Community Forums

FreedomDream · 01-10-2016, 09:22 AM

Our LP tank gauge reads half all the time, never changes. Talking about this problem to the guys who fill RV LP tanks at campgrounds, Pilot-Flying J and RV techs and dealers, I believe that very very few LP tank gauges are accurate if they work at all. Our tank holds about 24 gallons at 80% and we have never run out. I apologize to the guy who just filled us with just 6 gallons. He said, "No problem. No body knows how much they really have until they completely run out." About every 6 months or so we top-off our LP tank. We are full timers and have never run out, not even during the winter.

chiliman · 01-10-2016, 05:01 PM

Thanks everyone.

Understandiing the inaccuracies of these gauges now, I got the tank filled when the gauge showed a little under 1/2.

So now I have a number related to the position of 1/2 on the tank. I will try to do the same a couple of more times to see if 1/2 on this tank is the same every time.

Given that Propane exppands and contracts with the temperature I am guessing there will be a +- involved here.

My gauge does show various points as the tank is filled, and emptied (at least between 1/2 and 3/4).

jpbodiford · 06-07-2016, 10:51 AM

I'm new at all this so be gentle....I just bought a 33 ft 2003 Georgie Boy Velocity. My LP gauge is malfunctioning I think.. The needle is below the Empty line and the panel inside shows Empty too. I had tank refilled but gauge stayed the same and the panel inside shows Empty too. I disconnected the gauge and the panel inside showed full. Scratching my head now. I took gauge to a dealer and they checked it and said it was OK. I'm not convinced. How can I ck the gauge? Not very proficient with volt/ohm meters but I checked continuity between the two leads (one red orange, one white) and there was an audible sound there so I assume it's OK. I'm not sure about the little magnet. How to ck the two leads for power? Anyone there that put me on the right track or is it a 'must' to have that gauge connected?...Jim

ahicks · 06-07-2016, 11:04 AM

Don't worry about the interior gauge until you get the one on the outside working correctly. The outside gauge is the sending unit for the internal one.

There's a float inside the tank, that drives the sending unit through a set of gears. These gears are not exactly high quality/precision cut, so they do stick on occasion. Often, all you need to do is drive it around or hit a bump to get it working again. The sloshing of the liquid LP will jostle the float a bit.

At best, these gauges are just there to give you an idea of what's in the tank. If you just filled it, you're good to go for quite a while unless you're using the furnace. Cooking and refer only should last at least a full season.

lonfu · 06-07-2016, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gruelens

I took a Sharpie marker and marked the gauge face where the needle is. Then after filling wrote the number of gallons on the tank beside the mark. Having 3 such reference marks at different levels, they give me at a glance of the tank gauge, approx how much propane I have used.

Yep, same thing. when completely empty marked it with a sharpy. Then filled it and marked it again. Put a middle mark for 1/2 tank. I ignore the "in coach" gage.

dennis45 · 06-07-2016, 07:39 PM

Here's a test that will tell you how much propane you have left...

Run your hand up and down the tank from top to bottom. You will feel a temperature change. The cooler portion is the propane level. That will give you an idea do how accurate the gauge is.

milepost50 · 06-07-2016, 08:02 PM

Propane gauges are a lot like political campaign speeches. There is very little you can believe. I bought a strip from a barbeque shap that sticks on the end of my tank that shows the propane level by color change from the cold temperature of the propane.
It works great.

BobMontgomer · 06-07-2016, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s.j.sharks

If you are an optimist it means the tank is half full....if you are a pessimist it means the tank is half empty....
Sorry, just couldn't resist...lol Happy New Year everyone....

If you are filling the tank, it is half full. If you are drawing it down, it is half empty. If you are putting water in a glass, it is half full, if drinking, it is half empty. Sorry to rain on your parade.