Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-27-2014, 02:31 PM   #1
Rivet Master
 
lsbrodsky's Avatar
 
2012 25' FB International
Trent Woods , North Carolina
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,120
Propane tank level checker

I saw an ad for Truma in a mag recently and bought one. They are a well established German RV company and this device is a little handheld sonic detector. It seems to work well on a clean tank but gives false negatives on a dirty tank. So it is fine for my AS tanks, not so good for a bbq grill tank stored outside.
You may ask why bother...I like to start trips with two full tanks but I want to know whether I really I really need propane in the in service tank without having to wrestle it down and weigh it. Perfect device for the job!
Larry
lsbrodsky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2014, 03:06 PM   #2
Figment of My Imagination
 
Protagonist's Avatar
 
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over , More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
There's an even cheaper tester: hot water. Pour it down the side of your propane cylinder, then feel the wet side of the cylinder. Where the cylinder switches from feeling hot to feeling cool, that's where the propane level is. Propane is very cold in its liquid state, and it will suck the heat right out of the water you poured on the cylinder.
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
Protagonist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2014, 03:47 PM   #3
Rivet Master
 
AWCHIEF's Avatar
 
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi , Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
Images: 33
Ditto, been doing it that way for years. Sometimes you just got to pass on the tech.
__________________
MICHAEL

Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
AWCHIEF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2014, 04:00 PM   #4
Rivet Master
 
lsbrodsky's Avatar
 
2012 25' FB International
Trent Woods , North Carolina
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,120
Not me...tech is good. Why would I want water all over the tank and base when they are normally protected from the weather?
Larry
lsbrodsky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2014, 04:16 PM   #5
Rivet Master
 
r carl's Avatar
 
Vintage Kin Owner
Lin , Ne
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,430
Quote:
Originally Posted by Protagonist View Post
There's an even cheaper tester: hot water. Pour it down the side of your propane cylinder, then feel the wet side of the cylinder. Where the cylinder switches from feeling hot to feeling cool, that's where the propane level is. Propane is very cold in its liquid state, and it will suck the heat right out of the water you poured on the cylinder.
I tried that one time, it must not work on aluminum tanks.
__________________
The higher your expectations the fewer your options.
r carl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2014, 04:39 PM   #6
Rivet Master
 
dkottum's Avatar
 
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake , Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
We use the gadget and like like it, simple to know levels as we travel. No surprises. I think of it like the black tank, fresh and grey water and gasoline gauges, better than a dip stick.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles

The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
dkottum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2014, 04:02 PM   #7
4 Rivet Member
 
2004 16' International CCD
Chicagoland , Illinois
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 265
Images: 2
Hmm. I like the water trick, but I like tech too. Thanks for sharing these tricks.
Airrogant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2014, 04:10 PM   #8
Rivet Master
 
1999 28' Excella
New Orleans , Louisiana
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 883
Images: 2
How much hot water?
badkat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2014, 04:15 PM   #9
3 Rivet Member
 
dougandlori's Avatar
 
2004 28' Classic
Fresno , California
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 150
I just use a large glass of hot water and it works every time.
__________________
Doug & Lori
Fresno
2004 28' Classic
2007 Ram 2500
dougandlori is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2014, 04:23 PM   #10
Rivet Master
 
IanPoulin's Avatar
 
2021 25' International
Full timer , Virginia
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 665
Images: 4
At one hundred dollars for the Truma, I think I'll forgo the tech and use the hot water method


2011 Airstream International Serenity 28' - 30a/taupe
2013 Fors F150 v6-ecoboost with max tow and HD payload packages
__________________
2024 Airstream Globetrotter 30RB
2022 Ford F350 Lariat Diesel
WBCCI 4CU 8118
IanPoulin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2014, 05:39 PM   #11
BAB
Rivet Master
 
BAB's Avatar
 
2015 30' Classic
2012 28' International
Greensboro , North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,708
I just bought one. It was $69. A bit spend, but isn't everything these days?
__________________
_________________
"SilverLeaf II" 2015 30' Classic
2019 RAM 2500 Limited 4x4 CC w/6.7L Cummins
ProPride 3P
AIR# 58452
WBCCI # 3430-Unit 21
BAB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2014, 07:44 PM   #12
Rivet Master
 
2005 19' Safari
GLENDALE , AZ
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,453
I weigh the propane tanks using a cheap scale that we got at WalMart near the luggage and travel stuff:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/17472591

The "tare weight" of an empty propane tank is stamped on the metal handle. To determine how much propane is left in a tank, just weigh it and subtract the tare weight. (I weigh the tanks right after I fill them, and write the weight on the top of each one, in pencil; that way I know how much they weighed when full.)

