Propane tank question.

poppin_fresh wrote:

KD4UPL wrote:
There are various gauges and non of them work very well.
I would assume your trailer has an automatic change-over regulator, most do. Connect both tanks, aim the "service" valve toward one of them. You should see a green marker in the clear display window of the regulator. When the service tank is empty the regulator will switch to the other tank and then the marker will show red. This tells you you need to remove the tank the "service" valve is still pointing too and get it refilled.

Ahhh...is that how it works? I saw my indicator went red on the last trip, but the "supply" arrow was still pointing to the right tank.

I was assuming the arrow would flip when the supply changed, but in the back of my head couldn't figure out mechanically how it would work. Now I get it and it totally makes sense.

Thanks for the lesson...guess I better go fill a tank!

I have used this system for years without a problem. Start with two full tanks. Open both valves and note which way the "switch" is pointed. When the glass shows red the switchover with happen automatically but the "switch" will not move. Turn off the valve to the empty tank, turn the switch to the full tank and remove the empty one and refill it. Reinstall the tank and open the valve and you are ready to go.

Those who don't trust this system simply wait for their tank to run empty and then go out and open the backup tank. This is a great system to insure that you will not run completely out of propane. It isn't such a good system when the tank empties in the middle of a cold,dark and rainy night.

Using the automatic switch over could get you in a spot where you run completely out of propane but only if you are not paying attention to the little glass indicator. Both systems are good, it will just depend on how you like to run things.