Propane tank gauge

[Hen]

Does anyone use a gauge on their propane tanks and if so what type, and kind seems to work best?

[LeonW]

I use the Mopeka Tank Sensors. I have used them for over two years, but this year I had to get one sensor replaced under warranty and it looks like the other one may need replacing soon. The problem is the magnets that hold the sensor to the bottom of the tank come loose and my attempt to fix it with super glue didn't work. also, if you buy the sensors you should also get the halo that goes on the bottom of the tank to raise it enough so there is room for the sensors.

All that said, The sensors have worked wel until this falll, and send me an alert on my phone when a tank falls below 20%.

Usually Costco has propane tanks with gauges on sale in the spring, and I have thought about buying a set of those one of these days if the existing propane tanks wear out.

[Hen]

Thank you for your response. I once used a strip that stuck to the tank and of I remember correctly you had to throw some hot water onto the strip to get a reading of what was in the tank. I thought it seemed to work ok. Any one else remember those strips?

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Hen

Thank you for your response. I once used a strip that stuck to the tank and of I remember correctly you had to throw some hot water onto the strip to get a reading of what was in the tank. I thought it seemed to work ok. Any one else remember those strips?

Oh yeah. Unfortunately I can't use them easily. In the 5.0 and 5.0TA, the propane tanks are inside a hatch, which I really like. But then there's this...

[Brian B-P]

20-pound tanks are available with a built-in level gauge operated by the float inside which is there to run the Overfill Prevention Device that is now required. They cost a few dollars more than standard tanks, are made by both Manchester Tank and Worthington, and are available under several brand names.

[gbaglo]

Just don't waste your money on one of these.

[brightday]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

20-pound tanks are available with a built-in level gauge operated by the float inside which is there to run the Overfill Prevention Device that is now required. They cost a few dollars more than standard tanks, are made by both Manchester Tank and Worthington, and are available under several brand names.

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Just don't waste your money on one of these.

Thanks for the info, Brian, and for keeping me from making the (likely) misstep, Glenn! My second tank is almost empty, so this is a good time to replace both tanks. Not having to worry about just how low my propane might be when boondocking will be worth the added cost.

[gbaglo]

Do you not have the auto change over on your 17B?
I assume you do. That's all you need. Read the Escape manual on how it works. I still have to re-read the instructions to get it through my thick skull, but, you should have no need for additional gauges, once you understand it. All you have to do is to regularly check the gauge you already have.

[brightday]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Do you not have the auto change over on your 17B?
I assume you do. That's all you need. Read the Escape manual on how it works. I still have to re-read the instructions to get it through my thick skull, but, you should have no need for additional gauges, once you understand it. All you have to do is to regularly check the gauge you already have.

I do have the auto changeover and know that, once on tank's empty, you flip over to the other. Even so, I don't want to have to guess or fret about the possibility of running out of propane during long stretches of boondocking, something that could easily happen in the shoulder months. I was rather surprised by how much propane I used driving from Chilliwack to Houston, because I utilized electric hookups in campgrounds every second or third day and wasn't using gas to cook. I don't plan to continue that pattern and look forward to be "cooking with gas" in more ways than one from now on.

[gbaglo]

If you start with two full propane tanks, and check the gauge from time to time, you will know that you have an empty tank. You then move the lever to the other, remove the empty tank and have it filled.
If you have tanks with gauges, you will know if you have an empty tank.
I've run out of propane once in 12 years, and that was because I didn't check the gauge I already have.
You only flip the lever so that you can remove the empty tank. It has already automatically switched to the tank that has propane.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

If you have tanks with gauges, you will know if you have an empty tank.

If you have tanks with level gauges, you will know how much you have left (not just whether or not one is empty), which may help plan for getting a refill.

[Greg A]

Good recommendation from a fella at Quartzsite. He runs on single tank all day but opens 2nd tank before retiring at night so if it runs out he doesn’t have to go flip it at 2am. Then in the morning he closes the second tank again.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Greg A

Good recommendation from a fella at Quartzsite. He runs on single tank all day but opens 2nd tank before retiring at night so if it runs out he doesn’t have to go flip it at 2am. Then in the morning he closes the second tank again.

So he doesn't have an auto-changeover regulator (which is standard equipment on Escapes and most RVs of any type or brand with two tanks), or it doesn't work? I find they don't work well as very low temperatures, but in ordinary conditions this sort of procedure is unnecessary with an auto-changeover regulator.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Greg A

Good recommendation from a fella at Quartzsite. He runs on single tank all day but opens 2nd tank before retiring at night so if it runs out he doesn’t have to go flip it at 2am. Then in the morning he closes the second tank again.

So you have two partially used tanks? I guess he's hoping the one he uses at night doesn't run out in the middle of the night, if he's not using the auto-change regulator. Or, am I missing something?

[tractors1]

Another Mopeka use here. Liked their system so much I added another sensor to my home barbecue....

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by brightday

I do have the auto changeover and know that, once on tank's empty, you flip over to the other. Even so, I don't want to have to guess or fret about the possibility of running out of propane during long stretches of boondocking, something that could easily happen in the shoulder months. I was rather surprised by how much propane I used driving from Chilliwack to Houston, because I utilized electric hookups in campgrounds every second or third day and wasn't using gas to cook. I don't plan to continue that pattern and look forward to be "cooking with gas" in more ways than one from now on.

Ava we turn both tanks on because it will automatically switch if one is empty . Before a trip check tanks sometimes just removing and lifting , if light in weight feel just go and fill tank . You will be able ,besides the little gauge on your regulator not showing green , the empty tank is lighter . Maybe the regulator gauge shows 1/2 red and 1/2 green , that tells you the tank is 1/2 full . To look at the regulator gauge the tank valves need to be turned on . Also before you remove the tanks to fill , after you shut valves off , turn your stove on . That releases the gas pressure before you remove the tank hoses . Once you get the hang of it , very easy . Instead of changing your tanks the system mentioned Tractors 1 , you might like but not cheap . Pat

[Viajante]

Originally Posted by Greg A

Good recommendation from a fella at Quartzsite. He runs on single tank all day but opens 2nd tank before retiring at night so if it runs out he doesn’t have to go flip it at 2am. Then in the morning he closes the second tank again.

That will work until it doesn't work.

[brightday]

Thanks, Pat!

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by brightday

Thanks, Pat!

Pat

[John in Santa Cruz]

FWIW, both the auto-change regulator on my Escape 21, and the identical one on my Casita, never indicated when they'd flipped. I know they flipped, because the selected tank would be empty, and the other tank would be half empty or whatever, but the indicator stayed green.

I finally replaced the one on the Escape with a Marshall-Excelsior double tank regulator, and its indicator works perfectly. Soon as the selected tank is empty, the indicator goes red and it starts feeding from the other. Flip the lever over, the indicator goes back to green.