Ivylog
Blairsville, Ga. USA
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I let them know that the gauge on my tank is accurate and that I'd appreciate it if they did not open the bleed valve until it gets to 70%. Most are willing to do this and at 80% we start to get liquid so everyone is happy. I do level the coach side to side if necessary before filling as my tank is mounted that way.
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
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Pogoil
Oregon Coast
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The reason we have the new style OPD valves is because careless people at propane fill stations did not open the bleeder valves.
Yes it is supposed to be open when filling.
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cmarq
CT
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My 2003 class A has an OPD the bleeder valve has always been opened during fills, the vapor has never changed to liquid. I always watch to be sure of it being done correctly and to see how many gallons it took to avoid a rip off. The OPD always stops the fill before vapor changes to liquid.
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lawdash
NY
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Thanks for clearing that up for me. This means that every other time I've had the tank filled it's been done incorrectly as I always watch. That's pretty disconcerting!
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ArchHoagland
Clovis, CA, USA
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I can't recall ever having my tank filled where they didn't open the bleeder valve.
I sure wouldn't interfere with the guy doing it though. I'll bet he was a little ticked when you closed it.
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mowermech
Billings, MT
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vladen wrote:This should explain filling by wait and filling by preset level (IE bleeder valve).
propane 101
what was I thinking "Wait" is rong "weight" is right
Interesting article, but somewhat outdated for many areas of the country. I have filled 11, 20, 30, and 100 pound cylinders, my motorhome frame mounted tank, and my home 80 gallon tank, at various places in the West, and via the delivery truck, and EVERY place has been by metered gallon. NOT ONCE in Montana, Idaho, Washington, or California, has a propane cylinder ever been weighed. I have filled cylinders at farm stores, U-Haul dealers, Campgrounds/RV parks, Flying J, and propane distributors. I have found nobody that uses scales. A few places have a rusty old balance-beam scale sitting there, but it is not used.
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othertonka
Stockton, CA
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The bleed valve should be open during fill up. As stated above when the vapor coming out turns to liquid, the tank is then 80% full and that is considered a full tank, then you stop the fill process and close the valve. If you don't do this you have a chance of overfilling the tank. Then when you go to use any of your propane appliances, stove, oven, water heater, furnace, or whatever, there is a hance that it will be fed with Liquid propane from the overfilled tank. Also there is a chance if you do not use any propane that with the full tank sitting in the sun, the gas will expand and the safety will pop off releiving excess presssure, not desireable.
So to answer your question because you asked, you were wrong to close the valve. If I was the filling attendant, when you closed the valve, I would have stopped the fill process and unhooked the hose and collected the amount for what was already put in and walked away. Good luck on your next fill up.
Othertonka
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s & s
Michigan
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Any time ours have been filled the valve has been opened. I guess he was correct.
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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mowermech wrote:vladen wrote:This should explain filling by wait and filling by preset level (IE bleeder valve).
propane 101
what was I thinking "Wait" is rong "weight" is right
Interesting article, but somewhat outdated for many areas of the country. I have filled 11, 20, 30, and 100 pound cylinders, my motorhome frame mounted tank, and my home 80 gallon tank, at various places in the West, and via the delivery truck, and EVERY place has been by metered gallon. NOT ONCE in Montana, Idaho, Washington, or California, has a propane cylinder ever been weighed. I have filled cylinders at farm stores, U-Haul dealers, Campgrounds/RV parks, Flying J, and propane distributors. I have found nobody that uses scales. A few places have a rusty old balance-beam scale sitting there, but it is not used.
I've had cylinders filled all over the USA at various venues.
Sometimes it has been by metering
Sometimes it has been by weight
Sometimes it has even been metered while being weighed
As long as it's full (80%) doesn't really matter which method is used.
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Dog Trainer
Richmond Mi.
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In most cases the person filling the tank will ask for us to get out of the motorhome. Then he hooks up the fill nozle. He starts the fill and at the smae time cracks the bleeder valve. At that point it is a slight vapor commining out, at the point where it gets to a solid gas comming out he shuts off the fill vave and then closes the bleeder valve. That is the way it has been done several times when I watched.
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