They put the Flame King kits and refillable bottles on sale at Amazon during the summer…. I bought the kit and four extra bottles last summer for 40% off… Game changer!! I’ve always hated that the green bottles would go to the landfill and refilling is so much cheaper. Win-win!! Thanks for another great video Bob and team!
Bob, I cut the tank of the prefilled tanks, and the Flame King tanks. The prefilled tank is NOT as thick as the Flame King tanks. The prefilled was less than an eighth of an inch. The flame king was much thicker. Made to take the extra pressure. Plus it works like the commercial tanks, with relief valve, for overfill. I love our setup. We use it on our big buddy heater. This way I don’t have to have a window open, or the slide seal opened, to run a 5lb tank from outside.
I remember only paying like $3 and something cents for a four pack now the prices have just skyrocketed. I no longer buy them glad that they came out with the refillable. Thank you so much for showing us how to do this I feel like I can do it by myself.
I have had the Flame King kit for over 3 years. I like refilling the 1 pound tanks as I use them with our on demand hot water heater, 2 burner stove and as a back up should our bigger tank we use for the Blackstone griddle run empty. They are very convenient to have. As a Safety Officer, I can tell you that refilling the non-refillable tanks is an accident waiting to happen. If you have never seen a propane explosion it is massive. Why take the chance? If you shop around a bit, you can find the kit for less then $60 and on average the refillable tanks for about $15. People always say "I've done it this way for years and never had a problem". I have a saying for that, "you've never had a problem until you've had a problem, then you've had a problem". Hopefully one you can walk away from. Nice video.
My husband’s been refilling these for years, first putting them in the freezer for easier draw. I had no idea it was illegal so I’m sending him this video, thank you.
I'd probably write the date on the bottle when I first refill it and replace them every 6 to 12 months. That would still allow you to cut down on the number of bottles you buy.
Thank you for this demonstration. Here are a few details that weren't covered. Propane is a liquid at room temperature when it is held above a certain pressure. When the compressed gas expands, through an orifice, the gas cools well below room temperature. When the one pound bottle is filled then liquid propane starts squatting from the side outlet valve. The purchased propane contains a small quantity of odorant that is added so the leaked gas can be easily detected by the human nose. The odorant is destroyed when propane gas is burned. The gas that lies above the liquid is propane vapor, not air. When the gas is 'purged' from the bottle it is a serious fire hazard. Measures must be taken to ensure that the emitted gas doesn't come in contact with burning embers, open flame, or spark ignition sources. Propane gas is heavier than air so it tends to flow into low areas. Such filing actions should be done in the open air with an opportunity for good air flow. Propane gas, if given enough time, can disperse widely in the air. Within a certain concentration range the burn reaction can be explosive, especially if the propane air mix is confined within a closed space.
Although I understand the frugalness involved here, I think the bigger picture is not filling the landfills with disposable propane tanks! I think flame King is an absolute 100% game changer! Shame on Coleman! They should do better!! Thanks for showing me about flame king! I'm super stoked!!! #flameking #coleman
VERY VERY GOOD VIDEO! Answers a lot of questions and I agree with you on why not to refill those small tanks.. Some comments: Propane is a liquefied gas and all gases share the same property; In a bottle, pressure, volume, temperature and the type of gas all affect each other: PV=nRT. When a gas is compressed or decompressed, the energy level of the molecules increase or decrease. When volume increases (you let it out of the bottle) the energy in the molecules decrease and the tank and the gas gets cold. It's the same when you fill a SCUBA tank. the energy in the molecules increase and the tank gets hot.. LOL. Wow, I remember that from high school chemistry.. a long long time ago....
Everyone should watch this to understand displacement. It should be taught in school. It's my pet peeve. I hate when I go to a restaurant and the staff has filled the pepper shaker to the brim. I have to take the top off and make a mess to get pepper. It's a basic principle we need to know.
It's not displacement. If you don't release the pressure you have two containers at equal pressure therefore very little liquid will flow. By opening the container to the atmosphere you create a differental pressure of approximately 145psi at 70f. The liquid in the small bottle further drops its pressure as the liquid within it boils at -44f at the atmospheric pressure. Propane vapor is being released to the atmosphere, not air. Never do this indoors.
Great video. So glad i purchased the kit and 5 extra cylinders including one for my propane torch over a year ago. Definitely a worthwhile investment. Stay safe all. Cheers! 😊
Bob, another informative vid. I don't refill any bottles that say not to...must a good reason. That's 4 tutorial on refilling legit bottles. Love in Sarasota ❤❤❤
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Bob, for explaining the refill process so that anyone can understand. I've been very hesitant to even attempt to do this, but now I feel more confident to try. Here's to saving money on propane!! Also, thank you for bringing this new product to our attention. I will be looking into purchasing the kit. You are worth more than your weight in gold, my friend!! 😊
Thank you!! There was a fire at a propane filling depot near where I used to live. I was driving a couple blocks away as it started & there were trucks from 5 departments rushing there. I saw the news footage later. The bbq tanks were being hurled, & popping like popcorn & the flames got dangerously close to the really big ones. They literally are like bombs. Luckily no one was hurt.
