Propane cannisters

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

First I would like to thank everyone who answered my last question. Now I was wondering how safe are those propane cannisters that are used for lanterns the coleman kind. Where would be a good place to keep them?

-- sheila (sheilal@dad.state.vt.us), December 09, 1999

Answers

Put them in a plastic trash can OUTSIDE. Under no circumstances keep them in the house. I keep any explosive fuels in a shed away from the house.

-- fatanddumb (fatdumb@nd.happy), December 09, 1999.

They use a spring-loaded valve. If you put one on a lantern and then take it off, that valve might not seal completely, and the gas will VEERRRY SLOOOWWLY leak out, possibly creating an explosive mix. For safety, never remove a partly-used tank from a device - once you put it on to a stove or whatever, leave it connected until empty. Alternatively (and this is a good idea anytime) store in a well-ventilated space away from your house.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), December 09, 1999.

I'll second that motion. Keep them outside the house. Yeah, I know that *stores* keep them inside in the sales aisles, but I *also* know that if you take the plastic cap off, you will *frequently* smell propane. It seems that a partially empty cannister will leak more than a full one -- I suspect that the higher pressure pushes harder on the valve seal.

I don't remember smelling propane on the older cannisters some years ago, so I suspect that the QC has gone to hell.

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), December 09, 1999.


But if they are stored in a much more humid area (like outside), would they be more prone to leakage or malfunction as a result of rust, or whatever?

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), December 09, 1999.

I live in a cold climate. Should I still keep the cannisters outside? What about only the open ones since the closed ones were in the store safely (I suppose)? OK to keep them in my shed along with gasoline???

-- Maria (maria@help.me), December 09, 1999.


If you live on a cold climate then be sure to keep them warm...I find a nice warm fire works very well....

-- don't buy propane (if you don't know what to do with it@blow'd up.com), December 09, 1999.

When I got home last night with 2 of my 20lb/5gal. propane tanks that were just filled I took my adapter from Northern, screwed it into the 20lb tank, flipped over so I could get liquid fuel and proceeded to fill 8-1 lb. bottles. With propane being 99 cents a gallon (and a gallon being a hair over 4 pounds) it cost me 25 cents to fill each 1 lb. propane bottle.

I store all unused bottles in a metal cabinet outside. Sometimes the small valve will leak some but pushing it in tends to reseat it (don't count on this though...I once found a bottle I was sure I filled a week earlier totally empty). I've found the only bottles I can refill with any reliability are the ones from Coleman (for some reason the "Ozark" brand Wallyworld also sells are tough to refill). Have 2-100lb bottles, 3-20 pounders and about a dozen 1 lb. bottles (mainly for small 3k btu heaters). My landlord/neighbors have 1000 gallons onhand for their gas stove and Onan genny...I can refill the 20lb tanks from the large tanks (have "wet legs" on each of the big tanks).

-- Don Kulha (dkulha@vom.com), December 09, 1999.


The 1lb containers are designed to be stored inside a hot car in the summer. Do not worry about storing them in your comfortable home. They are absoluteley boring unless thrown into a campfire. Then they are quite spectacular.

Short of direct contact with fire, there have been no documented cases of failure. They are save when used as directed. I do not believe Coleman has has ever been to court over a defective product.

I would advise you follow directions however, and do not try to re-fill the cannisters. Some might do this, but the vast majority of people do not have the know-how to complete this task reliably every time.

Sincerely,

-- Uhhmm... (JFCP81A@aol.com), December 09, 1999.


Don,

Where did you get that adapter to fill the small bottles?

I am not familiar with Northern.

Do they have a website?

Thanks,

Keith

-- Keith Nealy (keithn@aloha.net), December 10, 1999.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