20 lb gas bottles

[Legacy Posts]

On my recently purchased 96 Casita 17SD, I have 2 gas bottles with an unknown amount of gas in each. How can you tell how much gas is in each bottle? Since I have the old style connections, do I have to buy converter valves to get them refilled?

[Legacy Posts]

Hi Tony,

You can purchase tank level detectors for about $5:

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/in...c=SRCH&tcode=37

If you're not used to the weight this won't help, but once you are, you can pick a tank up, swing it around a little and feel how much gas remains. Approximately.

But as to the tanks not being up to code now, I think there are two choices:

You can get an adapter to convert the tanks to the new OPD regulations for $10 each -- if you're lucky (that's if you can get 'em at a WallyMart price - more elsewhere) or you might consider new tanks.

But in another five years those tanks will be at the 12 year mark when they need recertification anyway. Most folks get new tanks rather than go through the expense of recertification.

Congratulations on your purchase! Enjoy! :banana :banana :banana

[Legacy Posts]

You can also get a general idea of how much propane's in the bottle by pouring a bit of warm water down the side of the bottle.

[Legacy Posts]

Camper’s Choice http://www.camperschoice.com/ and search for LP level indicator. They are strips that stick to the side of the gas bottle. When you pour hot water on the strip they will change color to indicate the gas level. Price is $2.99 per strip and should last a long time.

Alan #1119

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Your information certainly is useful. I guess I'll buy 2 new tanks, which I hope will fit with the existing connections on my gas lines. Will try that water down the side idea tomorrow!

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Your post arrived just before my thanks to Tom and Mary. With the help from you all (y'all) I'll get this gas business straightened out.

[Legacy Posts]

Some states allow the use of the old POL valve with the reverse thread connection.

Also, all you need to replace is the valve. It's probably easier to replace the whole tank.

Check with your local propane dealer to see if you can use the old valve in your state. I also believe that you can use an old-style gas connection on the new tanks, so all you need to replace is the tanks and use the existing hardware that connects your tanks to your trailer.

If you plan on traveling out-of state, it's probably easier to just replace the tanks now, instead of finding yourself with an empty tank and no one who will fill it.

Finally, another way to tell how much gas remains in the tank is to weigh the tank. The standard tanks on a Scamp/Casita weigh 40 pounds full, and 20 pounds empty.

-- Dan Meyer

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somewhere around the coller but it many be in metric or english.

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Take the old tank and swap it for a new full tank somewhere, Now you have a full code compliant tank with no hassle. Most places don,t care if it's opd or not. Most don't know the difference themselves.

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Orginally posted by jgreene.rn

Most places don,t care if it's opd or not. Most don't know the difference themselves.

James,

I guess that could be true, but MY local Bubba knows.

All I can say is, if the person filling the tank can't tell the difference, stand VERY far away - no telling what they might be smoking too!
:crazy-ii

It's easy to tell the difference:
<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3f46632261b36opd_2.gif/>

[Legacy Posts]

Right, shop around and you'll likely find a place that'll take your empty 'non-opd' bottles and exchange em for full 'opd's' (with the triangle knob) charging for the gas only or a small fee for the difference.

Then buy two new 'pigtails' with the large hand tighten fitting and screw em into your regulator.

An empty bottle is about 17 lbs. Full, 20lbs more.

'opd' is for your own protection. :) As I understand it, it's a Federal law that's been in effect a couple of years.

.....ya can't 'convert' em yourself! :o

[Legacy Posts]

When I was researching this yesterday I came across information in several corners of the web concerning converting an old tank to OPD with an inexpensive valve.

Now I'm agreeing with Don - you can't convert them yourself.

Well, you probably can, but not for $10.

At least that makes sense. :chin

Could be the information I saw was to help people who a newer rig with OPD fittings continue using old tanks they had lying around until the law went into full effect in April 2002. The changeover had a five year window.

One thing to note - the OPD valve should have both the new Type 1 outside threads and the old inside POL threads.

On my Airstream I didn't need to replace the pigtails because of this.

However, consider this too:

''The new ACME pigtail has in it's self added protection with a thermal sensitive shutoff. Used in conjunction with the OPD valve it has another safety feature to limit flow.'' courtesy Airstreamcentral.com

[Legacy Posts]

Tom, what I'm saying, is swap the bottle for a new full one at the drug store, the grocery store, or the Quick-stop. Now you have an OPD bottle at no cost, other than for the gas.

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Sams Club here has new bottles for $22.

[Legacy Posts]

If you merely swap valves, the old tank can be recertified for (I think) five years and that's it (might be less). New tanks are available at Home Depot for about $22 and are good for 12 years.

Inspect the new tank selection and you will find the individually marked tare (empty) weights vary in the neighborhood of 14-15 lbs. If you want to keep your weight down, select a lighter set of tanks.

If you really want to keep your weight down, just get one tank and also a 'steak saver' or similiar propane fitting to allow attachment of a one-lb cannister for when the big tank runs out.

If you want to save even more weight (I did this, but don't have a reefer or run my furnace for long, so I don't use much propane), put in one ten-lb tank, plus the steak-saver.

Pete in the RatHaus

[Legacy Posts]

If you merely swap valves, the old tank can be recertified for (I think) five years and that's it (might be less). New tanks are available at Home Depot for about $22 and are good for 12 years.

Inspect the new tank selection and you will find the individually marked tare (empty) weights vary in the neighborhood of 14-15 lbs. If you want to keep your weight down, select a lighter set of tanks.

If you really want to keep your weight down, just get one tank and also a 'steak saver' or similiar propane fitting to allow attachment of a one-lb cannister for when the big tank runs out.

If you want to save even more weight (I did this, but don't have a reefer or run my furnace for long, so I don't use much propane), put in one ten-lb tank, plus the steak-saver.

Pete in the RatHaus

[Legacy Posts]

Orginally posted by jgreene.rn

Tom, what I'm saying, is swap the bottle for a new full one at the drug store, the grocery store, or the Quick-stop. Now you have an OPD bottle at no cost, other than for the gas.

I've always owned my own tanks - checked it out and yes, you can swap them out - at Wally Mart they charge an extra $4 to upgrade you from a non-OPD tank to an OPD tank.

But for a regular refill, I'm paying $2 less by using my own tanks at a local propane supplier.

I suppose one could argue that it's more convenient to just swap tanks rather than wait for the refill process. :huh

On my airstream that would mean giving up my shiny silver tanks for some cruddy old Blue Rhinos or whatever - not gonna happen! :nope