Hmmm..... .  I bought a new GoWesty tank and had it installed locally.  I
asked the mechanic where to have it purged, and he recommended a local RV
dealer.  I took it there.  I am certain that the place did not use a "purge
kit."  The person who first was going to do it said that he had to simply
fill it, empty it, and refill it again.  I was dubious, and asked the shop
foreman, who said no, it required five times.  So, that is what they did.
There was no portable tank involved.

I have not used the propane since.  I plan to use it in two weeks from
now.  What do I do to make sure the tank is safe?  This was not a small
expenditure, but I did it for safety.  Now I am not confident that it is
safe.

mcneely

On Wed, Mar 22, 2017 at 10:32 AM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
wrote:

> I've been using a Worthington 3lb tank for a couple of years. I love it,
> and it fits nicely under the seat. I now carry one 1lb bottle for when it
> runs out, but if you weigh it after use, you can usually avoid running out.
>
> Just take it to a propane filler, it purges with the fill. They open the
> release valve and air is pushed out and replaced with liquid propane and
> vapor. I don't think you'll be able to fill it yourself since modern auto
> stop portable tanks do not allow rapid flow from the valve, and I also
> think the auto stop float will shut off the tank when upside down. Besides,
> it's not a good idea, and not even worth the trouble even if you could.
>
> Those safety features were designed to protect us from ourselves!
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Neil2
> Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2017 10:02 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: advice on new propane tank
>
> David,
>
> Please tell the kids on FB since this could save a Vanagon, er a kids life
> I mean!
>
> On Wed, Mar 22, 2017 at 6:09 AM, David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net>
> wrote:
>
> > They're full of air to start.  That's too lean to burn.  In use
> > they're full of propane which is too rich to burn.  You have to get a
> > new tank past the point of containing an explosive mixture before you
> > can use it or the first time you light something it could flash back
> > through the lines and blow the tank apart.
> >
> > Yrs,
> > d
> >
> > On Wed, Mar 22, 2017 at 6:36 AM, Roman Haag <romanhaag@ymail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > So a new tank needs to be purged?  I did not know this.
> > >
> > > Sent from someone's plumbing
> > >
> > >
> > > > On Mar 22, 2017, at 01:37, David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Off the cuff -- I'd take it to any propane place to purge.  During
> > > purging
> > > > at some point there will be an explosive mixture in the tank, you
> > > > don't want to be around if it finds a spark.
> > > >
> > > > Yrs,
> > > > d
> > > >
> > > >> On Tue, Mar 21, 2017 at 9:32 PM, gary hradek <hradek@yahoo.com>
> > wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> I just bought a Worthington Pro Grade 4.25 lb. Empty Propane Tank
> from
> > > >> Home Depot to use with my Colemanstove.   The 1 pound cylinders are
> > > >> nowclose to 8 dollars a piece.   I was goingto fill it from the 20
> > pound
> > > >> tank but they say something about purging it.   Can I just fill and
> > > empty
> > > >> it a few timeswith propane vapor before trying to fill it with
> > > >> the
> > > liquid
> > > >> by inverting the 20pound tank?   I am guessing there is acharge to
> > have
> > > it
> > > >> purged somewhere?
> > > >>
> > > >> Gary
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Neil2
> '82 Diesel Westfalia (Ducky)
> '86 Vanagon (SaVannah)
> '08 170" 2500 Mega Roof Sprinter (Moby)
> '90 Westfalia Subagon (SaL)
> Fulltiming since August 2008
> Nunquam Pendite Divendium
>