Propane tanks

[Camping family]

Have a 2020 keystone 29 rks 5th wheel. Had it since new and just this morning realized this. When using the propane I always would turn one tank on and make sure the other was off. When one ran out I just turned it off and turned the full one one. This morning when switching tanks. I noticed the tank on the drivers side inside has a black knob on top of the the regulator. Has two green symbols on it. Would that be a knob so you can turn both tanks on and use it to change which tank you are using. Or would it be so you can turn both tanks on a they would auto switch when one runs out in the middle of the night?

[sourdough]

That's the auto switchover on the regulator. Folks do thing different ways but the regulator which you discovered is made to automatically switch between tanks when one runs out. Point the lever to the tank in use and leave both tank valves open. Monitor the indicator you found (green) and when it turns red the tank the lever is pointing to is empty. Simply turn the lever/knob to point to the other tank (indicator will turn green again), turn off the other tank and take it to be refilled. When you bring it back hook it up and turn it back on then repeat the process. Far better IMO than waiting to run out of propane to turn the other tank on.

[jsb5717]

You likely have an auto-switchover regulator...most newer rigs do. You can have both tanks on and point the switch toward the one you want to use. The green/red indicator will let you know if there is propane pressure there. When the tank runs out it will automatically switch to the other tank but the indicator will now show red. You can then rotate the switch to the other tanks, indicator will show green (if it has propane in the tank) and you can take the empty tank to refill it.

[ChuckS]

Thought you might also like to see a video and explanation of the auto change over regulator..

I prefer to keep the secondary tank valve closed and then switch the regulator to point to that full tank, which now becomes the Primary tank and the indicator turns green.

This way I know when a tank is empty. Yea I might have to trek outside to switch over the tank but I know I have a full one left to do so.

video from my 2014 Alpine
https://youtu.be/SUISQqc6P-o

[markcee]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

Thought you might also like to see a video and explanation of the auto change over regulator..

I prefer to keep the secondary tank valve closed and then switch the regulator to point to that full tank, which now becomes the Primary tank and the indicator turns green.

This way I know when a tank is empty. Yea I might have to trek outside to switch over the tank but I know I have a full one left to do so.

video from my 2014 Alpine
https://youtu.be/SUISQqc6P-o

Ditto for me.

Unless you are extremely diligent in checking the gauge when leaving both tanks open....particularly during periods of high use, Chuck's method avoids surprises.

Disclaimer: I don't leave southern AZ in the winter, so no sub-freezing temp trips out to the tanks in the middle of the night for me.

[Camping family]

Thank you all for the help.

[GlasNav]

The auto switchover regulator information is appreciated.
We use a couple of magnetic bluetooth sensors from MOPEKA that have taken the guesswork out of what's left in the tanks.
Picture attached.

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by markcee

Ditto for me.

Unless you are extremely diligent in checking the gauge when leaving both tanks open....particularly during periods of high use, Chuck's method avoids surprises.

Disclaimer: I don't leave southern AZ in the winter, so no sub-freezing temp trips out to the tanks in the middle of the night for me.

Just need to understand much propane you use in a given time. We full time and park host, we heat electrically with our furnace. Normally we use about one cylinder a month, so I check about once a week. If we loose power at the park and switch over to heating propane I will check morning and evening.
We also have a third cylinder as power loss may be due to a storm, and may limit travel, or availability of propane nearby.

To those using one cylinder at a time hope you don’t run out in the middle of a cold rainy stormy night.

[ljdriscoll]

something to think about. When you are using the lever to point to the active tank make sure to open that tank first and then the other one. Also I leave it pointing to the empty tank until I refill tank with the RED showing.

[notanlines]

"To those using one cylinder at a time hope you don’t run out in the middle of a cold rainy stormy night."
Russ' comment is proof of what I was saying. He is doing what works for him. However, it seems to be important to him that he convince you that his way is better. I'm not sure how that situation might be finding yourself out of propane in BOTH tanks in the middle of a cold rainy stormy night....

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by markcee

Ditto for me.

Unless you are extremely diligent in checking the gauge when leaving both tanks open....particularly during periods of high use, Chuck's method avoids surprises.

Disclaimer: I don't leave southern AZ in the winter, so no sub-freezing temp trips out to the tanks in the middle of the night for me.

Leaving one tank closed in my opinion doesn't avoid surprises, it just changes the time that the surprise happens to 2-3 am when the open tank runs out & you have no heat. That happened ONCE, from that time on both tanks are open.
Typically if running the furnace you're already closely monitoring LP usage, 30lb bottle will last 2-4 days depending on temps. If not running the furnace that 30lb bottle will last 3-4 months so if it does changeover before you notice at least you won't out in the middle of the night opening valves.
Just my .02 cents!

