I hope that it does not (nearly said that four letter word again), perform anything like the one in the picture below, (when they come out on our left hand thread gas bottles)
The ones in the picture are not much good, as for whatever reason, they show full, until just about the end of the bottle They do not show full, three quarters, half, etc
I have one on my old caravan, it stays in the green, until it is nearly empty
Edit to say that I hope I am wrong and that the inbuilt ones from America, have a more sensitive pressure gauge
What the one in the picture is good for, is that you can close the gas bottle valve, and if you have a leak the gauge will eventually show empty
-- Edited by Tony Bev on Friday 6th of October 2017 02:12:21 AM
wasn_me said
07:49 AM Oct 6, 2017
Hako, barbecues galore have them. I bought one 2013 for the home bbq.
The float sits on top of the liquid. I don't know how it would go on a caravan bottle as the liquid would be sloshing around a fair bit when travelling.
Cheers Pete
hako said
08:20 AM Oct 6, 2017
wasn_me wrote:
Hako, barbecues galore have them. I bought one 2013 for the home bbq. The float sits on top of the liquid. I don't know how it would go on a caravan bottle as the liquid would be sloshing around a fair bit when travelling. Cheers Pete
Well there you go!.....I'm guessing they cost the world and you cannot swap at Bunnings.
Regards
EDIT...just had a look at Barbeques Galore and they have them in stock - $44.95 which is not all that much...prob $10 dearer than the normal ones.
-- Edited by hako on Friday 6th of October 2017 08:24:14 AM
DeBe said
08:53 AM Oct 6, 2017
I don't see why the float system shouldn't last on a gas bottle on a caravan. The same float system is used on car LPG tanks, mine is over 20 years old now & still works (yes its passed tests every time)
Yuglamron said
11:02 AM Oct 6, 2017
I went on Fleabay and bought one of those ultrasound gas level hand held devices. About the size of a small torch. Press against the side of your gas bottle, green is gas and you just try again till you get a red light. Only takes a couple of goes to find the level.
$29. Post free.
I bought mine in the hope it would also work on my second diesel tank which doesn't have a fuel level gauge. Doesn't work but good for the gas bottle
macka17 said
11:09 AM Oct 6, 2017
What do the gauges on OXY Acetylene bottles work on. Pressure.
They give flow and volume.
I find either weigh it.
or stick on that gold strip and pour hot water over it.
Does me fine.
Or.Just pick it up.
You can normally gauge it pretty much.
As long as you got 2 x. I've never bothered.
One empty. Change over and fill next stop.
Plus I carry a small bottle in tray for HWS.
"Justin,".
-- Edited by macka17 on Friday 6th of October 2017 11:17:07 AM
hako said
02:29 PM Oct 6, 2017
When working on the roads out west and using a bottle an hour on our glue pot we crack the tap open just a bit and tip the bottle till liquid comes out - then you know for sure the level.
No worse than the way they manually fill bottles. The gauge would be good for our work but only if you can swap them and there is too much time involved in filling them.
Yuglamron - re your gas level device, how rugged do they seem to you regards being dropped, left in sun or splashed with solvents?
Regards
Yuglamron said
02:45 PM Oct 6, 2017
I haven't used it much to be honest twin gas bottles so the main thing I wanted it for was to get the level in my secondiesel tank which doesn't work.
Seems to be fairly rugged and the sort of plastic Lego is made of. As for dropping it I haven't done that yet and solvents I wouldn't know.
It does say in the blurb that you pick a spot and press lightly against the gas bottle till the light comes on. It has a small spring that clicks when you push it against the bottle. They say to take it off the bottle and pick another spot. Not to slide it up the side of the bottle. I would think that would be the weak link. I double checked Fleabay and they have gone up to $48 now.
hako said
03:15 PM Oct 6, 2017
Yuglamron wrote:
SNIP
It does say in the blurb that you pick a spot and press lightly against the gas bottle till the light comes on. It has a small spring that clicks when you push it against the bottle. They say to take it off the bottle and pick another spot. Not to slide it up the side of the bottle. I would think that would be the weak link. I double checked Fleabay and they have gone up to $48 now.
Thanks Yulamron, some of the blokes we have working with us are hard on gear especially when it doesn't belong to them so might be no good for us.
Thanks.
macka17 said
02:09 PM Oct 7, 2017
Just have 2 bottles. When one runs out.
Change it.
THE only really reliable way.
Have 3 if you nervous. (I carry 2 x 9kg plus 1 x 4.5kg for water heater\shower.)
