Hello! I have inherited a 1968 Ford Camper Special truck and camper. I have been fixing up both and have now come to address the old propane tank in the camper. I had it filled once a couple of years ago, but now I want to change the "fitting" and just put a new (or newer) one in so I don't go through a big hassle trying to get propane. I am trying to do this stuff on my own, so sorry for the ignorance, but can I buy a new adapter and "convert" the old system to accommodate a new tank?

Not sure exactly what you are asking. There is much variation between trailers, campers and coaches. A search of this site will show many hits for propane systems.

Some have removable "cylinders" in 20, 30 and up to 100 lb sizes that are considered portable and are subject to DOT regulations. They have a left hand POL fitting that is used for filling and regulator hook up. The propane is sold by the pound. These are common, esp on trailers, and so are the fittings.

The larger rigs tend to have the permanent "tanks" subject to different regulations. They have a POL fitting for hook up and another larger one for liquid transfer from a bulk truck. These larger valves are also used on home bulk propane tanks. The propane is sold by the gallon. (?) 1 gal propane is about 4.2 lbs

These fittings are usually less available. Talk to a local propane guy who isn't too busy… (I have this friend who has a camper…)

Whatever you do, be sure the final product is up to code/regulations. If it is not, it will void your insurance coverage, etc.

A picture of what you have would help get a more specific answer. good luck

Thanks for help! I did a search on the propane topics here but none seemed quite like my situation. You are right, it is one of those "cylinders" but can't remember right now how much it holds. I will maybe take a picture? Anyhow, thank you for putting me in the right direction!

quote:

Some have removable "cylinders" in 20, 30 and up to 100 lb sizes that are considered portable and are subject to DOT regulations. They have a left hand POL fitting that is used for filling and regulator hook up.

Actually, they're right-hand threads as are the fill fittings on permanent tanks. The regulations on permanent tanks are less rigid than on cylinders.

LPG dealers are no longer allowed to fill tanks or cylinders without overfill protection (OFP). On RV tanks, this may consist of a bleeder valve. On cylinders, it's an internal shutoff. If you have a cylinder rather than a fixed tank, yours could be outdated (either no OFP or older than 12 years). New 20 lb. cylinders run $20-30.

All POL fittings are left hand thread. Used on all CYLINDERS, not tanks. Downstream of the regulator it is all right hand pipe threads.

POL Valves

The old-style cylinder valve is known as a POL valve, named for the manufacturer that devised it. You tighten the connector of the regulator pigtail by turning the fitting counter-clockwise, and you usually need to use a wrench to make the connection tight enough to prevent leaks. With a POL valve, if you open it with no fitting attached, propane is freely released. That's why a plug is required to be screwed into the valve during transport of the cylinder and when it is stored or not connected to your RV. The plug is an attempt to prevent an accidental opening of the valve from creating a dangerous situation.

This valve also has a built-in bleeder valve the service technician uses to check for proper filling and a pressure relief device to prevent over pressurization of the cylinder.

ACME Valves

This valve is also known as QCC (Quick Closing Coupling) or OPD (Overfill Protection Device) The New ACME valve looks bulkier because there are external threads visible. The external threads don't necessarily require a change to the connector on the end of the regulator pigtail hose. They are compatible, as the left-hand-thread fitting on your RV regulator will screw into the internal POL threads of the new ACME valve.

Good morning, GeorgieGirl;

Yes, with a propane tank that is probably becoming as "venerable" as the vehicle that is carrying it, you will have a problem getting people to agree to fill an "elderly" propane tank for you. The normal regulations do state that it MUST be tested and re-certified every 12 years, and all of the tanks now must have an OPD or Overfill Protection Device on them to prevent putting in more than the allowed 80% fill limit. I am going through this now with one of my "30 pound" tanks, and another one will be due next year. I have the 30 pound in "quotation marks," because when you factor in the 80% limit to the capacity, it is only 24 pounds or about a little less than 6 gallons. Finding an OPD type replacement valve assembly can be a challenge. I am trying to do that with the 30 pound tank that is due to be changed and checked now. And I also need to clean and repaint it. The only thing good about the testing and re-certification process for me, is that the local RV shop where I go hands the tank back to me with it full of propane for the price of the service.

While all of these procedures and regulations do seem to be a hassle, there are some very good safety reasons why this is done.

