Propane Tank Gauge/Sensor & Propane Tank Spacer/Stabilizer/Leveler

Topic: Propane Tank Gauge/Sensor & Propane Tank Spacer/Stabilizer/Leveler (Read 1377 times) previous topic - next topic

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December 27, 2018, 01:27:57 am

I saw this at Home Depot - sold in the gas grill section. I would not expect this gauge to be extremely accurate but thought it might give a decent idea, since our current propane tank is not connected to the lp part of the panel above the sink in the LD.
Anyone tried this and have any experience with how well it does/doesn't work?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nexgrill-Propane-Tank-Gauge-530-0074/206405531

Jane

Re: Anyone try this propane tank level gauge out - for removeable tanks

Reply #1 – December 27, 2018, 09:24:31 am

I just bought a new tank for my grill and it came with one. The person at the grill shop said that when the pointer gets into the red zone, you still have approximately two hours of run time. Haven't used that much yet, so I can't comment on the accuracy.

Re: Anyone try this propane tank level gauge out - for removeable tanks

Reply #2 – December 27, 2018, 06:38:58 pm

I tried a similar gauge on my first (1985) Lazy Daze, which had a vertical DOT-type propane tank. It wasn't very useful, because a gauge on the output of a propane tank can only measure gas pressure. That's only loosely related to the actual liquid level inside the tank, and it fluctuates quite a bit. I soon gave up on that gauge. I also tried the stick-on liquid crystal level gauges, but those were all but useless.

My 2003 Lazy Daze had a horizontal ASME tank with a remote-reading float gauge that was reasonably accurate. But when I bought an Airstream trailer, which has dual DOT tanks, I once again faced the problem of determining propane level. Fortunately, technology has advanced, and there's now a very accurate gauge for propane tanks that lack internal level sensors: the $38 AP Products (AKA Mopeka) Tankâˆš. I've been using this system for a year now, and it is very accurate and reliable - unlike anything I've tried in the past.

It senses the propane level by sending ultrasonic pulses upward from a sensor that attaches magnetically to the bottom of the tank. In other words, it uses sonar to gauge the distance from the bottom of the tank to the fluid's surface. The sensor then passes on this information via Bluetooth to your smartphone (using a free app), or to a dedicated readout panel. The first link I posted was for the sensor. If you want both the sensor and the readout, it'll cost you an extra fifty bucks. But if you have an iPhone or equivalent, I'd say just buy the sensor and use the smartphone app. (By the way, the readout works with one or two sensors; the app works with any number of sensors - I'm using two.)

There's one thing you need to know about the Tankâˆš sensor: because it sticks to the very center of the tank's bottom and is about half an inch thick, it would prevent the tank from sitting level if you didn't use a spacer of some kind to raise the tank slightly. The sensor ships with three small aluminum spacers that clip onto the tank's lower rim, but I found that they tended to fall off and get lost during refilling. A much better solution is a circular rubber rim that fits on the bottom of the tank, such as the Tank Tire or Tank Halo. One of those will add twenty five bucks or so to your total cost. But you can try out the system using the spacers that come with the sensor, and only add a circular spacer later if you need it.

If you need a way to check propane level, I highly recommend the Mopeka/AP Products Tankâˆš system.

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Anyone try this propane tank level gauge out - for removeable tanks

Reply #3 – December 27, 2018, 11:17:13 pm

Hi Andy; I should have checked ultrasonic detectors, and I should have expected the prices to be lower now. The only experience I have with those was in a semiconductor manufacturing facility, and the going prices were in the $1000 to $2000 range. Toxic and 'special' chemicals even more. Amazing that they can do that now.
Last night I ran across a bottom tank support spacer here: Amazon.com: EZGO KRAN2 Propane Tank Holder and Stabilizer: Garden & Outdoor
It seemed good, less expensive and a bit thinner.
I don't have a removable tank, but with an ASME tank I have clear access to the top and bottom of the tank. The magnetically coupled tank gauge, mechanical float, and 3 segment display still seem to be really unpredictable. Just a few weeks ago my tank gauge said near empty (below 1/8 tank), and a fill got me 5.2 gallons, which means I had about 3 gallons left. Just at 3/8 th's of a tank. I'll have to check this out, since a weight scale is out of the picture. I wonder if the reliability of the tank sensing would be adversely affected by the change in tank shape. (would need to be very level) RonB

As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Anyone try this propane tank level gauge out - for removeable tanks

Reply #4 – December 28, 2018, 01:44:07 am

Andy, I had looked at that device and wondered if it worked. Thanks for the feedback that it has worked well for you over time.

I know the SeeLevel also has an LP sensor available depending which kit you buy (tanks plus propane) and had thought about using that (not knowing what it took to set it up but knowing the company had a good reputation),

Jane

Re: Anyone try this propane tank level gauge out - for removeable tanks

Reply #5 – December 28, 2018, 01:45:51 pm

"Last night I ran across a bottom tank support spacer here..."

That could be a good alternative to the ring spacers I mentioned, if it would fit in the propane compartment. You'd want to check before ordering. At least in my 1985 twin/king, that compartment was very tight--it wasn't easy to shoehorn the tank back in there after refilling it. Too bad the ring spacers are so overpriced, but they do work, and they don't add horizontal size. (I see that Tweety's lists the Mopeka "halo" for ten bucks less than Amazon, although they probably make it up in shipping.)

"I wonder if the reliability of the tank sensing would be adversely affected by the change in tank shape."

The Mopeka app does have a setting for "Arbitrary" tank size. The app's manual says this:

Arbitrary selection allows you to enter any size you wish if you are using a non standard tank or a horizontal tank.

So it should work. As you know, the change in level in a cylindrical horizontal tank is going to be nonlinear, unlike a vertical tank: as gas is used it'll decrease rapidly at first, then more slowly, then more rapidly again as it nears the bottom of the tank. Is the app smart enough to compensate for this? You'd have to ask Mopeka.

In practice, though, it might not matter that much. After all, the standard float gauge in an ASME tank isn't linear either. (And I've heard of them getting stuck, which can't happen with an ultrasonic sensor.)

"I know the SeeLevel also has an LP sensor available..."

Yes, but it's not really a sensor--just a wired connection to the sender on the horizontal tank. (That's usually a green wire on the back of the stove hood display panel.) Hence its accuracy is no better than the three-bar LED display, but it is much more precise. There's a simple one-time calibration procedure (see below). However, it probably would not work on one of the old vertical tanks.

1. The LPG tank must be full when the sender is calibrated, otherwise the calibration will be invalid. Fill the LPG tank by using an alternate measurement method, such as weight, a spit valve, or a mechanical gauge on the tank.
2. To calibrate, press and hold down the LPG button, the display will show some LPG level.
3. While continuing to hold down the LPG button, press and hold down the BATT button. Continue to hold down both buttons for about 5 seconds until the display shows “LPG”.
4. When this occurs release both buttons, the display will show “CAL” for a second and then shut off, completing the calibration procedure.
5. The LPG can be recalibrated as many times as desired, although recalibration should not be needed unless the LPG tank sender or the display has been replaced.