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08-02-2019, 04:23 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Aubrey
Posts: 27
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Propane Gauge
Does anyone know of a simple gauge I can install to check the quantity of propane remaining in my bottles so as not to run out to find out it is empty?
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08-02-2019, 04:54 AM
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#2
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Site Team | Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
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How many bottles? If two, do you have an automatic change over regulator?
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Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
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08-02-2019, 05:49 AM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Aubrey
Posts: 27
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It is 2 bottles but the change over is manual. I would kinda like to know if it needs switched before things shut down.
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08-02-2019, 06:24 AM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Dayton
Posts: 68
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I put one of these tanks on my RV. I don't know how it works but it is quite accurate.
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08-02-2019, 06:36 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Kamiah
Posts: 276
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If you want to spend some $$ on a gauge, I suggest spending the $40 +/- for a auto regulator. Will make life easier at 3 in the morning when a tank runs out.
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Ron&Sue
2017 Montana 3720RL Legacy
14' Ram 3500 DRW
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08-02-2019, 06:44 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,981
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fatcatzzz
If you want to spend some $$ on a gauge, I suggest spending the $40 +/- for a auto regulator. Will make life easier at 3 in the morning when a tank runs out.
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I agree. Spend $40 on a gauge to tell you that you're out of propane and have to switch the tanks at "0-dark-30" or spend $40 on an automatic changeover regulator and continue to stay warm and comfy all night (while the regulator swaps propane tanks for you).... Seems a "no brainer" to me.
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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08-02-2019, 06:52 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Potsdam
Posts: 319
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I have a few of the tanks like nied posted and agree the gauge works well, errs on the side of showing less has than you have. I got them at BJ's and Sam's Club.
I bought one of these on clearance sale at Tractor Supply a few years ago for the 30# and 40# thanks at my cabin: Dometic LPGC10 LP Gas Checker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Q7379X0..._eYerDb71Z0JDV
It works well.
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2015 Bullet 220RBI
2019 Chevy Colorado extended cab V6 3.6 liter
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08-02-2019, 07:00 AM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Aubrey
Posts: 27
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Thank you all for the feedback. The bullet is now firmly gripped in my teeth. I ordered an automatic change over regulator. I can figure it out from there.
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08-02-2019, 07:18 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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The gauge you add on to the bottle similar to the mounted one pictured aren't worth the $$. I bought 2 a few years back for each bottle & found that they told me 2 things; full & empty.
Spend the dough on the changeover regulator & check it periodically.
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Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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08-02-2019, 07:22 AM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,325
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Quote:
Originally Posted by travelin texans
The gauge you add on to the bottle similar to the mounted one pictured aren't worth the $$. I bought 2 a few years back for each bottle & found that they told me 2 things; full & empty.
Spend the dough on the changeover regulator & check it periodically.
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Have to agree, I bought a pair a number of years ago and now they sit on top of my workbench as a reminder of the money I wasted. Im sure there are better gauges out there!
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2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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08-02-2019, 07:44 AM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,981
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The "level gauge" shown works on gas pressure at the tank outlet. The pressure is the same with a full tank as with a half full tank and with a tank that's 1/10th full. So, it will read full until it's empty, then read empty as the "last few drops of liquid propane turn to gas and the pressure falls. Incidentally, that's the same time that the furnace flame dies, the stove burner dies and the water heater "sputters and quits"....
I agree with the previous posters, a "gadget that tells you when the tank is empty" but so does the cold stovetop burner..... YMMV
There is another "much more accurate system" that functions on tank weight, but it costs nearly $100 for a dual tank system. So, it's $40 for a gauge set, $100 for a functional gauge set or $40 for an auto-changeover regulator. I think you made the right choice in not only getting a "continuous propane supply" but in not having to go outside at "0-dark-30" to swap propane tanks.....
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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08-02-2019, 09:36 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Wickenburg
Posts: 3,304
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I'm intrigued by the ultrasonic sensor products. You can cover two tanks for $75, if you use your smartphone as the readout, otherwise $100.
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2019 Cougar 26RBSWE
2019 Ford F-250
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08-02-2019, 02:17 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Windsor
Posts: 236
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Auto-Changeover and a simple hand held luggage scale to weigh the propane canisters. I'm a weekend warrior so I weight at the end of the trip. If low or empty I re-fill before putting the trailer back in storage so I don't forget. There is a tare weight on the canister. The weight above the tare weight is what you have for fuel. After a while you get a feel for the weight and don't even need the scale to determine if you need to re-fill.
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2016 Cougar 1/2 Ton Series 283 RETWE
2018 F150 EcoBoost FX4 Lariat Max-Tow and Heavy Duty Payload Package
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08-02-2019, 04:50 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: North little rock
Posts: 89
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LHaven
I'm intrigued by the ultrasonic sensor products. You can cover two tanks for $75, if you use your smartphone as the readout, otherwise $100.
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I have this system. It worked great for about a year then the first tank sensor died. Then 6 months later the second died. Lot of money to spend for one year. I am happily back to warm water pour over the tank tells me what I need to know.
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08-02-2019, 08:50 PM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Frenchtown
Posts: 8
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I have had the Dometic handheld sensor for a year and it works great. Not cheap at $50, but hold it at various places on the tank and it will tell you if liquid is at that level or not.
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08-03-2019, 04:32 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Pageland
Posts: 247
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kylemcmahon1
I have this system. It worked great for about a year then the first tank sensor died. Then 6 months later the second died. Lot of money to spend for one year. I am happily back to warm water pour over the tank tells me what I need to know.
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Can you elaborate on your warm water pour?
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08-03-2019, 04:54 AM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: North little rock
Posts: 89
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mwemaxxowner
Can you elaborate on your warm water pour?
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Pour warm water over the tank and feel with your hand the temp difference. Where it is cold has propane in the tank. You can atleast tell if you have a half or quarter tank of propane not much more accurate than that. But free and it works.
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08-03-2019, 05:15 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Pageland
Posts: 247
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That's awesome.
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08-03-2019, 05:35 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: CT frontier
Posts: 155
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If you bring some water to a boil on your stove in a saucepan or tea kettle and pour it down the side, you will see an exact line develop. Empty part will evaporate quickly, propane area will stay wet. Very precise.
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2017 Cougar XLite 21 RBS
2015 Ram 3500 SLT 5.7 Hemi
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08-03-2019, 07:32 PM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Toledo, OH
Posts: 88
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Quote:
Originally Posted by travelin texans
The gauge you add on to the bottle similar to the mounted one pictured aren't worth the $$. I bought 2 a few years back for each bottle & found that they told me 2 things; full & empty.
Spend the dough on the changeover regulator & check it periodically.
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That's because the liquid propane in the tank will still create the same gas pressure above the liquid until the liquid is completely used up. So the gauge reads ok pressure, until the liquid is used up, and the tank goes empty. Then it reads empty, and it's too late.
I see in earlier posts that the OP has bought an auto changeover valve, so problem is solved...
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Chris
2014 Keystone Outback 210TRS
2020 F150, 3.5l, 4x4, 3.55:1, Supercrew
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