Propane gauges on tanks question

Bad by poor design.
Get a Cavagna brand regulator from Amazon.

Forget those dial gauges based on pressure.

path1 wrote:
Trailer is 2013 and the propane "sight level gauge indicator" doesn't work right. Supposed to be "green" when enough propane is in tank then turn "red" when tank is empty. Then the turn knob and use propane from other tank.

Problem on 3 different gauges has been... The green shows until both tanks are empty. I replaced original propane regulator with same make and model as OEM. Still didn't work right. Then last winter replaced again with one that a large propane dist said they get very few returns on.

So that's 3 propane regulators with "sight gauge" not working right. The odds of 3 of them being bad seem highly unlikely to me.

Is there anything I should check or do?

What I'm I missing?

Gauges like this?...



These types use tank PRESSURE to measure how much propane is left.

They tend to be rather inaccurate BUT if you understand how the pressure drops as the tank nears being depleted you can use them to warn you it is low..

The stick on the side gauges which use temperature difference tend tend to be more accurate since they measure the actual liquid left..

The most accurate if you can find them is the in the tank gauge.. These use a float inside the tank to move an indicator on the top of the tank.. The downside is these are built in to the tank valve so you would have to have a real propane supplier install then pressure test the tank..

Supposedly THIS 20 lb tank has a built in gauge (although the pix does not show it) for $45

Found THIS tank which is a 30 lb tank WITH gauge for $103..

2oldman wrote:
Where are you positioning the valve lever on the regulator when you hook up two tanks?

Valve lever knob...

with small arrow on knob is pointed toward tank being used.

Have one of these...

http://www.marshallexcelsior.com/sites/default/files/FORM%20973%20MEGR-253%20SERIES%20REV%20A.pdf

Where are you positioning the valve lever on the regulator when you hook up two tanks?

Deleted. Reread the OP's post and see (as others have now pointed out) that he probably doesn't understand how a dual tank changeover regulator is designed to work. :R