After having a thorough knowledge about the ability of these small Coleman fuel tanks, your next option for saving money as well as means should be the~ big 15-lb propane tank, but the question is, How to attach a propane tank to a camping stove?
We can only connect a camp stove to a big propane tank by using a high-pressure flexible pipe for weighing up the high pressure of the gas with a Type-1 adapter at one side and a 1″ male threaded connector at the other side.
It will be helpful if the stove is without an automatic pressure regulator. No doubt, flexible pipe and adaptor make converting the gas into the tank easy. We must have a thorough knowledge and follow all the steps one by one while performing every part necessary for this task.
There is another way out: you may attach your camp stove to a big 20 lb refillable tank and avoid using small tanks. Although the usage of any hose is not secure, the hose must have the capacity to weigh up the pressure as per the requirement of the 15 lb propane tank.
Which camp stoves can you connect to a large propane tank?
This article is about camping gas burners and grills, which can be attached to 1 lb portable propane tanks having threaded connectors. For example, other camping products like heaters, lamps, etc., can also be converted in the light of this article.
The basic requirement is to use the 1 “threaded connector gas-consuming propane tank. Very well-known camping gas burners and grills of This Type are by Coleman Company.
These are available with one or two burners operated by a 1lb portable propane gas tank and a 1 “threaded connector that can be directly attached to your portable propane tank. Some renowned burners like the Coleman Fold N Go, ColemanPowerpack single burner stove, and Coleman camp grill.
After converting and getting help from this article, you can attach your camp gas burner or grill to any big propane cylinder with a Type-1 connector.
Connecting Camp Stoves to Big Propane Tank-requirements
While transforming your camp gas burner to run on a big 15 lb or 20 lb refillable propane tank, you will require one of the transformation kits, whether available with an innate pressure controller or without it.
● High-pressure hose with Type 1 Adapter without regulator
● High-pressure hose with Type 1 Adapter with a regulator
It is mentioned here that the transformation kit consists of two basic elements, the adapter, and the pressure controller. So I have to explain the kit’s components and function; it will help you determine which transformation kit suits you.
High-pressure hose with type-1 adapter
It is the basic element to transform your camp gas burner to run on any big propane tank. The camp gas burners attached to the 1 lb small and movable propane tank have 1 “threaded connectors to which you connect your tank.
On the contrary, the big propane cylinders have Acme Type-1 connectors. To attach two distinctive connectors, an adaptor is required. Keeping the big propane tank at a reasonable distance from the lighting burner will be wise.
The adaptor is raised upon the edge of some feet of lengthy high-pressure hoses making a part of a transformation kit that attaches the tank and the burner.
Pressure regulator
The pressure controller is an element that ensures that your tool is getting the desired pressure for excellent working. The latest burners and grills are available with innate pressure controllers. In the presence of this tool, there is no need for an extra one for the conversion process.
Check out your burner for an adjustable bubble figure. If you find it, it is the pressure controller built in. If you need clarification, consult your burner’s manual book if there is any description of the pressure controller.
To attach a high-pressure 20-lb propane cylinder to the less gas-pressure camping burner, you require a high-pressure flexible pipe and a charger from “A type 1” connector to a male replaceable tank port.
On the other hand, an adapter is required to change a common hose attached to a recognized propane tank (but not of the Coleman replaceable 1 lb type) to the fitting used on a replaceable propane cylinder.
Coleman also provides a hose, an adapter specially manufactured for this work. You can find this on Dick s Sporting Goods or Amazon. Along with the adapter, you must have a high-pressure hose. High-pressure hoses are required for high-pressure gas.
If you use an inappropriate hose, you may face a mishap. The high-pressure hose manufactured by Coleman is of dual action quality as it simultaneously has the high-pressure flexible pipe and the adapter.
Many Coleman burners are equipped with a pressure controller connected to the outwardly projected hard hose to where the movable cylinder is attached. Therefore, no extra controller is required there.
If the burner is without a controller, you can use a high-pressure hose charger with a controller at the edge; you must be sure about the burner end of the flexible pipe and that it is with the appropriate kind of connector that suits your burner.
