I'm finding a lot out about how much LPG it takes to heat the trailer. Fortunately, I have figured out that we have a four-season trailer as I didn't winterize and its kept up just fine, even with the single digit temps we ran into with all that Canadian Air. I am finding that it is a little expensive, but my hope is to winterize at some point soon - I keep thinking next weekend we'll go out, next weekend we'll go out, next week.... so far - nothing.
Anyhow - one thing I learned, and wanted to share, is the formula for weight-scale filling the LPG tanks that aren't your usual Barbque tanks. I have tanks that are a little larger, and since I go to a place that has a limited knowledge of RV's, he shared this with me. The formula is WC x .42 + TW = scale setting. For my tanks, that equals 55 lbs, which is the max my tanks should weigh when full. I did not write the formula - I can spepll :)
2 comments:
After the third try to comment (sigh - sometimes google just tries to do too much for you)
Got this after looking around on-line a little. Seems I may have been "paying" for the nozzle weight...
From: http://metrology.burtini.ca/lpg.php
Measurement
Many tanks are filled using a meter. The tank can be taken to a dispenser or a refueling truck may come to the tank. In both cases, the meter will display the actual amount of propane dispensed into the tank (in litres or gallons). The operator knows the tank is full by using a spit valve. The spit valve is a small valve which opens into the vapour space of the tank at the 80% fill level. When the liquid level in the tank reaches this level, the valve will begin to spit liquid propane which will look like a white fog as it begins to boil. At this point, refueling is stopped and the spit valve is closed. The tank is now safely filled to the 80% fill level.
Small cylinders are usually filled by weight. To fill these cylinders properly, the attendant must know the empty (tare) weight of the cylinder, the "water content" (WC) of the cylinder and if the cylinder currently contains propane or is empty. The water content of the cylinder is multipled by 42% (0.42) to calculate the appropriate amount of propane that can be safely placed in the tank. WC is stated in pounds for imperial cylinders and in litres for metric cylinders. The same formula works in both cases but for imperial cylinders, the result is the amount of propane in pounds, while for the metric cylinders, the result is the amount of propane in kilograms. Small one use cylinders must not be refilled. These cylinders are usually marked 39 or 2P.
Water Content (WC) and Tare Weights (TW or T) will vary among cylinders. Many fill stations will set their equipment to an average value for the most common cylinders. This will not guarantee that you are getting the proper amount of propane in your cylinder. Make the attendant do the calculations using the values from you cylinder. The proper formula to ensure a properly filled cylinder is:
Filled Weight = TW + (42% of WC) + Nozzle Weight*
* - include nozzle weight if weighing while cylinder is still connected to the nozzle. Do not include if weighing the cylinder without the nozzle.
and, after more learning...
New cylinders have new check valves... weight, with an ACME fitting, doesn't mean anything - they don't even bother with weight because they have check valves...and they stop when they are full, with the required extra space for expansion.
However, I did press the guy that didn't weigh anything - and my 30 lb cylinder, with the hose, did weigh in at almost exactly 58 lbs... booyah.
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