100

[Don Julio]

Anyone have an answer for why you now need a 100# propane tank to run a procom ceramic ventless heater? I've ran them in my fish house for 10 years. I went to order one to use as a backup in my new Yetti and was told by Northern Tool I must have the larger tank for it to work properly. Maybe since they are all duel fuel they won't work on a 20# tank. Any ideas?

[leech~~]

They make more money selling 100#'s? Not sure with the right regulator why any size tank wouldn't work?

[Hawg]

Sounds crazy to me, the regulator decides what the pressure is.

[Gus]

My guess is it has more to do with delivering volume.

I had a garage convection heater that the manual said minimum 100#. I ran it off a 20#, and while it ran, it never burned clean and was downright dangerous. When running off a 100# tank, it DID run much cleaner.

I ended up getting a smaller BTU convection heater that the manual said was ok on 20# tank. Much happier with the way it runs.

I'm not a propane expert, but I don't think they would put it in the manual unless there was some reason for the bigger tank. And from my experience, there is a difference.

[Hawg]

Doesn't the regulator control volume? I sure thought it did.

[LittleHuck]

Regulators control pressure, not volume. What's probably happening is there is too much of a pressure drop with the 20lb, especially if it was an exchanged cylinder, they're only filled to 60% capacity. With the 100lb, there's 5 times the liquid propane vs a full (80%) 20 pounder, therefore less pressure drop when in use. I deliver propane for a living, so I know a thing or two about it.

[leech~~]

Regulators control pressure, not volume. What's probably happening is there is too much of a pressure drop with the 20lb, especially if it was an exchanged cylinder, they're only filled to 60% capacity. With the 100lb, there's 5 times the liquid propane vs a full (80%) 20 pounder, therefore less pressure drop when in use. I deliver propane for a living, so I know a thing or two about it.

So, your the guy under filling everyone's tanks!!!

[LittleHuck]

Lol, not me! Luckily for me, the co-op I work for doesn't have a cylinder filling program, also we were one of the very few co-op's that didn't have to ration propane last winter for home heat or ag use, not to mention one of the cheapest. $4.00/gallon was our highest cash price, and that only lasted for 3 days, then back to $3.50 for a few weeks before falling further.