On Fri, 14 Apr 2017 12:47:13 -0400, Frank "frank wrote:

On 4/14/2017 12:24 PM, wrote:
On Fri, 14 Apr 2017 08:31:48 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

On Thursday, January 10, 2002 at 3:10:59 PM UTC-5, Keith Adams wrote:
We're building a house with a direct vent gas fireplace. We live in a
mild climate and use the fireplace only occasionally - maybe six times a
year - just for show, not for heat. Our builder is suggesting we
install a propane unit and fuel it with a 20 lb. BBQ-style cylinder -
the kind you can exchange at the supermarket or hardware store.
Fireplace dealers differ on whether that's a good idea. One said that
he does it all the time for demo units and it works fine. He says each
cylinder lasts about 18 hours in a 20,000 BTU fireplace. But a couple
of other dealers have said the 20 lb. tank is too small and won't
provide adequate pressure to fuel the fireplace. They recommend a
minimum of 100 gallon tank (426 lbs.).

Has anybody tried this?

Thanks.

Yes, I just did and the 20# BBQ tank works fine. I don't yet know how long the tank will last.
I'd go for a 30 lb or perhaps 2 20 or 30 lb tanks on a manifold to
reduce the probability of the tank freezing up and to provide adequate
flow (twin tanks). That's how I run mt 7500 watt generator.

I just looked at one of my barbecue tanks and it says 15.0 lbs. Propane
weighs about 4 lb/gal so obviously my tank is short over a gallon. Some
places refill by the gallon but prefilled run short. Never got a reply
on this deception from state AG but rules may be different in different
states. Bet most consumers think they are getting 5 gal of propane in
the filled 5 gal tanks.


Tanks are to be refilled BY WEIGHT. They are also to be filled to only
80 % of their total capacity.
The weight you are referring to stamped on the tank is the "tare
weight" Tatre weight is the EMPTY weight of the tank. It varied
between different tanks from about 13 to 17 lbs.
If the tare weight stamped on the tank is 15 lbs, a propane seller is
supposed to fill a '20 LB" tant to a total weight of 35 lbs.
At that weight you get 5 Yankee gallons, or 4 big "full sized"
gallons.
It would be good if people knew what they were talking about before
coming to the conclusion they are being routinely cheated.