Propane tank monitor

[petendoll]

We made the switch from a motor home to a TT. The motor home had a propane tank monitor along with the tank and battery monitor. With the TT we have no way of knowing how much propane we have left. I have searched for some kind of monitor for the tanks but can't find one. How do you know how much propane you have?

[robsouth]

I, like some of the others, only open one tank at a time. Having running slap out one cold night from not checking the "red - green thingy", I like knowing that I have more when one runs out.

[Old-Biscuit]

pugslyyy wrote:
I don't like using the auto-changeover because I like knowing when I've drained a tank - and I'm not super diligent about checking that indicator to see if they switched automatically.

How do you not use the auto change over ?

[petendoll]

opnspaces wrote:
Unfortunately the gauge Pine5008 posted won't do what you want. The problem is that a propane tank is liquid on the bottom and vapor on the top. RV's pull the vapor off the top and as the vapor comes off the top the liquid boils and releases more vapor to replace what was lost.

So the gauges that hook on the regulator will only tell you that you have pressure in the tank. The pressure will be the same whether you have a full tank, half tank, or 1/4 tank. Once the tank is empty the gauge will suddenly drop from full to empty. There really isn't much in between.

Thank you for sharing that. I was just looking at those gauges. I will just keep one tank shut off until the other is empty. Then when the furnace quits when it is rainy and cold my wife can send me out to switch tanks. 🙂

[opnspaces]

Unfortunately the gauge Pine5008 posted won't do what you want. The problem is that a propane tank is liquid on the bottom and vapor on the top. RV's pull the vapor off the top and as the vapor comes off the top the liquid boils and releases more vapor to replace what was lost.

So the gauges that hook on the regulator will only tell you that you have pressure in the tank. The pressure will be the same whether you have a full tank, half tank, or 1/4 tank. Once the tank is empty the gauge will suddenly drop from full to empty. There really isn't much in between.

[pugslyyy]

I don't like using the auto-changeover because I like knowing when I've drained a tank - and I'm not super diligent about checking that indicator to see if they switched automatically.

[dadmomh]

They do make a stick-on propane tank sensor that should show the level. It was just a very few dollars and we decided to try it. DH is less than impressed.

Our problem is that we rarely run completely out of one tank and don't think about it until we're in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately, we don't use a lot through most of the season. Right now we're at one trip this coming weekend that will require we use the furnace. Since we aren't heading toward the propane place between now and then, DH just swiped the extra one from the BBQ grill and straps it into the bed of the truck, just in case. In a normal season when we only use the furnace in early spring and fall, we can get through with just one tank.

[Old-Biscuit]

petendoll wrote:
Thanks Bisquit. I was confused about the red and green things and how they worked. I think until I get used to it I will close one tank valve until the other runs out. I will get an idea how long a single will last. I have two 30 pound tanks. I figure that is nearly as much propane as my motor home tank held. I might check into Pine5008 idea also.

30#....7.5 gallons (figure on 7 gallons so 14 total)

We FTd for 7 yrs. and I always left one valved out after I ended up with 2 empty cylinders :S
Out of sight out of mind........so for me having one go empty was a gentle reminder.

[petendoll]

Thanks Bisquit. I was confused about the red and green things and how they worked. I think until I get used to it I will close one tank valve until the other runs out. I will get an idea how long a single will last. I have two 30 pound tanks. I figure that is nearly as much propane as my motor home tank held. I might check into Pine5008 idea also.

[coolbreeze01]

When one tank empties, switch to the other, and refill the MT sooner or later depending on your use. Use labels if necessary.

[Pine5008]

Try this out:
http://www.amazon.com/Astor-Propane-Pressure-Barbeque-Gauge/dp/B00LLIG74I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414194957&sr=8-1&keywords=propane+tank+monitor

Cheap and easy

[Old-Biscuit]

Do you have dual propane cylinders?

Valve one in service......flip lever so it points to that cylinder.

When that cylinder goes empty..regulator will swap to other cylinder/indicator flag will turn from green to red. Valve in other cylinder--flip lever to it.

Valve out empty cylinder, remove it and go get refilled.


OR valve both cylinders in..........check indicator flag routinely cause when it turns red BOTH 1st cylinder is empty/regulator has swapped to 2nd cylinder.
Flip lever to 2nd cylinder.flag goes from red to green BUT----2nd cylinder may be full/partially full/almost empty cause you won't know when it was swapped to.

After a while of using them you will get an idea how long YOU can go on one based on YOUR type of usage.

We typically go 6 weeks on one of our 30# cylinders.