Propane level monitor

After extensive research I too found the gauges to re unreliable and to use the 2 tank system. Its the cheapest and most reliable.

The auto switch-over works just fine. You simply have to check the indicator regularly to see if the in-service tanks has run empty. When use is high - eg furnace - check more often.

1. Turn only 1 tank on at a time.
2. Camping World has a propane gauge that connects to the tank and then the hose. So far, they have been accurate and reliable.
3. I carry a 2 gal. propane tank for the BBQ, but in an emergency, it would be usable if I ever ran both tanks empty.

If you're carrying two bottles you could turn one off so when you're down to 50% you simply turn the other one on and get the original, now empty bottle filled.

I have 2 tanks. I use the the right one as a primary and the left one as a secondary. When the right one runs out I switch to the left but, then refill the right one the next day and switch back to it immediately .

Once a year I move the left one to the right side and put a full one back onto the left side to make sure it still full.

So in other words I am almost always running off of one tank and just use the second one as a back up.

I have used the aftermarket gauges that they sell in hardware stores and in seems to be useless except to slow the propane feed.

On the side of the top handle is the legend TW and a number. This is the tare weight of the cylinder. Propane weighs about 4.2 lb/gal. If you have a scale this is a simple calculation.

The float on the valve measures the liquid level in the tank not the vapor and also prevents the over filling of the cylinder aka opd valve. Works Just like the larger home tank gauges not 100% but close.

Some tanks are available with built in gauges. Sams Club has them I think they are made by Worthington (sp?) but from what I read even those can be hit and miss. For instance we have forklift propane tanks with these built in guages and the majority of time they work but sometimes they don't. So if they work 90% of the time it may be realible enough....except if it's 36 when it doesn't work.

kelly51 wrote:
They do make opd cylinder valves with magnetic gauges but they clip on the valve and seem to work ok. Look at page 4 of the pdf. We install them where I work and cost around $20 to swap out.
http://www.gasequipment.com/catalogs/Catalog_8_PDF/23-Cylinders.pdf

Sorry, but Canadian Tire here in Canada sells that exact gauge, I've got one, and it's all but useless because it's measuring vapour not the level of liquid propane left in the tank, which is what you want to know. The most effective method is to weigh the tank and subtract it's tare weight which is stamped right on the collar ... then you will know how much liquid propane is left in the tank.

They do make opd cylinder valves with magnetic gauges but they clip on the valve and seem to work ok. Look at page 4 of the pdf. We install them where I work and cost around $20 to swap out.
http://www.gasequipment.com/catalogs/Catalog_8_PDF/23-Cylinders.pdf