If shower bottle run out. I can balance contents with a 9kg with hose to suit.
Lots of yrs doing. Lots of bits.
macka17 said
02:27 PM Oct 7, 2017
Like my new Avatar.
My old girl. Bought in '99 sold coupla yrs ago.
34 ft Cutter. 37ft mast. 17ft boom.
Built of Corten steel in Whyalla Shipyard by 2 Shipwrights
to sail round world.
Got to Douglas. One bailed out.
I sailed her back to Adel. for them, then bought her yrs later.
Never beeen out of Port River. Vincents gulf.
4mm Decks\Coachhouse.
6 mm hull sides.
8 mm first chine. 10mm second\3rd chine below water.
1\2 in plate Keel sides. 1in sheet keel bottom.
6in by 1\2 in wall tubing cut in half for stem.
Lead ballast to suit. Block and poured.
1\2 doz cans of old oil based paint poured round to stop any corrosion inside keel.
Long keel Cutaway forefoot. Keel hung rudder.
Rudder 60mm stainless shaft.
Blade sides.1\4in Corten.
Stern sect modified for drifting (less drag)
She outsailed a Compass 29 in light airs. Regularly
They are good light airs cruiser.
1 1\2 times round Aust by myself (Incl original delivery)
I kept her in Adel. We kept 42 ft Boden South seas in Townsville and\or Darwin.
at same time.
Do got sick in Boden. we sold her.
Trevor law said
04:34 PM Oct 7, 2017
Can we have the cats back???? LOL
Dougwe said
03:33 PM Oct 8, 2017
hako wrote:
I hope we see these here soon - real liquid gas level indicators that are inbuilt in the 9KG cylinder.
Note in the video that the thread on the gas bottle is not left hand thread.
They look a great Idea Denis and like you I hope they are here soon with a left thread.
The Ulrtasound gismo sounds good too. I think Truma have a similar one.
The float valves were around (I think 15 - 20 years ago) for fitting into your own gas bottles by licensed tradesmen. They did not seem to last long on the market. One of the problems is it involved a replacement POL valve which had to be renewed every 10 years. Each time the bottle is tested a replacement POL valve is part of the operation.
Note also that is an American web page with $US prices. What price will they be here with a valved manufactured specially for a country that is one of the few left using a POL valve. See this link. O'm not holding my breath.
Brenda and Alan said
08:05 PM Oct 8, 2017
For those with twin gas bottles the ideal solution is to fit an automatic change over regulator. These automatically switch from from the selected bottle when it reaches empty to the second bottle and at the same time show a red indicator in the display window. This means you only need to check this indicator every few days and refill the empty bottle as required. There is no interruption to supply so pilot lights don't go out. Hence no need to know how much is left in a bottle.
Alan
hako said
08:18 PM Oct 8, 2017
Doug and PeterD - they are already available as wasn me kindly pointed out. Link is below.
I hope we see these here soon - real liquid gas level indicators that are inbuilt in the 9KG cylinder.
Note in the video that the thread on the gas bottle is not left hand thread.
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/refillable-steel-propane-cylinder-20-lb-4-7-gal-with-gas-gauge/5605
A good find Denis
I hope that it does not (nearly said that four letter word again), perform anything like the one in the picture below, (when they come out on our left hand thread gas bottles)
The ones in the picture are not much good, as for whatever reason, they show full, until just about the end of the bottle
They do not show full, three quarters, half, etc
I have one on my old caravan, it stays in the green, until it is nearly empty
Edit to say that I hope I am wrong and that the inbuilt ones from America, have a more sensitive pressure gauge
What the one in the picture is good for, is that you can close the gas bottle valve, and if you have a leak the gauge will eventually show empty
-- Edited by Tony Bev on Friday 6th of October 2017 02:12:21 AM
Well there you go!.....I'm guessing they cost the world and you cannot swap at Bunnings.
Regards
EDIT...just had a look at Barbeques Galore and they have them in stock - $44.95 which is not all that much...prob $10 dearer than the normal ones.
-- Edited by hako on Friday 6th of October 2017 08:24:14 AM
I went on Fleabay and bought one of those ultrasound gas level hand held devices. About the size of a small torch. Press against the side of your gas bottle, green is gas and you just try again till you get a red light. Only takes a couple of goes to find the level.
$29. Post free.
I bought mine in the hope it would also work on my second diesel tank which doesn't have a fuel level gauge. Doesn't work but good for the gas bottle
What do the gauges on OXY Acetylene bottles work on. Pressure.
