propane tank size

[gordon23]

Could someone tell me what size tank I have in the coach. Specs show 86 lbs. and I assume this is about 4 times the common barbeque tank.

How many gallons is 20 pounds so I can calculate it to 86.

I'm running the furnace without an external aux tank and it's using up in a hurry.

[gordon23]

Could someone tell me what size tank I have in the coach. Specs show 86 lbs. and I assume this is about 4 times the common barbeque tank.

How many gallons is 20 pounds so I can calculate it to 86.

I'm running the furnace without an external aux tank and it's using up in a hurry.

[KIX]

Propane weighs 4.24 pounds per US gallon.
On the data plate of your tank there should be data like "W.C. XX" The "XX" could be in gallons or in pounds. Usually pounds are followed by the # sign. Propane capacity of the tank is 80% of the W.C. (water capacity). With the above info. you should be able to find the answer to your question.

[KIX]

Another spec that may be interesting to you is: Approx. 95,000 BTU's per US gallon of propane. Find the input rating of your furnace in BTU's. It would probably be something like 55,000 BTU's per hour. Divide 55,000 into 95,000 = 1.73. This means you can have the furnace burner running 1.73 hours on a US gallon of propane.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Propane weight/gal varies with temperature, but the RVIA uses 4.5 lbs/gal for the official calculations used in RV specs. That means your 86 lb tank holds about 19 gallons of propane per RVIA calculations, but more like 20 lbs using the official 4.24 lbs/gal.

But make sure that 86 lbs was for the weight of propane. The capacity stamped on a horizontal (ASME specification) tank is the water capacity in US gallons, not weight. DOT specification, portable vertical tanks have their capacity stated in pounds of water . How's that for confusion?

[gordon23]

I think I get it but in your first paragraph did you mean to say "more like 20 gallons"

Thanks

[Gary RVRoamer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">did you mean to say "more like 20 gallons" </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Yes - my fingers must have got a ahead of my brain!