Disposable propane bottles

[Matthew A]

Has anyone had any experience refilling the 16 oz propane bottles. I have read a little bit on line about this and am not sure what to make out of it. Wondering if it works. Is it safe while refilling. Are they safe to store in your trailer while traveling, do refilled tanks leak more then new ones.

Let me know if you have any expereince.

Thanks

[Angelo F.]

I bought a little adapter hose from Harbor Freight to fill them off of a big tank. It works great, no leaks. IIRC it was around $20.

[Curtis F.]

Has anyone had any experience refilling the 16 oz propane bottles. I have read a little bit on line about this and am not sure what to make out of it. Wondering if it works. Is it safe while refilling. Are they safe to store in your trailer while traveling, do refilled tanks leak more then new ones.

Yes I have re-used a few. Yes it works. It is as safe as it can be when transferring propane between containers. It is not something to be done inside any building or trailer. Be sure there is plenty of separation from any ignition source when transfering from big tank to little tank. Any propane that escapes is heavier than air and will settle unless there is wind to disperse it. Yes they are just as safe as new bottles to store in your trailer while traveling. The valves on the little bottles can fail with out warning. Failure may occur when attaching or detaching the bottle. Very seldom does the valve fail when just sitting.

Some people advise that it is not safe and to never do it. Their reasoning is that the bottles aren't sold as refillable by the manufacturer and are not certified by any government agency as refillable.

[ThomasE]

I've read somewhere that though it's legal to refill the disposable bottles, it's illegal to transport refilled ones in any vehicle. I just got a small Weber propane grill. Instead of carrying portable bottles, I got an adapter hose from Lowes for about $17. I have dual propane tanks on my trailer, I'm going to leave one of the tanks unconnected (but capped off), and use the adapter hose and grill on that unconnected tank when BBQ'ing. The propane auto-switch won't work anymore since only one is connected but it's not a big deal to pull out the wrench and swap them to the full tank. Don't know what you'll be powering with the small bottles but maybe you can look into an adapter hose?

[Jerry Chapman]

Best $20.00 I ever spent at Harbor Freight. Follow the instructions which come with the device and you will have no problems. I use the bottles for a Coleman RoadTrip grill. After I've filled one a few times I discard it and pick up a newer one from the trash in whatever campground I'm in.

[Curtis F.]

Federal Law 49 U.S.C.5124 prohibits the transportation of any re-filled disposable cylinder, subject to penalty up to $500,000 and 5 years imprisonment.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Federal Law 49 U.S.C.5124 prohibits the transportation of any re-filled disposable cylinder, subject to penalty up to $500,000 and 5 years imprisonment.

Link to a discussion about this law
Link to the text of the actual law

[Flygal]

owwwww an element of danger...I wasn't going to try filling them befor but me thinks I want to try....(j/k)

Federal Law 49 U.S.C.5124 prohibits the transportation of any re-filled disposable cylinder, subject to penalty up to $500,000 and 5 years imprisonment.

[Eddie Longest]

I have a friend who refills them when hunting. He has had a very few of them leak back through the valve (slowly). If my friend transports a refilled bottle he does it in the open bed of his pick up truck and leaves them outside when he gets home. In camp they normally fill several bottles at at time and they are stored in a milk crate away from the campers. At least that what my friend tells me.
"It' my story and I am sticking to it."
Eddie

[Donna D.]

I've never refilled any of the disposables, but have some friends that do it as a regular practice... until they had one leak propane. They've got a monster 5th wheel and the canister was in the "basement." We all know what happens when propane ignites... that was enough for them. No damage, but the possibility was enough. Based on that, if I was going to refill, I'd certainly do as Eddie mentioned, transport and store in the open air. YMMV

[charliej]

I've read that the valves can leak. That kind of frightens me.

I just went a bought a smaller, 2.5 gallon refillable tank, a coleman "tree" and several connector hoses. I can hook up my lantern, portable grill and 3 burner coleman stove to it. I can run all three at once. If that tank empties, I have the two 5 gallon tanks on the trailer to use. I keep a couple of the disposables for emergencies (like the tank runs out and my steak is half done !!) I like the 2.5 gallon tank, cause it's easy to handle. I think the 2.5 gallon is about equal to about 8 or 10 of those little green ones.

Only down side, is the 2.5 gallon tank cost more than a 5 gallon tank to buy new. Go figure.

[David Schroeder]

I installed a T in the propane line from the 20# tank mounted on the trailer. I use a longish hose to feed a lantern, stove, or grill. Bettter than buying and dealing with those finicky 1#ers.

[Matthew A]

I was thinking about going the route of the T, I have two 20# tanks connected by an autoswitch. I could T between the autoswitch and regulator, but my neighbor did this and said he lost a lot of pressure with the line that he ran (again before the regulator so it is still high pressure). How long is the line you are running from your tank to your grill and what kind of line is it? I guess also how well does it work?

[David Schroeder]

It is a 20' high pressure rubber gas line T'd between the tank and regulator. I don't see any pressure problems. It remains unregulated till it reaches the 1# cylinder like end. This end is the regulator for this line. Did your neighbor put another regulator on the line or maybe the end became fouled?
Dave