The article reveals that if your burner or grill has an innate pressure controller, take the transformation kit without a controller. Otherwise, take the equipment with a pressure controller.
A gas pressure controller ensures that an adequate quantity of gas is supplied to the gas stoves and grills, etc., for a comparison; think over as you drink from a fire hose. It will take work. Controlling gas pressure is very significant.
Too much gas in the stove will harm the furnace and yourself; an appropriate gas pressure is useful. A high-pressure burner can be functional at less pressure, but you may face some problems. It cannot give you an excellent performance.
Low pressure is admitted at 11 inches or 6 oz of pressure. (1/2 psi). Burners consume, at the most, about 50000 BTUs in areas of low pressure. High pressure is considered: Anything higher than 6 oz per square inch of high-pressure burners consumes more than 50000 BTUs.
Most Coleman camp burners are rated high pressure and work on gas pressures of 15 to 20 PSI. It shows that the Coleman camp burner’s innate controller takes down the pressure from the bottle to 15-20 PSI.
If you use a stove with more than one burner and its stand, you may utilize the camp burner that consumes high-pressure gas. A big hint to find out the type of stove you are using is the type of controller attached to your stove.
Many stoves are equipped with a controller. Some controllers are inside the furnace, and some are innate. Coleman’s old double burner stove is available with a pipe attached from the camp stove to the 1 lb propane cylinder. It consumes the pressure to 15-20 PSI.
The controller connected to the furnace, high or low, keeps the pressure at which the stove is inclined to be functional. The camp stove and controller will help you and require a high-pressure hose with a suitable adapter, as mentioned here.
Coleman stove propane adapter
Coleman is a known brand for camping stoves, and it is quite easy to buy a Coleman stove propane adapter for a 20 lb tank. As described earlier, the charger will have a long flexible pipe with a 1 “threaded female jointer at one side and an Acme Type-1 jointer at the other.
Although the Coleman appliances have an innate controller, so there is no need to use an extra one on the adapter hose; this adapter is easily available at
stores, depot, and Amazon.
How Do You Hook up a Large Propane Tank to a Camp Stove?- Step by Step
If you have a propane kit, it would be easy to hook up a large propane tank to a camp stove or other equipment. Here are some steps to follow that help in this process. Before starting the process, ensure all the valves of your camping stove and propane tank are securely shut off. It is the foremost thing to avoid any unnecessary leakage throughout the procedure.
1. Prepare the adaptor ends
The most important thing is to clean the adopter ends with the help of any fabric to ensure there is no leftover dirt on it. Because these camping gear stays outdoors in all seasons, making them dirty sometimes, try to use Teflon tape on both adapter’s ends to make its seal better and properly. This tape has a good seal and ensures no gas leak.
2. Connect the hose to the stove
Secondly, take the smaller end of the propane conversion kit and tightly join it to the camping stove by securing it in the threaded end. Moderately tighten the pipe into the stove end using a regulator; it would be sufficient.
3. Connect the hose to the tank
Thirdly, take the Type-1 connector and tightly join it to the propane tank. Secure it into the connector and try to fit it by turning it counterclockwise. Ensure it is tight enough that gas will not leak.
4. Perform soap bubble test
Fourthly, it is important to inspect it before operating it. The soap bubble test is a good idea to see the leakages before turning your system on. So, the question is how to do a soap test.
It is easy because you first have to make a soap solution and apply it on the connector ends of both equipments (camping stove and propane tank) and see if any bubbles form.
If you find any bubbles on it, that shows gas leakage. Repair the leakage, and before switching on the stove, do the soap bubble test again.
5. Open the tank valve
Please turn on the tank valve slowly; your gas will not waste much, and its pressure will be normal. Some pressure regulators come up for extra safety, which shut off the valves and trip if they notice excessive flow at once.
Now you have successfully linked your stove to a large propane tank. Now you are free from roaming around with a portable tank and making food directly from a large tank.
Benefits of using a larger propane tank
Below are the benefits of using a larger propane tank:
● Large propane tanks are suitable for family and friends gatherings where you have to cook for many people. While smaller tanks are potable but not suitable for these situations as their gas will only allow you to cook for a few people.
