I used my HF "weed burning" propane wand/torch to melt some ice this
weekend.  It did a pretty good job - I had started it up at 11PM but it was
way too loud for evening work so I had to wait until the following day.  I
was afraid the bricks and concrete would overheat, but the water changing
state from ice to water to steam kept the overall temperature down and the
brick hardly became warm to the touch.

What I would like to know is this:  How can I tell how much propane I've
used and how much is left?  Are there dial gauges I can attach to the tank
that can indicate remaining number of pounds?  Or do I have to weigh it each
time I use it?  I've "rung" the side of the tank with a small hammer, but I
expect it would take a bit of experience to tell that way.

Any tricks or tips?

--
Bobby G.

In article 1...@speranza.aioe.org>,
 "Robert Green" <r...@yah00.com> wrote:

> What I would like to know is this:  How can I tell how much propane I've
> used and how much is left?  Are there dial gauges I can attach to the tank
> that can indicate remaining number of pounds?  Or do I have to weigh it each
> time I use it?  I've "rung" the side of the tank with a small hammer, but I
> expect it would take a bit of experience to tell that way.
> 
> Any tricks or tips?
> 
I got a gauge for the tank for my grill at Lowes. I have seen them at 
HD, Ace, etc. It might be hard to find given the time of the year. They 
also have strips you can put on the side of the tank that lets you how 
far up the gas is because it changes color.

-- 
People thought cybersex was a safe alternative, 
until patients started presenting with sexually
acquired carpal tunnel syndrome.-Howard Berkowitz 

On 1/24/2012 9:10 AM, Kurt Ullman wrote:
> In article1...@speranza.aioe.org>,
>   "Robert Green"<r...@yah00.com>  wrote:
>
>> What I would like to know is this:  How can I tell how much propane I've
>> used and how much is left?  Are there dial gauges I can attach to the tank
>> that can indicate remaining number of pounds?  Or do I have to weigh it each
>> time I use it?  I've "rung" the side of the tank with a small hammer, but I
>> expect it would take a bit of experience to tell that way.
>>
>> Any tricks or tips?
>>
> I got a gauge for the tank for my grill at Lowes. I have seen them at
> HD, Ace, etc. It might be hard to find given the time of the year. They
> also have strips you can put on the side of the tank that lets you how
> far up the gas is because it changes color.
>
When I lived for 6 months in my motor home, I had to get a 
barbeque-style propane tank as the one in  the motor home is not 
removable and most propane delivery companies won't make a delivery for 
that small tank.  So, about every 2 weeks I would switch back to the 
non-removable tank, still more than 1/2 full, and take the portable tank 
to be filled.  I had a cheapo hanging scale, where I could weigh the 
tank and see how much propane was left.  So, if you know the empty 
weight, you can pretty much tell how much is left.  I think they put 
about 18 - 20 pounds in those tanks.  Of course, the meters work too, 
but I just happened to have the scale in my tool box.

On Jan 24, 7:45=A0am, "Robert Green"  wrote:
> I used my HF "weed burning" propane wand/torch to melt some ice this
> weekend. =A0It did a pretty good job - I had started it up at 11PM but it=
 was
> way too loud for evening work so I had to wait until the following day. =
=A0I
> was afraid the bricks and concrete would overheat, but the water changing
> state from ice to water to steam kept the overall temperature down and th=
e
> brick hardly became warm to the touch.
>
> What I would like to know is this: =A0How can I tell how much propane I'v=
e
> used and how much is left? =A0Are there dial gauges I can attach to the t=
ank
> that can indicate remaining number of pounds? =A0Or do I have to weigh it=
 each
> time I use it? =A0I've "rung" the side of the tank with a small hammer, b=
ut I
> expect it would take a bit of experience to tell that way.
>
> Any tricks or tips?
>
> --
> Bobby G.

We do a lot of RV camping and here are two suggestion that can be used
without dismounting the tank:

1) Pour some very warm water down one side of the bottle.  then feel
the bottle.  The part that still contains propane will be noticeably
cooler than the empty area.

