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01-21-2014, 02:54 PM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Poughquag
Posts: 127
M.O.C. #13192
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QUESTION ABOUT PROPANE REGULATOR
I have a question about the propane regulator. Does the switch over handle turn to the full propane bottle automatically or does it only switch over internally?? How do we know which bottle is empty??
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01-21-2014, 03:22 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Winfield
Posts: 7,327
M.O.C. #6846
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The automatic switchover is internal. The black lever (or similar) will tell you which tank is empty. Point the lever towards each tank and you can watch the red/green indicator. If it is red then the tank that the lever is pointing towards (you can tell by following the propane line to the closest tank) is empty. Switch the lever to the tank that is green and the tank that indicated red can be removed and filled. Hope I explained that simply enough?
Bingo
__________________
Bingo and Cathy - Our adventures begin in the hills of WV. We are blessed by our 2014 3850FL Big Sky (previous 2011 3750FL and 2007 3400RL) that we pull with a 2007 Chevy Silverado Classic DRW CC dually.
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01-21-2014, 03:27 PM
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#3
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Poughquag
Posts: 127
M.O.C. #13192
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Thanks Bingo
Yes you did and thank you.
That's the way I thought that it worked but just wanted to make sure.
Tanks again.
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01-22-2014, 02:49 AM
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#4
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New Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Arlington
Posts: 5
M.O.C. #12942
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I see what you did there.[
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01-22-2014, 04:25 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Willow Spring, NC
Posts: 992
M.O.C. #13909
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So what about this situation with the Propane. Our 2 tanks were filled at the dealer when we bought the 3402RL. We left it on and just use it. After a week of camping where the furnace was uses a lot at night, I still see green arrows. I wonder should I switch the lever to the other tank and remove the tank I've been using to top it off before the next trip? I'm guessing the process would be to flip the lever to the other tank, close the valve on the partially full tank and remove it, get it filled, reinstall and very slowly open the valve on the tank, but not flip the lever to point to it.
would this be right?
__________________
Jim & Martha Abernathy
2014 Montana 3402RL Level UP, Sailun S637's, TST 507, 500W solar
2014 Ram 3500 Laramie® 4x2 diesel dually crew-cab 3.73 axle, Reese R20
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01-22-2014, 08:27 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Murrieta
Posts: 5,816
M.O.C. #9257
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The lever just reminds you which tank is being used, so that you can remove the OTHER propane tank while propane is still in use. If you want to fill either or both tanks when propane is NOT needed then close the valves at the tanks and remove them as desired. The lever just reminds us which tank is in use (whether there's propane in it or not).
jfaberna, since it is very difficult to truly gauge how much propane is used at any time, even with anything running, it's possible your rig did NOT use all its propane in the tanks. How big are the tanks in your rig, how cold was the temp? Therefore the procedure you describe for filling the OTHER tank is correct.
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01-22-2014, 11:57 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Winfield
Posts: 7,327
M.O.C. #6846
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Capt Jim
I see what you did there.[
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I spotted it also, but did not want to PUNish Johncamtravel!!
Bingo
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01-22-2014, 12:09 PM
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#8
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Bella Vista
Posts: 472
M.O.C. #12223
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The best way I have found to tell how much fuel is left in a propane tank is to pour hot water over the tank and feel down the tank (where the hot water was poured) until it turns cold. Where it turns cold is the fuel level. Any better ways? I have tried the various fuel level indicators but none work as well as the hot water method.
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01-22-2014, 12:22 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Chilliwack
Posts: 1,520
M.O.C. #12935
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Your original question has been answered, it does not physically turn the handle, it works on pressure differential between the two tanks provided of course they are both on.
I have 40# tanks that have small gauges on them, they may not be 100% accurate but they sure tell me when the bottle is approaching empty, I never switch the lever from one to the other and have never run out of propane. The way I look at it is, if it is cold and my furnace is running quite a lot then I need to pay more attention to how much propane is in my tanks.
Look fella's we are retired, we don't have a lot of "stuff" to do and we walk past these tanks every day many times. How difficult is it to open the door and look at the gauge. If you have to get up and switch the bottle over or turn it on in the middle of the night, then a few of those episodes should eventually sink in.
My suggestion! buy a gauge for each tank, they are not expensive and come in various shapes n sizes.
Maybe we are getting to rely on technology too much and need to take responsibility for ensuring we have propane to keep the fires burning, or get a down comforter and just snuggle up till morning.
