Propane Use - One Tank at a Time or Both Open

[CLARKR4]

I was in the process of making up a maintenance spread sheet and was reading through the GD suppled owners' manual. On P136 there was a note, stating to have only one propane tank open at a time. If both open, propane will be drawn equally from both tanks. In my past RV'ing time with 3 5th wheels I have always opened both. I check regularly and when the tank to which the lever at the regulator is pointed is empty, the red triangle on the regulator appears. Then I switch the lever to the other tank and the triangle shows green. Has there been a change in regulator technology and operation, or have I never fully understood how it worked? With only one tank open you could run out of propane in the middle of a cold night and only find out when the ice started forming.

Thanks for an informed opinion.

Rich

[ncitro]

I was in the process of making up a maintenance spread sheet and was reading through the GD suppled owners' manual. On P136 there was a note, stating to have only one propane tank open at a time. If both open, propane will be drawn equally from both tanks. In my past RV'ing time with 3 5th wheels I have always opened both. I check regularly and when the tank to which the lever at the regulator is pointed is empty, the red triangle on the regulator appears. Then I switch the lever to the other tank and the triangle shows green. Has there been a change in regulator technology and operation, or have I never fully understood how it worked? With only one tank open you could run out of propane in the middle of a cold night and only find out when the ice started forming.

Thanks for an informed opinion.

Rich

It should only draw from whatever tank the regulator is pointed to. I think if you have the regulator in the middle it will draw from both, maybe that is what they are referring to?

[Country Campers]

I only have one tank open at a time. It would be my luck that I would develop a leak and then have 2 empty tanks and an angry cold wife. I have never heard of a way that a regulator would draw from both tanks at one time , maybe Neil has the right idea but I have never tried it. If it is cold that we need the furnace I will always keep an eye on the tanks.

Brian

[Second Chance]

Here's how the auto-switchover regulators are designed to work (and there should be a manual for the regulator in the packet you got with your RV): With both tanks open, point the lever on the regulator to the tank you want to use first. The indicator will be green (if you have propane in that tank, of course). When that tank is empty, the regulator will automatically switch over to the other tank and the indicator will turn red. This is the signal that you need to go get the empty tank filled. Turn the lever over to the full tank and the indicator will turn green. When you get back with the newly-filled tank, connect it and slowly open the valve (this is so the built-in safety valve doesn't shut off the flow of propane). As the tanks empty, repeat this process. Be diligent about checking the indicator so you'll know when you need to refill a tank. Following this process will ensure that you don't have to get up in the middle of a cold night to go switch tanks. The odds of a leaking regulator are very small.

Rob

[bertschb]

Here's how the auto-switchover regulators are designed to work (and there should be a manual for the regulator in the packet you got with your RV): With both tanks open, point the lever on the regulator to the tank you want to use first. The indicator will be green (if you have propane in that tank, of course). When that tank is empty, the regulator will automatically switch over to the other tank and the indicator will turn red. This is the signal that you need to go get the empty tank filled. Turn the lever over to the full tank and the indicator will turn green. When you get back with the newly-filled tank, connect it and slowly open the valve (this is so the built-in safety valve doesn't shut off the flow of propane). As the tanks empty, repeat this process. Be diligent about checking the indicator so you'll know when you need to refill a tank. Following this process will ensure that you don't have to get up in the middle of a cold night to go switch tanks. The odds of a leaking regulator are very small.

Rob

Excellent summary Rob! This is how we've used our tanks with three Grand Design 5th wheels over four years. Never had a problem.

[Calbar]

Here's how the auto-switchover regulators are designed to work (and there should be a manual for the regulator in the packet you got with your RV): With both tanks open, point the lever on the regulator to the tank you want to use first. The indicator will be green (if you have propane in that tank, of course). When that tank is empty, the regulator will automatically switch over to the other tank and the indicator will turn red. This is the signal that you need to go get the empty tank filled. Turn the lever over to the full tank and the indicator will turn green. When you get back with the newly-filled tank, connect it and slowly open the valve (this is so the built-in safety valve doesn't shut off the flow of propane). As the tanks empty, repeat this process. Be diligent about checking the indicator so you'll know when you need to refill a tank. Following this process will ensure that you don't have to get up in the middle of a cold night to go switch tanks. The odds of a leaking regulator are very small.

