I've been poking around a little.  One purge method is to pull a vacuum on
the tank and allow it to fill with propane vapor; another is to fill with
propane vapor and vent to atmosphere "several times" -- sounds like that's
what your outfit did.  That's perfectly sensible, not the same at all as
filling five times with liquid propane.

Yrs,
d

On Wed, Mar 22, 2017 at 6:45 PM, Neil2 <vidublu@gmail.com> wrote:

> I'd never visit that place again.  Insane there are places operating like
> that (5x).
>
> On Wed, Mar 22, 2017 at 10:52 AM, David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > 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
> > >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> 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
>