Contents Gauge or Indicator for 19kg Propane Cylinders

Qyburn

Hi,

We have a two cylinder set up with automatic switch-over, and I'm looking for suggestions as to how best to check the contents. Weight would be the ideal, but it's a pain trying to balance on bathroom scales holding the cylinder, and actually the hoses might be too short to do that anyway. Anyone have any clever methods?

Thanks,

MattMattMattUK

Qyburn said:

Hi,

We have a two cylinder set up with automatic switch-over, and I'm looking for suggestions as to how best to check the contents. Weight would be the ideal, but it's a pain trying to balance on bathroom scales holding the cylinder, and actually the hoses might be too short to do that anyway. Anyone have any clever methods?

Thanks,

You can use a scale with a hook, loop it through the handle/grip on the top an lift it off the ground. It will not be 100% accurate unless you disconnect the hoses, but should work reasonably well. 

Edit to add, I guess that does depend on your physical strength, but it should be possible if you can already lift the bottle onto the scale. 

You can also use an inline pressure gauge, though I do not know how accurate they are, especially in cold temperatures. 

Qyburn

Thanks, I may try that if I can find a spring balance with a suitable range.  A Calor 19kg cylinder could be up to 37kg when full, so that might be a tall order holding it out at arms length so the scale can be read at the same time. The base is too big for our bathroom scale, otherwise the easiest thing would be to lift the cylinder and pop the scale underneath.

Qyburn

I've seen those inline gauges and I'm not fully convinced. My schoolboy science suggests that the pressure at any given temperature is likely to be almost constant as long as there's some liquid left. If that's correct then they're only going really show anything when the bottle's almost empty. Also I'm not particularly keen on another connection in the high pressure circuit.

MattMattMattUK

Qyburn said:

Thanks, I may try that if I can find a spring balance with a suitable range.  A Calor 19kg cylinder could be up to 37kg when full, so that might be a tall order holding it out at arms length so the scale can be read at the same time. The base is too big for our bathroom scale, otherwise the easiest thing would be to lift the cylinder and pop the scale underneath.

A full 19KG Calorgas Propane Cylinder is 43kg, either of those two should work, depending on your preference for electronic or digital. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-243857-Digital-Luggage-Scales/dp/B00L2KVN7G/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-251073-Spring-Hanging-Scales/dp/B002QRWIT6

For normal bathroom scales, depending on our physical strength it might be easier to weigh yourself without the bottle, then weigh yourself again whilst holding it. Whilst it might be out a bit due to potentially being off centre it should manage for an estimate.

matelodave

You could always use a piece of wood to extend the size of the bathroom scale so that it spans the rim of the cylinder base. Providing you leave enough room or use a couple of battens underneath to provide a gap to read the meter scale it shouldn't be all that difficult.

Alternatively put a substantial bracket or hook on the wall and hang the cylinder from a spring hanging scale like the Silverline one above which is rated up to 100kg - you aren't really after the ultimate in precision.

Depending where you keep your cylinders, it would be relatively easy to get two sets of cheap spring bathroom scales and just store the cylinders on top of them, thus allowing you to check their contents without having to keep lifting the cylinders. These are less than £10 - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Terraillon-Mechanical-Bathroom-Rotating-Compact/dp/B074DZVB2S/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=cheap+bathroom+scales&qid=1669215902&sr=8-11

Qyburn

I must admit I haven't fiddled around much with the bathroom scales, the problem isn't just the size of the cylinder it also can't be moved far enough to read the scale without becoming unstable.

And yes a rough figure is all that's needed.

Eldi_Dos

Might be a bit late in the season for this.

If bottle is outside in cold weather there will be a frost line which will indicate how much fuel is left.

mmmmikey

I have one of these and it works well...

https://www.truma.com/uk/en/products/truma-caravan-rv-gas-fittings/truma-levelcheck

Qyburn

mmmmikey said:

I have one of these and it works well...

Looks good, but £70?

mmmmikey

Qyburn said:

mmmmikey said:

I have one of these and it works well...

Looks good, but £70?

Gulp - I'm sure I only paid half that and even then thought it was expensive! Better to spend £70 on something that works than £20 on something that doesn't I guess, but still a lot of money.....