[markcee]

Originally Posted by travelin texans

Leaving one tank closed in my opinion doesn't avoid surprises, it just changes the time that the surprise happens to 2-3 am when the open tank runs out & you have no heat. That happened ONCE, from that time on both tanks are open.
Typically if running the furnace you're already closely monitoring LP usage, 30lb bottle will last 2-4 days depending on temps. If not running the furnace that 30lb bottle will last 3-4 months so if it does changeover before you notice at least you won't out in the middle of the night opening valves.
Just my .02 cents!

This is definitely a personal choice based a lot on usage. Both methods have their pros and cons.

My take is that it's better to be surprised at 2am and be able to go out and turn on bottle 2 rather than to be surprised at 2am and say 'oh sh**, both bottles are empty!'

Since we don't use a whole lot of propane, it's not something I think to check consistently. I don't know that I would actually get to the point of using up both bottles before I checked and saw my original was 'in the red', but there's a good chance I'd be into bottle 2 before noticing it, and therefore not know how much I had used up in my secondary.

I think I'm probably an excellent candidate for both bottles 'on' and the Mopeka sensors!

[WDPatterson]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

Thought you might also like to see a video and explanation of the auto change over regulator..

I prefer to keep the secondary tank valve closed and then switch the regulator to point to that full tank, which now becomes the Primary tank and the indicator turns green.

This way I know when a tank is empty. Yea I might have to trek outside to switch over the tank but I know I have a full one left to do so.

video from my 2014 Alpine
https://youtu.be/SUISQqc6P-o

You're doing it exactly how it's meant to be done.

[Stircrazy]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

Thought you might also like to see a video and explanation of the auto change over regulator..

I prefer to keep the secondary tank valve closed and then switch the regulator to point to that full tank, which now becomes the Primary tank and the indicator turns green.

This way I know when a tank is empty. Yea I might have to trek outside to switch over the tank but I know I have a full one left to do so.

video from my 2014 Alpine
https://youtu.be/SUISQqc6P-o

why don't you take the auto chang over right out if you don't use it. that video is exactly how it is suposed to work and part of your daily checks should be looking at the color of the indicator. it takes 2 seconds as you have showen in your video.

in the summer I don't check it every day as the propane usage is small but when it starts getting into heating season I take a look at it every morning and if one runs out I switch the lever over and take the empty one out of the system and get it filled. waking up in the middle of the night freezing isn't the best thing I can think of doing haha

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

Thought you might also like to see a video and explanation of the auto change over regulator..

I prefer to keep the secondary tank valve closed and then switch the regulator to point to that full tank, which now becomes the Primary tank and the indicator turns green.

This way I know when a tank is empty. Yea I might have to trek outside to switch over the tank but I know I have a full one left to do so.

video from my 2014 Alpine
https://youtu.be/SUISQqc6P-o

Keeping the second tank closed is your choice, BUT cold night, baby blowing snow, the chances of opening the valve too fast increases greatly.
Just easier to check the regulator when you are out anyway.
Once again your choice.

[WDPatterson]

Originally Posted by rhagfo

Keeping the second tank closed is your choice, BUT cold night, baby blowing snow, the chances of opening the valve too fast increases greatly.
Just easier to check the regulator when you are out anyway.
Once again your choice.

Yes. The local propane dealer, a guy who's been at it for over 30 years, says do not use the auto function, or you'll have both thanks empty. He is supposed to operate it manually, even though it switches over automatically. As a matter of safety, it's best to leave the auxiliary tank closed until you need it. I get up and go open the secondary tank, when we run out on the primary. It's basically walking 16 ft to do it.

[Max23]

[Stircrazy]

Originally Posted by WDPatterson

Yes. The local propane dealer, a guy who's been at it for over 30 years, says do not use the auto function, or you'll have both thanks empty. He is supposed to operate it manually, even though it switches over automatically. As a matter of safety, it's best to leave the auxiliary tank closed until you need it. I get up and go open the secondary tank, when we run out on the primary. It's basically walking 16 ft to do it.

I think that stems from the older dual tank regulators which did drain both tanks at the same time, they are different than a auto chang over. I have a 1991 camper in adition to my 5th wheel and it came with a dual regulator which I had to chage out for a auto changover. the only time a auto changover will drain both tanks is when it fails (my last one actualy failed so it would only use one side) or if you don't check it enough to catch it when it changes over.

[flybouy]

As has been stated it's personal preference. Mine is to use the regulator as designed. Both tanks open and use Mopeka tank sensors to monitor. By the way, with the Mopeka app you can set an alarm at any level you wish. I have mine set for 10% remaining so I don't need to remember to check. JMHO, YMMV

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by flybouy

As has been stated it's personal preference. Mine is to use the regulator as designed. Both tanks open and use Mopeka tank sensors to monitor. By the way, with the Mopeka app you can set an alarm at any level you wish. I have mine set for 10% remaining so I don't need to remember to check. JMHO, YMMV

i didn’t realize that thanks!