Propane Auto Changeover Flag

[Hobo Bill]

The red/green propane auto changeover flag keeps changing to red when I have the lever pointed to the street side (right side). It is fine when I only have one stove burner going - but if there are two burners, or the oven going, or the furnace going then it shows red. (too much capacity trying to get thru). At first I thought it might be the safety device inside the right tank, and opened real real slow - but still same problem. I swapped the tanks right side to left and left to right - but still same problem Red flag shows when pointed at right side tank. Both tanks are full. So my question - could the problem be the red high pressure regulator on the right side, or is it the grey two stage auto changeover regulator on the left side ??? Thoughts ?

 

[WhittleBurner]

If it's the tank swapping them to the other side would tell you. Most likely it's time for a new regulator. Our first OEM regulator only lasted 4 years

 

[Steven@147]

You would need a Manometer gas pressure tester and the knowledge to use it to figure out if the gas pressure from the right tank is correct when it goes into the main auto changeover regulator on the left side.

In 5 years we have changed the red regulator once on the right side and the main changeover regulator 3 times on the right.

About 3 years ago I stopped turning the top lever on the auto changeover regulator. It seemed to me that moving that top lever when the indicator turned Red, to point to a full tank, just to get the indicator to turn Green. It caused the regulator to start leaking propane out the top of the regulator.

So now the top lever on the auto changeover regulator always points to the right side tank. I never move it. When the indicator turns Red, I get the right tank filled. As soon as I install the refilled right tank and open the valve, the regulator indicator flips back Green. I haven't changed that regulator since.

 

[Bungy]

So now the top lever on the auto changeover regulator always points to the right side tank. I never move it. When the indicator turns Red, I get the right tank filled. As soon as I install the refilled right tank and open the valve, the regulator indicator flips back Green. I haven't changed that regulator since.

So that means you never use the propane in the left tank other than the time it takes to refill the right?

 

[Steven@147]

So that means you never use the propane in the left tank other than the time it takes to refill the right?

Mostly,
I refill the empty tank on the right as soon as possible after the indicator turns Red, either at a campground or I find the nearest Tractor Supply.
I do swap the tanks side to side like every other right refill. Just to make sure the tank on the left is always nearly full and the tank and propane gets used. Yeah it's kind of quirky but I haven't had a main auto changeover regulator leak since I stopped turning that top lever.

I have a propane sniffer I use about every 6 months on the gas lines, connections, tank pigtails and regulators.

 

[sande005]

Or just give up on it, and buy a set of Mopeka tank sensors. Then your phone can alert you when one tank goes empty, and you can let the other run down to as low as you care to, before getting both filled. Nice to always know exactly how much is left in each.

 

[Steven@147]

Or just give up on it, and buy a set of Mopeka tank sensors. Then your phone can alert you when one tank goes empty, and you can let the other run down to as low as you care to, before getting both filled. Nice to always know exactly how much is left in each.

Yeah I suppose I could, but I'm a minimalist for me the less technology in or on the RV the better. It costs me nothing to walk around to the other side of the RV, open the propane door and look at the Red/Green indicator. Anyway I got a good feel of how often I need to check the indicator based on how much the furnace runs in the wintertime. During the spring/summer I don't check it for several months.

The only phone app I have is for the Lithium battery, and that's Ok with me.
Not interested in One Control or touch screens either.

A friend of mine once showed me how he could make his Mercedes Benz do all kinds of things with his programmer. My comment was, So What! I was not impressed.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Yeah I suppose I could, but I'm a minimalist for me the less technology in or on the RV the better. It costs me nothing to walk around to the other side of the RV, open the propane door and look at the Red/Green indicator. Anyway I got a good feel of how often I need to check the indicator based on how much the furnace runs in the wintertime. During the spring/summer I don't check it for several months.

The only phone app I have is for the Lithium battery, and that's Ok with me.
Not interested in One Control or touch screens either.

A friend of mine once showed me how he could make his Mercedes Benz do all kinds of things with his programmer. My comment was, So What! I was not impressed.

Yessirree, sometimes less is more.

