Best Method for Propane Level guesstimates? |
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Retroactive
Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Bolton, MA Online Status: Offline Posts: 270 |
Topic: Best Method for Propane Level guesstimates? Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 11:40am |
Here is my noob question of the day: what is the best method for determining a guesstimate on propane tank level?
The tank gauges get very mixed reviews. And I am not sure if those stick on magnets actually work well. If there is no better method, I will just use my Bow Scale to weigh it before trips.
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 11:58am |
The most accurate method is weighing, but it's a PITA to remove the tank. Pressure types that screw on the valve don't work: they're only accurate when the tank is actually empty. Mag strips, hot water, etc. are inaccurate at best. I've tried them all. The best method I've found is the ultrasonic sensors. A few bucks, but they work great and very easy. Be sure to watch the video regarding good contact to the bottle.
http://www.amazon.com/Dometic-LPGC10-LP-Gas-Checker/dp/B00Q7379X0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459353128&sr=8-1&keywords=dometic+propane+tank+gauge |
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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TheBum
Senior Member Joined: 26 Feb 2016 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 1407 |
Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 12:06pm |
I have that sensor and the only problem with it is when the gas level gets in the range of the tongue bracket band. In that case, you just have to check the levels above and below; if above is red and below is green, you know the gas level is somewhere within the width of the bracket band.
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 12:07pm |
Pour warm water down the side, the warm area is empty.
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 2:37pm |
The warm water side is probably the cheapest and most accurate method. Don't spend extra on tanks with gauges. Green, yellow, and red are only relative with these gauges. Red does not mean "empty" but merely "low" instead. This makes the gauges pretty much useless as on our trip out west, we had another day or two of use out of a tank where the needle had bottomed out in the red.
The ultrasonic reader is a nice high-tech gadget, but I would not say it is going to be any more reliable than the warm water method. |
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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Retroactive
Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Bolton, MA Online Status: Offline Posts: 270 |
Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 2:48pm |
Well warm water it is then! That should be easy enough at home. Definitely better than weighing the tank.
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Outbound
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Online Status: Offline Posts: 767 |
Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 7:50pm |
I still find the best method to be: pick up the tank and swish it around. Its fairly easy to tell how much is left. |
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Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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Retroactive
Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Bolton, MA Online Status: Offline Posts: 270 |
Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 8:07pm |
Thanks for letting me know those tanks with built in are useful enough, I may go this route. Once it reads zero I can give it a swish and evaluate. I could get two tanks, for swap out, and use the remains on my grill or something.
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 9:55pm |
Built-in gauges are somewhat useful, if only to give a relative reading of tank contents. The warm water method is good because I don't have to take the tank out of the holder to use it.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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marwayne
Senior Member Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Location: Edmonton AB Can Online Status: Offline Posts: 1002 |
Posted: 30 Mar 2016 at 11:46pm |
I have two tanks, when tank one is empty I hook up number two and keep my eyes open to refill number one
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If you want something done right, do it yourself.
2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
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