The scale isn't terribly accurate (+/- a pound or two), but this isn't rocket science. The measurements are close enough to determine whether a tank should be refilled. Besides the scale only costs about $6-7.
Phoenix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2014, 09:06 PM   #13
Rivet Master
 
AWCHIEF's Avatar
 
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi , Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
Images: 33
You can also just pick it up and give it a shake. Pretty easy to judge how much liquid is in the tank.
__________________
MICHAEL

Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
AWCHIEF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2014, 10:41 PM   #14
Rivet Master
 
J. Morgan's Avatar
 
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton , Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
Images: 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by IanPoulin View Post
At one hundred dollars for the Truma, I think I'll forgo the tech and use the hot water method


2011 Airstream International Serenity 28' - 30a/taupe
2013 Fors F150 v6-ecoboost with max tow and HD payload packages

Yea but once you pay to heat sixty thousand glasses of water you could have bought the device.
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......

J. Morgan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2014, 11:59 PM   #15
Rivet Master
 
crazeevw's Avatar
 
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Saint Petersburg , Florida
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,702
Images: 28
Quote:
Originally Posted by lsbrodsky View Post
I saw an ad for Truma in a mag recently and bought one. They are a well established German RV company and this device is a little handheld sonic detector. It seems to work well on a clean tank but gives false negatives on a dirty tank. So it is fine for my AS tanks, not so good for a bbq grill tank stored outside.
You may ask why bother...I like to start trips with two full tanks but I want to know whether I really I really need propane in the in service tank without having to wrestle it down and weigh it. Perfect device for the job!
Larry

Possible that you could tell me how this device was listed in the Magazine, or even the Product name from the box it came in?
Thanks, Derek
crazeevw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2014, 04:06 AM   #16
Rivet Master
 
lsbrodsky's Avatar
 
2012 25' FB International
Trent Woods , North Carolina
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,120
It is called the Truma Levelcheck and you can find it at truma.com

Larry
lsbrodsky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2014, 05:59 AM   #17
2 Rivet Member
 
1997 25' Excella
Waterville , Minnesota
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 44
I fill propane tanks here at the shop and seen various kinds of these, however after time or a slight "dropping" of tanks they seem to read inaccurate. I can only agree with Phoenix, the tare weight is stamped on the tank (TW) and depending on your tank size, being a 30# or 40# add the (TW) to the tank size and you will have the full limit of your tank. You should not have to write anything down, unless the filler is not giving you your moneys worth. A bathroom scale will work for this just fine. A 30# tank when full should be about 54 lbs. Aluminum of course is lighter and the TW would show this.
Bait guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2014, 06:39 AM   #18
Rivet Master
 
1981 31' Excella II
New Market , Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
You can get a double bung tank with a float gage in it.

Perry
perryg114 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2014, 09:11 AM   #19
2020 Classic 33
 
Box Elder , South Dakota
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,731
Images: 1
I've got the MOSCAP tank ultrasonic checker and it works well. http://www.amazon.com/GasCheck-Propa.../dp/B00EUG1DCE

Also have heard that an IR thermometer will work. Just need to have some propane being used. When gas is flowing the propane will get colder.

And the most accurate way as previously mentioned is weight. 50# fish scale will do fine since most tanks empty are about 23# or so, at least the ones on late model AS.
__________________
Gary
2020 Classic 33 Twin, 2019 Ram 3500 Longhorn, ProPride
NØVPN
ghaynes755 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2014, 09:29 AM   #20
Rivet Master
 
lsbrodsky's Avatar
 
2012 25' FB International
Trent Woods , North Carolina
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,120
Yes weighing is the most accurate, but my objective was to avoid having to disconnect and lift the tank off of the A-frame. The ultrasonic sensor is a more elegant and less physical solution for me.
Larry
lsbrodsky is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Polarity checker. ROBERTSUNRUS Lights - Interior & Exterior 5 10-05-2012 04:54 PM
ieSpell - a spell checker for internet explorer toastie Off Topic Forum 3 12-05-2010 08:30 AM
Spell checker... (ieSpell) Andy R Forum Admin, News and Member Account Info 11 11-02-2007 07:11 PM
How level is level? RichardT 1961 - 1963 Bambi 7 03-12-2006 03:52 PM
Spell Checker thenewkid64 Forum Admin, News and Member Account Info 25 04-29-2004 10:21 AM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:00 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.