An excellent job with your video. I totally agree with you that those dark green bottles non-refillable should not be refilled. I tried telling my friends this so that they just don’t listen to me. I’m not gonna be around when crap happens. I like the idea that things at the time were not designed to be used like this they were made to either be refilled or not.
I’d heard these were refillable but was concerned about the safety. Now I understand why. Just ordered the kit and tanks! Glad to be able to support the channel and save $. Thanks Bob!❤
I've filled a lot of Coleman bottles and a huge amount of them leak. Even with aftermarket brass caps on them. Bought the flame king system system a few years ago and feel much safer about putting them in my campers storage compartment. I've never had a leak. I weigh them to make sure they're not overfilled.
Hi Bob! I just watched you on the Sue Perkins American Road trip and was so indoors by your life and where you have transitioned from personally into helping others. Thank you for being you. New subscriber here waving to you from Cornwall UK! It’s beautiful here and if you ever fancy coming to visit, i would be delighted to show you a few places you may wish to park up. Lots of love ❤
After 1 explosion people will wish they never started refilling. My Dad restored old propane tractors before he died and had 50 or so. They leak and yeah you smell it but if there is a smell from a leak it will take any kind of spark and that’s all she wrote. Propane is a heavy gas and settles to the lowest point whether it is the floor of your van or the ground when you are outside cooking. It’s a great source of fuel but after seeing what it does when it explodes you will change your mind. I use butane just because it is safer.
@Kat-I-am3333 1 simple Google search... Methane is considered a low reactivity fuel, while propane is considered a medium reactivity fuel. There have been plenty of methane explosions around the world. Its about displacement and containment. Thats like saying gasoline is flammable, but wont explode. Now just look up how many fully loaded fuel tankers have exploded over the years. Shoot, you wouldnt think food grade grain is an explosive material either, but look at how many grain silo explosions there have been.. Pressurized anything anything can be extremely dangerous and explosive. Even something like a simple air compressor can be extremely dangerous if the tank becomes comprimised, if it ruptures, its probably going to explode and even if its not a traditional explosion youd expect we with fire and flames its going to send metal chunks and shrapnel everywhere and seriously injure you or kill you if youre anywhere near near it when it happens.. I'll happily spend the few extra bucks for the much thicker wall little green tanks to avoid dying or serious injury.
Thanks for the safety lesson. Many other TH-camrs are promoting refilling these green one-use containers, bypassing the safety warnings, & putting others in danger.❤
What a great lesson! My needs are minimal as an occasional van dweller, so I've been using butane. But propane is looking like a good option now that I've learned so much!
Mr. Heater has brought our its own refillable propane system called Fuel Keg. It has pretty much the same functionality of the Flame King system but works slightly differently. It is getting good reviews so people might want to check it out and choose which works best for them. The Fuel Keg system is more compact so it might be better for people living in vans.
Ive been running these Flameking bottles for about 6 months and have refilled them numerous times. they work great i have 1 bottle that has messed up threads due to my own mistakes. i bought a set of caps for them on amazon and have not had another issue. I highly reccomend getting a set of these. a full refill of the 20lb propane tank cost me $18 at Tractor supply and i can refill all 5 bottles 4 times. easily have paid for themselves over the course of 2 months.
great video, You did mention that propane is cold when it comes out, propane temperature when meeting the outside air is at minus 44 degrees. Instant frost bite when it comes in contact with the skin.
Love the safety tips! great vid. Propane Gas is cold because a compressed gas-when pressure is released-will cool. (fun example: take a car tire valve stem out of a full tire. The air released will frost the valve stem)
I have used numerous green bottles with a couple get stuck valves after disconnecting them from a lamp or stove. I am not going to pick at a stuck steel valve stem with propane spewing everywhere risking spark and explosion.
Folks, just an FYI... I was a delivery driver for a large national propane company for years. Propane is highly flammable - that is why it is such a great fuel. However, it is NOT explosive. This is a very common misconception. Needless to say, you still don't want your RV to be full of propane. Always be safe. Thanks for another great video, Bob.
