How much LPG does an old style Gaslow 11kg cylinder really take?

[Minxy]

Here's a question for those familiar with Gaslow.

We swapped our nearly out of date original 11kg Gaslow cylinder last year for a recertified Gaslow one. Unfortunately the recertified one is the older style without a gauge but not a massive issue as we just use that one first then use our newer one with a gauge and fill up when we can.

Now the question I have is what is the absolute maximum LPG you should really be able to get in an 11kg cylinder? I know the general view is 21 litres but twice now when filling (before we'd had to switch to the second newer cylinder which was still full) we've got over 20 litres in, on one occasion it was over 21 litres with no sign of stopping (I did!).

There is no leak in the system letting any of the LPG/gas out so it's puzzling me why we're getting so much in. The pumps on both occasions didn't slow down but that could simply be due to their type as not all slow in my experience.

It's making me wonder if the older cylinders were actually of a higher capacity than 11kg/21 litres, or if there is a problem with the valve on it allowing it to be overfilled.

So ... what have others been able to put into a single 11kg cylinder and/or has anyone else had a similar situation occur?

 

[G1969]

Refilled mine last week, as it tripped over to the second bottle the previous night, and just got over 21ltrs

 

[Lenny HB]

Now the question I have is what is the absolute maximum LPG you should really be able to get in an 11kg cylinder? I know the general view is 21 litres but twice now when filling (before we'd had to switch to the second newer cylinder which was still full) we've got over 20 litres in, on one occasion it was over 21 litres with no sign of stopping (I did!).

11kg is 21.66 Lt, but if it's not slowing down that would suggest a faulty 80% cut off valve so maybe time to change that cylinder.
If you keep the pump going once it's slowed down you can overfill them but you said the pump wasn't slowing.

 

[Barti Ddu]

It's advisable to alternate between which cylinder is depleted first, otherwise if you always deplete just one cylinder, the other one can gradually go over an 80% fill level over time as a bit squeezes past the float shut-off valve. Maybe a small amount of LPG is going into the full cylinder as well as your empty one each time you fill?

Also worth pointing out that LPG Autogas dispensers in the UK are not specifically regulated under W&M legislation, and therefore have no legally prescribed tolerances and will not be being routinely tested by W&M Inspectors / Trading Standards Officers - although hopefully they should be within plus or minus a percent or two.

 

[1967bowesj]

Does both cylinders fill at same time or are they isolated?

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[Jimbohorlicks]

Maybe the "full" cylinder wasn't that full.?

 

[Minxy]

11kg is 21.66 Lt, but if it's not slowing down that would suggest a faulty 80% cut off valve so maybe time to change that cylinder.

The recertified (old style) cylinder is the one I'm concerned about which was 'new' from Gaslow last summer.

If you keep the pump going once it's slowed down you can overfill them but you said the pump wasn't slowing.

No they didn't slow down, I'm talking about EU pumps though not UK ones and some do and some don't slow down.

 

[Lenny HB]

No they didn't slow down, I'm talking about EU pumps though not UK ones and some do and some don't slow down.

I've filled up in Holland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain & Portugal never had one not slow down.

If that cylinder was only obtained last year why not get back to Gaslow.

 

[Nonna]

As Lenny HB said, if functioning correctly the safety valve should kick in at 80%.

 

[Minxy]

It's advisable to alternate between which cylinder is depleted first, otherwise if you always deplete just one cylinder, the other one can gradually go over an 80% fill level over time as a bit squeezes past the float shut-off valve. Maybe a small amount of LPG is going into the full cylinder as well as your empty one each time you fill?

Yes we do alternate, but obviously with the recertified cylinder (RC) not having a gauge we prefer to use that first. As this is our first holiday since getting the RC we wanted to use it to ensure it was okay however when we had issues a short while ago with low gas pressure* we switched to our other cylinder (OC) so that has had some use too (* everything worked fine with the OC so we put the issue down to a high butane mix in the RC and cold weather).

Some extra LPG going into the OC even though it's full is interesting though, maybe that's what's happening?

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[Minxy]

If that cylinder was only obtained last year why not get back to Gaslow.

Yes that's what I'll do if we continue to have concerns but don't really want to have to detour to them as it adds a fair bit of time especially as we're travelling back on a Sunday so would have to wait until the Monday which isn't ideal. We've still got another couple of weeks before we're back in the UK so still time to try to get to the bottom of it.

 

[Minxy]

As Lenny HB said, if functioning correctly the safety valve should kick in at 80%.

Hence my initial query as to what is the definitive amount of LPG at 80%, 21 litres, 21.5, 22.0 etc ... I'd rather chicken out at 21 than push it to see if the cut off kicks in ... Don't wanna go boom!

 

[treblid]

Unfortunately the recertified one is the older style without a gauge

Why did you end up with an older style cylinder? I would not be happy with that.....

 

[Lenny HB]

Hence my initial query as to what is the definitive amount of LPG at 80%, 21 litres, 21.5, 22.0 etc ... I'd rather chicken out at 21 than push it to see if the cut off kicks in ... Don't wanna go boom!

Please video when you do.

