Best Method for Propane Level guesstimates? |
Post Reply | Page <12345> |
Author | |
fwunder
Senior Member Joined: 04 Oct 2013 Location: New Jersey Online Status: Offline Posts: 1676 |
Topic: Best Method for Propane Level guesstimates? Posted: 08 May 2016 at 11:34pm |
I do carry a scale ==> http://www.amazon.com/Grill-Gauge-GG-1100-Original/dp/B0012GTU3O
I use it mostly at home for the three twenty pounders I keep. My neighborhood filling station charges me $20 for a 20 pounder no matter how empty the tank is. They've charged the same thing for three years - go figure. When camping, I mostly don't worry about it cuz one 20 pounder lasts a looooong time and propane is so easy to find. I do carry a 1 gallon tank for BBQing that I could easily hook up as main if I needed to ==> http://www.amazon.com/Worthington-281149-1-Gallon-Cylinder-Prevention/dp/B000SKX63U fred |
|
2014 RPod 178 => MyMods and Buying Habits
2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
|
Patriot Dave
Senior Member Joined: 06 Feb 2016 Location: LaSalle, Mi. 48 Online Status: Offline Posts: 206 |
Posted: 09 May 2016 at 6:17am |
Just curious has to those of you that have two tanks; how many of you have both tanks mounted on the tongue?
|
|
Dave & Joyce
Never Forget, In God We Trust; This Our National Motto. Member; Patriot Guard Riders, Michigan Chapter Retired; So Every Day is Saturday.... Except Sunday |
|
Tars Tarkas
Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1446 |
Posted: 09 May 2016 at 8:37am |
I have two tanks mounted on the tongue with an auto switch. Makes it real easy. I can tell at a glance when a tank is empty, but I have plenty of time to get it filled. It's not a lot of weight anyway, but since both tanks are almost never full, and if they are, they don't stay that way long. So they don't weigh as much as you might think.
TT |
|
2010 176
FJ Cruiser |
|
sailor323
Senior Member Joined: 11 Jun 2015 Location: S Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 281 |
Posted: 09 May 2016 at 9:07am |
If you are willing to spend the bucks, get a transparent tank. A secondary advantage for such tanks is they are lightweight
|
|
StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6288 |
Posted: 09 May 2016 at 10:31am |
It is really quite simple. warm water heats the tank. The liquid is a better conductor of heat than the vapors. Where there is liquid propane, the metal of the tank cools rapidly. You can easily feel that since the part above the liquid level will stay warm enough to let you feel the temperature difference. You should realize that while you may think a 20 lb tank should hold about 5.5 gallons, the actual capacity is 4.7 gallons. The overfill prevention device will cut off the filling at that point. If the bleeder valve is used, this is also the point where liquid will start to come out of the bleeder valve, indicating full. This site has some interesting information about tanks and filling: http://www.elivermore.com/propane.htm |
|
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
|
Retroactive
Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Bolton, MA Online Status: Offline Posts: 270 |
Posted: 09 May 2016 at 10:36am |
Two weeks back I had to get two new 20Lb tanks for my Weber grill, they were past the cert date. The place I got them only sold the type with the gauge on them. So those will become my pod tanks. I know they aren't accurate, but it is better than nothing. I'll post my review on them at the end of the season.
|
|
StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6288 |
Posted: 09 May 2016 at 10:43am |
I can already tell you what your review will probably be like.
The gauge on the tank is only a relative indicator of the propane level. When it reads what one would expect to be "empty", it really means that the level is "low." There will still be a gallon or so remaining when the gauge its the red. I though it was a fault, but after talking to the manufacturer, it was explained that this was the case. I don't rely on the gauge except as a relative indicator. |
|
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
|
Retroactive
Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Bolton, MA Online Status: Offline Posts: 270 |
Posted: 09 May 2016 at 10:57am |
I'm not going to rely on the gauges either. I just want to know if I am on the low end on a cold night, that is the only time I care about suddenly running out. I would rather just swap tanks before I go to bed. I can always throw the low tank back on in the morning, and then kill that one off during the day etc. I have to put the new tank on this weekend anyhow, maybe I will play a little game and see how fast I can switch tanks out (Forrest Gump!).
|
|
GLBCamper
Senior Member Joined: 30 Jun 2015 Location: Oregon Online Status: Offline Posts: 274 |
Posted: 09 May 2016 at 1:22pm |
Has anyone asked fwunder his method for checking the propane level? I'm sure there is a PERFECT use of frozen peas.
|
|
Old: 2014 177 HRE
2015 Tacoma V6 4x4 Double Cab New: 2016 EVO ATS 200rd 2016 F150 4x4 Sport |
|
techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 09 May 2016 at 2:32pm |
LOL on the peas.
The problem with the tanks with the pressure gauges is the tank pressure stays the same until near the very end. If the tank has a float gauge, that will be accurate. Still easier to pour some hot water to see the actual line, IMO. BTW, the hardware store where I usually fill my tanks recently noticed that one of them had expired a year or so ago (they kept filling it but not checking the date). They re-certified it for another 5 years for about $10.
|
|
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
|
|
Post Reply | Page <12345> |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |