How much propane in a 30#

[Capsfloyd]

How can you tell how much propane in a 30# bottle .
The only way I know how is to take them off and put them on my scales

I can get the tare weight off the bottle and weigh the bottle to get the difference

Any ideas

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[Bryce]

If it's upright, pour hot water down the side of it and fee where it gets cold.

[jbrostek]

Sadly I go by two things. What they weigh when I lift them up without disconnecting or when my regulator switches over thats when its time to fill the other tank. I only goto pay per gallon locations for refilling, so if it turns out to be a partial fill, I dont fret it.

[ependydad]

Don't ask me- I managed to run out of propane again on my last trip! Hopefully 3-times is a charm and I don't do it again after this.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Capsfloyd

How can you tell how much propane in a 30# bottle .
The only way I know how is to take them off and put them on my scales

I can get the tare weight off the bottle and weigh the bottle to get the difference

Any ideas

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Forest River Forums mobile app

I keep a handheld luggage scale for this purpose. It's easier to carry in the RV and is fairly accurate enough to judge the tanks.

Originally Posted by Bryce

If it's upright, pour hot water down the side of it and fee where it gets cold.

This also works great, so you don't have to remove the tanks. However, you need to remember that there is a 20% expansion gap at the top of the tank to allow the propane to expand, even in a fully filled tank with 30 pounds of propane. It's a good idea, when you get a tank filled, to apply the hot water method, and see (mark with a sharpie) where a full tank actually does change temps....so you will know how to judge what is a half-filled, quarter-filled tank, etc, later on in life when you do the hot water method.

They also make a $60 ultrasonic tool that Doug needs, that will show the level.

Fill level indicator Truma LevelCheck

[cadman99]

About 7.5 gallons when full. Should weigh about 55lbs full and 25lbs empty.

I use a luggage scale to weigh mine - Digital Luggage Scale - BedBathandBeyond.com

[ependydad]

What about this sticker thingie?

GLI Gas Level Indicator - LCR Hallcrest 100 - Propane Accessories - Camping World

Any chance these work while propane is being used?

[SKnight]

This is what I used on my TT and will put on my current tanks soon as I think to order them. On 30# cylinders it takes two stacked vertically to reach top to bottom.

Pour hot water on them and they change color at the liquid level just like an aquarium thermometer. Same as watching for condensation but you don't need as much water and is much easier than removing the tanks to weigh them.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/p...,40996&p=55008

[ependydad]

Thanks, SKnight.

I do love the LeeValley company- their April Fools products are worth visiting their site each year.

[Oakman]

I only use propane from one bottle at a time and I keep the valve closed on the other one. When the bottle I’m using is empty I switch over to the other one. This usually means the bottle I’m using will run out in the middle of the night during cold weather, but at least I can change over to a full bottle. The next opportunity I get I have the empty bottle filled. Every time I’ve had an empty filled it took 7 gallons.
While these middle of the night changeovers are inconvenient, I’ve never had to go hours on end in cold weather without heat.