"it is NOT explosive" That's not entirely true. It depends on the situation in which the gas is ignited. If you have an RV full of propane and something sparks, that gas is going to ignite and you will have an explosion. Same thing if you have an open flame in the RV and a propane leak. Eventually, that leak will fill the RV to the point where the gas comes in contact with the open flame and it will explode. Shooting a propane tank with a bullet however, has been shown to not cause and explosion. The difference between an RV full of propane and a propane tank being penetrated by a bullet, is the availability of oxygen. The propane in the tank doesn't have access to available oxygen, the propane filled RV does.
Propane is highly explosive. If a tank leaks enough gas into a room that is not vented and somebody goes in that room and flips a light switch on, the room will go KABOOM. That is why propane should be stored in a vented room or outside. You will get the same reaction as you would with natural gas.
Thank you for yet another wonderfully informative video! Many years ago I had to depend on my portable Coleman camping stove for quite some time. My stand alone stove/oven went out and the part to fix it was almost the cost of a new stove. So I stocked up on the 1lb disposable gas bottles. At the time, thankfully, they were a lot less expensive but over time they did add up. Plus it’s more trash going to the landfill. These new refillable ones are a great idea and had they been around back then I would definitely have invested in them! Thanks again and take care.
In the USA 20lb bottles have a safety valve to keep them from being over filled. This valve will prevent propane from coming out when the tank is inverted.
Great video on why not to refill the throw aways. The gas escaping the refill tank is air, air/lp gas or lp gas. Never do this anywhere near a open flame. LP gas is heaver than air and will pool in low spots and if there is a flame, boom!
Make sure you do this outdoors. That's not air coming out of the bottles it's flammable propane gas. Propane turns to gas at -44 f , that's why it is cold. The rotten egg smell is mercantile that they add to Propane so you can tell if you have a Propane leak. Nice vid👍
I agree 100%. Propane is highly flammable ~ Safety First. Both *Flame King and *Fuel Keg 1lb "tanks" are refillable and DOT-approved, meaning you can legally transport them in your vehicle. The problem is the refill adapters between *Flame King and *Fuel Keg are not compatible. 🤠
Good video, Bob. I bought the Flame King 1 lb bottles and the refilling tap before I even got my rig. No point in taking the chance. Life is short enough as it is. Wanted to save money and not litter the environment with those Coleman bottles.
Thanks Bob, been warning about refilling disposable bottles glad to see you under the risks. Best option is to use a large bottle. Best to buy one new and never exchange it, always get it filled. You will save money and never get a bottle with water and rust in it. Buy an adapter to run your device from the large bottle. Only use I have for disposable bottles is using in an emergency like running out at night when you need heat.
The problem with filling the green bottle s is that you might fill them more than there 80% volume limit if you are not weighing in the 1lb of propane. Therefore the container may burst due to the expansion of liquid propane when the container gets hot. Everything is fine until the inside of your truck where you stored the bottles gets hot. People aren't aware of what they're messing with.
Bob's videos are the best👍! In this one, he addressed the fact that insurance will not pay on a claim if it's found that a fire was a result of a worn out mechanism on a cannister that was never meant to be refilled. But to take that even further, any fire inside a vehicle or van that started because someone was cooking inside, regardless of what the source was, propane, or butane cannister, is also a non payable claim. If a damage claim is determined, not the fault of the owner, that claim can pay a good amount. But if the finding is otherwise, the owner is responsible for repairs and/or has to pay the amount for another vehicle in the event of a total loss. I have seen too many vanlife videos with curtains, blankets, and mattresses within inches of a stove. If that is not safe in a sticks and bricks home I don't see the logic why it'd be ok in a van because there isn't any logic to it. Having a fire extinguisher and surrounding the stove from all sides in some type of metal enclosure would be a more realistic plan. Look around at thrift stores for some kind of metal box that a small stove would fit perfect inside. Something easily accessible to cook in and close off in case an errant flame gets out of hand.
Thank you sir, excellent demonstration and step by step explaining how to refill the one pound propane tank. Like the safety issue. Thank you again I am going to purchase the flam king one pound refillable tank from Amazon
Thank you for this great video, very informative and useful for all of us that appreciate learning the best safety measures so we can be confident in using propane for its many terrific camping features.
Interesting timing! I JUST tried to refill one of these green cannisters with a special adapter. Turned out the release valve was faulty. After I noticed the slow leak (from the smell) I had to empty the can entirely, and then put it into the recycle bin. So sad. Now I'm excited to get this refill kit you talk about!
I agree with you it is never worth any risk to do things that are consdiered dangerous or illegal. life is to precious to take unecessary risks. driving is dangerous yes but we need to travel, and need to go places so we drive but we try to drive as carefully as possible to reduce risks we can.
I have a dozen of the flame king bottles and they also leak. I have to keep them outside for safety but they do leak too. Its legal to transport them at least. The little black O rings come out and the blueish plastic spacers come out too but they still work. Ive had alot of issues with them. Once you lose that O ring, its over . Gotta buy another one.
