MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum

General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Wortho on October 27, 2012, 11:53:07 AM

Title: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Wortho on October 27, 2012, 11:53:07 AM
Hi Folks,

I need some way of checking gas level in a 9kg gas bottle as its a pain to remove and give a shake when fitted to the CT. I have seen the gas fuse type which have a pressure gauge and the ones that you stick on the side of the bottle. Any tips on what works best?

Cheers
Mark
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: austastar on October 27, 2012, 11:57:21 AM
Hi,
  I bought one with an internal float gauge. It would have been ok on a trailer drawbar, but the gauge was on the wrong side of the cylinder and I couldn't read it mounted in the cupboard in the old camper.


I have tried the stick-on ones that you pour hot water over, - didn't do much for me. It was easier to tap it with a screw driver or similar and guess the level by the tone.


cheers
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Mandrake on October 27, 2012, 12:56:26 PM
Gas fuse ...
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: D4D on October 27, 2012, 01:19:20 PM
Gas fuse ...

x2
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Jenko67 on October 27, 2012, 02:18:42 PM
x2

x 3 - have one on the camper and one at home.. they are great......
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: fuji on October 27, 2012, 02:23:44 PM
X 50 however if the gas bottle is at home, go and get it filled and weigh it at home if you have scales. My 9kg bottle  weighs 17.4 kgs full and 9 kg empty. The rest is history.
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: r0ssrg on October 27, 2012, 03:23:26 PM
Looks like I'll be getting a gas fuse gauge then.   :-)
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Foo on October 27, 2012, 03:54:21 PM
I have one of these and got it from Aldi. ;D

Foo
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Jeepers Creepers on October 27, 2012, 04:13:56 PM
x2

Yep, 2 for the camper and one on theboat.

I got mine from BBQ's Galore @ $33.00 each
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Wortho on October 27, 2012, 06:48:51 PM
thanks for all the replies guys. Looks like i'll be picking up a gas fuse tomorrow. I was just not sure how accurate they were as they obviously work on pressure and I didn't think the pressure would drop until all the liquid was gone  ???
Anyway you guys seem happy enough with them so thats good enough for me  :D
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Blue Bravo on October 27, 2012, 08:35:58 PM
I use a gas fuse and it seems to read as full for a lenghty period. When it starts to show half you need to fill up soon as it quickly drops to empty as it measures pressure not the volume of liquid.
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Bushman on October 27, 2012, 10:53:54 PM
Also gas fuse, Panda has twin bottles so one each.
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: briann532 on October 28, 2012, 06:13:31 AM
I use a gas fuse and it seems to read as full for a lenghty period. When it starts to show half you need to fill up soon as it quickly drops to empty as it measures pressure not the volume of liquid.

Mine does the same...........

Pretty much tells you when you're just about empty.
Doesn't give a realistic idea of what's left in the tank.
As far as a safety device goes................that's a whole other can of worms probably best left to the electrical section ;D

I guess for me - they work to a degree, but aren't really accurate.
I do know someone who bought a set of scales from target for around $10 and installed them under his gas bottle. When he wants to weigh it he just releases the quick release holder and it lets him know exactly what's left. Bit over the top for me....

Brian
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: GeoffA on October 28, 2012, 06:16:04 AM
I use a gas fuse and it seems to read as full for a lenghty period. When it starts to show half you need to fill up soon as it quickly drops to empty as it measures pressure not the volume of liquid.

Yep........you don't get a lot warning from them.........
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Mandrake on October 28, 2012, 06:21:31 AM
How about this one then ??
http://www.latestbuy.com.au/bbq-gas-bottle-guage.html (http://www.latestbuy.com.au/bbq-gas-bottle-guage.html)
Mandrake
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Jenko67 on October 28, 2012, 06:30:56 AM
How about this one then ??
http://www.latestbuy.com.au/bbq-gas-bottle-guage.html (http://www.latestbuy.com.au/bbq-gas-bottle-guage.html)
Mandrake


I suppose the problem with that one is that you have to lift the cylinder.... would be hard for some people to do.
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: GeoffA on October 28, 2012, 06:52:12 AM
........or maybe something like this.......

http://www.amazon.com/21st-Century-B47A-Stick-On-Gauge/dp/B0001UZRBG (http://www.amazon.com/21st-Century-B47A-Stick-On-Gauge/dp/B0001UZRBG)
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Mandrake on October 28, 2012, 06:54:16 AM
Or these - I bought 5 Geoff -- you can have 2 of them !!
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: GeoffA on October 28, 2012, 06:57:38 AM
Looks like we have a winner!!

Thanks Steve
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: fuji on October 28, 2012, 07:06:45 AM
Mine does the same...........

Pretty much tells you when you're just about empty.
Doesn't give a realistic idea of what's left in the tank.
As far as a safety device goes................that's a whole other can of worms probably best left to the electrical section ;D

I guess for me - they work to a degree, but aren't really accurate.
I do know someone who bought a set of scales from target for around $10 and installed them under his gas bottle. When he wants to weigh it he just releases the quick release holder and it lets him know exactly what's left. Bit over the top for me....

