allow you to recharge them from a standard tank. Won't fill them completely , but carrying two small half-full bottles has to be easier than carrying a big 20-lber in some fishing circumstances, and it's got to save money in the longer run.

Ebay has lots of options: http://www.ebay.com/bhp/propane-refill-adapter

So Retro, can you take your little bottles anywhere with this adapter and they'll fill them? Like at Cosco, for example? Or is it a matter of hooking it up to your big propane tank and filling them up that way?

I Fish

· #6 · Jan 23, 2015

I believe its actually illegal to transport any refilled 1 lb tanks so I doubt you will get them refilled by anyone except yourself.

I Fish

· #7 · Jan 23, 2015

Please refer to the link below for further information.

http://www.tssa.org/corplibrary/Arti...F95D889551D742

Fuels
Safety Program
FS-186-11
Date:
ADVISORY
March 24, 2011

Subject:
Use of adaptors to refill Specification 39 (non-refillable) Propane Cylinders

Sent to:
Propane Fuels Advisory Council, Propane Risk Reduction Group, Training Providers, Interprovincial Gas Advisory Council (IGAC), Posted on TSSA Web-Site

Adapters designed to transfer propane from a BBQ-type cylinder to a non-refillable cylinder are being offered to the public via online retailers and are further promoted on YouTube (demonstrating a very dangerous practice). Refilling single trip cylinders is prohibited by Ontario laws and this practice may result in cylinders that are overfilled and thus have a potential to cause serious fires, explosions and burn hazards to end users. In addition, the adaptors offered for sale are not approved and may cause additional hazards.
While the Technical Standards and Safety Authority seeks to stop the illegal sale of refill adapters in Ontario, the public is warned that the practice of refilling Specification 39 Cylinders (typically one-pound campstove propane bottles) is illegal and poses potential risks of fire and explosion.
Clause 6.4.2 of the CSA B149.2-05 Propane Storage and Handling Code, adopted as part of Ontario Regulation 211/01 (Propane Storage and Handling), requires that cylinders shall be filled by weight or volume and specifies the maximum values permitted. Further, clause 6.4.5 states that a cylinder manufactured to TC Specification 39, 2P or 2Q and known as a "single trip" or "non-refillable" cylinder shall not be refilled.
Ontario Regulation 211/01 requires all things employed in the use and handling of propane to be approved (section 14 ) and prohibits persons from knowingly supplying propane to or using a thing or a container that does not comply with the code (section 16).

List on Known Manufacturers/Distributors of Adapters for Non-Refillable Propane Cylinders
• Mr. Heater: http://www.mrheater.com/product.aspx?catid=357&id=98
• Air Soft Canada: http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=96775
• KM North America (MacCoupler): http://maccoupler.com

Further information may be obtained by contacting: Director - Fuels Safety Division, Technical Standards and Safety Authority,
14th Floor - Centre Tower, 3300 Bloor St. West, Etobicoke ON., M8X 2X4 Ph:416 734 3300 Fx:416 231 7525
FS -xxx-11 1/1

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Joe Branscombe

· #8 · Jan 23, 2015

I got my adapter from cabelas just get a bbq tank put it on and refill from it cost like $ 25 bucks for adapter

Retroboy

· #9 · Jan 23, 2015 (Edited by Moderator)

Stroover, apparently these things work on a standard 20lb propane tank.

Ifish: See underlined bit.

I Fish said:
Adapters designed to transfer propane from a BBQ-type cylinder to a non-refillable cylinder are being offered to the public via online retailers and are further promoted on YouTube (demonstrating a very dangerous practice). Refilling single trip cylinders is prohibited by Ontario laws and this practice may result in cylinders that are overfilled and thus have a potential to cause serious fires, explosions and burn hazards to end users.

Are they also prohibited in NB?

From what I've read, you can only fill them up to the 80% level (or less) anyway, so I don't know that it's as "unsafe" as they say and they're just being the usual level of government-cautious to protect the unwarshed public. But I can't say that with authority.