Rob

Exactly how we have used ours on all of our trailers for the last 16 years. Only difference that on the 297RSTS is that I have Mopeka Tank sensors that I can check the level on my phone and know when it is time to change.

Rob

[CLARKR4]

Rob
Thanks for the confirmation. What you have summarized is the way I thought the regulator worked. I will send a note to my contact in customer service as the the manual needs to be corrected. You may want to add a note for the GD person that you sometimes email, so she is aware of the incorrect instructions in the GD manual.
Rich

[Second Chance]

Rob
Thanks for the confirmation. What you have summarized is the way I thought the regulator worked. I will send a note to my contact in customer service as the the manual needs to be corrected. You may want to add a note for the GD person that you sometimes email, so she is aware of the incorrect instructions in the GD manual.
Rich

You may have me confused with the "Other Rob" - Cate&Rob .

"This" Rob

[howson]

Rob
Thanks for the confirmation. What you have summarized is the way I thought the regulator worked. I will send a note to my contact in customer service as the the manual needs to be corrected. You may want to add a note for the GD person that you sometimes email, so she is aware of the incorrect instructions in the GD manual.
Rich

I think it is fixed in the 2020 version of the manual. page 137:

[ThePowells]

Between the manual and the tech who did our walk thru, I was really glad that I carried two extra cylinders on our maiden voyage. Fourth nite I woke to the fan running and no heat. I went and manually switched and that one showed red too. Tapping on the cylinders produced the hollow sound and I grabbed one and changed it out. What really popped my balloon is I thought we were doing great with the LP.

[Second Chance]

Between the manual and the tech who did our walk thru, I was really glad that I carried two extra cylinders on our maiden voyage. Fourth nite I woke to the fan running and no heat. I went and manually switched and that one showed red too. Tapping on the cylinders produced the hollow sound and I grabbed one and changed it out. What really popped my balloon is I thought we were doing great with the LP.

Was it that cold or do you just like to keep the place really warm?

Rob

[ThePowells]

That was our maiden voyage almost a year ago. I was running everything on propane shaking that part down. Now everything is great since it got hooked up to a 250# tank yesterday. Now I don't even have to worry about running the generator for extended periods.

[Canyonlight]

Here's how the auto-switchover regulators are designed to work (and there should be a manual for the regulator in the packet you got with your RV): With both tanks open, point the lever on the regulator to the tank you want to use first. The indicator will be green (if you have propane in that tank, of course). When that tank is empty, the regulator will automatically switch over to the other tank and the indicator will turn red. This is the signal that you need to go get the empty tank filled. Turn the lever over to the full tank and the indicator will turn green. When you get back with the newly-filled tank, connect it and slowly open the valve (this is so the built-in safety valve doesn't shut off the flow of propane). As the tanks empty, repeat this process. Be diligent about checking the indicator so you'll know when you need to refill a tank. Following this process will ensure that you don't have to get up in the middle of a cold night to go switch tanks. The odds of a leaking regulator are very small.

Rob

Yes X2 - well stated, Rob ! Can't get much clearer and more precise than this !

Dan

[SnelCal]

Found this by accident- thankfully. Our RV packet does not have ANYTHING on: the Automatic regulator, and the instructions during our "get to know the RV weren't as clear as I would have liked. Having said that, it was a LOT of information to absorb in 60 minutes and I might well have missed it. I'm going out to check my regulator.

[SnelCal]

So does anyone have a link to the manual for the regulator on line? I'm of the opinion my MLE22 has an auto regulator, but damed if I see lights- what I do know is that the tanks switched over to the second tank, (both tanks open, lever pointed to drivers side tank) - as I just pulled a very light drivers side tank off and filled it. manual would be so nice- I don't see any ID on the regulator that isn't under the plastic.