ultrasonic propane measurement

mjones12 · 06-12-2013, 10:51 AM

A camping friend showed me his new ultrasonic propane meter last week. Pretty cool if you're a gadget person. It's about the size of a small television remote control. You take several ultrasonic readings up and down the tank to determine where the level is. He paid about $60 plus shipping for his. I wondered if anyone here had tried it, and what do you think? Here's a link I found.

Give Your Propane Tank an Ultrasound to Find Out If It's Low

tanddc · 06-12-2013, 11:26 AM

That's a new one on me. I am always looking for a good way to tell propane levels. I have tried the magnets that change color and they do not work well. Had a little scale on one of my grills, that was the best of them all. Now I just wait unitl I hear the water heater run and feel the side of the tank for the temperature differential.

Let us know how it works out for your friend.

RPAspey · 06-12-2013, 03:25 PM

get a luggage scale, and weigh your tanks. Accurate and cheap.

brewmech · 06-13-2013, 06:29 PM

When the stove won't light the tank is empty. Most accurate way I have found so far.

**Herk7769** · 06-13-2013, 06:53 PM

There was a full page ad in the Good Sam Magazine, Trailer Life.

Cajun Po-Boy · 06-13-2013, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewmech

when the stove won't light the tank is empty. Most accurate way i have found so far.

x2...lol

**dcheatwood** · 06-13-2013, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herk7769

There was a full page ad in the Good Sam Magazine, Trailer Life.

Yep. Just read it. Interesting.

kz08h5 · 06-13-2013, 09:39 PM

I'm going to have to check this out further. I love gadgets that work and this seems to be a reasonable application of ultrasonic technology.

gasman6674 · 06-14-2013, 11:47 AM

If you want to change/upgrade your tank valves you can now get a gauge/valve combinaton to replace your 20# or 30# valve. For at a glance level check.

**dcheatwood** · 06-20-2013, 03:47 PM

I considered a guage for my taks but.....who fills a "low" tank? Only when it is empty, right? So, simplest thing is to refill immediately after its empty, while using the second bottle. When heat or stove stops, i know the bottle is empty. Switch over and refill time.

BurgPath · 09-09-2013, 09:56 PM

I've filled a low tank.

Why wait on that last little bit to go and run out. They only charge you for what they put in at a refill station.

**dcheatwood** · 09-10-2013, 11:17 PM

I run til empty. Local propane co charges flat rate to fill a bottle.

Taranwanderer · 09-11-2013, 12:03 AM

I'm with you, Cheat. Run one until its empty, switch over to the second. Then you know you're officially half full (or half empty, I guess.) I use this method for the RV and for my two 100# tanks that run my house generator. I also have one of those gauges from CW that you install at the tank valve, not sure how accurate it is but better than nothing. I've also heard that you can pour a bucket of warm water over the tank and see where the frost line forms to tell how much LP is still in the tank. Haven't tried that one yet.

BurgPath · 09-11-2013, 10:08 AM

I thought it was cold water? Oh well.

DCheat that stinks. Local UHaul fills them like a car gas tank. Fill it till it overflows and read the meter.

garbonz · 09-11-2013, 11:47 AM

either cold or warm works as long as you are using significant propane at the time, eg that stove, furnace, or HW heater. Its the propane evaporating at the surface of it's level in the tank that creates the frost line. Its the same for the magnetic strips by the way.

**dcheatwood** · 09-11-2013, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurgPath

I thought it was cold water? Oh well.

DCheat that stinks. Local UHaul fills them like a car gas tank. Fill it till it overflows and read the meter.

Yeah, I bought a partial tanks worth years ago at royal gorge, and it only took a few pounds to fill. Charged me some odd amount like $7.15.

pappcam · 09-12-2013, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcheatwood

I run til empty. Local propane co charges flat rate to fill a bottle.

I've filled a partially empty tank before a long trip. Propane places here fill by weight and charge accordingly so I only paid for the propane they put in the tank.

mjones12 · 09-12-2013, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcheatwood

I run til empty. Local propane co charges flat rate to fill a bottle.

I think Herk posted something a while back that said if your furnace quits due to an empty tank, you'd have to pull and replace the furnace fuse to get it to reset. That would be an unwanted task in the middle of the night. Herk, please correct me if I misunderstood your explanation.

BarryD0706 · 09-12-2013, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjones12

I think Herk posted something a while back that said if your furnace quits due to an empty tank, you'd have to pull and replace the furnace fuse to get it to reset. That would be an unwanted task in the middle of the night. Herk, please correct me if I misunderstood your explanation.

All I would have to do on mine is turn it off briefly at the thermostat, but I can't say what Herk would need to do on his (or you on yours; why not turn the tank off and find out.)

Helmsey · 09-13-2013, 12:42 PM

I still use the infrared temp gun I carry to check the propane levels. It works well for determining where the propane is in the tank, and I already have it with me for tires\hubs while traveling.

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