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01-22-2014, 03:43 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,707
M.O.C. #7992
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[quote]Originally posted by Art-n-Marge
The lever just reminds you which tank is being used, so that you can remove the OTHER propane tank while propane is still in use. If you want to fill either or both tanks when propane is NOT needed then close the valves at the tanks and remove them as desired. The lever just reminds us which tank is in use (whether there's propane in it or not).
Art, I thought I understood this system but your response has me questioning my understanding. I think the lever is pointing to the tank that is being monitored. Sometimes that is the tank being used but sometimes it is the tank that has gone empty and the monitor shows red and the rig is using propane from the other tank. (Automatic switchover) I have changed empty tanks many times without switching the lever with no ill effects. Am I missing something? Jim
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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01-22-2014, 05:51 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Chilliwack
Posts: 1,520
M.O.C. #12935
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Jim your understanding of the operation is correct, the handle could be pointing at an empty bottle because that is the one that will be used first. When it empties the auto switchover happens and you are drawing propane from the other bottle.
I leave mine pointed at the bottle I want to empty first, that is the driver side bottle because it is the easiest to get at without tripping over all the "stuff" my DW has on the door side of the unit. I can leave the handle where it always points and continue using propane while taking out the empty bottle and refilling it.
The auto switchover is a bonus, but you still must pay attention to the propane you have remaining.
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01-23-2014, 02:01 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,707
M.O.C. #7992
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Thanks Ed! That has always been my understanding. Over the years I have seen that "Lever" generate pages of discussion on this forum. It is not that mysterious once I realized what it really does. Jim
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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01-23-2014, 03:48 AM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 534
M.O.C. #13378
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This week at Quartzsite we used more propane than we usually do since we were boondocking the entire time, generator, furnace, water heater, and stove were all running on propane. We actually filled both bottles twice!
Anyway...I was always under the impression that the lever determined which propane tank was being used, right, left, or both. But my neighbor, h2ojocky, informed me that was only to determine the approximate level of propane in those tanks. I was skeptical.
So I ran an experiment: I removed the street-side bottle and then turned the lever to that missing bottle. And guess what? The propane continued to flow, the stove still lit and the refrigerator wasn't complaining with a "no propane" beep!
A lesson learned.
And you to can learn from my totally scientific experiment!
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10-10-2016, 02:21 PM
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#14
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Bartlett
Posts: 196
M.O.C. #13418
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ODS propane bottle ran out. I went to the other bottle which was full and turned off and turned it on. I immediately smelled propane. During my investigation, I discovered that propane was coming out the small hole built into the bottom side of the regulator. This appears by the markings to be a single stage high pressure(30psi) regulator. Is the regulator stuck? First time with a problem, do they go bad often? Should I just replace it? I don't mess with propane at all. Any suggestions?
__________________
Larry and Jackie Moore
2017 3950BR, MorRyde IS ,Disc.
2022 F350 SRW
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10-10-2016, 02:34 PM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,166
M.O.C. #6433
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They do go bad. Replace it. Not expensive. I replaced mine a number of years ago when it started leaking just like that. Simple to do. Get some gas type pipe tape or pipe dope.
Here is an earlier discussion about it.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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10-10-2016, 03:51 PM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Mine went bad this spring. As stated not a hard job at all.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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10-10-2016, 04:55 PM
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#17
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Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Bartlett
Posts: 196
M.O.C. #13418
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Thanks Bill and Dick. Still haven't made it home from rally. Maybe in a couple of weeks. Need alittle heat in the Smokies. Lol
__________________
Larry and Jackie Moore
2017 3950BR, MorRyde IS ,Disc.
2022 F350 SRW
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10-11-2016, 03:29 AM
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#18
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Republic
Posts: 257
M.O.C. #16103
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This is the easiest/most accurate way to check the propane level in your tanks. It's simpler and less of a mess than pouring water on the tanks, and much easier than removing the tanks to weight them.
https://www.amazon.com/Dometic-LPGC1.../dp/B00Q7379X0
It's a bit on the pricey side, but it is convienent and works on 10lbs tanks and larger. Inline gauges measure the pressure of the propane gas. Since the gas pressure is basically constant for the temps we use propane at, the gauge shows about the same level until the tank is completely empty.
I like to know the level of propane in the tank so I can buy propane when it's convienent, rather than waiting to run out. We keep both tanks' valves open and watch the red/green indicator on the regulator as well.
Dave
__________________
Dave, Barb, and Paisley the Wonder Wiemeraner
Was - 2015 3160RL Legacy Edition & 2014 F350 6.7l PSD SRW Platinum
Now - SOB
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