They give flow and volume.
I find either weigh it.
or stick on that gold strip and pour hot water over it.
Does me fine.
Or.Just pick it up.
You can normally gauge it pretty much.
As long as you got 2 x. I've never bothered.
One empty. Change over and fill next stop.
Plus I carry a small bottle in tray for HWS.
"Justin,".
-- Edited by macka17 on Friday 6th of October 2017 11:17:07 AM
No worse than the way they manually fill bottles. The gauge would be good for our work but only if you can swap them and there is too much time involved in filling them.
Yuglamron - re your gas level device, how rugged do they seem to you regards being dropped, left in sun or splashed with solvents?
Regards
I haven't used it much to be honest twin gas bottles so the main thing I wanted it for was to get the level in my secondiesel tank which doesn't work.
Seems to be fairly rugged and the sort of plastic Lego is made of. As for dropping it I haven't done that yet and solvents I wouldn't know.
It does say in the blurb that you pick a spot and press lightly against the gas bottle till the light comes on. It has a small spring that clicks when you push it against the bottle. They say to take it off the bottle and pick another spot. Not to slide it up the side of the bottle. I would think that would be the weak link. I double checked Fleabay and they have gone up to $48 now.
Thanks Yulamron, some of the blokes we have working with us are hard on gear especially when it doesn't belong to them so might be no good for us.
Thanks.
Change it.
THE only really reliable way.
Have 3 if you nervous. (I carry 2 x 9kg plus 1 x 4.5kg for water heater\shower.)
If shower bottle run out. I can balance contents with a 9kg with hose to suit.
Lots of yrs doing. Lots of bits.
My old girl. Bought in '99 sold coupla yrs ago.
34 ft Cutter. 37ft mast. 17ft boom.
Built of Corten steel in Whyalla Shipyard by 2 Shipwrights
to sail round world.
Got to Douglas. One bailed out.
I sailed her back to Adel. for them, then bought her yrs later.
Never beeen out of Port River. Vincents gulf.
4mm Decks\Coachhouse.
6 mm hull sides.
8 mm first chine. 10mm second\3rd chine below water.
1\2 in plate Keel sides. 1in sheet keel bottom.
6in by 1\2 in wall tubing cut in half for stem.
Lead ballast to suit. Block and poured.
1\2 doz cans of old oil based paint poured round to stop any corrosion inside keel.
Long keel Cutaway forefoot. Keel hung rudder.
Rudder 60mm stainless shaft.
Blade sides.1\4in Corten.
Stern sect modified for drifting (less drag)
She outsailed a Compass 29 in light airs. Regularly
They are good light airs cruiser.
1 1\2 times round Aust by myself (Incl original delivery)
I kept her in Adel. We kept 42 ft Boden South seas in Townsville and\or Darwin.
at same time.
Do got sick in Boden. we sold her.
Back on topic.
They look a great Idea Denis and like you I hope they are here soon with a left thread.
The Ulrtasound gismo sounds good too. I think Truma have a similar one.
BBQ Galore have these. Very accurate.
Both my gas bottles connect to these gauges.
The float valves were around (I think 15 - 20 years ago) for fitting into your own gas bottles by licensed tradesmen. They did not seem to last long on the market. One of the problems is it involved a replacement POL valve which had to be renewed every 10 years. Each time the bottle is tested a replacement POL valve is part of the operation.
Note also that is an American web page with $US prices. What price will they be here with a valved manufactured specially for a country that is one of the few left using a POL valve. See this link. O'm not holding my breath.
For those with twin gas bottles the ideal solution is to fit an automatic change over regulator. These automatically switch from from the selected bottle when it reaches empty to the second bottle and at the same time show a red indicator in the display window. This means you only need to check this indicator every few days and refill the empty bottle as required. There is no interruption to supply so pilot lights don't go out. Hence no need to know how much is left in a bottle.
Alan
Doug and PeterD - they are already available as wasn me kindly pointed out. Link is below.
https://www.barbequesgalore.com.au/lpg-gas-cylinder-w-gauge
regards
Another fairly cheap and simple method of getting an accurate level in a LPG bottle is to get an infra red thermometer.
Just point it at the bottle and note where the red dot is when the temp changes.
Or as Macka said just tip boiling water down the side of the bottle.
The infra red thermometer is very simple to use and it is a good tool to check the caravan wheel bearing temps while travelling as well.
Here is a large range of what is available.
www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html
-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Monday 9th of October 2017 07:11:34 AM