re: Propane burner for Crawfish Boil

Amerigas and Blue Rhino only provide exchange tanks that are filled to 15Lbs. Those tanks are rated for 18lbs propane and in 2007 they reduced volume to 15 lbs because of rising gas prices. They changed labels and bery few people have noticed.

There is a new local company called Vacherie Fuel that provides 18LB exchange tanks which is actually 20% more than Rhino/Amerigas. Vacherie Fuel is starting to pop up at Associated Grocers stores and Rouses. I've seen them at Ralphs in Gonzales.

does your regulator ever freeze up?

i like that needle valve check valve set up... local hardware store?

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question:
why does it burn a lot of propane? is it because you dont have a regulator?

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Yep.

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my cousin is an engineer and has the same setup as you - needle valve, no regulator.

just trying to understand what all the parts do.

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The check valve is where it is to prevent any type of back pressure coming back to the tank. It's a good idea considering you're using a needle valve to regulate the flow of propane. Most regulators have an internal check valve to prevent back pressure.

Now, let's talk about that needle valve. It's simply to control the flow of propane. A standard 5gal bottle filled with 20lbs of propane will have a max output psi of 145 @ 70°F. It goes up depending on ambient temps. If it's warm out and the bottle heats up a bit to 90°F you can get about 180-190psi. So, that needle valve has the full psi of the bottle at it's seals when you turn on the tank valve. Most regulators that come with burners have a max output of psi. It's holding the 140+psi inside the regulator body and allowing 10psi of propane to go to the burner. The needle valve, on the other hand, is holding the full psi of the bottle at it's seals and letting it through a little at a time each time you turn the handle. You'd have to look at the needle valve's flow chart to see the flow rate. You have the ability to to run 140+psi of propane to the burner if you want. That will eat a ton of gas and make the flame look like the space shuttle launching.

I use a 0-40psi regulator on my double burner like below. I can get 3 boils out of standard 5gal propane tank.

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My “regulator” set up is just a free-flow propane fitting > needle valve > check valve.

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This is what I have. My wife's grandpa made my burner. Single jet, but it still brings my 100 qt pot up to a boil in less than 10 minutes

LINK This works really well!!

Where did/can you find this?

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why does it burn a lot of propane? is it because you dont have a regulator?

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Not necessarily.

I built the burner to have as much unrestricted flow as reasonably possible so that I can bring the water to boil quick. That requires a lot of gas. I can barely open the needle valve and burn as little gas as any other burner, I just lack the restraint to do so lol

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without a regulator

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It’s the best way imo. You can make any store bought burner instantly better by replacing the regulator with a needle valve. Especially these new regulators that restrict the flow so much or freeze up. Some will shut off if you exceed a certain pressure. Maybe PropaneTiger can tell us why they do that and how to disable it.