LP Gas tank gauge

[Larks]

Where we live there is no mains gas so we are on bottled LP Gas for our hot water and cook top. We have two bottles so that we can turn over to the second when the first empties. There is no refilling service where we are, so can't use the large bulk bottles that you simply get topped up on a regular basis.

I am in Darwin working so my wife is fending for herself at the moment and being winter, basically has to wait for an icy cold shower to know that the gas bottle has run out before switching over. So usually first thing in the morning in her dressing gown. As a result she has taken to switching bottles when the bottle being used "feels" empty when she rocks it, even though it may still have a bit in it.

Before she came to Darwin on the weekend she ordered a new bottle to replace the one that is almost empty. When she got back there was a card saying that they'd replaced the bottle but they had in fact replaced the full one that she'd swapped over to. I believe this may have happened before as she ended up with two empty bottles a few months ago.

So amazingly the delivery guys can't even pick which one was full and which was empty because OH&S doesn't allow them to lift the gas bottles physically. Plus they didn't work out that the one which was turned on was the one being used.

So my question is anyone aware of any effective gauge for measuring the amount of gas left in a domestic LPG bottle? (ie not something like a colour changing magnetic strip that might go on a boat or barbeque gas bottle.)

[TerryLL]

Back when I drove fork truck in the fish plant the standard practice was to turn the empties upside down so anyone entering the gas shed could immediately see which ones needed filling. The industrial tanks we used on the the fork trucks all had gauges, but they were generally useless when the tank was nearly empty.

Any delivery person who can't tell the difference between an empty tank and a full one is not up to the job. It's completely obvious, even using a hand truck.

[The Bigfella]

What happens if you pour a bit of water on the side of the bottle? Doesn't that show the fill line? Hot water perhaps.... say the left overs in the kettle after you make a brew? Worth trying.

[jonboy]

Here we have four different suppliers BP Shell etc... and 11kg 13 kg and 15 kg bottles... (not including the camping gas and plumber's propane types) and in propane and butane, most commonly used like you for instant water heating and cooking and those mobile gas fire heaters...and then we have the 45 kg types.... I guess you are talking about the 'small' ones?
they often have gauges, but the small ones don't...it's a pain to have those problems you mention.

And the petrol stations or supermarkets that sell the stuff are dedicated so you run out, with no spare and the local guy doesn't sell the brand you have, regulators are different as well, So
my system is apart from having a spare handy, is to put a tee in the feed line and have two different bottles connected with an isolator or just use the on-off on the regulator... don't have them both connected as the level will drop equally and you run out of both at the same time...! When one runs out or starts getting low as usually happens in the shower, switch to the other bottle and leave the grunting of empties and full ones about, for a more convenient time....that is she leaves it til you come home...I realise this is probably what you do more or less....
I bet the local guy who services fixes sells the water heaters has a gauge or adaptor for the big bottle gauges ...?
we also have these new fibreglass bottles which are lighter full than the steel ones empty.... they are translucent so you can actually see the liquid level inside...They are expensive on the first-take deposit but the gas costs the same on exchange....

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

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Well, I agree with Terry's comment that, "Any delivery person who can't tell the difference between an empty tank and a full one is not up to the job." Even when picked up on a trolley, it must be possible to tell whether one is full or not.

But what's wrong with those magnetic or stick-on strips anyway? Put them near the bottom of the tank and you should learn what you want to.

Also, Jonboy's f/g bottles are a new one on me, but sound worth investigating.

Mike

[The Bigfella]

I take it Larks has the 45kg bottles... and you don't own them, they belong to the gas company. So, if you put a strip on, you lose it with the bottle.

Incidentally, I sat back and watched two of those burn when a cousin's house burnt in the bushfires a few years back - they sound like a jet taking off as they vent - and you get a blue flame about 15' long and 3' round. Very impressive.

[jonboy]

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Well, I agree with Terry's comment that, "Any delivery person who can't tell the difference between an empty tank and a full one is not up to the job."

Also, Jonboy's f/g bottles are a new one on me, but sound worth investigating.

Mike


Or alternatively is so up to the job he doesn't notice the weight difference

Just been checking Galp, a part Portuguese-nationalised fuel company.... does 'high density polypropylene with a steel core' bottles, light but not see through,... I think their site is only in Portuguese though...check out 'pluma' the name of the new bottles... and BP does the translucent ones ...go to their main site and look up LPG or gas in the home or somesuch... there's pictures of the funky new bottles, white lattice around translucent fibreglass and BP green tops.......

