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Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2014-07-24, 9:38am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 25, 2013
Posts: 327
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Propane empty or not?
I have a plastic BP propane gas tank of 10 liters.
I was all ready to go and make some beads, and I ran out of gas. This is the first tank that I finshed, and I will exchange it for a full one. The thing that surprises me, though, is that there is still quite a bit left in there. Because it is a plastic tank, I can see through it. It looks to me like maybe 10% of the gas is still in there. When I unhooked the regulator (50 mbar) and opened the main cap, there was also still plenty of gas coming out. (quickly closed it ofcourse).
The regulator is supposed to lower the pressure to what your torch needs, right? Does it also stop the flow completely of the pressure falls below the needed pressure? That would mean that because the pressure is low, because most of the gas is used, I need to get a new one, even when it is not completely empty? I think most people that use these tanks for household things use it with a regulator for 30 mbar, so they would probably be able to use it longer.
Anyway....the trick now is to get it exchanged. No car, and these tanks are not allowed on public transport.
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2014-07-24, 9:59am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 06, 2008
Location: SE PA
Posts: 1,996
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My experience is the tanks always have some unusable left in the bottom (kind of like a car gas tank).
If you truly run it completely empty (or its a brand new, never filled tank) they have to do something to it above the norm. (can't remember the term at the moment).
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Laura
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2014-07-24, 6:10pm
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I'm meeeeelting
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Join Date: May 27, 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 2,236
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Keep in mind that the additives settle at the bottom of the tank.
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2014-07-25, 1:55am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 25, 2013
Posts: 327
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Thanks for your replies. Probaby will head to the shop next week. I'm sure they'll also be able to tell me if something isn't what it is supposed to be.
I just thought I still had plenty.....and t have it suddenly run out is pretty annoying. However, I did not expect it to last me this long to begin with. I think the GTT cricket perhaps is a torch that does not use the gas that quickly. Or perhaps I do not have a clue, since it is the only one I ever worked on
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2014-07-30, 2:49am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 25, 2013
Posts: 327
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Just like you all said, this is how all of these gastanks are returned. Guess it is never much of an issue with the regular gas tanks, as you cannot see some is left. People at the shop told me it does vary with temperature and what they use it for, but they are never completely empty.
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2014-07-30, 5:02am
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Gentleman of Leisure
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Join Date: Jun 10, 2005
Location: A Little Bit West of Yosemite Valley
Posts: 5,200
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Should not be much left in bottom of tank if any at all.... Propane is kept as a liquid when under pressure.... At approximately 70° f. (21 C.) tank pressure should be about 125 psi (1.01 bar) as tank pressure drops some and liquid boils off and tuns to vapor (typical LPG process of turning liquid to vapor), and you draw off vapor... This should process should continue to point where liquid is all gone... Regulator should continue to function till tank pressure is at same pressure regulator is adjusted to in other words no moer liquid to boil off into a vapor....
IF you have approx 10% liquid remaining in tank, either it is not propane (water?) of you have a tank valve or regulator problem.... You need to consult with "qualified" LPG technician to see what is going on with tank...
Dale
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2014-07-30, 8:22am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 25, 2013
Posts: 327
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Dale, that is odd. The people selling the tanks, told me that all tanks come back to be switched with some still visible liquid remaining. The amount I had (may be less than 10%) was well within the range of what they consider normal. I have a set regulator, at 50 mbar, so it does not give any readings.
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2014-07-30, 11:14am
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Salt Box Beads
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Join Date: Oct 23, 2005
Location: Heading to Paradise
Posts: 4,161
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I do this when I want to know how much is in the BBQ tank: I use water.
If your pour water on the outside of the tank you will see a horizontal line that forms in the condensation. People say that you have to do it with boiling water, but you don't.
Just as condensation forms on the outside of a glass of ice water (but only where the water is) putting water on the outside of the tank will give you a similar line. That line indicates the top of the liquid propane in the tank (essentially a "fullness" indicator).
For those using 1 pound canisters I weigh mine when they are new on a postage scale. I weigh them again when I am done torching and write the ounces left on the side of the can with a sharpie, then I know how much time I have left.
Both of these tips work for me and they are easy. You could weigh your BBQ tank if you had a nice flat scale with the readout on top like an older doctors scale etc.
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2014-07-30, 12:59pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 25, 2013
Posts: 327
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I have a fiberglass tank, and I can actually see the level of the liquid gas that is still left. On my first tank, I would mark it every month or so, to get an idea of how quickly I was using it. Very happy with these types of tanks. Also a lot less heavy than the metal ones.
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