Thank you Bob for the FYI. Nice to know there is an alternative. It's the waste factor not recycling them that bothers me. I hate throwing them in the trash. How do you recycle the bottles? Let us know. Good safety video. 💜🕊️
OMG I'm one of those who watched vids on how to "safely" refill the one pounders and being the smart aleck female I am, thought everything was hunky dorey.... I did refill some a while back, I'm now taking Bob's advice and not doing that ever again... love the connector...just 2 questions... First: can I reverse the process and put the propane from the small cylinders back into the larger tank... it looks perfectly doable from what you just showed us...I want to do this to save money, but mostly to be able to safely get rid of the smaller cylinders... Secondly, how do you dispose of the smaller cylinders, hopefully when I empty them, and if not, how to get rid of them with some gas in them.... going online now to order my kit. ... and this shows once again why Bob is the best... thank you annnnnnd ordered already.....
I refill mine, but I cycle through them and dispose of them if they have any signs of wear on the bottle itself or the pressure relief valve. I weigh them and make sure they do not overfill. People often leave them by the trash cans at campgrounds so I have an easy supply of fresh tanks. I am a casual camper, not a vanlifer.
If you don't want to drag around a 20lb cylinder Flame King has a selection of smaller ones. 3lb to 11lb. They're not cheap but it's a lot easier. The butane one burners come in duo fuel butane/propane models. For an extra $20 you can run it off of a propane cylinder instead of continually buying the small butane cans. This will pay for itself in short order.
also, don't forget that there's also a hack for refilling disposable bic lighters; well we did it long ago and they may be designed now in a way that prevents it. Which leads me to this thought - coleman could come up with a design that would make them impossible to refill
I’ve thought about this for my buddy heater but I bought a factory hose and I use a 20 lb cyl for the buddy heater it lasts for two days or more on continuous on low it lasts longer
I did buy one of the propane refill valves. They refilled enough to give me a single use on my propane stove ie I could boil a small kettle of water and then it was out again. Maybe it was just the valve I used, but I found it to be a pain and not worth the time. I will buy this system as reducing as much waste as possible is my goal for this year. Any tips to saving trash but not creating laundry (paper products are one of my biggest trash items) would be appreciated.
@@2avcrm I buy the interfolded deli papers cheap at a restaurant supply co. The 8 x10 1/2 is my favorite size. It's a HUGE water saver. The used papers make a great fire starter too.
They put the Flame King kits and refillable bottles on sale at Amazon during the summer…. I bought the kit and four extra bottles last summer for 40% off… Game changer!! I’ve always hated that the green bottles would go to the landfill and refilling is so much cheaper. Win-win!!
Thanks for another great video Bob and team!
I've been using the Flame King refill kit and 6 of their bottles for 3-4 years now. Very happy with them. In Canada 🇨🇦
I'm in BC. Thanks for this. I'll try to find them.
Can you use these certified refill cans with Mr Buddy heaters
@michelle.p1186 you absolutely can. I've been doing just that in my RV for years. 😊
Bob, I cut the tank of the prefilled tanks, and the Flame King tanks. The prefilled tank is NOT as thick as the Flame King tanks. The prefilled was less than an eighth of an inch. The flame king was much thicker. Made to take the extra pressure. Plus it works like the commercial tanks, with relief valve, for overfill.
I love our setup. We use it on our big buddy heater. This way I don’t have to have a window open, or the slide seal opened, to run a 5lb tank from outside.
I’m really glad that you talk about safety on your channel 😊
I remember only paying like $3 and something cents for a four pack now the prices have just skyrocketed. I no longer buy them glad that they came out with the refillable. Thank you so much for showing us how to do this I feel like I can do it by myself.
I have had the Flame King kit for over 3 years. I like refilling the 1 pound tanks as I use them with our on demand hot water heater, 2 burner stove and as a back up should our bigger tank we use for the Blackstone griddle run empty. They are very convenient to have. As a Safety Officer, I can tell you that refilling the non-refillable tanks is an accident waiting to happen. If you have never seen a propane explosion it is massive. Why take the chance? If you shop around a bit, you can find the kit for less then $60 and on average the refillable tanks for about $15. People always say "I've done it this way for years and never had a problem". I have a saying for that, "you've never had a problem until you've had a problem, then you've had a problem". Hopefully one you can walk away from. Nice video.
My husband’s been refilling these for years, first putting them in the freezer for easier draw. I had no idea it was illegal so I’m sending him this video, thank you.
They start to change shape after a while
I'd probably write the date on the bottle when I first refill it and replace them every 6 to 12 months. That would still allow you to cut down on the number of bottles you buy.
I'd suggest wearing safety glasses also.
@@jmn1238Yes.
