Propane tanks

[RickV]

Yeah it took me about a year to dust off the wallet and buy the tank spacers makes a big difference

[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.

[notanlines]

There are two ways of doing this. Take your choice. Both are correct. And try to keep in mind that it is NOT important to prove your way is correct..

[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]

[Stangfire]

Some good info here. I’m a first time Travel Trailer owner and will be setting up permeant for dry camping this coming spring. I just bought two 30 lbs tanks.

If your only using the propane for the fridge and only have one tank open then you may not realize it’s empty until all your food is warm?

If I have both tanks open I can just watch for the indicator to turn red then I’ll know the one tank is empty? So it would then be running off the second tank and I can take the first tank home to fill. This sounds like the perfect way to do it.

[WDPatterson]

Originally Posted by Stangfire

Some good info here. I’m a first time Travel Trailer owner and will be setting up permeant for dry camping this coming spring. I just bought two 30 lbs tanks.

If your only using the propane for the fridge and only have one tank open then you may not realize it’s empty until all your food is warm?

If I have both tanks open I can just watch for the indicator to turn red then I’ll know the one tank is empty? So it would then be running off the second tank and I can take the first tank home to fill. This sounds like the perfect way to do it.

If you leave both tanks open, you won't see the indicator turn red. That is, not until both tanks are empty. That is the point of keeping it in One Direction or the other. By the way, when it is on the right tank, and the right tank goes empty, the so-called automatic switch over will actually give you less gas at the burner. You may notice the difference, you may not. That's why people leave one bottle closed, so they can switch over and take The Empty Bottle Into town.

[atkinsb3]

Found that I've always had an auto changeover regulator. Funny thing is, it's mounted backwards... I think. The side with the lever and red/green indicator is facing toward the camper instead of the hitch so it's not easy to look at. Leaving one tank shut off has always been good for me so never really gave it much thought until I saw this thread. Went out and contorted my body so I could see the back (or is it really the front) of the regulator and SURPRISE! I was thinking about turning it around, but it looks like the propane hose between the regulator and the camper is just a hair short.... guess that's why it's mounted the way that it is. Getting the regulator turned around would be more effort than continuing with keeping one tank shut off. I have to take a leak at least once every night anyway so will just kill two birds with one stone when I have to get up and manually switch propane tanks.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by WDPatterson

If you leave both tanks open, you won't see the indicator turn red. That is, not until both tanks are empty. That is the point of keeping it in One Direction or the other. By the way, when it is on the right tank, and the right tank goes empty, the so-called automatic switch over will actually give you less gas at the burner. You may notice the difference, you may not. That's why people leave one bottle closed, so they can switch over and take The Empty Bottle Into town.

This would be wrong, Both tanks open, indicator turned to one tank; the indicator turns red when the tank pointed at runs out - not when both are empty. It DOES NOT wait until the second tank is empty. As far as giving less fuel, that is wrong as well unless you have a defective regulator. There is no reason, whatsoever, to leave a tank closed so you can find out in the middle of the night, at 10 degrees, in the rain/snow, that your tank ran out because you just wanted to do that to yourself. Checking the tank takes all of 10 seconds and if you are aware of your usage it is SO simple.

[ljdriscoll]

What people have to understand is that the direction the indicator is pointing is the first bottle that needs to be opened. Otherwise you could end up with 2 empty tanks

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by atkinsb3

Found that I've always had an auto changeover regulator. Funny thing is, it's mounted backwards... I think. The side with the lever and red/green indicator is facing toward the camper instead of the hitch so it's not easy to look at. Leaving one tank shut off has always been good for me so never really gave it much thought until I saw this thread. Went out and contorted my body so I could see the back (or is it really the front) of the regulator and SURPRISE! I was thinking about turning it around, but it looks like the propane hose between the regulator and the camper is just a hair short.... guess that's why it's mounted the way that it is. Getting the regulator turned around would be more effort than continuing with keeping one tank shut off. I have to take a leak at least once every night anyway so will just kill two birds with one stone when I have to get up and manually switch propane tanks.

Couple of things in your comments!
If the hose is just barely long enough I'd recommend replacing it as it will eventually cracking its bent tightly & they come in various lengths.
If when the regulator switches automatically & you lose pressure it sounds like you need to replace the changeover regulator as well when you swap to longer hoses.
Whether you keep 1 or both tanks open is totally up to the user, but I also get up a couple times at night to take a whiz but I usually use the toilet, both tanks are already open, so no need to get dressed & go outside, so I guess I just kill one bird at a time.

[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.

[Stircrazy]

Originally Posted by Stangfire

Some good info here. I’m a first time Travel Trailer owner and will be setting up permeant for dry camping this coming spring. I just bought two 30 lbs tanks.

