Gas Cyl Gauge?

[Merts]

A simple scale is the easiest and most accurate way of checking how much gas you have in a cylinder.
Weight it, and subtract the tare cylinder weight and you have the precise weight of the gas remaining.

This one is a whole 10 bucks from SCA.

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/Product/SCA-Digital-Scale-Hand-Held/321710?utm_source=shop_search&utm_medium=search_results&utm_campaign=g_shopping&gclid=CKP4zovY3tACFYNjvAodPXgHmQ

[Beachman]

As mentioned previously I have one of the gauges for peace of mind in case of a gas leak. As for worrying if I had enough gas in the bottle to cook dinner or last our next camping trip, I just bought a smaller 2nd bottle. Now no more wasted gas as I use the bottle until it runs out and just swap over. When going away I just plan ahead so my 4.5kg bottle is at least 90% full.

In a previous post it mentions  a plumber mate thinks these are a waste of money. Maybe or maybe not, but for a $30 outlay I would be devastated if I didn’t have one and my kids got injured or killed and I didn't do all I could to protect them.

[briann532]

They look interesting, but coming from ramat yshay M.B 10019, Israel  wonder what happens when you press the button

P.M.S.L.......

[briann532]

I agree. Then sell it to me in a few months

As per my previous post, I have one.....

Review....
Brilliant.
Plain and simply they just work.

[prodigyrf]

A simple scale is the easiest and most accurate way of checking how much gas you have in a cylinder.

That's true but when we're on the road and working out when and where we'll need to refill we don't want to be disconnecting and removing the bottle to weigh it regularly and whereas the hot water trick was previously the most convenient and reliable level checker, these ultrasound checkers are even more convenient.
Streuth you can blow more than $20 getting it wrong between say a Bunnings swap and some backwater refill although spending over $50 on a level checker is getting unfriendly for mine-
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/172166114460?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
although the thought occurred to me would they also check the water level in my Jayco polytank?

[prodigyrf]

Hmmm...seems not so with the poly-

"The practical Level Indicator uses ultrasound for quick and reliable indication of whether there is LP gas in the measured area. The measuring device is simply placed against the gas tank in a horizontal position.
Reliable indication using ultrasound
Easy handling
For all steel and aluminum LP gas tanks with a diameter of 7.9 to 13.8 in / 200 to 350 mm
With integrated LED light
Not for plastic tanks, butane tanks, gas tanks or refillable gas tanks. [where gas is Yank for petrol presumably]
Measurements can be taken in the temperature range between -15 and + 40 °C."

[twotollers]

How about these for a simple solution  http://www.chsmith.com.au/Products/Ragasco-Composite-LPG-Gas-Bottle.html

[Bird]

When going away I just plan ahead so my 4.5kg bottle is at least 90% full.

But how do you know its 90% or 40%?

[GeoffA]

But how do you know its 90% or 40%?

Crack the valve slightly, and slowly rotate the bottle upside down.

You'll get an indication of how full it is when you see the white stuff coming out......

Just joking. Not seriously suggesting anyone should do anything so stupid........

 

[Merts]

How about these for a simple solution  http://www.chsmith.com.au/Products/Ragasco-Composite-LPG-Gas-Bottle.html

$160 for the 5kg version.
Certification only lasts for 5 years rather than 10.
Obviously can't 'swap and go'.
Doesn't look like it would fit in a standard gas bottle holder.

Too many disadvantages just to be able to see the liquid gas level.

These things which show temperature difference actually work pretty well.
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/Product/Campmaster-Gas-Level-Indicator/188871?utm_source=shop_search&utm_medium=search_results&utm_campaign=g_shopping&gclid=COXIu-nI4NACFYaVvAodfaIL7Q

[Merts]

That's true but when we're on the road and working out when and where we'll need to refill we don't want to be disconnecting and removing the bottle to weigh it regularly and whereas the hot water trick was previously the most convenient and reliable level checker, these ultrasound checkers are even more convenient.

True, if your bottle is left in the holder when it's being used. Mine comes out and sits under the kitchen, so it's easy to weigh it any time it's being used. Would be a pain if the bottle is only really removed in order to refill or exchange it.

These cheap magnetic things indicate temperature difference and are basically an easier and more accurate variation on the hot water trick. They would work pretty well on a fixed bottle.
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/Product/Campmaster-Gas-Level-Indicator/188871?utm_source=shop_search&utm_medium=search_results&utm_campaign=g_shopping&gclid=COXIu-nI4NACFYaVvAodfaIL7Q

[rastus]

I have a "Gasfuse" which does exactly as it states. In the event of a fire the fuse shuts off the gas, not sure how accurate the gauge is, dont really care.
I bought mine after two children died in a caravan fire near Lorne in Vic a few years back. The fire burnt through the gas line and the gas bottle kept spewing gas until it was empty, burning it to the ground. The kids inside never had a chance.

As a safety feature I hope it works when needed, as a gas indicator , I know when mine is empty because the webber stops cooking.

just saying

rastus

[austastar]

Hi  rastus,
                  My understanding of the gas fuse is somewhat different.
I thought it shut the flow off completely if the flow exceeded a fixed value. eg, a hose burst and allowed gas to escape freely.
I'm not sure about any temperature/fire activation.

It may pay to check the paper work that it came with.

Feel free to correct my comments if I'm wrong.