@@offairhead I wasn’t filling them or buying them so no I didn’t oversee his projects
Thank you for this demonstration. Here are a few details that weren't covered. Propane is a liquid at room temperature when it is held above a certain pressure. When the compressed gas expands, through an orifice, the gas cools well below room temperature. When the one pound bottle is filled then liquid propane starts squatting from the side outlet valve. The purchased propane contains a small quantity of odorant that is added so the leaked gas can be easily detected by the human nose. The odorant is destroyed when propane gas is burned. The gas that lies above the liquid is propane vapor, not air. When the gas is 'purged' from the bottle it is a serious fire hazard. Measures must be taken to ensure that the emitted gas doesn't come in contact with burning embers, open flame, or spark ignition sources. Propane gas is heavier than air so it tends to flow into low areas. Such filing actions should be done in the open air with an opportunity for good air flow. Propane gas, if given enough time, can disperse widely in the air. Within a certain concentration range the burn reaction can be explosive, especially if the propane air mix is confined within a closed space.
Although I understand the frugalness involved here, I think the bigger picture is not filling the landfills with disposable propane tanks! I think flame King is an absolute 100% game changer! Shame on Coleman! They should do better!!
Thanks for showing me about flame king! I'm super stoked!!!
#flameking #coleman
VERY VERY GOOD VIDEO! Answers a lot of questions and I agree with you on why not to refill those small tanks.. Some comments: Propane is a liquefied gas and all gases share the same property; In a bottle, pressure, volume, temperature and the type of gas all affect each other: PV=nRT. When a gas is compressed or decompressed, the energy level of the molecules increase or decrease. When volume increases (you let it out of the bottle) the energy in the molecules decrease and the tank and the gas gets cold. It's the same when you fill a SCUBA tank. the energy in the molecules increase and the tank gets hot.. LOL. Wow, I remember that from high school chemistry.. a long long time ago....
I like your channel a lot. You take the time to show how things are done at a pace one can follow along. THANK YOU!
I hear Hank Hill: Propane, and Propane accessories. I was hoping he would say it, lol. 😂
Excellent Demonstration Sir! Thank You Very Much 🙏👍
Everyone should watch this to understand displacement. It should be taught in school. It's my pet peeve. I hate when I go to a restaurant and the staff has filled the pepper shaker to the brim. I have to take the top off and make a mess to get pepper. It's a basic principle we need to know.
It's not displacement.
If you don't release the pressure you have two containers at equal pressure therefore very little liquid will flow. By opening the container to the atmosphere you create a differental pressure of approximately 145psi at 70f. The liquid in the small bottle further drops its pressure as the liquid within it boils at -44f at the atmospheric pressure. Propane vapor is being released to the atmosphere, not air. Never do this indoors.
Been using these for four years. Really easy to use and saves a ton of money.
Worth every penny ✌️
Thanks again Bob for thinking about / of everyone's safty and well being.
Thank you for informing van dwellers to keep everyone safe ❤❤❤
Great video. So glad i purchased the kit and 5 extra cylinders including one for my propane torch over a year ago. Definitely a worthwhile investment. Stay safe all. Cheers! 😊
Excellent, well done! I just purchased the Flame King kit. Love there others two cylinder sizes too.
Bob, another informative vid. I don't refill any bottles that say not to...must a good reason. That's 4 tutorial on refilling legit bottles. Love in Sarasota ❤❤❤
Another great informative video plus a dog cameo at 15:35 thanks Bob..
Thanks for sharing and taking us along
Thank you! You're awesome!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Bob, for explaining the refill process so that anyone can understand. I've been very hesitant to even attempt to do this, but now I feel more confident to try. Here's to saving money on propane!!
Also, thank you for bringing this new product to our attention. I will be looking into purchasing the kit.
You are worth more than your weight in gold, my friend!! 😊
Thank you!! There was a fire at a propane filling depot near where I used to live. I was driving a couple blocks away as it started & there were trucks from 5 departments rushing there. I saw the news footage later. The bbq tanks were being hurled, & popping like popcorn & the flames got dangerously close to the really big ones. They literally are like bombs. Luckily no one was hurt.
An excellent job with your video. I totally agree with you that those dark green bottles non-refillable should not be refilled. I tried telling my friends this so that they just don’t listen to me. I’m not gonna be around when crap happens. I like the idea that things at the time were not designed to be used like this they were made to either be refilled or not.
I’d heard these were refillable but was concerned about the safety. Now I understand why. Just ordered the kit and tanks! Glad to be able to support the channel and save $. Thanks Bob!❤
I've filled a lot of Coleman bottles and a huge amount of them leak. Even with aftermarket brass caps on them. Bought the flame king system system a few years ago and feel much safer about putting them in my campers storage compartment. I've never had a leak. I weigh them to make sure they're not overfilled.
