LP gas question

[stpierre142]

Hi All,

I dry camped for the first time this past weekend and i burned through a 20lb tank of propane in less than 3 days. I ran my fridge, heat (at night only) and used two burners on the stovetop for about 30 minutes each. Does this seem normal? I didn't detect any leaks... Thanks!

[gasman6674]

Fridge is approx 2100 btu per hour, furnace 15-20,000 btu per hour (check your tag) Range burners approx 9,000-10,000. 20# cylinder holds 4 gallons LP. LP has 91,500 btu per gallon. Add up total load x time burning(approx) and you will have a good idea of usage. I suspect your cylinder wasnt full however mix up some dish soap and water and paint all of your connections and look for growing bubbles.
Hope this helps

[MtnGuy]

I too suspect your cylinder was not full, or there is a leak, although if you ran the furnace that could account for the use. But just wondering, how did you used the furnace without running the battery down ??

In the 6 years we have had your current camper, I have only refilled a cylinder (30 lb.) 10 times.....they seem to last a long time.

[KMP44]

Originally Posted by stpierre142

Hi All,

I dry camped for the first time this past weekend and i burned through a 20lb tank of propane in less than 3 days. I ran my fridge, heat (at night only) and used two burners on the stovetop for about 30 minutes each. Does this seem normal? I didn't detect any leaks... Thanks!

We camped 2 weeks ago and was down in the upper 30's at night and we used a full 20 lb tank in 2 nights. The furnace can really burn through propane. Last summer, in a full week of dry camping the stove and fridge didn't use 20lbs in a week. Once it warms up to where you don't need the furnace, you should your usage drop off significantly.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by KMP44

We camped 2 weeks ago and was down in the upper 30's at night and we used a full 20 lb tank in 2 nights. The furnace can really burn through propane. ... Once it warms up to where you don't need the furnace, you should your usage drop off significantly.

I agree with this wholeheartedly. My wife likes it *WARM* so we go through a lot of propane.

[bikendan]

i agree that the tank wasn't full, especially if the dealer filled it.

[Brother Les]

Find a place that refills tanks (U-Haul) by the weight and you will know that you have a full tank. All (most, to not cause 'controversy') exchange places do not have full tanks to start with. I have asked and have been told that exchange places only have their tanks about 80% full. This was told to me by deliver drivers.

[Happy Vibe]

You are only allowed to fill a propane tank to 80% this leaves room for expansion.

[Brother Les]

The tank is full when the float shuts it off. I guess 80% 'full' is in reality 60% full. Good money to be make in exchangeable tanks.

[Geojudi59]

I Usually like the Flying J Truck stops for my propane tank fill up.
7 Gals fills a 30 *

[stpierre142]

I too suspect the dealer didn't "fill" them. I used heat for two nights, it was about 60 degrees out and I had the thermostat set at 65... Fridge ran a little cool, but that's about it. Thanks folks!

[Littlehouse]

We had that problem last year. Thought we burned through a tank just using the fridge and the furnace didn't light. Took the tank back for a fill and were told it wan't close to empty yet...a bubble had stopped the propane from flowing. Just had to stick a screwdriver in to pop the valve. Was fine after that. We do carry an extra tank now just in case.

[Still Kickin]

Originally Posted by Littlehouse

We had that problem last year. Thought we burned through a tank just using the fridge and the furnace didn't light. Took the tank back for a fill and were told it wan't close to empty yet...a bubble had stopped the propane from flowing. Just had to stick a screwdriver in to pop the valve. Was fine after that. We do carry an extra tank now just in case.

Stick a screwdiver where to "pop" the valve? Could you explain that. Thanks.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by ependydad

I agree with this wholeheartedly. My wife likes it *WARM* so we go through a lot of propane.

Ditto. Our first winter boondocking in Key West it was FREEZING at night (and darn cold during the day). Every 3 days we went through a 30 pound tank of propane and since I was running the generator off a 20 pound "pony tank" every other camper fill was a 50 pounder.

It is what it is.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Brother Les

Find a place that refills tanks (U-Haul) by the weight and you will know that you have a full tank. All (most, to not cause 'controversy') exchange places do not have full tanks to start with. I have asked and have been told that exchange places only have their tanks about 80% full. This was told to me by deliver drivers.

Originally Posted by Happy Vibe

You are only allowed to fill a propane tank to 80% this leaves room for expansion.

We discuss this a few times every now and again, as it can be easily confusing. A propane tank is filled to 80% of it's water capacity. This 20% void space allows for the expansion and vaporization of the gas.

This expansion void of the cylinder is figured into the propane capacity of the same cylinder. A 20 lb propane cylinder holds 20 lbs of propane, a 30 pound holds 30 pounds, etc................even with the 20% void.

OK, the major cylinder exchange companies (AmeriGas, Blue Rhino), usually only fill the propane cylinders to 75% of it's propane capacity (not water capacity)........so a cylinder that holds 20 lbs of propane would only have 15 pounds of propane when filled to 75% of propane capacity. So when you utilize these exchanges you are only getting a cylinder filled to usually 80, or 75% of it's propane capacity (or about 3/4ths).

You can look at the weight labels on these exchange cylinders, as well as the signs on the cages and it tells the propane weight. These companies had to get sued, before they started really putting this info on the signs.

Here is where we discussed the same misgivings previously (post #10), as well as how to weigh the tanks:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ane-33342.html

Hope it makes it easier to understand.