Posted on 30/03/2019 15:59
We swapped to an on board autogas tank a while ago hoping to save time and money in the long run but we are noticing that many garages are having the refill facilities removed from their forecourts. It is now being suggested by several other owners that this is a growing trend and it is becoming a problem as they are finding it increasingly harder to locate providers whilst out and about on their tours. Have I made a mistake?
Posted on 06/04/2019 07:26
The post above from red face bears no resemblance to the legal filling of LPG tanks that I have experienced in the UK. You simply connect the gas connection from the pump to your vehicle filler, press the button on the pump and the gas flows until your gas tank is 80% full. A small amount of gas is released when you disconnect. If it were dangerous or required trained staff it wouldn't be available on the garage forecourts that sell LPG. I can only assume that what has been witnessed is an unsafe practice probably contrary to the local regulations and should not be assumed to be the norm.
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Posted on 05/04/2019 20:46 by redfaceThe one issue I would have on a club site filling LPG refillables is that it would need an extra staff member to man the pump throughout the day or whenever needed and be fully trained in safety..
Having witnessed refilling abroad, the pump operator usually opens the release valve to ensure that the tank is empty. Then, on closing it when the cylinder is vented he /she knows how much can be pumped in be it Litres as against KG capacity. This gassing off of the residual liquid does form a somewhat explosive cloud of gas in the immediate area That is the danger - should someone be passing by on the outside of the LPG station. Yes - I have seen a pump operator scream at a pedestrian on the pavement whilst they passed by smoking a cigarette.
A difficult risk to manage and perhaps that is why the big operators are withdrawing the service
Posted on 06/04/2019 09:00
not quite sure what 'process' it is that you have witnessed but it is certainly not that of refilling a pukka refillable bottle/tank.
no operators involved, other than the customer, connect pump to inlet, secure fitting, back to pump and press and hold button....wait until tank is full and then disconnect filler...
ok, as others have said, this is the point when any gas under pressure in the pipe will dissipate, but it's only a one second hiss and the pressure is released...
normal 'rules' about folk walking by with lighted cigarettes apply to the rest of the filling station too, whichever fuel is being dispensed...
no doubt Steve will have fun the first time he fills....connecting the bayonet can be a bit tricky as specific pumps can vary in how they are secured, but it soon becomes straight forward.
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Posted on 05/04/2019 20:46 by redfaceThe one issue I would have on a club site filling LPG refillables is that it would need an extra staff member to man the pump throughout the day or whenever needed and be fully trained in safety..
Having witnessed refilling abroad, the pump operator usually opens the release valve to ensure that the tank is empty. Then, on closing it when the cylinder is vented he /she knows how much can be pumped in be it Litres as against KG capacity. This gassing off of the residual liquid does form a somewhat explosive cloud of gas in the immediate area That is the danger - should someone be passing by on the outside of the LPG station. Yes - I have seen a pump operator scream at a pedestrian on the pavement whilst they passed by smoking a cigarette.
A difficult risk to manage and perhaps that is why the big operators are withdrawing the service
Posted on 06/04/2019 09:06
Having witnessed refilling abroad, the pump operator usually opens the release valve to ensure that the tank is empty. Then, on closing it when the cylinder is vented he /she knows how much can be pumped in be it Litres as against KG capacity.
That is a procedure used by some that use illegal refill procedures in UK whereby they only refill an empty bottle and ensure that it is truly empty. I doubt such 'gassing off' is done at the fill station though. 
Posted on 06/04/2019 11:58
Like so much that is suspect, illegal adaptors are currently for sale on the Internet as are several info. videos showing how to fill rental cylinders.
Calor have a whole page designated to this illegal practice on their own website which highlights the dangers.
Posted on 06/04/2019 12:50
I'm surprised no-one has yet mentioned that the gas in the tanks on Caravan Club sites is free of road duty, and the law probably does not allow for the filling of road vehicles with such gas. Certainly the huge increase in duty on LPG has led to the reduction in availability of supplies, and if it continues to rise the duty free pre-filled rental cylinder may actually become cheaper.
Posted on 06/04/2019 12:50 by NavigateurI'm surprised no-one has yet mentioned that the gas in the tanks on Caravan Club sites is free of road duty, and the law probably does not allow for the filling of road vehicles with such gas. Certainly the huge increase in duty on LPG has led to the reduction in availability of supplies, and if it continues to rise the duty free pre-filled rental cylinder may actually become cheaper.
Posted on 06/04/2019 14:06
with Auto Sleepers and AutoTrail (common sights at the CC) now fitting underslung LPG tanks, along with the many who use Gaslow or similar, I'll wager that there will be far more vans using LPG solely for cooking/heating as mentioned above than there would be LPG (motive) powered vehicles...
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Posted on 06/04/2019 13:30 byThe intention would be for the gas to be used to recharge refillable cylinders for cooking and heating, etc.; not for filling and powering vehicles. In fact it would be much more fair to the users as normally we all buy LPG and have to pay the road use duty. I only know of one supplier that has two prices for the LPG he sells.
Posted on 06/04/2019 15:39
Indeed DD.. We all pay I think about 15p per ltr on our LPG bought from garages as garages sell it expecting it to be used for propulsion on public roads rather than our domestic use. I don't mind though as even then it is still considerably less than Calor at around 70p per Ltr or £1.40 per Kg.
As to LPG powered, vehicles, I can't remember the last time I saw a MH which wasn't diesel powered,though there may be the odd one or two and there may be a few big petrol 4x4s etc with LPG conversions but imagine both are rare compared to domestic use on sites these days.
Posted on 06/04/2019 13:43 by NavigateurThe intention would be.. .
Indeed, but there are unscrupulous characters about on caravan sites these days who would try to fill the tank supplying the engine.
mickysf
Motorhomer