Propane Regulator Problem

[CampingCrazyShirley]

First, let me start off by we always leave both our tanks open so when one gets empty, it goes over to the full tank. I say always until this weekend... When we picked up our camper the tech guy says no, never leave both tanks open because you use propane from both tanks at the same time, blah, blah blah...then when you run out both your tanks are empty...blah, blah, blah...Well, we opened them both up and apparantley when our tech guy went to fill up our tanks while we were inside finishing up paperwork, he must have turned one of them off. So, off we went camping and at 4 a.m. on Saturday I woke up because it was COLD! Couldn't get furnace to work, woke up DH. He went outside and sure enough, one tank was off. He opened it up but, it would not switch over. He said the regulator was frosted over. So he pulled out the tank and switched it to get it to work...long story short, would this have happened if the other tank was open to begin with? Or, do we have a problem with the regulator?

[bsmeaton]

You guys are definately going to just have to ignore that service guy - he has steered you wrong more than once.

The automatic switchover is very smooth with both tanks open. Running the system dry can be a bear to get it back into shape. (I did it once and had to swap tanks a couple of times to get the flow correct through the regulator). The system is designed so that you can remove one tank to get it refilled without ever loosing service.

Multiple things could have happened, such as opening the tank valve too fast causing the safety valve to pop closed, or you just had air in the lines. The appliances typically go into a fail mode after they try to relight multiple times with no success.

The frost is normal on the regulator - you shouldn't have a problem.

[CampingCrazyShirley]

Brad-I'm sure you are right about possibly opening up the other tank too quickly. Like I said, we always leave both tanks open and have not had a problem in 6 years of doing this. I guess we should have checked them after we set up, but heck, who would have thought he would have closed one of them after we opened it? Thanks for your help.

[ols1932]

I'm always amazed at what some of these so called "service men" know about what they're doing. Why do they put an automatic changeover regulator on the rigs if you're not supposed to have both tanks empty? A lot of RV dealers (Ketelsens in Hiawatha, IA for one) are hiring bona fide RVers to run their PDI's now because they (we) know what to expect from the RVs when the consumer doesn't. I think the industry will go a long way forward if they begin to listen to the real RVers instead of hiring idle workers off the street.

Just my opinion.

Orv

[Mrs. CountryGuy]

Boy, Orv, are you right on on this or what???

And, we are supposed to think these bozo's can actually fix our units when we have trouble????

Ohh, sorry, did I say that??

[bsmeaton]

Orv,
I agree- RVers learn from listening and first hand experience - trial and error. These kids get a quick training - but they never hear back if they are saying something wrong, so they just keep saying it over and over.

Brad

[8.1al]

Oh, yes Carol, you did say that. Sad to say though, you are right so many "techs" don't have a clue. Don't get me wrong there are many excellent techs out there, but how do you know which one you have before it's too late?

[hazmic]

Thats one reason why Ketelsen's are first class dealer. Sad part,good dealers are few and far between.

[sreigle]

I've been leaving both tanks open for years and it works fine. When the red flag goes up it will start drawing from the second tank. If you don't check the flag occasionally then eventually the second tank will be empty, too.

Also, if you put the handle on the regulator straight up I think it then draws from both tanks and the flag will not go up until both are empty. A year or two ago I asked that question of Marshall Controls and that's what they told me. They're the mfr of the regulator. Somewhere around here I have that email.

I also suspect the tank was opened too quickly, especially if it's on the side away from the regulator. I have successfully got it reset by turning it upside down a few times, then reinstalling it and opening the valve slowly.

[noneck]

I miss the day when the Switch-over was separate component from the pressure regulator! I have replumbed every RV till this one to tap the high pressure before regulator to a "Extend-a-flow" connector to my outdoor appliances. Sadly, now I have to use the "at tank Tee" to get this feature but that forces me to always use the curb side tank as this is where its needed for grilling, etc.
Chuck

[Native Tex]

I leave both of ours open and have never had a problem. However, I do intent to get a remote gauge and install it inside the Monty! I think there was a string on this a while back and I got a great link where I order mine.