Correct set up for propane

[CCFROMFL]

I have two propane tanks, one has a "switch/lever" for changing over tank.

What is the proper way to use the two tanks, have both open or what. Should I start with the tank on the right and when that is empty open the left tank.

Thank you,

[Joe N]

Originally Posted by CCFROMFL

I have two propane tanks, one has a "switch/lever" for changing over tank.

What is the proper way to use the two tanks, have both open or what. Should I start with the tank on the right and when that is empty open the left tank.

Thank you,

In my humble opinion you are on the right track. I have been camping for five years and never ran out of propane because I use one tank and when runs out I switch to the second tank and go fill the empty tank giving me a full tank when I need it.
The only down side of doing it this way is running out in the middle of the night. I keep an eye on the tank that I'm using and so far I been lucky. I did purchase a propane gauge and that helps in keeping an eye on it.

[ROMANICHEL]

Same for me, I use one tank until it's run's out, from that tank I also have an adapter that runs
a 20 feets hose to my Weber Grill, this way no bad surprises of having both tanks empty.
Mike

[wa8yxm]

There are two ways..

I would open one tank, the one the switch over valve points to (Does not matter which) and when I think there is a chance of the tank going empty open the 2nd tank, when the gauge goes red, I'd switch the valve over and refill the first tank and re-connect it,, closed.

THeory has it you can open both tanks and watch for the gauge to go red (It does this when the first tank is empty) swich over and re-fill. but Well. i'd rather not open the tank till it's time.

[tucsonrv]

Leave both tanks on. My switch over uses my right tank as a priority so I leave the lever pointing to the right tank and green is seen in the window. When this rank run out it automatically switches over to the left tank and it goes 1/2 red 1/2 green, then I switch the lever to the left tank. Turn off the right tank which is empty disconnect refill hook up open tank valve and you are ready for a auto switch when the left tank goes empty.

[Gordon Dewald]

Originally Posted by CCFROMFL

I have two propane tanks, one has a "switch/lever" for changing over tank.

What is the proper way to use the two tanks, have both open or what. Should I start with the tank on the right and when that is empty open the left tank.

Thank you,

If you have what I have you have a very elegant tool to keep you always able to use propane.

You can open both tanks. There is a window that will show green. This indicates the tank the arrow on the lever is pointing at has propane.

Regular checks are required. When the window turns red it means the tank the lever is pointing at is empty and you are running off of the other tank.

Switch the lever to point at the other tank. The window will turn green. At that point you can unhook the empty tank and get it filled.

Hook up the newly filled tank and open it up. Now watch for the window to turn red. It means the tank you were running off of is now empty and the last tank you filled is being used.

Repeat by turning the lever to point at the tank that has propane and fill the empty one.

If you are careful you will never be without propane in your unit.

[jesilvas]

Just so all are clear, the auto change over regulator does a few things. First, reduces pressure from 90PSI + down to roughly .5PSI. Second, it uses LPG out of the connection the dial is pointed to and also displays whether it has pressure or not (green or red.) Once the selected cylinder is empty, it INTERNALLY starts using LP from the other cylinder. Only thing you actually see change is the fact that it displays red.

[DennisG9]

Originally Posted by CCFROMFL

I have two propane tanks, one has a "switch/lever" for changing over tank.

What is the proper way to use the two tanks, have both open or what. Should I start with the tank on the right and when that is empty open the left tank.

Thank you,

I don't know how your tanks are set up but mine are on a tray that slides out. The rear tank is harder to change so I use it as reserve and run most of the time off the outer tank.

Keep it simple. . .

[ROMANICHEL]

Originally Posted by DennisG9

I don't know how your tanks are set up but mine are on a tray that slides out. The rear tank is harder to change so I use it as reserve and run most of the time off the outer tank.

Keep it simple. . .

Might be a good idea to alternate back and front tank at least once a year,
Mike

[bigmichael]

Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald

If you have what I have you have a very elegant tool to keep you always able to use propane.

You can open both tanks. There is a window that will show green. This indicates the tank the arrow on the lever is pointing at has propane.

Regular checks are required. When the window turns red it means the tank the lever is pointing at is empty and you are running off of the other tank.

Switch the lever to point at the other tank. The window will turn green. At that point you can unhook the empty tank and get it filled.

Hook up the newly filled tank and open it up. Now watch for the window to turn red. It means the tank you were running off of is now empty and the last tank you filled is being used.

Repeat by turning the lever to point at the tank that has propane and fill the empty one.

If you are careful you will never be without propane in your unit.

Gordon, a nice explanation of how to properly use the auto change gauge on the rigs. I saw a statistic that I can't find now, I believe in a trailer life tech article. In any case, they did a survey and came up with something like 80% with auto regulators don't know how to use them correctly. Seems high until you talk to the number of people who have one tank at a time open.

We have FTed for a lot of years, and I tend not to get into this discussion any more because too many folks just don't seem to get it. (I have had occasion where people have asked if I would show them and I gladly do.) But the much more common reaction is they don't want to take the chance of having both tanks go empty. I have tried to explain that if you are using propane (like in the winter when you may go thru a tank every few days or so) and you quickly open the door the regulator is behind as you walk by it, and check the gauge color, this won't happen. And you will never again be up at 0 dark thirty changing a tank over, because it will do it automatically.

I even had a discussion with one individual who said "well, those auto regulators aren't fail safe, sometimes they go bad, and then both tanks are empty"

I suppose they do fail on occasion, although I guess I've been lucky and not had one fail in the fifteen years we have used them. However, if it ever does fail to switch colors when the first tank goes empty, I imagine I could run out of propane. But if it ever happens, I'll just think about all this cold and rainy nights over the years, when the tanks switched automatically, while I remained sound asleep in my bed

[caissiel]

So true. We have use auto switch for over 20 years with no problems. I guess if you use it will not fail.
But I do travel with one tank closed for my safety. But both tanks open for cold nights. Also less chance for the overflow in tank valve to shut off due to opening the tank valve without back pressure.

[Gordon Dewald]

Yes - I have used them for years starting in the early 70 when I was full time in a 28' 5er working. I spent several winters on the prairies and never had an issue. There was a few times when I would hang a 100w bulb and a blanket over the tanks so I had pressure but the regulator was dependable.

I do not travel with propane tanks open. I worry about issues where the lines are flared, etc while traveling. Some say the movement is like a 3.5 earthquake. A mixture of 2.2 - 9.5 % propane is explosive so why risk it. We travel often when it is warm and if we keep the doors closed on the fridge it will stay cold/frozen for the hours we travel until we stop and turn the propane back on.

[RCAircraft]

I keep one tank closed when the other is on just in case of a gas line failure. On the road both tank valves are off. Thank you.