Propane tank valve

[ZeeLet50]

I have 2- 20lb tanks with the valve that can point to either tank or stay in the middle. There is the gauge that reads either green or red if the tank is full. When I put the valve in the middle,should I not expect it to be automatic and pull from one tank then when that empty pull from the other? When I put it in the middle position, I get no gas???. Am I doing something wrong here? There is propane in both tanks.

[Nvr2loud]

AirForceAngler wrote:

Mkos1980 wrote:
Once the tank is off it still hiss/ spitting out the hose from the regulator.

You may have bad switchover valve if it is a constant hiss. Do you have the bottle valve closed on the "empty" bottle? empties, but that's about it.

+1

1) Remove the propane bottle that is empty.

2) Now that hose will be 'open' on the end

3) Ensure the switchover valve is pointing at the full tank

4) Ensure the full tank valve is open

5) Check for propane leak from the 'open' hose

6) If you have a propane leak from the open end of the hose, your switchover valve is slightly leaking.

You can switch it manually back and forth a few times and see if that helps, or you can always keep a bottle connected and the leak-past won't actually make it to atmosphere. Personally, I would replace the valve (but I always take one of my tanks off the trailer to use for the stove and BBQ so I don't want a leaky valve)

[Nvr2loud]

Mkos1980 wrote:
Faulty regulator?

No

[AirForceAngler]

Mkos1980 wrote:
Once the tank is off it still hiss/ spitting out the hose from the regulator.

You may have bad switchover valve if it is a constant hiss. Do you have the bottle valve closed on the "empty" bottle? When I disconnect an empty bottle with the valve pointing to a good bottle, I'll get a quick "pshew" as the short line from the empty bottle to the regulator empties, but that's about it.

[Mkos1980]

Once the tank is off it still hiss/ spitting out the hose from the regulator.

[Old-Biscuit]

Mkos1980 wrote:
Once I am drawing off a good tank with the arrow pointed to the good tank, should I have some leak out the other side when I disconnect my empty tank? I was having an issue this weekend and noticed when I pulled the empty tank off I was getting a small amount of propane coming out of the hose even though the switch was over to the good tank. Faulty regulator?

The pigtail hose from the cylinder (tanks are in MHs) to the regulator has some pressure in it.
It is not uncommon for it to 'hiss'/'spit' for a moment when you disconnect hose.

The end of connector on cylinder will close and the check valve inside the nut of hose will close when you disconnect but can still go 'pssst'

So how much is your 'small amount of propane coming out'?

[Mkos1980]

Once I am drawing off a good tank with the arrow pointed to the good tank, should I have some leak out the other side when I disconnect my empty tank? I was having an issue this weekend and noticed when I pulled the empty tank off I was getting a small amount of propane coming out of the hose even though the switch was over to the good tank. Faulty regulator?

[Gene_Ginny]

12thgenusa wrote:
An obvious point but maybe missed by some is that both tank valves must be open in order for the auto change over to take place.

AND the first tank to be opened should be on the side the indicator is pointing to.

[tvman44]

Will not work in the middle, point to one tank and that becomes your primary tank, when it gets empty it will turn red and switch internally to the other tank. 🙂

[12thgenusa]

An obvious point but maybe missed by some is that both tank valves must be open in order for the auto change over to take place.

[AirForceAngler]

Here's a brief description of how the valve works and how to use it, starting with two full tanks:

1. Once both tanks are installed and connected to the regulator/switchover valve.
2. Point the valve to either tank, let's say the left one in this case. Now the indicator will show green (good pressure/volume) and the trailer will draw from this tank only.
3. Once the left tank has nearly emptied, the indicator will turn red and the trailer will now automatically draw from the right tank.
4. Now, point the valve to the right tank, indicator will go back to green.
5. Close valve on top of left (empty) tank, disconnect from the regulator/switchover valve, and refill/replace the left tank.
6. Run off of the right tank until the indicator goes red again.
7. Point the valve to the left tank, indicator will go back to green.
8. Close valve on top of right tank, disconnect, refill/replace.

Just keep repeating this cycle and you should never have a cold night of sleeping.

[ZeeLet50]

^^^ ahhh now that makes sense. Sometimes you just get lost in the whole theory. Ok so it does auto switch but I have to manually change it over when removing the tank to fill as would be expected. Thanks for the clarification.

[Nosedive]

Like others have said, you point it to either tank and then when it turns red you know that tank is then empty but it has automatically switched to the opposite side. You then point it towards that tank and then get the empty tank refilled so that when the one you just pointed it to is empty, it will switch to that one. If there was a middle position that drew from both tanks you could effectively empty both tanks and be in a position where you had no propane.

[ZeeLet50]

I thought I was told it was an automatic switch over when in the middle. Apparently that was not true. So if the heat quits in the middle of the night...I have to get dressed and go outside to flip the knob over to the other tank.

[AirForceAngler]

djgarcia wrote:
Propane tanks-
What is purpose of the middle position? When should the middle position be used?

It means you are halfway to the proper position. I've never seen one with a middle position.