I originally posted this 3/9/22 and got great feedback from members so I have revised it on 3/11/22.
I use standard large 20 gallon/5 pound refillable and exchangeable propane tanks on my large gas grills.
I also use small, 1 pound propane tanks on the igniter for my Weber Charcoal Performer, on my Ooni Pizza Oven, on my Otto Grill salamander, on my Searzall for searing or crème brulee, and on my camping stove, lamp, and space heaters. You can buy 1 pound tanks with propane in them like these from Coleman but the price per gallon can be 10 times the price of the fuel in a 20 pound tank.
If you have 1 pound tanks like these that you have emptied, you should not refill them. They are not designed to be refilled, it is possible to overfill them and they can explode, and for that reason it is illegal. But you can buy empty 1 pound refillable tanks by Flame King at Amazon and many sporting goods or hardware stores. They cost a bit more, but you can refill them scores of times, buying refillable tanks produces less environmental waste, it is safer, and it is legal. Alas, they are hard to find right now but I just bought some for $16 after some serious Googling.
To fill them you need to buy device that connects to the 20 pound tank to the 1 pound tank. Flame King sells a kit with a stand and a rigid connector with a valve. I prefer a propane refill hose with an on-off valve like this one for about $25 https://amzn.to/2TBJMjj. You can then place the refillable tank on a scale while you are refilling and add exactly one pound.
Here’s how to do it: Go outdoors. Do not do this indoors or in your garage because there can be some vapors escaping. Put out your cigarette. Put on gloves because escaping propane is extremely cold. Start with a 20 pound tank that is at least 1/3 full. Remove the cap from the small tank, attach the small tank to the hose and turn the valve off (perpendicular to the hose). Turn the large tank upside down on a table so the liquid is over the valve and attach the other end of the hose. Hand tightening is good enough. Open the large tank’s valve. Then open the pressure relief valve in the neck of the small bottle with the allen key that comes with the tank. Place the small tank on a digital scale and then open the valve on the hose. You can hear the fuel moving into the smaller cannister. When the scale hits one pound, turn off the valve on the hose, close the escape valve with the allen key, and remove the smaller tank. Listen and sniff around the ends of both tanks to make sure they are no leaks, put the cap back on the small tank, and if you have more small tanks to fill, go to it. If you have no more tanks to fill, close the valve on the large tank before removing the hose. There will be a small puff or propane that is in the hose between the valves.
Beware: If you are tempted to cram more fuel into the tank by chilling the small tank in a freezer or by lifting the emergency relief valve so more liquid can go in by pushing out air, you will be stressing the capabilities of the tank. Don’t do it. Also, there are some under $10 adapters that directly connect the large tank to the small tank like the one below, but I don’t recommend them. They screw into the 20 gallon tank counterclockwise and into the 1 gallon tank clockwise, so it is possible that you can loosen the connection to the big tank when attaching the small tank and create a dangerous leak. The refillable tanks have an easy way to open the pressure release valve with a hex key, and it is a lot easier to do this is you are using a hose. Buy the hose.
I use standard large 20 gallon/5 pound refillable and exchangeable propane tanks on my large gas grills.
I also use small, 1 pound propane tanks on the igniter for my Weber Charcoal Performer, on my Ooni Pizza Oven, on my Otto Grill salamander, on my Searzall for searing or crème brulee, and on my camping stove, lamp, and space heaters. You can buy 1 pound tanks with propane in them like these from Coleman but the price per gallon can be 10 times the price of the fuel in a 20 pound tank.
If you have 1 pound tanks like these that you have emptied, you should not refill them. They are not designed to be refilled, it is possible to overfill them and they can explode, and for that reason it is illegal. But you can buy empty 1 pound refillable tanks by Flame King at Amazon and many sporting goods or hardware stores. They cost a bit more, but you can refill them scores of times, buying refillable tanks produces less environmental waste, it is safer, and it is legal. Alas, they are hard to find right now but I just bought some for $16 after some serious Googling.
To fill them you need to buy device that connects to the 20 pound tank to the 1 pound tank. Flame King sells a kit with a stand and a rigid connector with a valve. I prefer a propane refill hose with an on-off valve like this one for about $25 https://amzn.to/2TBJMjj. You can then place the refillable tank on a scale while you are refilling and add exactly one pound.
Here’s how to do it: Go outdoors. Do not do this indoors or in your garage because there can be some vapors escaping. Put out your cigarette. Put on gloves because escaping propane is extremely cold. Start with a 20 pound tank that is at least 1/3 full. Remove the cap from the small tank, attach the small tank to the hose and turn the valve off (perpendicular to the hose). Turn the large tank upside down on a table so the liquid is over the valve and attach the other end of the hose. Hand tightening is good enough. Open the large tank’s valve. Then open the pressure relief valve in the neck of the small bottle with the allen key that comes with the tank. Place the small tank on a digital scale and then open the valve on the hose. You can hear the fuel moving into the smaller cannister. When the scale hits one pound, turn off the valve on the hose, close the escape valve with the allen key, and remove the smaller tank. Listen and sniff around the ends of both tanks to make sure they are no leaks, put the cap back on the small tank, and if you have more small tanks to fill, go to it. If you have no more tanks to fill, close the valve on the large tank before removing the hose. There will be a small puff or propane that is in the hose between the valves.
Beware: If you are tempted to cram more fuel into the tank by chilling the small tank in a freezer or by lifting the emergency relief valve so more liquid can go in by pushing out air, you will be stressing the capabilities of the tank. Don’t do it. Also, there are some under $10 adapters that directly connect the large tank to the small tank like the one below, but I don’t recommend them. They screw into the 20 gallon tank counterclockwise and into the 1 gallon tank clockwise, so it is possible that you can loosen the connection to the big tank when attaching the small tank and create a dangerous leak. The refillable tanks have an easy way to open the pressure release valve with a hex key, and it is a lot easier to do this is you are using a hose. Buy the hose.
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