Propane gauges on tanks question

path1 wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:

path1 wrote:

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

OK, so I missed this post..

So, the "problem" you are having is with the regulator/auto change over switch..

Got it! :)

OK, so.. The problem is that you are not understanding how this device works..

From the manual in your link I will see if I can simplify the instructions..

Here is what the manual says..

"Operation

Ensure that the regulator has been mounted with the vent
pointing downward so that water or debris cannot gather in the regulator.

Place one of the two cylinders in “primary” by switching the black changeover lever in the direction of the selected cylinder.

The arrow on the lever will denote the “primary” side.

Open both cylinder valves slowly.

The indicator on the top of the regulator will turn green.

The “primary” side of the regulator will continue to supply gas as long as sufficient gas is present in the “primary” cylinder.

When pressure in the cylinder drops below a designated pressure, the “reserve” side will open and continue to primary gas to the regulator.

At the time that the “primary” cylinder becomes exhausted, the indicator on the changeover lever will turn red indicating a cylinder change can be made."

What I do is set the switch over pointer to my FIRST tank that I want to use first.

I then OPEN that first tank (SLOWLY).

The indicator on the switch over will turn green indicating you have propane available.

THEN AND ONLY THEN open the second tank valve slowly..

Now you are set for automatic switch over and when the FIRST tank (the one you set the arrow to and opened first) runs out the red flag will show..

The regulator will have automatically switched to the SECOND TANK and the RED indicator is showing the tank that is empty (arrow pointing to empty tank).

At that time you now switch the arrow to the SECOND tank which is your full tank..

The indicator in the window will turn green.

You can now REMOVE the FIRST TANK and get it refilled!

Once first tank has been refilled and reconnected it now becomes the backup tank to the one that is currently in use..

Once the second tank has been exhausted the red will show and the auto change over will have switched to the FIRST tank once again.. When that happens you simply flip the arrow back to the tank in use..

Hope that clears it up a bit..

Personally, I don't use all that much propane so what I do is only open the first tank.. When it runs out the red shows and I flip the lever to the second tank and then open the second tank..

Close the first tank and remove and refill..

Note: the green/red indicator is not there to tell you how much propane you have.

The green/red indicator is there to indicate WHEN the tank the arrow is pointing to is EMPTY and can be removed for refill.

Op here....

Thanks for your response. The problem is the red does not show until both tanks are empty. This is the 3rd regulator I've put on. Makes me wonder if something else is not going on. Guess I'll go back to opening only one tank and when its empty, then open other tank and get first tank refilled. Just seems odd to me that 3 regulators have the same problem. I did initially think I wasn't following directions, but I am.

Think I'll just order one of those other gauges.

I think I have figured out what is going on..

Mine has MARSHALL BRASS on it, what is being sold now is MARSHALL EXCELSIOR..

My Marshall Brass does work as described..

The Marshall Excelsior seems to be getting a lot of same complaints that you have voiced..

Looks to me like the Marshall Brass company may have been bought out/merged or at least has changed design (AND NAME) and the new design is failing to turn off the first tank properly..

If it is working correctly you SHOULD be able to disconnect the EMPTY tank without needing to turn off the full tank..

You could try disconnecting a tank and see if propane flows from the disconnected line.. It shouldn't and if it is then the change over part has failed.

You could try contacting Marshall Excelsior and complain (I would)..

http://www.marshallexcelsior.com/about-us