Hi Bob! I just watched you on the Sue Perkins American Road trip and was so indoors by your life and where you have transitioned from personally into helping others. Thank you for being you. New subscriber here waving to you from Cornwall UK! It’s beautiful here and if you ever fancy coming to visit, i would be delighted to show you a few places you may wish to park up. Lots of love ❤
Great stuff right here!
After 1 explosion people will wish they never started refilling. My Dad restored old propane tractors before he died and had 50 or so. They leak and yeah you smell it but if there is a smell from a leak it will take any kind of spark and that’s all she wrote. Propane is a heavy gas and settles to the lowest point whether it is the floor of your van or the ground when you are outside cooking. It’s a great source of fuel but after seeing what it does when it explodes you will change your mind. I use butane just because it is safer.
Someone said its flammable but NOT explosive.
@Kat-I-am3333 1 simple Google search... Methane is considered a low reactivity fuel, while propane is considered a medium reactivity fuel. There have been plenty of methane explosions around the world. Its about displacement and containment. Thats like saying gasoline is flammable, but wont explode. Now just look up how many fully loaded fuel tankers have exploded over the years. Shoot, you wouldnt think food grade grain is an explosive material either, but look at how many grain silo explosions there have been.. Pressurized anything anything can be extremely dangerous and explosive. Even something like a simple air compressor can be extremely dangerous if the tank becomes comprimised, if it ruptures, its probably going to explode and even if its not a traditional explosion youd expect we with fire and flames its going to send metal chunks and shrapnel everywhere and seriously injure you or kill you if youre anywhere near near it when it happens.. I'll happily spend the few extra bucks for the much thicker wall little green tanks to avoid dying or serious injury.
Thanks for the safety lesson. Many other TH-camrs are promoting refilling these green one-use containers, bypassing the safety warnings, & putting others in danger.❤
Thanks Bob. Your absolutely correct. There’s no price for your safety. I know I’m going to order mine right now. Everyone should. 🌲🌲🌲
What a great lesson! My needs are minimal as an occasional van dweller, so I've been using butane. But propane is looking like a good option now that I've learned so much!
Great as always Bob.
Been refilling my 6 1lb greenies for a few years, until now. Thanks, Bob
Mr. Heater has brought our its own refillable propane system called Fuel Keg. It has pretty much the same functionality of the Flame King system but works slightly differently. It is getting good reviews so people might want to check it out and choose which works best for them. The Fuel Keg system is more compact so it might be better for people living in vans.
I don't refill the bottles but I do sure hate filling the trash with steel propane bottles! Thanks for finding a safe way to do that!
Ive been running these Flameking bottles for about 6 months and have refilled them numerous times. they work great i have 1 bottle that has messed up threads due to my own mistakes. i bought a set of caps for them on amazon and have not had another issue. I highly reccomend getting a set of these. a full refill of the 20lb propane tank cost me $18 at Tractor supply and i can refill all 5 bottles 4 times. easily have paid for themselves over the course of 2 months.
great video, You did mention that propane is cold when it comes out, propane temperature when meeting the outside air is at minus 44 degrees. Instant frost bite when it comes in contact with the skin.
Love the safety tips! great vid. Propane Gas is cold because a compressed gas-when pressure is released-will cool. (fun example: take a car tire valve stem out of a full tire. The air released will frost the valve stem)
I have used numerous green bottles with a couple get stuck valves after disconnecting them from a lamp or stove. I am not going to pick at a stuck steel valve stem with propane spewing everywhere risking spark and explosion.
Folks, just an FYI... I was a delivery driver for a large national propane company for years. Propane is highly flammable - that is why it is such a great fuel. However, it is NOT explosive. This is a very common misconception. Needless to say, you still don't want your RV to be full of propane. Always be safe. Thanks for another great video, Bob.
"it is NOT explosive"
That's not entirely true.
It depends on the situation in which the gas is ignited.
If you have an RV full of propane and something sparks, that gas is going to ignite and you will have an explosion.
Same thing if you have an open flame in the RV and a propane leak.
Eventually, that leak will fill the RV to the point where the gas comes in contact with the open flame and it will explode.
Shooting a propane tank with a bullet however, has been shown to not cause and explosion.
The difference between an RV full of propane and a propane tank being penetrated by a bullet, is the availability of oxygen.
The propane in the tank doesn't have access to available oxygen, the propane filled RV does.
The largest explosion in Fairbanks, Alaska in the 70's was the Dairy Queen basement propane explosion, it leveled the store.
Thank you.
won't Anything under pressure "explode"? thinking of mentos and soft drinks here...
