Propane Fire Pits

[OminousSkitter]

Is your BBQ bottle a refillable too or a propane exchange like Blue Rhino? Some people have had issues with the refillable from the internal safety tripping if you open it too quickly.

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[SadRobot]

Is your BBQ bottle a refillable too or a propane exchange like Blue Rhino? Some people have had issues with the refillable from the internal safety tripping if you open it too quickly.

It's the Blue Rhino one that I exchange when empty. It lasted a little longer than my Ignik. The ignik starts to go out at like 7-8 minutes. With the Blue Rhino it died at 10 minutes.

 

[SadRobot]

I run my fire pit on a 5 gal bottle and it can start to get cold and the flame dwindles down. In cool weather it's worse. Sometimes you can tip the bottle on it's side and it helps. I think its a pressure issue when it gets cold.

I guess maybe these propane fire pits just aren't for me. I was hoping to have something that you turn on and set and it stays on until you want it off.

My tests this morning were in 92 degree heat and the bottles were both warm to the touch during the entire test though.

 

[dragoneggs]

It sounds to me that you are having a vapor lock issue for some weird reason.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I've been reading a bit... which always seems to cost me money.

Anyway, there's a lot of recommendations to use a 2 stage pressure regulator in place of the more common (cheaper) appliance (bbq, fire pit, weed burner, etc) single stage pressure regulators. There are some cheap ones on Amazon. I think I'll get one, since I really need a fire pit right now, as it only reached 104F yesterday, 2 miles from the ocean.

 

[gdeyarmond]

Last time I'll try and sway you.... build it and the flames will come.

 

[roaniecowpony]

This is what I bought.
Amazon.com: Aekops 12 FT Propane Hose with Regulator Compatible with mr Heater F273684 Big Buddy Heaters, Two Stage Propane Regulator with Hose for RV, Gill, Gas Stove,3/8in Female x 3/8in Male Street Elbow : Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[SadRobot]

This is what I bought.
Amazon.com: Aekops 12 FT Propane Hose with Regulator Compatible with mr Heater F273684 Big Buddy Heaters, Two Stage Propane Regulator with Hose for RV, Gill, Gas Stove,3/8in Female x 3/8in Male Street Elbow : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Interesting. How do you control the flame using one of those? The one that came with the box had a knob on it and that seems to have no knob. Please report back with your results.

I returned the boxes and I guess I have a bit to figure out if I'll try something else. I'm not really in a rush as it looks like the places I am going in Texas won't even allow propane fire pits and I have no plans to go camping before that trip in November.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Interesting. How do you control the flame using one of those? The one that came with the box had a knob on it and that seems to have no knob. Please report back with your results.

I returned the boxes and I guess I have a bit to figure out if I'll try something else. I'm not really in a rush as it looks like the places I am going in Texas won't even allow propane fire pits and I have no plans to go camping before that trip in November.

Mine has a valve on pit

 

[THAW]

I guess maybe these propane fire pits just aren't for me. I was hoping to have something that you turn on and set and it stays on until you want it off.

My tests this morning were in 92 degree heat and the bottles were both warm to the touch during the entire test though.

Randomly discovered this video and thought it perhaps relevant to your situation:

 

[roaniecowpony]

Sheeeet, it's 64F at my house now. I may get to test out that fire pit 2 stage regulator.

 

[SadRobot]

Randomly discovered this video and thought it perhaps relevant to your situation:

Interesting. Although when I first start the firepit the flame is fine, unlike in that video where it starts out small. It's at about 7-10 minutes when the flame dies out.

 

[THAW]

Interesting. Although when I first start the firepit the flame is fine, unlike in that video where it starts out small. It's at about 7-10 minutes when the flame dies out.

Yup, not exactly the same behavior, but the video got me wondering if the tank safety valve is the culprit; I thought it might be worth trying the slow open technique

 

[SadRobot]

Yup, not exactly the same behavior, but the video got me wondering if the tank safety valve is the culprit; I thought it might be worth trying the slow open technique

At this point the boxes are already returned and I got my money back. I may try that Tripod Torch but my only worry is that I accidentally kick it over and start a forest fire or something.

Edit: I just read a review of the Tripod Torch and it had the same issue of flame dying down and having to keep turning it back up. That was related to the tank cooling off and pressure dropping (which may have been my issues as well although Lavabox says they've never seen what happened to me happen to anyone else).

 

[roaniecowpony]

At this point the boxes are already returned and I got my money back. I may try that Tripod Torch but my only worry is that I accidentally kick it over and start a forest fire or something.

Edit: I just read a review of the Tripod Torch and it had the same issue of flame dying down and having to keep turning it back up. That was related to the tank cooling off and pressure dropping (which may have been my issues as well although Lavabox says they've never seen what happened to me happen to anyone else).

One of these nights, I'll try out the new 2 stage regulator on my fire pit that has the same issues.

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