Propane Tank Switching

Hi Rob,

Horst here, on our units there is only a manual selector valve! If you put the selector all the way so that its pointing at the door it will draw from both bottles. We have had our Reflection for over 15 months and been out over 150 nites we still have about half in both bottles. We do a lot of outdoor cooking and have only used our furnace a few times.
 
It will draw from the tank the selector is pointed at. When that bottle runs out it will start drawing from the other bottle and the indicator will turn red. When you switch the lever over to the full bottle, the indicator will turn green then you can remove and refill the empty bottle without shutting the propane to the system off. If you are using a lot of propane, you want to check the indicator regularly to make sure it is still green or you can run both bottles out without knowing. It's a great system if you are in the habit of checking every day or two when propane use is high.
 
Hi Horst,

Like you, I think this is only a manual switch valve . . . but, others have reason to believe this valve can switch to the full tank from the empty tank . . . I hope they are right ! I have asked Janice for confirmation.

Rob
 
Hi Janice,

Could you confirm whether or not the propane tank selector valve will automatically switch to the other tank, if the first one runs out ? I was told at PDI that it is only a manual valve, but there is other information that it has automatic switching capability.
http://www.granddesignowners.com/forum/showthread.php/3759-Another-Newby-question

Thanks
Rob

Hi Rob (@Cate&Rob),

The Reflection uses a propane regulator that need to be switched manually.

Best regards,
~ Janice
 
Hmmm, that's interesting. Mine switches from the empty tank to the full tank as described by notsosan above. It does have a manually operated lever as well and I use it in the same way as notsosan. My Cougar was equipped this way and to the best of my knowledge this type of regulator is practically standard on RV's with dual LP tanks. They are known as automatic changeover regulators. Just my two cents.
 
OK :) . . . so, now I have to go test it for myself :D. Will report back . . .

Rob
 
Here is the documentation that came with my info packet in the trailer. It explains things better than I ever could. LP_regulator_info.jpg
 
Hi Joel,

Well . . . that is about as clear as an answer can get !! I did NOT get this documentation with my paperwork . . . I would remember something like this. Thanks for digging into this. Another great "save" by this forum !

Rob
 
Good find Joel. That's exactly how I described it in the other thread and how every RV I've had for years had worked. I guess technically it's manual because you do have to physically turn the black lever to designate the supply tank but it certainly automatically draws from the reserve tank when the supply tank is empty. A bit of semantics going on here :)
 
My regulator started leaking right where the lever is. Only found it after a very strong propane odor after I set up the trailer. I was lucky the faulty wiring (loose white wire) didn't cause the trailer to explode.
 
I was not aware of the auto switch regulator.....nice feature. Paul, our regulator had a leak as well and was replaced under warranty last fall. At first I thought I had too many deviled eggs for supper!

Dan
 
Good find Joel. That's exactly how I described it in the other thread and how every RV I've had for years had worked. I guess technically it's manual because you do have to physically turn the black lever to designate the supply tank but it certainly automatically draws from the reserve tank when the supply tank is empty. A bit of semantics going on here :)

Hi Paul (@Poppy's 5th Wheel),

The scenario you describe is correct, as long as both LP bottle valves are open. However, many RVers keep one LP bottle valve closed, and watch for the indicator button on the automatic regular to turn red (indicating the currently used LP bottle is empty) before opening the other LP tank valve and manually switching the black, plastic lever over to indicate which LP bottle they are currently drawing from.

~ My prior answer was predicated on interpreting @Cate&Rob's "propane tank selector valve" as the black, plastic indicator lever. This lever must be manually switched (moved) to the left or right position, and does not move automatically.

Best regards,
~ Janice
 
Hmmm, that's interesting. Mine switches from the empty tank to the full tank as described by notsosan above. It does have a manually operated lever as well and I use it in the same way as notsosan. My Cougar was equipped this way and to the best of my knowledge this type of regulator is practically standard on RV's with dual LP tanks. They are known as automatic changeover regulators. Just my two cents.

It does work the way I described it. I went through a half dozen bottles of propane this winter using this method. Exactly the same as the 2002 Titanium the Reflection replaced.
 
Hi Paul (@Poppy's 5th Wheel),

The scenario you describe is correct, as long as both LP bottle valves are open. However, many RVers keep one LP bottle valve closed, and watch for the indicator button on the automatic regular to turn red (indicating the currently used LP bottle is empty) before opening the other LP tank valve and manually switching the black, plastic lever over to indicate which LP bottle they are currently drawing from.

~ My prior answer was predicated on interpreting @Cate&Rob's "propane tank selector valve" as the black, plastic indicator lever. This lever must be manually switched (moved) to the left or right position, and does not move automatically.

Best regards,
~ Janice

No lever in any propane system moves automatically.

Maybe the question was misunderstood

"Could you confirm whether or not the propane tank selector valve will automatically switch to the other tank, if the first one runs out ? I was told at PDI that it is only a manual valve, but there is other information that it has automatic switching capability."

Its not a manual only valve where you have to switch over once a tank runs out. The handle simply selects which tank you are designating as primary. So long as the reserve tank has sufficient gas supply and its shut off valve is open the change over valve will automatically switch over to the reserve tank to leave anything operating on propane uninterrupted and the indicator will turn red.

Most of the time I leave the reserve tank valve closed so I know when I've exhausted the primary. Only exception would be an overnight situation where its cold and I don't want to wake up at 3 AM in freezing temps to go out and change the valve position. I've run out the propane with both tanks valves open when there was no propane to be bought for two days, not a fun adventure. Maybe one day technology will be implemented to integrate tank levels and controls from inside the coach.
 
Very old thread, but I found a link to the OEM's PDF and want to post the link: https://www.fairviewfittings.com/UserFiles/DocFiles/PM-INSTRUCT-GR-9984P colr-2015 oak.pdf

I initially thought the empty tank would show red and the full green on the indicator. Wrong. When the primary tank is empty, the indicator goes red--period. That tells you the cylinder in service (the one with the "service" arrow is pointing at, using the manual's language) is empty. I guess you'll know the backup is empty when there's no heat. In case you can't tell, I just had to refill a tank for the first time on my 315RLTS. :)

The indicators are redundant in my case since I use Mopeka's Tank Check.
 
Very old thread, but I found a link to the OEM's PDF and want to post the link: https://www.fairviewfittings.com/UserFiles/DocFiles/PM-INSTRUCT-GR-9984P colr-2015 oak.pdf

I initially thought the empty tank would show red and the full green on the indicator. Wrong. When the primary tank is empty, the indicator goes red--period. That tells you the cylinder in service (the one with the "service" arrow is pointing at, using the manual's language) is empty. I guess you'll know the backup is empty when there's no heat. In case you can't tell, I just had to refill a tank for the first time on my 315RLTS. :)

The indicators are redundant in my case since I use Mopeka's Tank Check.

Howard I did a test on our Imagine when I was trying to figure out how the change over worked. When our primary tank (the one the regulator handle is pointing to) became empty the regulator window turned red and it automatically switched over to the secondary tank (both tanks on). I then moved the regulator handle to point at what was the secondary tank, and the window regulator turned green now indicating the secondary full tank had become the primary.

Your system is probably much different than on our Imagine, ours is pretty simple both tanks side by side up front and one simple regulator different than in the documentation.
 
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