Propane tank question.

I just read about the Truma LevelCheck, it sounds great until I saw that it was $100. When they get that technology down around $20 I'll consider it. It the meantime I'll do the switchover and/or hot water thing and generally not be as sure as I'd like to know my levels.

bguy wrote:
Just leave one tank valve closed while you use the other tank. When your propane goes out, switch tanks. You now know you will always have 20lb propane in reserve. Now you go fill the empty tank.

That can work in the warmer months but if you are boondocking in Winter and the first tank runs out at two o'clock in the morning and you have to get up, get dressed, go outside into the blizzard to switch tanks it gets rather inconvenient.

bguy wrote:
Just leave one tank valve closed while you use the other tank. When your propane goes out, switch tanks. You now know you will always have 20lb propane in reserve. Now you go fill the empty tank.

This!

I use the Truma LevelCheck.. It is amazingly accurate and will let you know exactly where the level of your propane is within a couple seconds.

Bruce

I put these gauges on our tanks knowing they're weren't going to work that well. They were on sale at Kohls and by the time we got the usual discounts, they were almost free. The two elbows I installed cost more than the gauges...

They stay at pretty much the same reading until a tank gets low. When you can see that the needle has moved relative to the other and is closer to the bottom of the green on the scale, the tank has maybe 10% or so (just a guess) left in it. When I can see that the needle has dropped, I know it's almost time to refill the cylinder. Works fine for me.

What I don't like is the auto changeover valve. It's supposed to change color to show which tank is empty but I can never see anything in the window. Two TTs in a row and they installed the window on it facing the rear so you can't see the window and I had to turn it around.

jaycocreek wrote:
Hot water poured on the tank shows you exactly how full it is with feel. I have two 25gal(100 lb) tanks I replace my 7gal(30#) tanks with for long stays.

I think I have as many propane tanks as I do generators.I really like my 10 gallon tank I use for the catalytic heater... With hot water guages are not necessary for my free standing tanks.

It takes a lot to amaze me at my age but this hot water trick does amaze me. Seems almost visual with your hand. The tank on the right is down about 1/4 and the one on the left is full. Thanks

A lot of good advice. Here is a photo that I just took. It looks like with the lever to the right a little red starts to show up. I did move move the lever to the left but the indicator stays in the green. It looks like I have some time before I need to fill the tank on the right in the photo since we are only using propane for the refrigerator when traveling and some outdoor cooking on the grill using the external tap.

Hot water poured on the tank shows you exactly how full it is with feel. I have two 25gal(100 lb) tanks I replace my 7gal(30#) tanks with for long stays.

I think I have as many propane tanks as I do generators.I really like my 10 gallon tank I use for the catalytic heater... With hot water guages are not necessary for my free standing tanks.

Majja13 wrote:
I am in the only use one tank until it is empty and then manually switch to the other.

Put down the glass!

I am in the only use one tank until it is empty and then manually switch to the other.