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Author Topic: How many burns out of a 5lb propane tank?  (Read 5620 times)

Offline cbiddy

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How many burns out of a 5lb propane tank?
« on: May 07, 2010, 10:19:58 am »
Moving into a condo that only allows a 5lb propane tank on the deck.  How long or how many batches can I get with this?  I'm assuming just one, but can even get that much? 

Offline bonjour

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Re: How many burns out of a 5lb propane tank?
« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2010, 10:27:20 am »
I usually get 5+ batches (5 gallons) 2-3 if I'm going back to back with my really big beers

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Offline bluesman

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Re: How many burns out of a 5lb propane tank?
« Reply #2 on: May 07, 2010, 10:28:23 am »
Depends on the efficiency of the burner, ambient temp, type and size of mash. Assuming the use of a decent burner like a banjo or hurricane burner at 70F, making 5 gallons using a single infusion of 1.050ish wort. I can make about 3 to 4 batches with a standard 5 gallon propane tank.
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Offline richardt

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Re: How many burns out of a 5lb propane tank?
« Reply #3 on: May 07, 2010, 10:31:17 am »
10 gallon batches--about 3 times off of one 5-gallon tank. 

Always be prepared:
Extra water (e.g., RO)
Extra tank of propane
Extra hoses
etc.

Offline dak0415

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Re: How many burns out of a 5lb propane tank?
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2010, 10:40:54 am »
Moving into a condo that only allows a 5lb propane tank on the deck.  How long or how many batches can I get with this?  I'm assuming just one, but can even get that much? 

Do you really mean 5 POUND tank or a std 20# (5 gallon) grill tank?
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Offline theDarkSide

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Re: How many burns out of a 5lb propane tank?
« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2010, 10:58:29 am »
About 4-5 per standard grill tank for me. 
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Offline IHBHS

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Re: How many burns out of a 5lb propane tank?
« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2010, 11:13:14 am »
4-5 sounds about right, if you're heating your strike water with the propane and not on a stove top.  Also take into account how long your boil is as well, and once you get the boil going, depending on the heat retention of your kettle, it's going to take much less heat to keep the boil going.  To save that propane though, I'd heat your strike/sparge water on a stove top.
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Offline mnstorm99

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Re: How many burns out of a 5lb propane tank?
« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2010, 01:02:17 pm »
5# would be dangerous.  I get anywhere from 3-5 out of my 20# (standard) tank, so you might only get one batch per tank fill, and you better hope it is completely filled before you brew.
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Offline cbiddy

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Re: How many burns out of a 5lb propane tank?
« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2010, 04:03:13 pm »
Thanks for the feedback....I should probably have been more clear.  I mean the small 5 lb propane tanks....NOT the standard 20#.  I heat strike/sparge in the house on the range...and I have a bayou classic sq14.   So you guys get more than 2 60 min burns out of a mini tank?

Offline a10t2

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Re: How many burns out of a 5lb propane tank?
« Reply #9 on: May 07, 2010, 06:23:55 pm »
I have the SP10 and get roughly 10-12 hours of burn time out of a 20 lb tank. So that would be maybe 2.5-3 hours from a 5 lb tank. It looks like the SP14 has a 10 psi regulator instead of 20 psi, but I don't run it anywhere near full open anyway.
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Offline Rhoobarb

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Re: How many burns out of a 5lb propane tank?
« Reply #10 on: May 10, 2010, 03:19:23 pm »
Why not buy a couple of 5lb. tanks so you always have one "hidden" and at the ready if the other one goes down?  ;)
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