Auto Switching Propane - Newbie Question

Ours has a lever pointed to the tank in service. When the tank has propane, it indicates green. When it is empty, it indicates red and we know it has switched over to the new tank.

Mine has a red/green indicator too but I don't use it. I close the valve on one tank. I would much rather have to go out in the cold and open the valve on the 2nd tank manually than go out in the cold and discover both are empty and I hadn't checked the indicator lately (been there, done that).

With both take valves open the switchover valve assy. will have an indicator on the front or top that will show a red indicator when the tank the selector lever is pointing to is empty. At that point you should move the lever to the other tank and valve off the empty one. After refilling that tank, open its' valve and the process starts over.

ljr wrote:
Mine has a red/green indicator too but I don't use it. I close the valve on one tank. I would much rather have to go out in the cold and open the valve on the 2nd tank manually than go out in the cold and discover both are empty and I hadn't checked the indicator lately (been there, done that).

Amen!

When the indicator turns from green to red the knob/dial/lever will be pointing at the empty tank. Move the knob/dial/lever to the other tank and go fill the empty.

Check every few days or once a week and you will never run out. Check daily if running the furnace a lot or other heavy usage.

If you tend to be forgetful then you can use the manual method stated above.

I go manual, my indicator is red always, not convinced the thing works. Suppose I should try it sometime :)

robsouth wrote:

ljr wrote:
Mine has a red/green indicator too but I don't use it. I close the valve on one tank. I would much rather have to go out in the cold and open the valve on the 2nd tank manually than go out in the cold and discover both are empty and I hadn't checked the indicator lately (been there, done that).

Amen!

Didn't pay attention one time.......out of sight/out of mind :B

After that incident with two empty tanks I leave one tank valved out until needed.
Use to swap the 'indicating lever' (as that is all the lever does) but don't do that any more either.

I really like the auto switch over regulators, even though I usually manually switch mine over. A friend of mine was camping next to me when he noticed that both of his rubber LP pigtails were leaking. One was leaking real bad and the other had a small leak. He had a regulator that fed both pigtails into a "T" on the bottom and there was no way for him to isolate one side and keep using his trailer. I took my copper pigtail off the side I wasn't using and let him use it for the weekend. It pays to have an auto switch over regulator because you can isolate one side if necessary.

I know it's a personal choice and you guys do whatever you feel is best for you, and that's great...

But I always shake my head and wonder "why" at the comments about not using the auto switch over feature as it was designed.... :) I know the comments always say that they got burned on this and had 2 empty tanks.... But, there is an easy remedy for that too... ;)

I simply LOVE the auto change over feature.. Have used it many, many times and so glad that it works as designed... I run my fridge on gas pretty much 99% of the time and I would hate to lose a fridge of food, or have my beer warm because I ran out of propane... I do have to physically pull the tank cover and check the indicator from time to time.. ;) See the red, move lever to other tank, pull empty tank, fill it, put it back and turn on and wait for next switch over..

Now, I only do long, 4 day weekend camping runs, so I guess if you are in your camper for weeks at a time there could be some validly to the practice of only using ONE tank at a time, but again, that's a personal choice and if it works for you, keep on doing it!

So, my opinion is just like yours and all I'm trying to do is give the OP a chance to make up his own mind on what he should do... :)

Good luck to all and I hope no one has to go out on a cold, rainy night to switch over their propane tank again! :) :)

Mitch

MitchF150 wrote:
I know it's a personal choice and you guys do whatever you feel is best for you, and that's great...

But I always shake my head and wonder "why" at the comments about not using the auto switch over feature as it was designed.... :) I know the comments always say that they got burned on this and had 2 empty tanks.... But, there is an easy remedy for that too... ;)

I simply LOVE the auto change over feature.. Have used it many, many times and so glad that it works as designed... I run my fridge on gas pretty much 99% of the time and I would hate to lose a fridge of food, or have my beer warm because I ran out of propane... I do have to physically pull the tank cover and check the indicator from time to time.. ;) See the red, move lever to other tank, pull empty tank, fill it, put it back and turn on and wait for next switch over..

Now, I only do long, 4 day weekend camping runs, so I guess if you are in your camper for weeks at a time there could be some validly to the practice of only using ONE tank at a time, but again, that's a personal choice and if it works for you, keep on doing it!

So, my opinion is just like yours and all I'm trying to do is give the OP a chance to make up his own mind on what he should do... :)

Good luck to all and I hope no one has to go out on a cold, rainy night to switch over their propane tank again! :) :)

Mitch

I wait until the morning......fridge will stay cold overnight, blankets get me warm and I snuggle up if real cold :B