[donald branscom]

Just pour real hot water over the tank and you will see the ice line.

Also if you only have ONE tank with a gage, then use that tank last.
Use the other tanks till they run out.

[Syed]

Take a suitable weigh scale and use to monitor the weight of the cylinder.
Or hang the cylinder with a spring and pointer, mark with full and empty cylinder.

[goodbasil]

Lee Valley has a guage for the small 20# tanks, I just bought one on friday.

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=55008&cat=2,40733,40996&ap=1

Perhaps you need something like this.

[Figmental]

There are regulators with 2 hoses to connect 2 gas bottles that switch from one tank to the other automatically when the first runs out. Then you flip a lever when changing out the empty tank and it makes the switch again when that tank runs out
They were available from the gas suppliers that brought the gas in the 100 lb cylinders back 10-20 years ago. Do they not have such available where you are?

[jonboy]

Take a suitable weigh scale and use to monitor the weight of the cylinder.
Or hang the cylinder with a spring and pointer, mark with full and empty cylinder.


Hey Syed... If you keep the original bottle and always get it filled you have a standard..... we exchange the bottles and although in principle 'standard', They vary considerably... just the protective collar round the regulator can vary enough to make your system only as good as the guesstimate system we all seem to use.

[Todd D]

The only relaible way to tell how full propane tanks are is to weigh them. Here in the US propane tanks have there tare (empty) weight stamped on them. Just set them on your bathroom scale and subtract the tare weight to find out how much LP you have left. Pressure gauges are only good for finding leaks, because if there is liquid propane in the tank, the pressure is more or less constant (varies a bit with temperature).

[PeterSibley]

What happens if you pour a bit of water on the side of the bottle? Doesn't that show the fill line? Hot water perhaps.... say the left overs in the kettle after you make a brew? Worth trying.

That's what we do, pour hot water down the side .The fill level should be obvious .

[PeterSibley]

Lee Valley has a guage for the small 20# tanks, I just bought one on friday.

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=55008&cat=2,40733,40996&ap=1

Perhaps you need something like this.

This looks like an easy visual .

[Larks]

Thanks all, I can usually "feel" where the gas level is when I'm there just by sliding my hand down the side, the problem's when I'm not there and these delivery jokers that can't pick the full from the empty tank, but I'll tell Kate about the hot water concept.

I do know that the only real way to know what's in there is to weigh them, there seems to be a market for a set of reasonably priced, weather proof gas tank scales out there that can take the knock of some joker dropping a tank on them when they are replaced.

I'm wondering about this automatic switch over gauge idea now though. We do have a rather eleborate looking switch over arrangement that may be just one of those that we've never been told about. I've simply treated it as a dial to turn from one to the other. I can't find any such dials anywhere on the web - yet- to explore this further.

[PeterSibley]

Greg , potters,home casters and the like , those who really chew gas in their kilns have a simple valve on a manifold .It's what I've got on the furnace setup .

[PeterSibley]

Try Pottery Supplies in Milton (Bris ) .Maybe ?

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

This looks like an easy visual .

Yep, that's the sort of thing I was talking about. Magnetic, not stick-on -- just like a fridge magnet. So you take it off the empty tank and transfer it to the new one when the time comes.

I've been using those for twenty-five years or more on LP bottles I take camping.

Mike

[Larks]

Yep, that's the sort of thing I was talking about. Magnetic, not stick-on -- just like a fridge magnet. So you take it off the empty tank and transfer it to the new one when the time comes.

I've been using those for twenty-five years or more on LP bottles I take camping.

Mike

I have had a couple of them Mike, about 300mm long, but I didn't find the ones I had much good on the big bottles and when they got nicked I didn't bother replacing them. I might see if I can find a different type

[py]

I think bbq shops have some sort of gauge which fits in the line-must work off pressure I guess. Try your gas supplier for an auto switch over valve.

And get a piece of chalk-write MT on the empty one. Even the delivery guy should be able manage that.

Phil

[Larks]

And get a piece of chalk-write MT on the empty one.
Phil

Bloody good idea Phil. I've also just worked out that we do in fact have an auto change over valve, just that no one ever told us what it is and how it works (and I didn't know such a thing exists - I haven't dealt with gas fittings much at all in the past).

We will also make up a small plaque telling the delivery guy not to stuff around with it (as they seem to do).