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how many boils off of 15lb. propane tank?

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je52rm

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I have a 30Q (7.5G) turkey fryer (burner/aluminum pot combo) that im gonna be using for my boil kettle. I make 5 gallon batches so i will be boiling 6 gallons or less. How many 60 minute boils (more or less) should i get out of one standard 15lb. tank of propane? Not sure of the BTU's of the burner. I will see if i can find out and re-post it.
 
That's a good question I've often wondered about myself but since I use the same propane tank for my grill it's a little hard to determine. The next time my tank is empty I'm going to weigh it and then again after I fill it and then again after the brew day is finished. Should be able to get some sort of idea of how much propane is used per session. It probably also depends on ambient air temperature and wind.
 
yeah exactly im sure there are a LOT of factors to take into consideration. Just a "more or less" is what im wondering
 
I have the Bayou Classic SP14 burner and a 9 gallon pot. I get at least 5-6 brew sessions if not more.
 
I've done three so far on my tank. I do BIAB heating strike and sparge water and 60 minute boils.

It has a tare weight of 18 lbs stamped on it, and I weighed it last night and it still weighs 28.5 pounds.
 
I use propane to heat the HLT, MT, and for boiling 12.5G. I generally get 3 batches per tank, and it dies at some point during the 4th batch.

Its great keeping 2 on hand. Fully use the one, when its empty swap it out and fill the other. I just need to know which batch I think I'll run out on, to keep a closer eye on it.
 
I've calculated this roughly before..

With a 10 gallon batch and a 55K burner I calculated it out to approximately 5lb of propane used with the burner on full blast including heating HLT water, 90 min boil, and wort heat up to boil from mash tun

Even more roughtly, if you take the BTU of the burner in hours (in my case 55000) x figure out how many hours you are heating or maintaining boil for/ divide by 22,000 (22000 BTU per lb propane) youll get pretty close to lbs of propane used. If you are burning at less than full power, then multiply by that percentage fraction (like .75 power ,etc)
 
wildwest450 said:
Are you talking about a 20lb propane cylinder? Never heard of a 15lb'er.

This is what I've always received from my local grocery store. ???

image-3281428141.jpg


image-262528538.jpg
 
Not with the required overfill prevention device...it is under 20lbs.

No, it keeps them from being filled over 20lbs. And if it's a tad under (I think actual is 19.5 or so), that's a far cry from 5lbs under, there's a reason they were sued.
 
I take my tanks to a place locally that fills them on site. They put the tank on a scale and weight it as it is being filled. An empty tank weighs 18 pounds, the figure the heavy hose they attach to it is another 2 pounds, and they fill until the scale says 40 pounds. So I get the full 20 pounds of propane (or darn close to it) for $18.00.
 
I take my tanks to a place locally that fills them on site. They put the tank on a scale and weight it as it is being filled. An empty tank weighs 18 pounds, the figure the heavy hose they attach to it is another 2 pounds, and they fill until the scale says 40 pounds. So I get the full 20 pounds of propane (or darn close to it) for $18.00.

Yup, that's why there's so many discrepancies in "how long does a tank last" threads. Many, many variables, especially when most are starting out with less propane than others.
 

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