Changing propane cylinders

[News]

Regulars may remember the conversations we had earlier this year regarding the installation of a used Rangemaster cooker, which went well, with a gas man running a copper pipe from the kitchen, through an external wall to two 47kg Calor Gas propane orange cylinders. One of the cylinders is now empty. Before I attack the thing, do I remember reading that the connection to the cylinder is left hand thread?

When I get the new cylinder, is there anything special about the connection? Any tape or gunk to make a seal, or just tighten well with a larger spanner?

[Chris Hogg]

I use small propane cylinders (?19kg) to fire a gas pottery kiln. Yes, the threads are left handed, as are the threads on all combustible gas containers AIUI, and no, you don't need any sort of sealing tape or gunge to make the seal. As you say, just a big spanner, but do remember the LHS thread bit!

[Huge]

No. Other than it being left hand thread.

Yes, but do not overtighten it. The fittings are only brass, which is quite soft.

And consider buying an auto-changeover valve.

[News]

Right. Thanks Chris, and Huge.

OK, noted.

We have two cylinders, and a manual changeover, which I hope will suffice. The gas is only used for four burners, the grill, oven etc being electric. I think, when we discussed this earlier, someone helpfully said he uses about one cylinder per year, in a similar situation.

[misterroy]

it is left hand thread

[Davey]

Agreed, then you don't run out of gas at a critical moment. Just check the indicator on a regular schedule. Well worth having.

[Dave Liquorice]

OP says cylinders one of which is now empty. Autochanger doesn't automagically refill the empty cylinder. B-)

But as the OP has only read that the thread is LH I suspect the install was all done for him. So he's about to learn that an empty 47 kg cylinder weighs about 48 kg and thus a full one 95 kg (15 stones...).

[Huge]

That'll be me. :o)

[Huge]

Otherwise *both* cylinders run out at a critical moment. :oD

[Huge]

I bought a sack barrow for moving them. The ginormous bloke with no neck who delivers them lifts them off the lorry by hand!

[News]

Top man :-)

[Davey]

That?s where the 'regular schedule' bit comes in!

[Davey]

Our supplier changes them, too. But they aren't that big, more like

19kg or something.

[News]

In message , Davey writes

Perhaps I'm missing something here. Our changeover valve is what I would call manual. It indicates the contents of the cylinder in use, displaying red when empty. The other clue is the cooker burners stop working :-)

Anyway, Plan A is to run the first cylinder until empty (i.e. now), swap the valve to the other (full) cylinder, then replace the empty one. Repeat ad infinitum.

My worry with an automatic changeover is that the valve will change without me being aware, then run the second cylinder until that is empty, too - probably Christmas Day.

[Huge]

With an automatic valve, you don't have to go outside in the slashing rain in the dark to change over bottles, whilst cooking Christmas lunch.

Hence the need to make occasional checks. My auto valve has a red "flag" that pops up to tell you it's switched over and it's time to order a new bottle.

[News]

In message , Dave Liquorice writes

Half right :-) Yes, the chap who fitted the pipe and valve then connected the cylinders. However, I already had the cylinders, and am well aware of how heavy they are. I use a sack barrow to move 'em, when full. The cylinders had been sitting in the garden for at least ten years - I almost gave them away at one point! They once powered a coal effect gas fire which was poo so we ripped it out and went back to coal.

[News]

Ah. Yes, handy.

[News]

In message , Huge writes

Even in NE Scotland, we have daylight by the time we start cooking lunch, even on the shortest day :-)

But that does raise a question. All during my childhood, and beyond, I have eaten Christmas lunch at lunchtime. However, now in happily married man territory, Wifey insists we eat the Christmas meal in the evening. Is that odd, or what?

[Richard]

It would be called odding not evening which would be odd.

[spuorgelgoog]

So if you have Christmas dinner in the evening what do you have for Christmas lunch?

Personally I have Christmas dinner in the evening but (being happily unmarried) it's usually pepperoni pizza.

Owain