Date:         Sun, 22 May 2005 13:10:48 -0600
Reply-To:     jimt <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         jimt <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
Subject:      Re: The propane filling question tested...
In-Reply-To:  <4290D5B2.1020001@adelphia.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

I havent given up on this.  I am researching and am going to get with some
fuels people Monday to see if I can locate a source for a universal filler
adapter that may fit on 3/8 inch hose.  Note that these are normally much
larger sized hose.

jimt


On 5/22/05 12:55 PM, "Rocket J Squirrel" <j.michael.elliott@ADELPHIA.NET>
wrote:

> I, for one, would like to thank Jim for taking the time to do this
> research. Those of us thinking about cheap and easy solutions to
> refilling the Westy tank will have this information in the archives to
> refer to.
>
> I guess the trip-extension options are:
>
> a. Cadge propane from other campers by using this technique to add a
> little to the Westy tank every day or so, or hook a loaner 5-lb bottle
> in extend-a-stay fashion as Jim described for longer term (about which I
> have a question, see below).
>
> b. Mount a second Westy tank on the other side. I've seen a writeup
> someplace about doing that. Looks expensive.
>
> c. Or lug your own filled 5-lb tank and go back to Option a., above.
>
> Question about hooking an external bottle to my Westy tank a la Option a:
>
> What kind of adaptor or hose end would I use to connect to my tank's
> inlet? It is, I think, an auto-stop type.
>
> See http://www.altavistaaudio.com/Westy/Westy%20Propane/index.html
>
> --
>
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
> 83.5 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> KG6RCR
>
>
>
>
> On 5/22/2005 11:01 AM jimt wrote:
>
>> I regularly refill my disposable bottles so I know the signs.  For this test
>> I actually used a stethescope though.  You can hear the end of flow very
>> clearly at the donor tank.
>>
>> With the valve open on the overfill you change litte except to add propane
>> to the air. You can actually do some expansion vs flow math but it is not
>> worth the time.  Propane has a volume expansion approx 270x.
>> jimt
>>
>>
>> On 5/22/05 11:19 AM, "Edward Maglott" <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> thinking out loud:  So 2# gets you less than 1/2 gallon.  Tank capacity is
>>> about 3-3.5 gallons.  1/2 gallon is not really enough to make this
>>> fill-at-home set up very valuable...  Thinking about the 80% valve being
>>> open on Westy tank, hose going from Westy tank fill port to external
>>> tank.  Propane in Westy tank is vaporizing, absorbing heat, cooling down,
>>> making it harder to vaporize.  How did you measure flow through the
>>> hose?   Are you sure there was no flow?  It might have been slow...
>>> Edward
>>>
>>> At 12:55 PM 5/22/2005, you wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> As noted on the tests opening the overflow port on the small tank made no
>>>> difference to flow rate.
>>>>
>>>> Propane weighs  4.2 pounds to the gallon and about 21,500 btu per pound.
>>>>
>>>> http://tactical-bus.info/propane/
>>>>
>>>> jimt
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>