My gauge on my EMS panel for the propane tank #1 was reading empty light bright and 1/4 little less bright but on. Now it's reading full, all four lights lite up. I've never let it get this low before refilling. What gives? I must still have propane because all gas appliances are working? Any issues with it running to empty? Trying to avoid pulling up stakes until I'm ready to leave if I don't have to.

If you're dry camping, fridge will stop working. Many have a "Check" light on the top. If it's lit, you are out of propane.Did you mention what kind of tanks you have? If portable tanks, you can pull one and take it to town to get it filled.If a MH, Extend-a-Stay (mod) will allow you to use a portable tank instead of the inbuilt tank.As far as anything being damaged by running out? Each device should try to light a few times, then lock out (stop trying) when you run out. When you do fill up, hold a BBQ lighter against the stove top burners and open it full until it lights to purge the air from the lines before power cycling your other propane devices (fridge, h/w, furnace)Hope this helps.

I am not familiar with your rig , so I am spit balling here. My rig has a gauge on the tank next to the shut off valve. Could yours possibly have the same that you could check?

It's a 28 gl tank under the RV, not portable. Main concern was running out issues. They have propane in the park I'm in but as I said avoiding refilling until I'm ready to leave in a few weeks. Thanks

Valkyriebush wrote:Any issues with it running to empty? I had to reset the furnace when both bottles ran empty. Needed the forum to find out what was going on and to find the switch.

No problem with running out just might need to purge the line after you refill by turning on the stove top burner till it lites. Check the gauge on the tank, this is usually more accurate than the monitor.

Propane gauge | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

Canadian_Rainbi
Explorer
Nov 27, 2013
At the tank gauge the wire(s) are probably just push on terminals that can get dirty or corroded and give a false reading to the panel. Pull the connectors off and clean them then replace. Sometimes just taking off and pushing back on is enough.
69_Avion
Explorer
Nov 26, 2013
Installers have known for years that galvanized coating can flake off which in turn will create problems with the gas orifices in your system. Codes many years ago would only allow black iron (steel) pipe. If they allow galvanized today (I haven't worked in the field for decades) it still doesn't change the reason why it wasn't allowed years ago.
Valkyriebush
Explorer II
Sep 04, 2013
Gauge is back to normal E and 1/4 lit up. Go figure
pkunk
Explorer
Sep 04, 2013
gotsmart wrote:
pkunk wrote:
That galvanized elbow is a no-no for use with propane.

It depends on what code you are dealing with. for propane work most states have adopted NFPA #58 as the ruling code. NFPA 58 allows both black and galvanized pipe for propane gas however both types have to be certified ASTM A53 steel pipe so there wouldn't be any difference in the strength of the pipe. the only difference is in the Galvanized coating.

When I was an Installer, I was told that the galvanize had some reaction with the propane. Now that I think about it, they don't galvanize the inside of the pipe-do they?
gotsmart
Explorer
Sep 03, 2013
pkunk wrote:
That galvanized elbow is a no-no for use with propane.

It depends on what code you are dealing with. for propane work most states have adopted NFPA #58 as the ruling code. NFPA 58 allows both black and galvanized pipe for propane gas however both types have to be certified ASTM A53 steel pipe so there wouldn't be any difference in the strength of the pipe. the only difference is in the Galvanized coating.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Sep 03, 2013
You have a bad connection, likely at the sensor,, Same as I do.
Valkyriebush
Explorer II
Sep 03, 2013
Thanks all. I did not know there is a gauge on the tank. I'll look in the morning.
pkunk
Explorer
Sep 02, 2013
That galvanized elbow is a no-no for use with propane.
gotsmart wrote:
Valkyriebush wrote:
It's a 28 gl tank under the RV, not portable. Main concern was running out issues. They have propane in the park I'm in but as I said avoiding refilling until I'm ready to leave in a few weeks. Thanks

The tank on my MH is not portable, but it has a gauge on it, below and to the left of the yellow fill port cap. If your test panel is acting flaky, open the propane tank's service panel and read the gauge on the tank itself.

click on photo for a larger image
D___M
Explorer
Sep 02, 2013
gotsmart wrote:
Valkyriebush wrote:
It's a 28 gl tank under the RV, not portable. Main concern was running out issues. They have propane in the park I'm in but as I said avoiding refilling until I'm ready to leave in a few weeks. Thanks

The tank on my MH is not portable, but it has a gauge on it, below and to the left of the yellow fill port cap. If your test panel is acting flaky, open the propane tank's service panel and read the gauge on the tank itself.

click on photo for a larger image

Same set up I have. I think they are all pretty much the same.
gotsmart
Explorer
Sep 02, 2013
Valkyriebush wrote:
It's a 28 gl tank under the RV, not portable. Main concern was running out issues. They have propane in the park I'm in but as I said avoiding refilling until I'm ready to leave in a few weeks. Thanks

The tank on my MH is not portable, but it has a gauge on it, below and to the left of the yellow fill port cap. If your test panel is acting flaky, open the propane tank's service panel and read the gauge on the tank itself.

click on photo for a larger image

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Propane gauge

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