Brian


How about this one then ??
http://www.latestbuy.com.au/bbq-gas-bottle-guage.html (http://www.latestbuy.com.au/bbq-gas-bottle-guage.html)
Mandrake








Exactly that's why you weigh it and you know how much is in the bottle. Not practical for camping purposes of course, great idea Steve, might have to get one.  ;D
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: D4D on October 28, 2012, 07:58:37 AM
Do you have to pour hot water on the bottle for the magnetic strips to work?
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: fuji on October 28, 2012, 08:02:05 AM



Do you have to pour hot water on the bottle for the magnetic strips to work?





I had those magnetic strips once and I may as well put tissue paper on it IMO ;D
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Mandrake on October 28, 2012, 08:20:55 AM
Will advise once they arrive ....If CRAFTs disease doesn't get me again ..
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: prodigyrf on October 28, 2012, 09:20:29 AM
Personally I chose the 'Gas Safety Gauge' over the Gasfuse because of it's O-ring seal and hand turn fitment, not so much for it's ability to read the bottle contents but as explained here-
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=22667.msg357511#msg357511 (http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=22667.msg357511#msg357511)
Unfortunately gas gauges don't give you much warning with LPG re runout because they are measuring the gas pressure above the liquid gas in the bottle. It's not until the last drop of liquid is exhausted that the gas pressure begins to drop rather rapidly on the gauge and that can happen over one gas cooked meal.

Better to keep track of the average no. of days use you get, check with hot water toward the end of that period as well as carry a small spare for the inevitable. It's why many carry 2 x 4.5kgs instead of an 8.5kg but you carry the higher refill cost.
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Wortho on October 28, 2012, 09:27:08 AM
Trust the Germans to come up with an Ultrasonic one.

GASLEVEL: Level indicator for gas cylinders (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ6ImO5VYXw#ws)

Looks pretty good though and cost about 25 Euro's + shipping.

PS. I borrowed the in-laws campervan in Europe earlier this year and their gas bottle was transparent so no need for any of this stuff  ;D
http://www.compositescandinavia.se/products/compolite-cs (http://www.compositescandinavia.se/products/compolite-cs)
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: austastar on October 28, 2012, 09:44:59 AM
Trust the Germans to come up with an Ultrasonic one.


Hi,
   that is what I do with the screw driver, just tap the side and listen for the change in note.
It is not as precise of course.


cheers
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: phillbie on October 28, 2012, 10:08:51 AM
I work in the LPG Industry and the only way to measure Level is by weight. Gas gauges unless they have an internal float only measure pressure and that drops off when the bottle is about to run out.
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: achjimmy on October 28, 2012, 08:00:43 PM
I work in the LPG Industry and the only way to measure Level is by weight. Gas gauges unless they have an internal float only measure pressure and that drops off when the bottle is about to run out.

Yep if I really want to know before a big trip I wiegh them, otherwise two bottles, when one runs out I switch to the full one and get the empty refilled. The nines do last a while.

Luckily at home I have natural gas  :cheers:
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: bobnrob on October 28, 2012, 09:34:28 PM
Do you have to pour hot water on the bottle for the magnetic strips to work?

Yes!

I have one of them magnetic strips, it lives stuck to my tailgate on the x-trail, but mostly I forget it's there, but it does work...for me.
Normally I just pour the hot water on the bottle, and it's easy to feel where the bottle instantly turns the heat cold - that's the level of the gas
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Mandrake on October 28, 2012, 09:48:58 PM
Apparently these ones do not need hot water..but they say the gas must be running for 3 to 5 minutes??
I will see.
Mandrake

Sent from my e1107_v73_ddb1 using Tapatalk 2

Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Tom on October 29, 2012, 05:55:47 AM
I work in the LPG Industry and the only way to measure Level is by weight. Gas gauges unless they have an internal float only measure pressure and that drops off when the bottle is about to run out.

I am in full agreement , I believe the Gasfuse is a must have though, for safety.
Cheers.
titch
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Squalo on October 29, 2012, 10:28:57 AM
^ That makes me wonder - would a stud finder work?
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: prodigyrf on October 29, 2012, 03:16:59 PM
I work in the LPG Industry and the only way to measure Level is by weight. Gas gauges unless they have an internal float only measure pressure and that drops off when the bottle is about to run out.

Yup that's why forklift bottles are fitted with float gauges although you run em till they conk out and always have spare on hand anyway. You'd reckon cara bottles would deserve a float gauge more since you don't want to lug around a spare. Dollars I guess.
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: phillbie on October 29, 2012, 03:27:04 PM
There used to be BBQ bottles with float gauges in them but as you said its all about price now.
Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Kit_e_kat9 on October 29, 2012, 04:30:50 PM


I have 2 4.5kg bottles.  When the flame looks kinda small on full bore on the stove, then the blardy bottle is running out.  It takes a fair while though as we only do cuppa's and a little bit of cooking on occassion.  Had our camper just over 2 years and now need to fill the second bottle.   ;D 

Easiest way to see how full it is? ... pore some hot water over the side ... feel with your hand for coolness ... weight it ... all ways work with some degree of accuracy, but nothing is perfect except for waiting till no gas is coming out ... then the bottle is usually empty.   ;D

Kit_e

Title: Re: Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc
Post by: Jenko67 on October 29, 2012, 06:11:14 PM
I work in the LPG Industry and the only way to measure Level is by weight. Gas gauges unless they have an internal float only measure pressure and that drops off when the bottle is about to run out.
I hear what you are saying but I have had 2 gasfuses for over 3 years and they work perfectly everytime.... wont be without one, ever...