LP Tank Question

lawnspecialties wrote:
Twin LP tanks on a camper. One tank is about 1/3 full. The other tank is completely full.

If you open both tanks, will they:
1. Level out to both 2/3 full?
2. Flow the full one until it equals the other tank?
3. Both flow evenly?

This assumes you have a proper crossover valve on top of the regulator.

1: NO
2: NO
3: NO

The Crossover valve allows the SELECTED tank to empty, then the RED/Green indicator changes to RED and it starts drawing off the other tank,. Flip the vlave handle and the indicator returns to green and you can remove teh emnpty to re-fill (and replce) without loosing LP to the trailer.

NOTE: I have seen trailers that did NOT have a proper cross over, IN fact I owned one. ON these things might work differently (it had a simple "T" fitting) Such trailers are dangerous by the way if you do not follow the proper procedure you can get serious injury or a propane explosion.

rhagfo wrote:

Bobbo wrote:

4X4Dodger wrote:
An auto switchover regulator is a very good way to find your self with TWO empty tanks instead of one.

Turn on one tank and use it till it;s empty. Then turn the other on. It takes less than two minutes.

Not if you check the gauge every day or so. It is not install and forget. You still have to monitor it occasionally.

X2!!

Much easier to check every day or two, than to find out on a clod night you need to get up and open the second tank, or worse Wind and Rain!!

My gas is on 24/7/365, even when in storage. Why not i have lived in gas houses and it was on 24/7/365.

Mine is on 24/7/365 also.
But only one cylinder is valved in and in service.
I prefer only one at a time.
And never have run out at 2-3AM.

Just different way of doing things. No right/wrong just preferences.
We leave waste tanks drain valves closed....others leave grey open
We can/do equalize waste tanks...others would never do that
We use Noritake China..others use paper plates

:B :B

Bobbo wrote:

4X4Dodger wrote:
An auto switchover regulator is a very good way to find your self with TWO empty tanks instead of one.

Turn on one tank and use it till it;s empty. Then turn the other on. It takes less than two minutes.

Not if you check the gauge every day or so. It is not install and forget. You still have to monitor it occasionally.

X2!!

Much easier to check every day or two, than to find out on a clod night you need to get up and open the second tank, or worse Wind and Rain!!

My gas is on 24/7/365, even when in storage. Why not i have lived in gas houses and it was on 24/7/365.

lawnspecialties wrote:
Thanks to all. I never really paid attention to exactly how the regulator worked.

What about 5ers which have one tank on both sides of the camper? Is there a regulator somewhere in-between. I've seen some built that way.

Off side propane cylinder has a single stage regulator to drop cylinder pressure down before crossing over 5vr to other side.
Cylinder 200# to RED regulator 30# output.

4X4Dodger wrote:
An auto switchover regulator is a very good way to find your self with TWO empty tanks instead of one.

Turn on one tank and use it till it;s empty. Then turn the other on. It takes less than two minutes.

Not if you check the gauge every day or so. It is not install and forget. You still have to monitor it occasionally.

We always left both tanks on. Then watched as we used propane until it switched, then refilled empty tank.
If you leave the second tank off as suggested, you will in doubt run out of propane in the middle of a cold night.

4X4Dodger wrote:
An auto switchover regulator is a very good way to find your self with TWO empty tanks instead of one.

Turn on one tank and use it till it;s empty. Then turn the other on. It takes less than two minutes.

It's also possible to run out of gas in your truck in the middle of no-where if you don't check the fuel gauge once in a while. Life is full of little things like checking gauges once in a while to ensure you're good to go. So if you are the type of person that can't remember to check your gas gauge, oil level, air in tires, propane tanks, black tanks, etc., etc., etc., once in a while, then maybe you need a reminder app or a list or something.

4X4Dodger wrote:
An auto switchover regulator is a very good way to find your self with TWO empty tanks instead of one.

Turn on one tank and use it till it;s empty. Then turn the other on. It takes less than two minutes.

This is true if you never check the indicator.

I had a one bottle at a time pop-up camper and it ran out of propane EVERY time a bottle emptied and I had to remove and reconnect the other bottle. Usually at 2am :(

Have NEVER run out with the automatic :)

lawnspecialties wrote:
What about 5ers which have one tank on both sides of the camper? Is there a regulator somewhere in-between. I've seen some built that way.

Basically the same with one automatic regulator that will drain the bottles in sequence. The remote bottle will have an additional high pressure regulator to feed to the other side. In effect it works the same.

4X4Dodger wrote:
An auto switchover regulator is a very good way to find your self with TWO empty tanks instead of one.

Turn on one tank and use it till it;s empty. Then turn the other on. It takes less than two minutes.

Never happened to me in 20 years of full timing. You just need to be aware in very cold weather.
It may take less than 2 minutes, but when that 2 minutes is at 3 am because the furnace is blowing cold air.... no thanks.