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Old 12-21-2016, 01:05 PM   #1
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Propane tank question

A few weeks ago i was Boondocking and in the middle of the night my propane heater stopped. I was surprised as I didn't think i had used much, if any propane on my previous trip when i had filled both tanks. I went out and switched over to the other tank - I hadn't opened that valve. The indicator showed half red, half green. Got the gas running and the heat worked fine the rest of the trip. This morning I took both tanks in to be filled as I am contemplating another trip and didn't want to run out. Turns out the first tank was down less than 2 gallons,and the other tank was darn near full. Can't figure out why the heater quit on the first tank, sure don't want it to happen again. Any idea what I should get checked?
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Old 12-21-2016, 01:38 PM   #2
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Your eyesight??......
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Old 12-21-2016, 01:40 PM   #3
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Curse you, Red Baron.
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Old 12-21-2016, 01:42 PM   #4
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Could not resist it.... sorry...
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Old 12-21-2016, 02:08 PM   #5
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Could not resist it.... sorry...
Jim, just wondering why you would comment about propane tanks. Rumor has it that you don't how to change one out, having had no experience!
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Old 12-21-2016, 02:10 PM   #6
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A few weeks ago i was Boondocking and in the middle of the night my propane heater stopped. I was surprised as I didn't think i had used much, if any propane on my previous trip when i had filled both tanks. I went out and switched over to the other tank - I hadn't opened that valve. The indicator showed half red, half green. Got the gas running and the heat worked fine the rest of the trip. This morning I took both tanks in to be filled as I am contemplating another trip and didn't want to run out. Turns out the first tank was down less than 2 gallons,and the other tank was darn near full. Can't figure out why the heater quit on the first tank, sure don't want it to happen again. Any idea what I should get checked?
Had the same issue last trip out . One of my tanks said it was empty , red . Went to fill it , it was full . When I got home changed out the regulator and no problems since . Not sure if that was it but everything working now . Pat
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Old 12-21-2016, 04:34 PM   #7
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A few weeks ago i was Boondocking and in the middle of the night my propane heater stopped. I was surprised as I didn't think i had used much, if any propane on my previous trip when i had filled both tanks. I went out and switched over to the other tank - I hadn't opened that valve. The indicator showed half red, half green.
Those auto-changeover valves are run by propane pressure (actually the difference between the empty tank and a non-empty tank). The pressure of propane depends on the temperature, and using propane from the tank chills the tank and thus lowers the pressure in that tank. If the tank in use gets cold enough to have inadequate pressure, the changeover valve is supposed to flip... but with the other tank's valve closed there would be no pressure to push the valve all the way to the other position.

It's not going to switch to an empty tank, or one with the tank valve closed.
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Old 12-21-2016, 04:40 PM   #8
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Gee, what is wrong with the people at ETI that they don't come and open the valves when you need them . Thanks, that explanation makes sense. Except it was over 40 F, and the tank was 2/3 full. Which the color gauge also said. Was it the fact that i hadn't opened the other valve?
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Old 12-21-2016, 05:21 PM   #9
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Gee, what is wrong with the people at ETI that they don't come and open the valves when you need them . Thanks, that explanation makes sense. Except it was over 40 F, and the tank was 2/3 full. Which the color gauge also said. Was it the fact that i hadn't opened the other valve?
Yes it was the fact that you had not opened both valves more than likely. It's not
Too hard to freeze up a tank this is assuming your regulator
Is ok. I've done it on big grills and turkey fryers too.
Dave
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Old 12-21-2016, 05:31 PM   #10
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Yes it was the fact that you had not opened both valves more than likely. It's not
Too hard to freeze up a tank this is assuming your regulator
Is ok. I've done it on big grills and turkey fryers too.
Dave
Hi Dave when we had this problem with tanks both were open . Tried everything including just trying one tank . I didn't think that tank was empty because I had just filled it . Pulled it off trailer and sure enough it was full . So when We got home replaced regulator and both lines . So far so good . Pat
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Old 01-23-2017, 02:30 PM   #11
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Tank monitor

Ran across and interesting little device; anyone tried this?

Products – Mopeka Products, LLC
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Old 01-23-2017, 02:36 PM   #12
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Really neat, as are those rubber feet. Remind me to put plastic around my tank bottom in the spring.
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Old 01-23-2017, 03:27 PM   #13
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Ran across and interesting little device; anyone tried this?

Products – Mopeka Products, LLC
Charlie-I was in Camping Word early December and they were selling the same or a similar system that went on the bottom of the tank and is monitored via smartphone App.
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Old 01-23-2017, 03:31 PM   #14
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Really neat, as are those rubber feet. Remind me to put plastic around my tank bottom in the spring.
Hey Jim.......Just put a sticky note on the tanks to install "feet" on them next time you fill them!
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Old 01-23-2017, 03:39 PM   #15
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The rubber feet come with the kit- see here https://www.amazon.com/Products-024-...e+tank+monitor
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Old 01-23-2017, 03:40 PM   #16
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This monitor will tell me when it is getting time for a new Escape........
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Old 01-23-2017, 03:46 PM   #17
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This monitor will tell me when it is getting time for a new Escape........
Maybe you can just start the CPAHarley Very Slightly Used Escape Trailer Sales and have yourself a new trailer every 6 months or so!
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Old 01-23-2017, 04:26 PM   #18
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We had the same thing happen after our first propane fill up. 2 full tanks and no propane. That was in the summer. I took the tanks back to the fill station and asked them to check them. They hooked it to to their dispenser thingie and said they were indeed full with no valve issue. They let some of the propane escape while it was still hooked up. When I later hooked them back up to the trailer, they worked fine.

My scientific deduction from this is occurrence is that that something magical happened when they hooked them back up and applied the pressure from their dispenser thingie. Indeed, I'm that smart! It's magic.
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Old 01-23-2017, 08:03 PM   #19
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Maybe you can just start the CPAHarley Very Slightly Used Escape Trailer Sales and have yourself a new trailer every 6 months or so!
Yes, but the customers will expect full propane tanks when taking delivery, which means he will have to learn how to get them filled. Gasp!
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Old 02-09-2017, 03:47 PM   #20
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This item is on sale now at http://www.makariosrv.com/mopeka-lp-...c63c-190289085
for $99- good deal
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