Propane Hack

[cazual6]

Since COVID hit, I amongst others was sent home to work remotely. For nearly three years, I am still working from home and it has become permanent for me. We all started in our dining room, then bedrooms, etc. For me, Ryzer, my 2018 25FC became my home office. It took several months to finally settle in and make it into a functional office.

Then winter came. As you may or may not know, the heat pump doesn't work well before 40 degrees. Where I am from, Northridge, California, it has been hitting in the 30's. I have had to fill my tanks twice already and found it to be a PITA. I had to find another solution to make it easier for me to refill my tanks.

I found a propane hose extension, in attempting to install it, I heard a hissing sound. The existing 12" hose was too tight and any movement before removing it from the tanks was just too much stress. So I had to replace it. I chose an 18" braided hose. The extended hose allows for what I needed to do and gives a little more slack to minimize stress on the connectors.

I did all that so that I can use that propane hose extension to connect to the box connection and have a smaller tank outside. It is more convenient and much easier to go and refill the tanks. I made a video to help illustrate what I did.

video

[cazual6]

Apologies for the typo and miswording. It should be "*below 40 degrees", and "any movement before removing it" should be "any movement *beyond removing it"

[mythbuster88]

We use the propane quick disconnect on the front of the trailer.
To that we connect two small 5 gallon easy to fill propane tanks.

[foobar]

Originally Posted by mythbuster88

We use the propane quick disconnect on the front of the trailer.
To that we connect two small 5 gallon easy to fill propane tanks.

Can we assume that you have a pressure regulator on the 5lb bottles?

And those 5lb bottles simply provide additional capacity instead of being used to refill the main 30lb propane tanks on the trailer?

[mythbuster88]

Originally Posted by foobar

Can we assume that you have a pressure regulator on the 5lb bottles?

And those 5lb bottles simply provide additional capacity instead of being used to refill the main 30lb propane tanks on the trailer?

This is how it works in more detail.

Two 5 lb tanks with regulator and crossover valve sit on the ground and go to Airstream quick disconnect. Less work for me to keep them filled.

The big Airstream propane tanks are turned off when using the external propane source. The big Airstream tanks are for emergency backup, or while on the road, or maybe one night. It has been a year since we have had to remove them to be refilled.

[foobar]

Originally Posted by mythbuster88

This is how it works in more detail.



Two 5 lb tanks with regulator and crossover valve sit on the ground and go to Airstream quick disconnect. Less work for me to keep them filled.



The big Airstream propane tanks are turned off when using the external propane source. The big Airstream tanks are for emergency backup, or while on the road, or maybe one night. It has been a year since we have had to remove them to be refilled.

Thanks, that is what I was picturing mentally. Appreciate the confirmation.

How long does it take to burn through 5 lbs of propane? As part the answer to my question, would you mind sharing what stuff you are operating using propane and for approximately how long you are running each propane consumer? Thanks in advance for taking the time to answer.

[cazual6]

I couldn't find a cable to connect to the QD from a tank. Can you share and provide links?

[mythbuster88]

Originally Posted by foobar

Thanks, that is what I was picturing mentally. Appreciate the confirmation.

How long does it take to burn through 5 lbs of propane? As part the answer to my question, would you mind sharing what stuff you are operating using propane and for approximately how long you are running each propane consumer? Thanks in advance for taking the time to answer.

During cold weather at 6,000 feet in southern Utah we rely on the propane forced air heater. And we also cook with propane. The thermostat is set at 55 at night and 62 during the day. Typical outside temps are 19 at night and 33 during the day. We also use a small electric space heater and the electric hot water heater.

With all that we burn through about two 5 gallon propane tanks a week. So thats around 10gal/week.

The heater cycles about every 10 min and runs for about 5 min.

[foobar]

Originally Posted by mythbuster88

During cold weather at 6,000 feet in southern Utah we rely on the propane forced air heater. And we also cook with propane. The thermostat is set at 55 at night and 62 during the day. Typical outside temps are 19 at night and 33 during the day. We also use a small electric space heater and the electric hot water heater.