 

[Hobo Bill]

If it's the tank swapping them to the other side would tell you. Most likely it's time for a new regulator. Our first OEM regulator only lasted 4 years

Whittle Burner ... did you read my post ? I said that I already swapped my tanks. My question was which regulator, the red one or the grey one ??

 

[WhittleBurner]

Have you inspected the lines for kinks, all those items on our 303 are on the same side. What model do you have? Are those appliances all on the same gas line? A slight kink may allow enough gas for one appliance with a minimal draw.

We changed the whole propane manifold back then, both regulator and pigtails and have not had the issue again in 6 years until recently when the main auto change over failed.
Changing both would end any question on which one and give a few more years of use. If youThis time we went with a non OEM regulator (GD supplied the full propane manifold last time) 6 yrs of 3/4 time use.
And yes I read the whole thing . Before I had a full cup of coffee.

 

[coglesby]

Whittle Burner ... did you read my post ? I said that I already swapped my tanks. My question was which regulator, the red one or the grey one ??

You should only have one regulator which is part of the changeover valve or one regulator on each tank before the changeover valve. There should never be 2 regulators in series.

 

[Hobo Bill]

You should only have one regulator which is part of the changeover valve or one regulator on each tank before the changeover valve. There should never be 2 regulators in series.

Correct, one grey regulator on the left curb side which is part of the changeover valve, and one red regulator on the right street side. Which one should I suspect is the problem ?

 

[Hobo Bill]

Have you inspected the lines for kinks, all those items on our 303 are on the same side. What model do you have? Are those appliances all on the same gas line? A slight kink may allow enough gas for one appliance with a minimal draw.

We changed the whole propane manifold back then, both regulator and pigtails and have not had the issue again in 6 years until recently when the main auto change over failed.
Changing both would end any question on which one and give a few more years of use. If youThis time we went with a non OEM regulator (GD supplied the full propane manifold last time) 6 yrs of 3/4 time use.
And yes I read the whole thing . Before I had a full cup of coffee.

My model and model number is in my signature of my post. Thanks, I will check on the kinks, but this problem started after being stationary for some time - not sure if a line would kink on its own.

 

[coglesby]

Correct, one grey regulator on the left curb side which is part of the changeover valve, and one red regulator on the right street side. Which one should I suspect is the problem ?

The red regulator only serves the side that it is on. The gray regulator regulates both. Since one side works and the other doesn't it pretty much has to be the red one. It is a high pressure regulator unlike the regulator that is part of the autochangeover valve. One question, is the side with the red regulator the one you cannot get propane to flow properly? if so, confirms the red one.

 

[coglesby]

Here's a link to a high pressure regulator on amazon.

Amazon.com

 

[18CrewDually]

If a flow issue is showing when you're selector is set to draw from the curbside then the curbside little red regulator is bad. Our last 5er I had replaced them twice over the 13 yrs of ownership.

 

[coglesby]

Good to know because I bought preowned. Maybe I need to purchase a backup. My red high pressure regulator is on the curb side too. Are they always on the crb side?

 

[WhittleBurner]

My model and model number is in my signature of my post. Thanks, I will check on the kinks, but this problem started after being stationary for some time - not sure if a line would kink on its own.

Well I just learned something new about the new forum software. Signatures do not show up in the Mobile view. Switched to desk top and there it was. Not sure I like that

If the slide hasn't moved it's not very likely a kink, but nothing is lost for taking a look.

 

[huntindog]

You should only have one regulator which is part of the changeover valve or one regulator on each tank before the changeover valve. There should never be 2 regulators in series.

If your RV has a red regulator, it will be in series with the changeover regulator. It's purpose is to drop the exrtemely high tank pressure down to IIRCC 30 psi so there is not a lot of pressure in the crossover hose. 30 psi is enough pressure for the changeover regulator to work properly

 

[coglesby]

If your RV has a red regulator, it will be in series with the changeover regulator. It's purpose is to drop the exrtemely high tank pressure down to IIRCC 30 psi so there is not a lot of pressure in the crossover hose. 30 psi is enough pressure for the changeover regulator to work properly

Yeah I figured that out after I studied a bit.