I Fish

· #10 · Jan 23, 2015

Ya ,it could be just Ontario for filling,although I think it's everywhere for transporting them. I actually have one of those adapters and didn't find it worked all that well. Very little gas transferred from the 20 lb cylinder to the 1 lb. They say if you put the small one in the freezer for a while first it will take more gas but I've never been able to get them even half full. Sounds good on paper but works less than satisfactory.

Stroover

· #11 · Jan 24, 2015 (Edited by Moderator)

When I was a rescue diver with a volunteer fire department, we used to refill our own scuba tanks. We used what was called a cascade trailer in which were about ten big long pressurized air tanks. We'd hook up our scuba tank to the first one and fill it as much as the first tank could fill it, then move to the next one, and so on until you had it filled. The idea being that the fuller each big tank was, the more could be pushed into the smaller tank. If you had several bigger full tanks, you could go from one to the next until you had your smaller bottles filled. I like iFish's idea about putting them in the freezer first, because they get hot! we used to have them submerged in a side tank of water as we filled them to help cool them down,

JakeNB

· #12 · Jan 24, 2015

I hate those green bottles. Like GoverL I use a 5lb tank (available at Harbour City propane) and an adapter hose for my small propane BBQ and for my Camp Chef 2 burner stove. Only costs a few bucks to fill and will last a weekend Crown reserve trip.

sdavis

· #13 · Jan 24, 2015 (Edited by Moderator)

To actually answer your question: it depends where you live. In Fredericton the solid waste commission accepts propane tanks on their household hazardous waste day which I believe is weekly every wednesday and saturday. So find out when from your local solid waste commission. Otherwise sometimes your local fire station will also take them, so call and find out.

I used to refill mine with an adapter, but you could never quite fill them 100% so although much cheaper to use (less then a $1 compared to buying for $3-5 at the store) you likely needed to bring more then one when normally one would do the trip. I recently purchased a 10lb tank, but you can get a 5lb refillable tank which is not very combersome and used with a $20-$40 adapter hose to feed the same appliances that take 1lb tanks. With cost of those 1lbers a 5lb tank and adapter hose will pay for itself very quickly. And much better for the environment.

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lobsterman

· #14 · Jan 24, 2015

Drives me nutz how a 5 lb tank is $50 while a 20 lb tank is $35.

sdavis

· #15 · Jan 25, 2015

lobsterman said:
Drives me nutz how a 5 lb tank is $50 while a 20 lb tank is $35.

I just paid $35 at Northside Auto Plus in Fredericton for a 10lb tank FULL!!! Deal of the year. I didn't ask about their 5lb tank price.

lobsterman

· #16 · Jan 25, 2015

Sweet! CTC wants $60 +tax for an empty 10 pounder and $50 + tax for an empty 5 pounder.

I Fish

· #17 · Jan 25, 2015

sdavis,was that a used tank refill or a new tank full?

Retroboy

· #18 · Jan 25, 2015

Just a hint to ALWAYS check the expiry date on any propane non-disposable tank that you buy (bring a magnifying glass if you need to). In lesser-traveled spots they can sit there a long time, or they can get mixed up with trade-ins that have been around a while.

I purchased what I thought was a new 20-lb one once, used it for half a season, and the guy couldn't refill it legally because it had expired. Luckily I had bought it at a location that understood and honored a trade-in against it.

sdavis

· #19 · Jan 25, 2015

I Fish said:
sdavis,was that a used tank refill or a new tank full?

a new tank full. I know, it's hard to believe.... but true!.

They sell all their tanks full, and they refill as well.

sdavis

· #20 · Jan 25, 2015 (Edited by Moderator)

Retroboy said:
Just a hint to ALWAYS check the expiry date on any propane non-disposable tank that you buy (bring a magnifying glass if you need to). In lesser-traveled spots they can sit there a long time, or they can get mixed up with trade-ins that have been around a while.

I purchased what I thought was a new 20-lb one once, used it for half a season, and the guy couldn't refill it legally because it had expired. Luckily I had bought it at a location that understood and honored a trade-in against it.

Northside Auto Plus also re-valves and paints / refurbishes your expired tank. Actually they'll take your expired tank and give you a new FULL one for a small fee plus the fill, but they've been known to waive the re-valve fee if you are buying a new full tank. Their fill price is as cheap or cheaper then Costco.

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