Propane Tanks

[realjet]

Here's a few pics of my propane setup. What is the picture with the red, level of propane?

[Skip426]

Red is an indication that there is no propane pressure ( empty tank/ valve off? ) when pressure from a full tank is applied , the green should appear and stay green until the tank is empty.

[Arch Hoagland]

How old are those tanks?

[keymastr]

Those indicators are very helpful if you only open one tank at a time. Then you know when to refill before you run out. Mine has an arrow on the outside plastic bezel that points to the side I have selected and will only pull from that tank until it runs out. Then it turns red and automatically switches to the full tank. As long as you remember to check for the red it works great but if you don't check it may drain the other tank before you fill the first one.

The plastic tank covers will keep the tanks from rusting and the sun from degrading the propane lines. And they are cheap.

[hohenwald48]

You appear to have an auto change over regulator and the primary tank is empty. You open both tank valves and one tank is designated as primary. There is usually an indicator arrow pointing toward that tank. When the primary tank is empty, the regulator will automatically switch to the secondary tank and the indicator will turn red to indicate operation on the secondary tank. You then manually flip the selector to designate the secondary tank as the new primary, remove to empty tank, refill and reinstall it and it now becomes the new secondary tank.

That's how most of them work. Your's may operate different. Here's one on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/i/142699929607?chn=ps

[Old-Biscuit]

That is a Cavagna Auto Change-Over Regulator

1st propane cylinder valved into service becomes 'primary'.........then you open the service valve on other cylinder

Behind that Red/Green Indicator is an 'arrow' that you point to 'primary' cylinder (white knob)

When primary cylinder goes empty.regulator auto swaps to other cylinder and RED Indicators show.
Turn White Knob so arrow is pointing to other cylinder.......RED Indicator will turn GREEN

It is now OK to disconnect empty cylinder and go get it filled


YOU will soon begin getting issues with filling your cylinders:
1) All of that surface rust could be cause for 'visual inspection failure'
2) Cylinders ar at least 10 yrs old.......2008 trailer. DOT Requirements portable cylinders to be recertified 12 yrs after date of mfg. stamped on collar (but 10 year rule was passed then halted but still being allowed as standard)
Visual Recert is good for 5 yrs.........if they pass

[realjet]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

That is a Cavagna Auto Change-Over Regulator

1st propane cylinder valved into service becomes 'primary'.........then you open the service valve on other cylinder

Behind that Red/Green Indicator is an 'arrow' that you point to 'primary' cylinder (white knob)

When primary cylinder goes empty.regulator auto swaps to other cylinder and RED Indicators show.
Turn White Knob so arrow is pointing to other cylinder.......RED Indicator will turn GREEN

It is now OK to disconnect empty cylinder and go get it filled


YOU will soon begin getting issues with filling your cylinders:
1) All of that surface rust could be cause for 'visual inspection failure'
2) Cylinders ar at least 10 yrs old.......2008 trailer. DOT Requirements portable cylinders to be recertified 12 yrs after date of mfg. stamped on collar (but 10 year rule was passed then halted but still being allowed as standard)
Visual Recert is good for 5 yrs.........if they pass

I see the visual. It's hard to read. Looks like 8/10 or 12. I hooked up a gauge that I use for my grill. Both cylinders are in the green. Not sure how accurate it is. I tapped on the red/green gauge and both cylinders went to green. I just checked again, gas was shut off and it was red. Turned gas on, it was red. Tapped it again and went to green. I do have a cover for it
Is there another way to check how much gas is in them?

[keymastr]

You can weigh them. Or pour steaming water down the side and watch for the condensation line.

[hohenwald48]

The best way to tell if gas is in the cylinder is to weigh them. Stamped on the tank is the empty weight (TWxxx). Anything over that is propane.

Pressure gauges don't work very well as the propane pressure is fairly constant until they are nearly empty of propane in the liquid state..