 

[Minxy]

Why did you end up with an older style cylinder? I would not be happy with that.....

Because that's what the recertified ones were, ie older cylinders that reached the end of their safe use period so had been changed by the previous owners (they'd bought new ones) then the old cylinders were sent for refurbishment and recertification and sold at a much cheaper price (£99) than buying a brand new one costing at least 2.5 times that. Once recertified they were like new (new valves etc), just the older style cylinders. If I had been unhappy with the quality of the RC I wouldn't have got it but as only the gauge was missing it wasn't an issue for us due to our twin setup.

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[Gaston aires]

I have the Alugas equivalent bottles. They take around 18 ltrs each after auto stop. Lasts for ages especially since solar/lithium setup means we can we use the inverter to boil kettles etc.
Phil upmetank

 

[Lenny HB]

I have the Alugas equivalent bottles. They take around 18 ltrs each after auto stop. Lasts for ages especially since solar/lithium setup means we can we use the inverter to boil kettles etc.
Phil upmetank

Should take 22 Lt we have the 14kg they take 28 Lt.

 

[Gaston aires]

Should take 22 Lt we have the 14kg they take 28 Lt.

Hi Lenny, trouble is I always fill up soon after the first bottle is empty so I’ve never actually filled from empty to see the real maximum.
Phil

 

[Lenny HB]

Hi Lenny, trouble is I always fill up soon after the first bottle is empty so I’ve never actually filled from empty to see the real maximum.
Phil

In that case should take more than 22 Lt as the 2nd bottle won't be full.

 

[Nonna]

My apologies if this seems a dumb question.No offence intended
You are filling up with both bottles closed off?

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[DerryW]

Hence my initial query as to what is the definitive amount of LPG at 80%, 21 litres, 21.5, 22.0 etc ... I'd rather chicken out at 21 than push it to see if the cut off kicks in ... Don't wanna go boom!

Sensible approach, assuming your sure your only filling a single cylinder what you know to be empty, stop pushing/holding the button on the pump at 21ltrs.

 

[Fragle]

Hence my initial query as to what is the definitive amount of LPG at 80%, 21 litres, 21.5, 22.0 etc ... I'd rather chicken out at 21 than push it to see if the cut off kicks in ... Don't wanna go boom!

Having just stopped working for the big red cylinder company on mini bulk lpg delivery.

lpg is around .510kg per litre so 1.2liters per kg from memory.

Having had the Gaslow system on our previous Adria I never look at the litres when filling. Just pressed the button till it stops.
Same on new van with Gasit underslung. There is no problem with just putting less gas in if you don't wan't to fill though. It's whatever your comfortable with.

I suppose I trust the system not the gauge. There is also a greater safety margin in these Gaslow bottles at 80% is full. I don't know why. Generally overfill would really be above 85%.

Also after filling I check on the hob without lighting Gas not liquid.

What people really need to remember is to have all gas appliances turned off when filling. In the event of an overfill at least it is contained and not pushing liquid gas to the appliance (Fridge) that has been left running. Although you would find out quickly if it was.

 

[Vansflyer]

Our system (same as yours) will sometimes take more than 22L on one bottle. It used to happen in our old LPG powered car as well which would fill past the 80% level often. I asked the tech that fitted the lpg conversion and he said it depended on the air pressure at the time and the butane/ propane mix %. It sounded plausible so I haven't worried over 12 + years or so of LPG filling.

 

[Nonna]

What people really need to remember is to have all gas appliances turned off when filling. In the event of an overfill at least it is contained and not pushing liquid gas to the appliance (Fridge) that has been left running. Although you would find out quickly if it was.

Yes, indeed Which is why I asked the OP if he was filling with both bottles off.
Gaslow say never to fill an open bottle as, if the safety valve is malfunctioning, gas can get pushed on through the system to the appliances inside the vehicle

 

[Minxy]

My apologies if this seems a dumb question.No offence intended
You are filling up with both bottles closed off?

Yes, I always check both are turned off before filling.

Yes, indeed Which is why I asked the OP if he was filling with both bottles off.
Gaslow say never to fill an open bottle as, if the safety valve is malfunctioning, gas can get pushed on through the system to the appliances inside the vehicle

He ... HE!!!!! I shall forgive you ....but only once.

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[Lenny HB]

Minxy Have you sorted them out yet Mel?

 

[Nonna]

He ... HE!!!!! I shall forgive you ....but only once.

Oops. Sorry "sister".

 

[Terry]

Hi Mel, if my memory serves me correctly Calor gas web site used to say cylinders could contain 80 to 85% gas/liquid depending upon temperature.
Using that information you can easily put 23 ltrs into your gaslow /gas-it which would take it to 85% safely. (22ltrs =80%full) by that time I’m pretty sure your cut off valve would have worked.

 

[Minxy]

Minxy Have you sorted them out yet Mel?

Nah, still chilling at the mo ... Will wait until we fill up again and see what happens then ... if you hear a big bang then we've gone boom!

 

[ManTheVan]

We have Gasit 11kg cylinders, not Gaslow, but they take approx 21 litres each, if that helps.

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