Propane is highly explosive. If a tank leaks enough gas into a room that is not vented and somebody goes in that room and flips a light switch on, the room will go KABOOM. That is why propane should be stored in a vented room or outside. You will get the same reaction as you would with natural gas.
Thank you Bob! I've been looking at that refill kit but wasn't sure how safe the process would be. Your video answered all my questions.
Excellent information-Thank you Bob!
Thanks for the information. I have never refilled them. Glad to know about the alternative.
Thanks for this info. Glad a company finally came out with a refillable small bottle.
Thank you for yet another wonderfully informative video! Many years ago I had to depend on my portable Coleman camping stove for quite some time. My stand alone stove/oven went out and the part to fix it was almost the cost of a new stove. So I stocked up on the 1lb disposable gas bottles. At the time, thankfully, they were a lot less expensive but over time they did add up. Plus it’s more trash going to the landfill. These new refillable ones are a great idea and had they been around back then I would definitely have invested in them! Thanks again and take care.
In the USA 20lb bottles have a safety valve to keep them from being over filled. This valve will prevent propane from coming out when the tank is inverted.
Great video on why not to refill the throw aways. The gas escaping the refill tank is air, air/lp gas or lp gas. Never do this anywhere near a open flame. LP gas is heaver than air and will pool in low spots and if there is a flame, boom!
Make sure you do this outdoors. That's not air coming out of the bottles it's flammable propane gas. Propane turns to gas at -44 f , that's why it is cold. The rotten egg smell is mercantile that they add to Propane so you can tell if you have a Propane leak.
Nice vid👍
Propane boils at -40, and the oderant is called mercaptan
I agree 100%. Propane is highly flammable ~ Safety First. Both *Flame King and *Fuel Keg 1lb "tanks" are refillable and DOT-approved, meaning you can legally transport them in your vehicle. The problem is the refill adapters between *Flame King and *Fuel Keg are not compatible. 🤠
Good video, Bob. I bought the Flame King 1 lb bottles and the refilling tap before I even got my rig. No point in taking the chance. Life is short enough as it is. Wanted to save money and not litter the environment with those Coleman bottles.
Thanks Bob, been warning about refilling disposable bottles glad to see you under the risks. Best option is to use a large bottle. Best to buy one new and never exchange it, always get it filled. You will save money and never get a bottle with water and rust in it. Buy an adapter to run your device from the large bottle.
Only use I have for disposable bottles is using in an emergency like running out at night when you need heat.
The problem with filling the green bottle s is that you might fill them more than there 80% volume limit if you are not weighing in the 1lb of propane. Therefore the container may burst due to the expansion of liquid propane when the container gets hot. Everything is fine until the inside of your truck where you stored the bottles gets hot. People aren't aware of what they're messing with.
Bob's videos are the best👍! In this one, he addressed the fact that insurance will not pay on a claim if it's found that a fire was a result of a worn out mechanism on a cannister that was never meant to be refilled. But to take that even further, any fire inside a vehicle or van that started because someone was cooking inside, regardless of what the source was, propane, or butane cannister, is also a non payable claim. If a damage claim is determined, not the fault of the owner, that claim can pay a good amount. But if the finding is otherwise, the owner is responsible for repairs and/or has to pay the amount for another vehicle in the event of a total loss. I have seen too many vanlife videos with curtains, blankets, and mattresses within inches of a stove. If that is not safe in a sticks and bricks home I don't see the logic why it'd be ok in a van because there isn't any logic to it. Having a fire extinguisher and surrounding the stove from all sides in some type of metal enclosure would be a more realistic plan. Look around at thrift stores for some kind of metal box that a small stove would fit perfect inside. Something easily accessible to cook in and close off in case an errant flame gets out of hand.
Thanks for the safety information
Great and practical overview video on propane refills. Thanks!
Thanks so much for posting this, Bob. This seems an excellent way to fill the smaller containers. Always better to be safe than sorry.👍
Bob's a real one!❤❤❤
Thank you sir, excellent demonstration and step by step explaining how to refill the one pound propane tank. Like the safety issue. Thank you again I am going to purchase the flam king one pound refillable tank from Amazon
Thank you Bob, this was a really good video to put out there. Excellent information to know and be warned about.
Thank you for this great video, very informative and useful for all of us that appreciate learning the best safety measures so we can be confident in using propane for its many terrific camping features.
Ive used this system all summer. I have a small rig so i bring 3 of these around with a 10lb pancake main tank to refill from from.
THANK YOU for explaining the groove. Their own instructions online doesn't do anywhere near as good as yours.
I have the flame king 1lb tanks, but use a generic refill hose, do not have a pin to line up for proper filling and seems to work great.