If your only using the propane for the fridge and only have one tank open then you may not realize it’s empty until all your food is warm?

If I have both tanks open I can just watch for the indicator to turn red then I’ll know the one tank is empty? So it would then be running off the second tank and I can take the first tank home to fill. This sounds like the perfect way to do it.

Yes, as soon as the side it is set for goes empty and it changes over the flag will go red. thats how I have been doing it for 30 years.

[Stangfire]

Originally Posted by sourdough

This would be wrong, Both tanks open, indicator turned to one tank; the indicator turns red when the tank pointed at runs out - not when both are empty. It DOES NOT wait until the second tank is empty. As far as giving less fuel, that is wrong as well unless you have a defective regulator. There is no reason, whatsoever, to leave a tank closed so you can find out in the middle of the night, at 10 degrees, in the rain/snow, that your tank ran out because you just wanted to do that to yourself. Checking the tank takes all of 10 seconds and if you are aware of your usage it is SO simple.

Thanks, I thought that response was incorrect. Your way sounds correct!

[WDPatterson]

Originally Posted by sourdough

This would be wrong, Both tanks open, indicator turned to one tank; the indicator turns red when the tank pointed at runs out - not when both are empty. It DOES NOT wait until the second tank is empty. As far as giving less fuel, that is wrong as well unless you have a defective regulator. There is no reason, whatsoever, to leave a tank closed so you can find out in the middle of the night, at 10 degrees, in the rain/snow, that your tank ran out because you just wanted to do that to yourself. Checking the tank takes all of 10 seconds and if you are aware of your usage it is SO simple.

As I said, there is no real automatic valve. And, when the temperatures Get Low enough, nothing is trustworthy due to the expansion and contraction properties of propane. Remember, your operating at less than 11 inches of pressure.

[Stircrazy]

Originally Posted by WDPatterson

As I said, there is no real automatic valve. And, when the temperatures Get Low enough, nothing is trustworthy due to the expansion and contraction properties of propane. Remember, your operating at less than 11 inches of pressure.

how cold are you talking about. I have used my camper in -23C or -10ish F and it switched over no issue much colder than that are you realy going camping anyways? Propane will gass off untill -44F so realy in any practical sence it will work fine for camping.

Steve

[WDPatterson]

Originally Posted by Stircrazy

how cold are you talking about. I have used my camper in -23C or -10ish F and it switched over no issue much colder than that are you realy going camping anyways? Propane will gass off untill -44F so realy in any practical sence it will work fine for camping.

Steve

It's not the gas itself, it's the valve. The regulator stops performing when it gets cold enough. Around here, got down to the 16° and the regulators didn't want to switch over. Maybe they're just cheap Chinese crap, but it's an issue. And, propane is extremely sensitive to temperature. You get a big change in pressures when it gets colder, from when it's tropical..
Some people actually do camp at Sub-Zero temperatures, and I'm talking Fahrenheit. We are actually permanently off grid. We've had -14 to - 16°, and yes everything is fine, until you have to switch that valve. I literally had to take a tank from one side and put it on the other because the valve would not switch. That's a 2-year-old valve. There are others, as well. Different brands, so not the same. But, they quit operating when they get cold. There's always a way around it, it's just a tiny inconvenience.

[Stircrazy]

Originally Posted by WDPatterson

It's not the gas itself, it's the valve. The regulator stops performing when it gets cold enough. Around here, got down to the 16° and the regulators didn't want to switch over. Maybe they're just cheap Chinese crap, but it's an issue. And, propane is extremely sensitive to temperature. You get a big change in pressures when it gets colder, from when it's tropical..
Some people actually do camp at Sub-Zero temperatures, and I'm talking Fahrenheit. We are actually permanently off grid. We've had -14 to - 16°, and yes everything is fine, until you have to switch that valve. I literally had to take a tank from one side and put it on the other because the valve would not switch. That's a 2-year-old valve. There are others, as well. Different brands, so not the same. But, they quit operating when they get cold. There's always a way around it, it's just a tiny inconvenience.

werird I have never had that issue. I do have a better quality valve than most manufactures install on there rv's so maybe that is the difference.

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by WDPatterson

As I said, there is no real automatic valve. And, when the temperatures Get Low enough, nothing is trustworthy due to the expansion and contraction properties of propane. Remember, your operating at less than 11 inches of pressure.

Well I would say you are wrong with that statement! While many choose not to use the feature, many of us do, and they work great!
We full time park host, and normally heat electrically with our furnace, if we have a power outage we switch the furnace to propane. When we do that I will check the regulator morning and evening.
We now carry a third 30# tank, as we once had a ice storm and we’re without power for nine days, and it was three days before we could get out to get more propane.