2) Higher tech version of the above - I bought one of the cheaper
laser touch-less thermometers from Harbor Freight.  They sell them in
the $15 to $60 range.  I opted for one of their mid range pistol type
that was around $25.  Otherwise it is the same procedure as above
except, if the bottle is not in direct sun you might not even need hot
water.  In very cool weather you will need to use the water.

Besides that, when you get the laser thermometer you will play with it
for days.  And no, for $25 you are not buying laboratory grade
instrumentation.  Those go up way up in price.  Just use it to gage
differential temp.

Ron

On 1/24/2012 7:45 AM, Robert Green wrote:
> I used my HF "weed burning" propane wand/torch to melt some ice this
> weekend.  It did a pretty good job - I had started it up at 11PM but it was
> way too loud for evening work so I had to wait until the following day.  I
> was afraid the bricks and concrete would overheat, but the water changing
> state from ice to water to steam kept the overall temperature down and the
> brick hardly became warm to the touch.
>
> What I would like to know is this:  How can I tell how much propane I've
> used and how much is left?  Are there dial gauges I can attach to the tank
> that can indicate remaining number of pounds?  Or do I have to weigh it each
> time I use it?  I've "rung" the side of the tank with a small hammer, but I
> expect it would take a bit of experience to tell that way.
>
> Any tricks or tips?
>
> --
> Bobby G.
>
>

the best way is to weigh it.  There will be a "TR" number on the bottle. 
This is your 'tare' weight.  That is the weight of your empty bottle. 
Just weigh yourself, then pick up the bottle and see the difference. 
Then from that number subtract your tare weight.  The difference will be 
the pounds of propane in the jug.

-- 
Steve Barker
remove the "not" from my address to email

On 1/24/2012 9:03 AM, Steve Barker wrote:
> On 1/24/2012 7:45 AM, Robert Green wrote:
>> I used my HF "weed burning" propane wand/torch to melt some ice this
>> weekend. It did a pretty good job - I had started it up at 11PM but it
>> was
>> way too loud for evening work so I had to wait until the following day. I
>> was afraid the bricks and concrete would overheat, but the water changing
>> state from ice to water to steam kept the overall temperature down and
>> the
>> brick hardly became warm to the touch.
>>
>> What I would like to know is this: How can I tell how much propane I've
>> used and how much is left? Are there dial gauges I can attach to the tank
>> that can indicate remaining number of pounds? Or do I have to weigh it
>> each
>> time I use it? I've "rung" the side of the tank with a small hammer,
>> but I
>> expect it would take a bit of experience to tell that way.
>>
>> Any tricks or tips?
>>
>> --
>> Bobby G.
>>
>>
>
> the best way is to weigh it. There will be a "TR" number on the bottle.
> This is your 'tare' weight. That is the weight of your empty bottle.
> Just weigh yourself, then pick up the bottle and see the difference.
> Then from that number subtract your tare weight. The difference will be
> the pounds of propane in the jug.
>

correction:  The "TR"  should read "TW".  Tare Weight.

-- 
Steve Barker
remove the "not" from my address to email

On 1/24/2012 10:03 AM, Steve Barker wrote:
> On 1/24/2012 7:45 AM, Robert Green wrote:
>> I used my HF "weed burning" propane wand/torch to melt some ice this
>> weekend. It did a pretty good job - I had started it up at 11PM but it
>> was
>> way too loud for evening work so I had to wait until the following day. I
>> was afraid the bricks and concrete would overheat, but the water changing
>> state from ice to water to steam kept the overall temperature down and
>> the
>> brick hardly became warm to the touch.
>>
>> What I would like to know is this: How can I tell how much propane I've
>> used and how much is left? Are there dial gauges I can attach to the tank
>> that can indicate remaining number of pounds? Or do I have to weigh it
>> each
>> time I use it? I've "rung" the side of the tank with a small hammer,
>> but I
>> expect it would take a bit of experience to tell that way.
>>
>> Any tricks or tips?
>>
>> --
>> Bobby G.
>>
>>
>
> the best way is to weigh it. There will be a "TR" number on the bottle.
> This is your 'tare' weight. That is the weight of your empty bottle.
> Just weigh yourself, then pick up the bottle and see the difference.
> Then from that number subtract your tare weight. The difference will be
> the pounds of propane in the jug.
>

I agree.  A pressure gauge would not give a good answer until it was 
near empty.  The dew line on these tanks are hard to determine and tank 
has to be in use for temperature differential to exist.

