Refilling gas bottles.

[Neeves]

I don't want to discourage anyone answering your question, for example BobnLesley.

If you google 'refilling a gas cylinder. or something similar you will have links to a number of videos. I'm not going to offer the links as our cylinders might be different to yours (and our cylinder fittings changed about 12-18 months ago - to much confusion). I was told you could not source convertors from the old to new fittings - but this was erroneous - as a local camping store had them freely available.

You can also use the YBW search facility, though I did not have much success, as the topic has been aired previously.

Jonathan

 

[Graham_Wright]

Where did you buy the fittings from and perhaps you could supply a list of names and sizes. thankyou

2 meters pipe REFILL LPG BOTTLE,TRANSFER GAS,PROPANE CYLINDER POL SWIVEL LPG | eBay

 

[MontyMariner]

I meant when the donor bottle pressure equals the recipient bottle pressure, presumably the transfer will stop.
What remains in the donor bottle would be wasted

You're falling into the same hole that I initially did - thinking SCUBA cylinder decanting where pressure equalisation stops the decant as opposed to pop bottle decanting where the liquid flows till the inverted bottle is empty.
That's why you have to use scales to prevent overfall.

 

[vyv_cox]

- where the liquid flows till the inverted bottle is empty.
That's why you have to use scales to prevent overfill.

Weighing the bottle obviously works but may be inconvenient. Another way is to float the bottle, either Camping Gaz or Calor apparently behave the same. When the bottle is about 80% full it will sink.

 

[rotrax]

Good tip Vyv.

My electronic bathroom scales need the bottle lifting off and resetting every time I let them settle.

I'll give it a whirl, thanks.

 

[snowbird30ds]

Spring balance is the best way imo, no timeout issues.

 

[shanemax]

You need a length of suitable hose, a couple of jubilee clips and a free-flow fitting - preferably incorporating a stop-valve - with matching hose barbs to suit each bottle; I've seen more than one person trying (and failing) to decant through regulator valves. However, if such free-flow connection is not readily available, get a preferably old regulator for that bottle type and a power drill with some small bits; drill into the regulator from either end and it'll wreck the guts of the regulator, blow out the swarf and you've got yourself a suitable free-flow fitting.
The only bottles we consistently failed to decant from were those from the USA; they apparantly contain some sort of internal flap/tilt valve, which closes when you invert the bottle

Thanks. I have ordered some bits from Ebay but apparently one of the fittings has a none return valve. Your drill idea sounds perfect.

 

[Daverw]

The non return is fitted in the threaded outlet, just unscrew this and remove the insides and refit the outlet, with new thread sealant, ours was just a ball bearing on a little spring

 

[shanemax]

I have just found a site giving very good advice with links to the fire brigade, the bomb squad and the anti terrorists branch.