RV Propane Tank Overfill Protection Device Identification
Dave SolbergDescription
Anyone who owns or travels in an RV understands the importance of RV propane tanks. Before any RV propane tank can be filled with propane, the cylinder will be inspected to ensure than an overfill protection device is installed. Although all RV propane tanks made after October of 1998 are required to have an overfill protection device (also known as an OPD), it is important to know where exactly it is located and how to identify when the RV propane tank fills to reach the proper level of propane, and the flow of gas is shut off by the float.
What exactly is an OPD? It is “A Safety device that is designed to provide an automatic means to prevent the filling of a container in excess of the maximum permitted filling limit” as defined by the National Fire Protection Association Pamphlet. The OPD is needed because overfilled RV propane tanks can potentially create hazardous conditions when subjected to warmer weather. If you are wondering if your current RV propane tank has an OPD installed, check the value. It should have a triangular hand wheel stamped with the letters OPD. Learn more about OPDs and exactly how they work in this informational RV video.
Since October of 1998, DOT cylinders are required to have an overfill protection device or OPD installed in them. This is identified by the triangular handle that's at the top versus the old round-style. So, when you take it in they're going to look for this type. They will not fill it unless it has it. We've got one here on a sample, and you can see that if, when they fill a tank, they're gonna put into the fill neck here open it up. We have a relief valve back on this side. You can see the OPD stamped right into the side of the valve here. Uh, this is actually a sight gauge optional that you could put a line in and put a physical gauge on it. We don't see that very often. Therefore you get the set screw inside, but once this starts to fill up in here, what's going to happen is this float is going to rise as it fills up. And once it hits 80%, it's gonna shut it off. So inside here we can see that this, literally comes up to the 80% Mark. We'll shut the flow off on the inside of that tank. So, make sure if you've got an older tank that does not have the OPD valve, you can get it replaced, but typically it's more expensive than just buying a new tank.
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