Interesting timing! I JUST tried to refill one of these green cannisters with a special adapter. Turned out the release valve was faulty. After I noticed the slow leak (from the smell) I had to empty the can entirely, and then put it into the recycle bin. So sad. Now I'm excited to get this refill kit you talk about!
The blue one pound can be refilled too. But they must be making green refillable now too, thank you !
Mr Heater has also come out with a similar system that I think is a little better system but both work well and do the job intended.
We recently bought one of these. Thanks for the tutorial
Very helpful video. I am going to start doing this. Saving some money sounds good to me!
anybody else getting Hank Hill vibes? ❤
They actually work I have 8 of the refillable ones work like a champ
👍 I learn a lot from you. Thank you so very much for what you are doing.
Bob, thanks so much. Through the years you have been my van Guru!👌😊
I have that flame king kit and I use it all the time, it works great, enjoyed your video
Real good video, Bob, explaining how propane works. It sounds dangerous.
Good safety overview. Thanks.
Just got my 1# refillable propane cylinders! Thanks for the info!
Thanks again for another great video
I agree with you it is never worth any risk to do things that are consdiered dangerous or illegal. life is to precious to take unecessary risks. driving is dangerous yes but we need to travel, and need to go places so we drive but we try to drive as carefully as possible to reduce risks we can.
I have a dozen of the flame king bottles and they also leak. I have to keep them outside for safety but they do leak too. Its legal to transport them at least. The little black O rings come out and the blueish plastic spacers come out too but they still work. Ive had alot of issues with them. Once you lose that O ring, its over . Gotta buy another one.
Walmart also sells refillable bottles and a refill valve, made by a different brand. They are in the camping section.
Mr Heater brand just came out with a similar kit and refillable bottles.
Thank you Bob for the FYI.
Nice to know there is an alternative.
It's the waste factor not recycling them
that bothers me.
I hate throwing them in the trash.
How do you recycle the bottles?
Let us know.
Good safety video.
💜🕊️
Appreciate your introduction. The green label said not to upside down propane tank for more than 10 minutes.
OMG I'm one of those who watched vids on how to "safely" refill the one pounders and being the smart aleck female I am, thought everything was hunky dorey.... I did refill some a while back, I'm now taking Bob's advice and not doing that ever again... love the connector...just 2 questions...
First: can I reverse the process and put the propane from the small cylinders back into the larger tank... it looks perfectly doable from what you just showed us...I want to do this to save money, but mostly to be able to safely get rid of the smaller cylinders...
Secondly, how do you dispose of the smaller cylinders, hopefully when I empty them, and if not, how to get rid of them with some gas in them....
going online now to order my kit. ... and this shows once again why Bob is the best... thank you
annnnnnd ordered already.....
The approved bottles and the flame king kit sound like the way to go.
I refill mine, but I cycle through them and dispose of them if they have any signs of wear on the bottle itself or the pressure relief valve. I weigh them and make sure they do not overfill. People often leave them by the trash cans at campgrounds so I have an easy supply of fresh tanks. I am a casual camper, not a vanlifer.
Very informative! Thanks for this video, Bob, as the non-refillable cylinders have gotten so expensive!!
Dang! How did I get to be this age and not know these existed?!
If you don't want to drag around a 20lb cylinder Flame King has a selection of smaller ones. 3lb to 11lb. They're not cheap but it's a lot easier. The butane one burners come in duo fuel butane/propane models. For an extra $20 you can run it off of a propane cylinder instead of continually buying the small butane cans. This will pay for itself in short order.
Good topic. Thank you. 🌻
thank for informations.
شكرا على المعلومات. فيديو جميل ونافع..
Thanks bob that is a money saver
also, don't forget that there's also a hack for refilling disposable bic lighters; well we did it long ago and they may be designed now in a way that prevents it.
Which leads me to this thought - coleman could come up with a design that would make them impossible to refill
Very good PSA ! I've seen many YTers doing this. Hope they pay attention
Looking on Amazon 2 -16oz.Coleman bottles are $27! Thanks for the info!
I’ve thought about this for my buddy heater but I bought a factory hose and I use a 20 lb cyl for the buddy heater it lasts for two days or more on continuous on low it lasts longer
Great information! Thank you, sir.
I did buy one of the propane refill valves. They refilled enough to give me a single use on my propane stove ie I could boil a small kettle of water and then it was out again. Maybe it was just the valve I used, but I found it to be a pain and not worth the time. I will buy this system as reducing as much waste as possible is my goal for this year. Any tips to saving trash but not creating laundry (paper products are one of my biggest trash items) would be appreciated.
Many people use paper and make a campfire regularly
@@2avcrm I buy the interfolded deli papers cheap at a restaurant supply co. The 8 x10 1/2 is my favorite size. It's a HUGE water saver. The used papers make a great fire starter too.