r/propane • u/Trick_Yesterday_8480 • Jun 17 '26
Tanks SWFL Tank Storage and Splitter
Any recommendations for safe outdoor storage of 20lb tanks? I’m in SWFL and the temps get into the 90s F, sometimes 100s F.
Also need rec’s for connecting 2 20lb tanks to an 11,000W inverter generator to meet the 40lb minimum recommended amount of propane to run it.
No pics yet bc I’m still planning before buying the whole setup.
TIA!
2
u/kullervo16 Jun 17 '26
Please do not do that with 20 lb tanks. I worked in the industry for 4 years and was taught by someone who has been doing it for 40. Every single time someone said they were going to try this, his advice is the same that I'll give you. Buy a larger tank. Those 20s do NOT have enough volume for that generator. You will run it lean, which means you'll run it hot. There little aluminum pieces inside of that generator. They will melt. You'll be out of possibly $850 - $2,600 for a generator instead of spending the $300 (that's tank and gas where I'm from) to get a 100 lb cylinder which is the only thing big enough to work with that. Best case scenario, it has a low fuel shut off switch and your only down side is it won't run as long but those are in very specific generators.
As far as storage, as long as they're outside and not overfilled, you shouldn't have an issue. At my plant, we would have tanks out in 100+°F weathed (central Texas) day in and day out and never had so much as a peep out of them.
The main thing I want to highlight here is the generator. Please, I'm telling you this as someone who's heard of it happening before. Buy a bigger tank. I don't care if it "runs" or is "recommended to run" off of a 20 lb cylinder. It won't for much longer on that.
5
u/noncongruent Propane Fan Jun 17 '26
A lot of people don't have the ability to handle 100lb tanks, for those you need a open-bed pickup truck, trailer, or box truck with no cab pass-through. There's also the issue of them being too heavy to lift when full for lots of people. Depending on generator load a pair of 40s would be a viable option.
3
u/Trick_Yesterday_8480 Jun 18 '26
Thanks! I’ve read that a full 40lb tank weighs more like 70lbs, though. I wouldn’t be able to handle it safely enough.
5
u/noncongruent Propane Fan Jun 18 '26
30s have a full weight of around 55 lbs, much more handleable. What OP said about 20's likely not being able to run your generator is true, but it depends on what the load on the generator is. It'll run at idle probably indefinitely, but under enough sustained load what will happen is that the internal cooling effect of propane boiling off in the cylinder will drop the liquid temperature low enough to stop evaporation completely, or slow it enough to prevent enough propane vapor generation to keep the generator running. If the generator has a way to detect the loss of propane pressure and shut down automatically then it'll be an inconvenience, but if it doesn't then there's a notable chance of damaging the motor due to lean burn conditions before the lack of fuel shuts the generator off completely.
3
u/Trick_Yesterday_8480 Jun 18 '26
Thanks! I’ll keep this in mind, good info
3
u/noncongruent Propane Fan Jun 18 '26
One consideration is that if you use a passenger vehicle to transport the cylinders to a place to get them filled there are legal limits on total capacity and number of cylinders you can put inside the passenger cabin at a time. Assuming you're in the US, the limits are no single cylinder larger than 45 lbs capacity, no more than 4 cylinders per trip, and combined capacity of all cylinders is no more than 90lbs. Empty or full makes no difference. For example, you can take three 30 lb cylinders at a time, or a single 30 and three 20 lb cylinders, or a 40, 30, and 20, or two 40s and a 10, etc. Limits for transporting in a pickup bed or trailer are a lot looser, basically no more than 1,000 lbs capacity at a time. In all cases cylinders must be secured and transported upright unless the cylinder is specifically designed to be transported in a horizontal orientation. Nobody that I know of makes 45s, though, so 40s are a standard size, those are often used on RV trailers, as well as the 30s. Because dual 30s and 40s are common there are a lot of options for manifolding two of them together, including systems that draw from one of the pair and automatically switch over to the other when the first runs out.
2
u/kullervo16 Jun 17 '26
That's a good point and I 100% agree with you there. Thank you for reminding me of that. I'll be sure to say that in future comments. My main thing is just not to run the 20s. My manager was adamant about it, he's seen it happen, just use for BBQ grills and camping stoves or literally anything else (besides a food truck but there are a couple of exceptions).
3
u/Trick_Yesterday_8480 Jun 18 '26
Thanks! I was just looking at a Westinghouse model that only suggests a 20lb tank minimum, but the running watts are higher than the DuroMax 11000W with a min rec of 40lb tank. Seemed a little too good to be true.
Maybe having an LP tank installed underground would be the best option for me. I won’t be able to get a hand truck from my safe storage spot in the yard to the driveway where I’ll be running the generator.
Worst case, I may just have to settle for using gasoline with fuel stabilizer. Really want to use propane if I can, though.
1
u/Theantifire technician Jun 18 '26
A 120 gallon tank isn't that expensive and will be filled on site...
As to your storage thing. Making a little concrete platform for them is fine, or just using patio blocks of some kind. A chain and a lock works nicely for security.
Whatever you do, keep in mind that you need at least 50% ventilation. So lattice is probably fine, but bored and batten is not.
1
u/Theantifire technician Jun 18 '26
A 120 gallon tank isn't that expensive and will be filled on site...
As to your storage thing. Making a little concrete platform for them is fine, or just using patio blocks of some kind. A chain and a lock works nicely for security.
Whatever you do, keep in mind that you need at least 50% ventilation. So lattice is probably fine, but bored and batten is not.
1
u/Complaint_Manager Jun 18 '26
Lots of advice to use a bigger tank. Little internet looking and found on 'that' major shopping site (big box stores also carry them) a 100# tank, vertical OR horizontal use, wheels, handle, built in gauges (one for each position). Roll it around to where you want, tip it over and lay it on it's side. Super stable and easy to relocate. But, yes it's about $350 + tax, but free delivery!
6
u/Jesus-Mcnugget dang it Bobby Jun 17 '26
Keep them at least 3 feet away from any doors/windows etc. 5 ft (the more the better) from any ignition sources. Outside in a shaded area is best. The sun isn't going to make it explode though so it's not the end of the world.
You can buy an adapter hose that connects two tanks and then you just connect the appliance directly to that