● A 20lb large propane tank lasts for more than 20 hours. On the other hand, smaller propane tanks with two burners last only for 2 hours. Therefore with larger tanks, you spend less on buying new tanks and changing empty tanks.
● You don’t need to go anywhere to purchase or refill a cylinder after setting your camp stove. If you don’t want to face this situation, try using a 20lb propane tank that can easily work for hours.
● Larger propane tanks are inexpensive compared to smaller propane tanks for future perspective because you can refill larger tanks again and again. At the same time, smaller tanks are expensive and portable, not affordable in the long run.
● Larger propane tanks are environmentally friendly. In comparison, you are still determining where and how to dispose of the empty smaller tank, which ends up in a landfill.
Disadvantages of using a larger propane tank
The following are the disadvantages of using a larger propane tank:
● A 20lb propane tank is difficult to carry even though they have handles, but still, it takes more work for one person to hold it, particularly when it’s full.
● Backpackers can’t hold as it weighs more, and you have to survive with a smaller propane tank.
● A larger propane tank takes up a lot of space from the campsite, making it difficult for campers to move. Therefore some campers place their large tank in the outside area where it has direct contact with the sun, which leads to the leakage and explosion of the tank.
How much does a larger propane tank weigh?
Larger propane tanks weigh more because they are neither portable nor suitable for backpacking camping. If you are camping in a vehicle, it would be easy to carry any tank with you, but if you are hiking, smaller tanks are suitable for you depending on the people you have for eating or the duration of your trip.
The table below shows the different propane tank sizes with dimensions and weights.
| Propane Tank Size | Dimensions | Weight |
| 100 Pound | 15×48 x15 inches | 177 lb (filled) |
| 40 Pound | 12 x12 x29 inches | 68 lb (filled) |
| 30 Pound | 12 x12 x24 inches | 52 lb (filled) |
| 20 Pound | 12 x12x18 inches | 31 lb (filled) |
| 1 Pound (16.4Oz) | 8.6 x4 x3.88 inches | 1.13 lb (filled) |
Can you connect other camping equipment to a large propane tank?
It is easy to connect camping equipment to large propane tanks because they have a Type-1 connector that can easily be fixed with the equipment with a 1-inch threaded connector. You can connect your larger propane tank with a camping stove, lantern, heater, or grill.
If this equipment has a 1-inch threaded end that can easily connect to your propane tank. There is no on-and-off device with this setup. Remember to do a soap bubble test as a precautionary measure before switching on the gear.
Final Thoughts : How to Attach a Propane Tank to a Camping Stove
Camping trips are more memorable, but it becomes more enjoyable if you use large propane tanks that last longer and do not become an obstacle in your journey. The article on how to attach a propane tank to a camping stove helps you in your trip regarding the equipment you can use to connect your propane tank to a stove.
A stove is more useful if used with a large propane tank than a campfire because a camping stove is long-lasting.
Frequently Asked Questions: How to Attach a Propane Tank to a Camping Stove
Following are the frequently asked questions about how to attach a propane tank to a camping stove.
1. Can you connect a grill to a large propane tank?
It is possible to connect a grill to a large propane tank, but you need an adapter kit for the propane tank. Ensure your grill has a 1-inch male threaded end which helps in connecting with a propane tank composed of a type-1 connector.
2. Can you connect a lantern to a large propane tank?
You can connect a lantern to a large propane tank with the help of a propane adapter kit which is also used in connecting grills with the tank.
3. Can you connect an RV refrigerator to a 20lb tank?
Yes, joining an RV refrigerator to a 20lb cylinder is possible. An eight cubic feet tall fridge can work for 11 days on a 20lb tank.
4. Is a 20lb propane tank high or low pressure?
A 20lb propane tank is high-pressure. It has a pressure of 145 PSI. Propane is always stored in a liquid state at high pressure. A 20lb propane tank can exert a pressure of 10 bars (145 PSI) on its wall at room temperature. So, yes, a 20lb propane tank is a high-pressure tank.
5. Can you connect multiple propane tanks?
Yes, you can connect multiple propane tanks, but you need a regulator with an auto changeover feature.