Propane Tanks. Full? Empty? Or somewhere in between?

[garysd]

Has anyone used these gauges from Lee Valley?

I'm not worried about wasting my money since they have a great policy if the gauges don't work, but I thought I'd check before I ordered.

Gary

[tractors1]

I've used another brand and they do work, but I personally think it's too much hassle.....

[gbaglo]

If you pour boiling water over the tank, you will see beads of water condense at and below the level of the propane. Above that level, it will evaporate.
I'd save my money for propane.

[rbryan4]

With the automatic changeover regulator, I've never found a need for a gauge. Once the gauge goes red, time to refill the service tank.

If I really want to know how much is in a tank, just hefting it and feeling the weight is a reasonably good measure.

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[Ron in BC]

I have one of those. I've had it for years. It's been stuck to a steel door at home for a few years. It worked but having to pour hot water on it was a nuisance. We've been on our current trip for 3 weeks starting with a slightly used tank. When it runs out we'll switch tanks and carry on.

Ron

[escape artist]

Hi: All...So far with dual tanks and auto change over we manage to empty one per season. Alf
escape artist N.S. of lake Erie

[cpaharley2008]

What is a refill?

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by escape artist

Hi: All...So far with dual tanks and auto change over we manage to empty one per season. Alf
escape artist N.S. of lake Erie

Wow, that's really low consumption. We find we use a tank for every 12 days to 2 weeks of camping. But we use it for heat, run the fridge on basically propane only, and use the quick connect for the outdoor grill.



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[alanmalk]

We're in the use-it-up-fast category since we cook (and use the oven), make gallons of hot water for showers, use the furnace and of course the fridge on propane. Roughly 10 to 14 days on one 20# tank. And I purposely defeat the auto-changeover by keeping one tank closed. When the first tank runs out I switch over to the second so there are no surprises. After 20 days it is time to visit civilization and refill. (Refill food, beer, fish bait, etc, in addition to propane.)

--
Alan

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by alanmalk

We're in the use-it-up-fast category since we cook (and use the oven), make gallons of hot water for showers, use the furnace and of course the fridge on propane. Roughly 10 to 14 days on one 20# tank. And I purposely defeat the auto-changeover by keeping one tank closed. When the first tank runs out I switch over to the second so there are no surprises. After 20 days it is time to visit civilization and refill. (Refill food, beer, fish bait, etc, in addition to propane.)

--
Alan

I did this for awhile after managing to miss the change over signal & ran both tanks dry (30°F day dry camping at the Desert View Campground in the Grand Canyon) with the nearest refill 35 miles away. The problem is if the system tries to change over to a closed tank, obviously it won't work. OK if I was there, and noticed the refrigerator trying to start, but if it happened while I was on a hike or shopping, etc, the refrigerator shuts down.

I now leave both valves open. After using the trailer for a couple of years, I can usually predict about when a tank will empty & start checking the indicator.

[gbaglo]

Closing one tank defeats the system all right, but it's kinda like trying to tell yourself a lie.

[advenas]

Very timely post. I just got back from a nine day trip testing out my new 17B. Was wondering how much propane I went through and how to easily tell. Couldn't have been much as I'm pretty conservative on my usage. Thanks

[Mike Lewis]

I now have two tanks equipped with gauges. But even with those, the only way I can be sure that I'm refilling an empty tank is to watch for the first tank to show "empty" on the gauge, then wait a few days while the automatic switchover starts drawing from the second tank enough that its gauge starts going down. Then I know the first tank is as empty as it's going to get.

I left home on April 12 and have filled propane tanks five times on this trip, with a sixth refill coming up. I found Canadian gasoline prices to be not too bad given the favorable exchange rate for Americans-- from $2.75 - $3.40 US / gallon, but Canadian propane was another matter-- it was expensive, period. I had two tanks filled in Jasper for about $25 US each. Ow!

[BCnomad]

My own experience is that filling in "farm country" is cheaper than filling in "tourist towns".


Sorely tempted to get 30g tanks, but dual 20s have been ok so far.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

Canadian propane was another matter-- it was expensive, period. I had two tanks filled in Jasper for about $25 US each. Ow!

Ouch! Two tanks, completely empty, refilled (just over 9 gallons) for about $14 here.


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[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by BCnomad

Sorely tempted to get 30g tanks, but dual 20s have been ok so far.

I might do that, if I spent more time camping - particularly boondocking. But, two 20s has worked out really well for the limited amount of time we have right now to camp.



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[float5]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

I left home on April 12 and have filled propane tanks five times on this trip, with a sixth refill coming up. I found Canadian gasoline prices to be not too bad given the favorable exchange rate for Americans-- from $2.75 - $3.40 US / gallon, but Canadian propane was another matter-- it was expensive, period. I had two tanks filled in Jasper for about $25 US each. Ow!

We only fill one tank at a time and had to do that in Jasper. Think we paid about $20 on the major thoroughfare.

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by float5

We only fill one tank at a time and had to do that in Jasper. Think we paid about $20 on the major thoroughfare.

I filled one at a time, a few days apart. When I arrived in Jasper I had one tank completely empty and another that was low. I filled the empty one soon after I arrived and managed to empty out the second one before I left town, so I filled it as well.

On both occasions I was charged for 16 liters at $2 CAN per liter = $32 CAN. That's about $23.68 US, plus taxes bringing it up to $24.86 US.

Earlier on this trip I had two tanks filled in Santa Fe for $16.24 (I keep spreadsheets. On everything), and I just had a tank filled in Cheney, WA, for $9.70; $2.00 / gallon plus tax. In my hometown of Milton, Florida propane was $2.49 / gallon in April.

On past trips I've noticed that propane prices are low in the PNW, especially in the Mt. Vernon area north of Seattle. I thought this might be due to a refinery in Anacortes, but I'm guessing. It's interesting because gasoline prices are high here-- now it's about $2.80 in the Spokane area, comparable to Canadian gas prices. Had I known this beforehand I might have stayed longer in Canada.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

... Canadian propane was another matter-- it was expensive, period. I had two tanks filled in Jasper for about $25 US each. Ow!

Anything in Jasper is expensive. In the regular world (outside of parks) a 20-pound tank fill is worth perhaps $16 around here (and the price rarely changes), and bulk propane is less than that (and more variable with the market).

A few Costco locations sell propane (most don't) and are typically by far the cheapest source (for a 20-pound or 30-pound tank fill).

[escape artist]

Hi: All... At home in St. Thomas our farm fuel dealer fills a BBQ tank for $12. CAD. Trouble is I never run out at home!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie