Gas bottle level checker - Gasfuse etc

[Wortho]

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

[austastar]

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

[Mandrake]

Gas fuse ...

[D4D]

Gas fuse ...

x2

[Jenko67]

x2

x 3 - have one on the camper and one at home.. they are great......

[fuji]

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.

[r0ssrg]

Looks like I'll be getting a gas fuse gauge then.   :-)

[Foo]

I have one of these and got it from Aldi.

Foo

[Jeepers Creepers]

x2

Yep, 2 for the camper and one on theboat.

I got mine from BBQ's Galore @ $33.00 each

[Wortho]

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 

[Blue Bravo]

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.

[Bushman]

Also gas fuse, Panda has twin bottles so one each.

[briann532]

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

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

[GeoffA]

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.........

[Mandrake]

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

[Jenko67]

How about this one then ??
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.

[GeoffA]

........or maybe something like this.......

http://www.amazon.com/21st-Century-B47A-Stick-On-Gauge/dp/B0001UZRBG

[Mandrake]

Or these - I bought 5 Geoff -- you can have 2 of them !!

[GeoffA]

Looks like we have a winner!!

Thanks Steve

[fuji]

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

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
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. 

[D4D]

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

[fuji]

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

[Mandrake]

Will advise once they arrive ....If CRAFTs disease doesn't get me again ..

[prodigyrf]

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
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.

[Wortho]

Trust the Germans to come up with an Ultrasonic one.

GASLEVEL: Level indicator for gas cylinders

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 
http://www.compositescandinavia.se/products/compolite-cs