Enjoy;

Ralph
Latte Land, Washington

We need to be careful with our terms here. Propane is used from CYLINDERS which are considered portable and are regulated by DOT, 12 yr inspections, etc. Used on RV trailers, sold by the LB sizes, ACME OPD valves, etc.

Stationary TANKS are also used. They are ASME certified and subject to different regulations. These are filled in gallons, also used for "permanent" installations in motor coaches.

One of the best things about the web is google . If we google this topic we find another best thing on the internet, Barthmobile.com

Please read this: https://www.barthmobile.com/eve...1087061/m/7543980367

Good morning, Steve;

Yes, sir, you are correct. Technically, there is a real difference between "Propane Tanks" and "Portable Propane Cylinders," even down to the 14.1 ounce cylinders I use with the small propane torches here.

However, I have also learned that there are places and times when it is best to concentrate on the subject under discussion, and that was the re-certification process required for the "portable propane tank" that GeorgieGirl was asking about, whether it is at the 5, 7, or 12 year interval, depending on the procedure used. The main thing is still the date that is stamped by the manufacturer or by the last testing facility, into the sheet metal protection collar around the valve assembly, and that is what the guy holding the hose is going to look for on a portable propane "tank or cylinder." In this case, GeorgieGirl used the phrase "propane tank," and this did not seem to be the best time to go into the finer points of nomenclature with her.

There are many other places where the common wording seems to work for most people and they seem to understand what we are discussing, even when there are technical errors in there.

One other point that I can offer is the ubiquitous "DB connector" used with computers, modems, printers and other things for years. I really am glad that the USB port is now in more common usage, because it eliminated the difficulty with "everybody" incorrectly using that label. Fairly quickly, the "DB" connector actually referred originally to the DB-25 connector brought out by the Cannon Connector people back in the early 1950s when the demand for smaller electrical signal connectors began to grow and people wanted something smaller and more convenient than the AN connectors that were used so widely during World War II. In their original series, the Cannon people came out with the D series connectors with four (4) different shell sizes; the A, B, C, and D shells, with 15, 25, 37, and 50 contact pins in two rows, respectively. Then people began to ask for an even smaller connector with fewer pins, and Cannon responded with the size "E" shell with only 9 contact pins, or the DE-9 connector. Later the DB 25 connector was in rather common use as the regular connector for RS-232 serial data communications, although the RS-232 Specification never did spell out any specific connector; only the wires and their signal functions. The computer people, who did not know the history of the Cannon D connectors, began to refer to the DB-25 serial data connector as just a "DB" connector, and that began to be applied by them to any of the connectors with that "D" shaped shell. Then when the IBM people came out with their "AT" series computers, they chose to use the DE-9 connector for their serial data port, and they were perfectly legal and proper to do so, noting again that the RS-232 Specification did not call for any connector. And, for must purposes, the DB-25 connector probably was overkill, because most people never did use the second serial data pin set that the DB-25 defacto wiring standard called for. Actually, the computer people were doing fine up until the "high density" pin configurations came out, and they put 15 contact pins in three rows into the DE shell for use with computer monitors, so then we had the original DA-15 connector and the new DE-15 high density connector, but they continued to refer to them as a "DB-15" connector. Then we could properly challenge them with the question; "OK, are you talking about a DB-15 connector, or are you talking about a DB-15 connector?" Sometimes they worked around this by calling the second one a "DB-15HD" or "high density connector." Still they never did really change and clear up this ambiguity, but instead they came out with the USB connector and eliminated the question of the problem.

There can be multiple ways to solve a problem.

OK. That is my treatise for today on trivial topics that are really of interest mainly to technical geeks like me, and other people seem to get along quite well in their normal lives without any real concern about it. But, Steve, as you can tell, I thought that it was important.

In any case, the main thing is that we actually do the things that are needed to use our motor homes safely. What we may call them is not as important as our really doing them.

Enjoy;

Ralph
Latte Land, Washington

Good morning;

On the topic of trying to "correct" the ways that people refer to containers for holding LPG or butane or propane or other similar fuels, we may be fighting an uphill battle:

I just looked at the label on my recently purchased 30 pound portable propane "cylinder," "tank," or "container," and the label stuck on the side by the Manchester people, in fairly good sized print, does say "Propane Tank."

If the makers are not helping us in this effort, it may be much more difficult than originally thought to be.

Enjoy;

Ralph
Latte Land, Washington

Tomahto ........... Tomayto