With all that we burn through about two 5 gallon propane tanks a week. So thats around 10gal/week.



The heater cycles about every 10 min and runs for about 5 min.

Thanks. That is longer utility than I would have expected. What size Airstream do you have?

[10Smiles]

So, is it 5 pound or 5 gallon tanks? Big difference. With the length of time you are able to go, I suspect it is 5 gallon.

[foobar]

Originally Posted by 10Smiles

So, is it 5 pound or 5 gallon tanks? Big difference. With the length of time you are able to go, I suspect it is 5 gallon.

Ah, good point.

[mythbuster88]

Originally Posted by foobar

Thanks. That is longer utility than I would have expected. What size Airstream do you have?

30 feet.

[mythbuster88]

Originally Posted by 10Smiles

So, is it 5 pound or 5 gallon tanks? Big difference. With the length of time you are able to go, I suspect it is 5 gallon.

5 gallons.

[mythbuster88]

Originally Posted by cazual6

I couldn't find a cable to connect to the QD from a tank. Can you share and provide links?

I'm still looking for the part numbers.

[markuscis]

Propane tanks are normally described in pounds but can be converted to gallons as well. A quick google search states that 1 pound of propane is 0.236 gallons at 60 degrees Fahrenheit

Airstreams come with 30 lb tanks.
Most barbeque grills and outdoor heaters have 20 lb tanks

I just purchased 2 - 5lb tanks to be used with my propane fire-pit and grill so I don't have to lug around 20lb tanks or have a long hose from the trailers external connection described in this thread.

I suspect Mythbuster is using 20lb tanks as 5 lb tanks are quite small with just a gallon of propane. Just a guess though and maybe they are 5 lb tanks?

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by markuscis

Propane tanks are normally described in pounds but can be converted to gallons as well. A quick google search states that 1 pound of propane is 0.236 gallons at 60 degrees Fahrenheit

Airstreams come with 30 lb tanks.
Most barbeque grills and outdoor heaters have 20 lb tanks

I just purchased 2 - 5lb tanks to be used with my propane fire-pit and grill so I don't have to lug around 20lb tanks or have a long hose from the trailers external connection described in this thread.

I suspect Mythbuster is using 20lb tanks as 5 lb tanks are quite small with just a gallon of propane. Just a guess though and maybe they are 5 lb tanks?

I also carry a little baby 5# bottle for fire pit and grill. I got really tired of buying the 1# tanks and making unnecessary trash. They have gotten expensive too. I do carry one 1# bottle in case I run the 5# out in the middle of grilling.

[markuscis]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

I also carry a little baby 5# bottle for fire pit and grill. I got really tired of buying the 1# tanks and making unnecessary trash. They have gotten expensive too. I do carry one 1# bottle in case I run the 5# out in the middle of grilling.

Yup, I was doing exactly that and hated adding to the landfill.

[foobar]

Where did you guys buy your 5 gallon propane tanks?

[markuscis]

Originally Posted by foobar

Where did you guys buy your 5 gallon propane tanks?

NOTE - They are 5lb not 5 gallons. A 20lb tank is about 5 gallons a little less and the 5lb tanks are about a gallon.

Costco online still has them for $50 each. Google and you'll find a rather larger price range from about $60 to $100.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

I also carry a little baby 5# bottle for fire pit and grill. I got really tired of buying the 1# tanks and making unnecessary trash. They have gotten expensive too. I do carry one 1# bottle in case I run the 5# out in the middle of grilling.

Yep, me too! I have the 1# Coleman bottles I carry for my portable grill and campstove. I try to find them on sale 2 for $7-8bucks...can run you a lot more if not on sale. I found these bottles at Walmart and also at ACE hardware on sale few times; I stock up. But I also have a quick disconnect adaptor I got from Amazon which I can use to connect with my generator hose connected to my portable 20# bottle. I have used it with the AS QD, but psi too low and I need to move the grill around depending on where we are camping/eating so I have not converted my grill to use direct from AS QD.