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DallasSteve's avatar
DallasSteve
Nomad
Mar 25, 2020

Propane Switch: Was Red, Now Green

I have 2 propane tanks on my motorhome and there is a switch in the middle that directs which tank you want to use. I read the manual (really) and it said when one is empty the switch will change from green to red and start using propane from the other tank. I've been running the furnace a bit at night and so this morning I checked. Both tanks started out full on this new RV I bought. The switch had been on the right tank (for no particular reason). This morning the switch was red for the first time. I think this means the right tank is now empty and it is now using the left tank. I switched it to the left to see if it was green. It was green. Then I switched back to the right tank where it was red and now it shows green. I went back and forth several times (and again a few hours later) and now they are both showing green. So what does this mean? A bad switch? An almost empty tank? I now have the Coronavirus? I actually got an email from the Texas Parks Department today telling me that someone at Cedar Hill State Park tested positive for COVID-19 so they are closing the park. They wanted to tell me because I was there Sunday. I've got no signs yet. I think my broccoli will kill any virus.
Seeking Advice

10 Replies

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  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Mar 26, 2020
    Put the lever back to the left and fill the right cylinder. Enjoy the furnace.
  • Dave_Pete's avatar
    Dave_Pete
    Explorer II
    Mar 26, 2020
    wa8yxm wrote:
    The Red/Green is a pressure gauge. When you switched over the pressure rose. there may be a check valve to keep the pressure from "Bleeding" down into the empty tank.. So unless you draw propane off by some means it will continue to show GREEN till something turns on.

    Recommendation: Refill the empty tank.


    That's right. If you closed both valves and reduced pressure in the line (open stove, re-close) then opened both valves with the selector on the right empty one you could probably duplicate the entire experience.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Mar 26, 2020
    The Red/Green is a pressure gauge. When you switched over the pressure rose. there may be a check valve to keep the pressure from "Bleeding" down into the empty tank.. So unless you draw propane off by some means it will continue to show GREEN till something turns on.

    Recommendation: Refill the empty tank.
  • bucky's avatar
    bucky
    Explorer II
    Mar 26, 2020
    Make sure that the lever is in the left position before you unhook the right tank to go get it refilled. Or turn off the left tank if you don't need it for anything until you get back with the newly refilled right tank. I can't say all regulators act the same way but just to be sure.
  • opnspaces's avatar
    opnspaces
    Navigator II
    Mar 26, 2020
    I'm with salem on this one since I've observed this many times. As said close the left tank and run a stove burner. once the pressure bleeds out of the line the gauge will go red.
  • jdc1's avatar
    jdc1
    Explorer II
    Mar 26, 2020
    rdhetrick wrote:
    My guess is that the temperature rise during the day caused enough of a pressure increase in the tank to push the indicator up to green. I'm sure it's empty though, so time to get it refilled.


    Ding, ding, ding....winner!
  • salem's avatar
    salem
    Explorer
    Mar 26, 2020
    Possibly the reason it stayed green when you switched it back to the empty tank is due to it having pressure in the lines. Close your left tank. With handle pointing toward right tank, turn a stove burner on. This will relieve the pressure. Your gauge should turn red.
  • PawPaw_n_Gram's avatar
    PawPaw_n_Gram
    Explorer
    Mar 26, 2020
    Well, 82 yesterday on Lake Tawakoni. 52 this morning.

    I've seen temp variations like that make the cutover switch go from empty to full and back several times in the past six years of full-timing.

    I always take the 'empty tank' off the trailer and get it refilled. Some times it only will take 6.5 or 6.6 gallons in that situation, rather than 6.8 as is normal.

    I've never replaced the switch.

    When it shows empty, plan to fill it at the first opportunity. And 84 degrees today might make it flip flop again.
  • Howie3's avatar
    Howie3
    Explorer
    Mar 25, 2020
    You could always unhook the right tank and lift it to see if it was indeed empty. I never knew for sure about how the indicators read for both tanks.

    I'll keep my fingers crossed on your not getting coronavirus from the park. I'm sure the broccoli will kill it though. I read it on the internet.

    Howie
  • rdhetrick's avatar
    rdhetrick
    Explorer
    Mar 25, 2020
    My guess is that the temperature rise during the day caused enough of a pressure increase in the tank to push the indicator up to green. I'm sure it's empty though, so time to get it refilled.

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