Cheers

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk

[prodigyrf]

austastar has it right rastus and the Gasfuse or Gas Safety Gauge (I prefer the latter with the hand screw for bottle changes) have nothing to do with temperature and only shut off the gas with sudden unusual flow. Yes if a flexible hose suddenly burst open due to fire they would shut off the gas but remember in the event of a fire the gas tank itself will vent off. In that regard I recently took photos of a burnt out LandRover and full tandem cara at a road stop West of Eucla. The double 8.5kg tanks were still intact on the front but the heat had melted off their alloy taps yet they didn't explode.

As I outlined in my link to that other thread I use the blowoff feature specifically for my POL extension, but more importantly the gauge setup allows for regular gas system integrity checking from the bottle on, which includes every joint, inline tap, as well as the fridge cutout and the taps on my stove and griller. Unknown gas leaks are far more likely to threaten you than an external fire, although you want to be careful about them too.

Quest: Do you regularly check the integrity of your gas system with your gauge?  (otherwise it's useless to tell you how full the bottle is)

[prodigyrf]

Call them any warm fuzzy name they like, they're really a specific example of generic 'excess flow valves' designed for LPG but there are lots more in industry-
 http://lp-gasequipment.com/products/pdf/LPGas_Cat2010_p45-51.pdf
but they have added a nice pretty coloured pressure gauge about which they virtually engage in false advertising that it can tell you how much gas you have left in your bottle. Well that's sorta true but what it can't tell you is how much of the more important liquid you have left in your bottle that creates lots of bottles of gas, before you've only got ONE full bottle of gas left that runs out very quickly on you (the pretty gauge is excellent at monitoring that last bottle)
 

[chester ver2.0]

I have found the old hot water trick on the bottle to be pretty reliable over the years

[Merts]

Well Bird, thanks for posting this thread.

It prompted me to get my act together and sort out a couple of things to monitor how much gas I've got in my home BBQ and camper bottles.
It was never too much of an issue in the past, as I had 3 9kg bottles, one for the BBQ, one for a pizza oven, and one for the camper. Whenever the BBQ one ran out, I'd fill or exchange it, and swap that full one for the one in the camper. That way the camper one was generally almost full whenever we used it.

The new camper has a couple of 4kg bottles, so that method has gone out the window.

I finished up buying a Digitech luggage scale from Jaycar (on special for $20), and a couple of magnetic 'Accu-Level' gauges from Anaconda (about $7 each)
One Accu-level will live on the BBQ bottle and the other on one of the camper ones. They work by turning orange when you pour hot water over them, and then the section that the liquid propane is up to turns straight back to yellow when you stop pouring.

Oh, and btw. I wondered if a stud-finder would work on a gas bottle. Mine didn't.

[Ben.Archer]

that's all I want mine for.. using the trailer couple of times a year never sure when it was filled last and how much was used... same as the home BBQ which the cyl doubles with the shed heater... not that sure how much the heater uses.

As sugested elsewhere they give fsck all notice that your bottle is running low.  They seem to go from reading full to empty far to fast to be of any value as a gauge.

[briann532]

Anyone willing to test the "gas fuse"........

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

The only gauge that works, has to insert a float into the bottle interior to ride on the liquid and give a true reading.
There was a bottle valve/tap that had one as part of the tap.  Worked a treat.
With the 10 yr. testing, you lose the gauge every time the bottle is retested.
If you kept that bottle, there'd be a point.
With swap and go, there is no point.
If I remember right the cost of the tap including gauge was equal to the cost of the retest.
That effectively doubles the retest cost, because the gauge is a part of the tap.
These screw on gauges only tell there is Gas in the line, not how much is left in the bottle.
The flow control ability, to shut off a leaking system, is their redeeming feature.

[Bird]

If I remember right the cost of the tap including gauge was equal to the cost of the retest.

what is a retest worth??? not a fan of swap and go.

The dodgy Asian dude who used to fill my bottles has closed up shop Its only out by a bit.. 2012

[Cruiser 105Tvan]

You'd be better off going to Supagas.
Or the big green shed just up the road.
At least at Supagas, they give you a full bottle when they're finished.
There's a 'Sully's on site testing', out of Lilydale, who will do it for you at your work.
I've used him for a car mounted gas tank. 
But that was about 2009, I have seen him driving around between jobs lately.
I know Supagas retest bottles, I don't know if they have a depot near you.
They will p/up and deliver the BBQ size bottles, but not the smaller ones.
Cost is a guess ok, betw. $40 and $55.00 for a 9Kg. bottle.
Swap and go is only cheap if the bottle you give them is still in date.

[Merts]

what is a retest worth??? not a fan of swap and go.

The dodgy Asian dude who used to fill my bottles has closed up shop Its only out by a bit.. 2012

I generally get my cylinders filled at a cylinder testing / gas retail place. When they get close to being out of date, or on one occasion when one was well out of date, I just swapped it for one which was only a year or so old, at a Swap and Go.

According to their website, there is no problem swapping an out of date cylinder as long as it's not dented or super rusty.

[GGV8Cruza]

Anyone willing to test the "gas fuse"........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu_vbM0pn0U

We need an Aussie version, Speewa will be up for it I am sure

GG

[prodigyrf]

So you want the Aria awards Ozzie one do yah-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHu7TpuuD1k
and there's nothing special about an excess flow valve-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6aCBKEU_ek

Every time I change my bottle (or turn on the bbq extension) mine gets tested. If you simply crack the bottle to fill the lines (or the extra tap to my extension) none of it will run until you depress the gauge to reset the valve that's tripped. That's how sensitive they are and how you know they're working.