I have 2 propane tanks with an auto switching regulator. The regulator does exactly what it is designed to do. The only bad part is I don't know when it switches unless I go outside and check it daily. That could be risky when it's cold outside as I wouldn't know how long it had been on the backup tank. The other day I switched it over, didn't have a spare tank, and ran out before I could get tanks filled. What I need is some sort of gauge or indicator that I can wire up to something inside the RV that I can glance at. The only other option at the moment is to leave #2 tank turned off until needed. Then replace empty, and have at standby. The bad thing would be the furnace quitting from lack of propane at 3 am and 35 degrees outside. Anyone have any suggestions?

I don't think wiring up electricity to highly flammable propane is the answer. There are gauges you can install but you'll still have to go out and check them. Unless you're in snow country and keep your trailer at 85*, a tank should last a few days or longer.

lp-tank-check-gas-level-kit-monitor

You should be able to trust the auto switch over valve on the regulator. Do your due diligence and look at your tanks daily. Leave both tanks open at all times, indicator pionted at only one. The best guage of partial tanks level in cold weather is to pour a glass of hot water down the side, feel with your fingers where the temp. diff. is, that is your liquid propane level. In hot weather, use iced water! Do not trust the frost line, it may be yesterdays Propanes vapor, boiling point is -44.3 f. As you demand it to boil off, the liquid chills, lowering the temp and volume it can vaporize. When it can no longer vaporize fast enough to meet your demand, the regulator will signal 'Empty' even when it may not be, due to the nature of the fuel. Its physics 101, no other scheme will do unless you have float levels in the tanks. Pressure is relative to temperature and demand.

Do a search for LP Remote Change-Over Indicator, there are some that work.

time2roll wrote:lp-tank-check-gas-level-kit-monitor:EVery nifty.Do you have experience with this?

Low propane indicator? | Good Sam Community

fj12ryder
Explorer III
Mar 17, 2018
TurnThePage wrote:
If I don't remember, I remove and heft the tanks before a trip. I can tell close to full versus empty. If there's doubt, I top them off before leaving. Doesn't everybody? I mean seriously?!
Let me ask you a question: Is it easier to use a small pen sized gadget to check the level, or is it easier to unhook the lines, screw out the tank retaining mechanism, lean the tank to the side so it can be removed to "heft the tank"? I mean seriously?! My tank storage is extremely awkward to access so why should I do it your way just because you think everyone else should do as you do. I mean seriously?!
time2roll
Nomad
Mar 17, 2018
Never topped off a propane cylinder in almost 20 years of dragging around an RV.
Refill at the indicator only. Sometimes I come home with an empty but always have it filled in short order.
TurnThePage
Explorer
Mar 17, 2018
fj12ryder wrote:
TurnThePage wrote:
Crazy. If one runs out at night, get up and switch to the other. Next day refill the empty. I'm not clever enough for anything else. I rarely need need propane at night anyhow. If it was cold enough, I'd turn on the 12v heated blanket timer and go back to sleep. Morning is soon enough.
Great idea provided you use your trailer consistently. Some of us don't, believe it or not. Sometimes it's a couple months between usages, and memories can be tricky things. You may forget that the one tank is empty and you switched over to the other tank but didn't fill the empty. How do you check to see how full the tanks are before you take off? Or do you just roll the dice? I prefer to be able to check my tanks before I leave and fill as necessary.
If I don't remember, I remove and heft the tanks before a trip. I can tell close to full versus empty. If there's doubt, I top them off before leaving. Doesn't everybody? I mean seriously?!
77rollalong
Explorer
Mar 16, 2018
we also had a switching type regulator, and never had a problem, we would go up to the trailer, on friday night, turn on both tanks, every day check the sight glass, if it changed to red, one tank was empty.. and knew that the other tank would last a few days any way, and get it filled before the other would go empty..
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Mar 16, 2018
TurnThePage wrote:
Crazy. If one runs out at night, get up and switch to the other. Next day refill the empty. I'm not clever enough for anything else. I rarely need need propane at night anyhow. If it was cold enough, I'd turn on the 12v heated blanket timer and go back to sleep. Morning is soon enough.
Great idea provided you use your trailer consistently. Some of us don't, believe it or not. Sometimes it's a couple months between usages, and memories can be tricky things. You may forget that the one tank is empty and you switched over to the other tank but didn't fill the empty. How do you check to see how full the tanks are before you take off? Or do you just roll the dice? I prefer to be able to check my tanks before I leave and fill as necessary.
TurnThePage
Explorer
Mar 16, 2018
Crazy. If one runs out at night, get up and switch to the other. Next day refill the empty. I'm not clever enough for anything else. I rarely need need propane at night anyhow. If it was cold enough, I'd turn on the 12v heated blanket timer and go back to sleep. Morning is soon enough.
time2roll
Nomad
Mar 16, 2018
Bought on-line from Costco. Was 2 months old.
Davidlee64
Explorer
Mar 15, 2018
I ordered a Dometic LPGC10 gas checker. It will make it easy to check actual propane levels in each tank. I am running one tank at a time.
eBay Item number 302629079400
Item price $39.00

Dometic LPGC10 gas checker
SaltiDawg
Explorer
Mar 12, 2018
Just a suggestion. If buying bottles at Costo, Home Depot, Lowes, or similar, check the manufacturing date and also inspect for damage, when selecting which bottle(s) to take.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Mar 12, 2018
fj12ryder wrote:
From what I've seen, 30 lb. tanks with gauges are 2 to 3 times as much as a 30 lb. tank without a gauge. You could be looking at around $300 for a pair of them.

30 lb CYLINDERS are low-volume sales, so prices can get tricky, but I still remember about 5 years ago Costco had 20 lb cylinders with both options.
It was $20 for just a cylinder or $25 for one with gauge.

Forum Discussion

Low propane indicator?

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Propane Level Indication?

Propane low pressure?

Low-propane alarm

Level Indicators

Propane!