On 1/24/2012 6:10 AM, Kurt Ullman wrote:
> In article1...@speranza.aioe.org>,
>   "Robert Green"<r...@yah00.com>  wrote:
>
>> What I would like to know is this:  How can I tell how much propane I've
>> used and how much is left?  Are there dial gauges I can attach to the tank
>> that can indicate remaining number of pounds?  Or do I have to weigh it each
>> time I use it?  I've "rung" the side of the tank with a small hammer, but I
>> expect it would take a bit of experience to tell that way.
>>
>> Any tricks or tips?
>>
> I got a gauge for the tank for my grill at Lowes.

How do those gauges work?
I thought the pressure in a propane tank was a function of temperature
and pretty much independent of how much is in there...as long as there's 
some liquid left.

I have seen them at
> HD, Ace, etc. It might be hard to find given the time of the year. They
> also have strips you can put on the side of the tank that lets you how
> far up the gas is because it changes color.
>

"Art Todesco" <a...@yahoo.com> wrote in message 
news:jfmfhn$d0c$1...@speranza.aioe.org...
> On 1/24/2012 9:10 AM, Kurt Ullman wrote:
>> In article1...@speranza.aioe.org>,
>>   "Robert Green"<r...@yah00.com>  wrote:
>>
>>> What I would like to know is this:  How can I tell how much propane I've
>>> used and how much is left?  Are there dial gauges I can attach to the 
>>> tank
>>> that can indicate remaining number of pounds?  Or do I have to weigh it 
>>> each
>>> time I use it?  I've "rung" the side of the tank with a small hammer, 
>>> but I
>>> expect it would take a bit of experience to tell that way.
>>>
>>> Any tricks or tips?
>>>
>> I got a gauge for the tank for my grill at Lowes. I have seen them at
>> HD, Ace, etc. It might be hard to find given the time of the year. They
>> also have strips you can put on the side of the tank that lets you how
>> far up the gas is because it changes color.
>>
> When I lived for 6 months in my motor home, I had to get a barbeque-style 
> propane tank as the one in  the motor home is not removable and most 
> propane delivery companies won't make a delivery for that small tank.  So, 
> about every 2 weeks I would switch back to the non-removable tank, still 
> more than 1/2 full, and take the portable tank to be filled.  I had a 
> cheapo hanging scale, where I could weigh the tank and see how much 
> propane was left.  So, if you know the empty weight, you can pretty much 
> tell how much is left.  I think they put about 18 - 20 pounds in those 
> tanks.  Of course, the meters work too, but I just happened to have the 
> scale in my tool box.

Trick you can do is mount the removable tank upside down above the fixed 
tank
Connect them in series so that the flow is removable tank -> fixed tank -> 
appliance.
Over the following days, the liquid propane in the removable tank will 
migrate to the fixed tank.
Particularly with the change in temperature from daytime to night time.
As the propane warms and cools, the liquid propane will migrate to the lower 
tank.
This works even better if one of the two tanks, preferably the removable one 
is exposed to sunlight.
Also by drawing gaseous propane from the lower tank, you will also cause 
liquid propane to be squeezed down into the lower tank.
When the upper tank is near empty, you shut off the lower tank to use the 
upper one till it's completely empty. Then you just take the empty one and 
replace it with a full one.

This will keep the fixed tank nearly full and not cost you that much more.
 

"Attila.Iskander" <A...@Live.com> wrote in news:jfmp4u$lc1$1
@dont-email.me:

> Connect them in series 

How do you do that without having to go to some kind of connector and a T 
that'll all work while under pressure?  You'll also need a reducing valve 
somewhere before the appliance.

-- 
Best regards
Han 
email address is invalid