Propane auto changeover

[Gonefishing]

Okay we have a 5th wheel have two propane tanks one on each side. Have the auto changeover how do I know which tank it is on. Both tanks are turned on. The changeover shows both tanks green. The changeover handle is pointing towards the front of the camper. Which tank is it drawing from? Driver side or passenger side?

[twindman]

One direction, it will point to the hose that runs directly into the tank right there. Other direction obviously points to the tank on the other side.

[RMcNeal]

It can also be deceiving as to which side it is pointing. I had to get a flash light and look for the arrow on the little flag arm that switches sides to tell. The arrow actually points the opposite of what I thought.

[DutchmenSport]

If both tanks are full, then turn one propane tank completely off with the tank knob. Now, run your stove, water heater, or furnace for a few minutes.

The red-green indicator will either turn red or stay green.

If it turns red, that switch over knob is pointed to the tank that you shut off. If it stays green, it's pointed to the tank that is currently drawing from.

Now you have your base line, you know which tank it's initially drawing from. You can now turn the knob on the other tank. Watch that red-green closely and when it switches from green to red, you know the current tank is empty and the system is now drawing from the full tank. Flip that valve and it will turn green again. Now, remove the empty tank and get it filled.

A word of caution, if you are heating your camper in cold weather, ... like below freezing temps, you can easily run through both tanks of propane and not know you are completely out until the furnace stops working. In cold weather, you can expect to run through 1 thirty pound tank in less than 48 hours. It's extremely easy to run both empty in the middle of the night, then you are not "toast", you are an ice-cube.

For this reason, I keep one tank closed all the time. When it runs out, the furnace stops, I know the tank is empty and I can easily switch over to the full one. As soon as possible (like the same or the next day), I'm getting the empty tank filled again.

If you do not monitor that red-green indicator very, very close, it is easy to run both tanks completely empty. Just a word of caution if you use your propane this way. Otherwise, watch it like a hawk.

Also, the easiest way to figure out how much propane is left in a tank is to un-secure it and simply lift it up. You can tell immediately by it's weight about how full it is. You do not have to unhook it, just unstrap it and lift an inch or so. You'll know immediately. Again, if using the auto switch over by leaving both tanks open at the same time, watch it like a hawk and you'll do fine.

[Daryles]

The manual for the propane auto switching valve is in the files section

https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...hp?do=cat&id=3

[ChuckS]

My video explains Primary and Secondary tank, and why I too only turn the Primary OPD tank valve on

https://youtu.be/SUISQqc6P-o?si=dG9ZaTmWAhzqIMei

[bshgto]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

My video explains Primary and Secondary tank, and why I too only turn the Primary OPD tank valve on

https://youtu.be/SUISQqc6P-o?si=dG9ZaTmWAhzqIMei

Pretty much defeats the purpose of the auto change-over feature of the valve don`t you think?

[TenOC]

Originally Posted by bshgto

Pretty much defeats the purpose of the auto change-over feature of the valve don`t you think?

Better than wakening up in the middle of the night (say 2:00 AM) with 2 empty tanks and 30 degrees out side and the nearest propane dealership opens at 9:00 is 30 miles away. Don't ask me how I know!!!!

[twindman]

Daryles - I looked at the propane switchover manual and it is in French! What am I doing wrong?

[twindman]

Originally Posted by bshgto

Pretty much defeats the purpose of the auto change-over feature of the valve don`t you think?

I agree with you on this. Simple enough to check the changeover switch daily and not run completely out.

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by twindman

Daryles - I looked at the propane switchover manual and it is in French! What am I doing wrong?

I assuming you are looking at the Files-->Systems-->Propane Auto Switching valve PDF file https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...?do=file&id=75.
If so, I see it in English, not French.

[Carl n Susan]

Would you drive your car without ever looking at the gas gauge? Why wait until you are guaranteed to run out of fuel, rather than checking periodically?

[Daryles]

Originally Posted by twindman

Daryles - I looked at the propane switchover manual and it is in French! What am I doing wrong?

Scroll to the top of the document.
It starts off in English then repeats in French.

[Cbarnes890]

I have found that the best way to monitor propane levels is with a monitoring system I have had this system on the last two RVs and it works great. Send information directly to your phone. https://www.amazon.com/Mopeka-Pro-Check-Bundle-Wireless

[Mikendebbie]

Originally Posted by Daryles

Scroll to the top of the document.
It starts off in English then repeats in French.

It's easy to translate...
RV is RV
Propane is propane
Valve is soupape
Automatic is Automatique
Waking up freezing cold is Se réveiller avec un froid glacial
But you said the other tank was full is Mais vous avez dit que l’autre réservoir était plein
FIX THIS BEFORE BREAKFAST!!! is Corrigez cela avant le petit-déjeuner!!!

It's like those French have a different word for everything.

[Gonefishing]

Thanks everyone for the answers. Have now figured it out. Thanks again for all the help

[RetiredandRollin]

Originally Posted by TenOC

Better than wakening up in the middle of the night (say 2:00 AM) with 2 empty tanks and 30 degrees out side and the nearest propane dealership opens at 9:00 is 30 miles away. Don't ask me how I know!!!!

I concur...... Ask ME how I know.

[bshgto]

Originally Posted by TenOC

Better than wakening up in the middle of the night (say 2:00 AM) with 2 empty tanks and 30 degrees out side and the nearest propane dealership opens at 9:00 is 30 miles away. Don't ask me how I know!!!!

This is ridiculous........ The Mopek`s propane monitor clearly shows how much propane you have in any tank you put them on. You can check them with your cell phone. I put one on the secondary tank and watch for 1/2 or less in the secondary tank then go get them filled. It`s just to easy and accurate. So if you run out the wife should feed you canned food or Swanson's TV dinners for a week, and not the Salisbury Steak dinner ( everyone's favorite).

[twindman]

Originally Posted by Daryles

Scroll to the top of the document.
It starts off in English then repeats in French.

Strange. I tried it a couple of times yesterday and finally got it. But today it is back to French. And no English version - only 2 pages long.
Following the link, I get a page with a description, your name, and date and a few other things. A download link to the right. I did that and in my download folder I open the file.
Did I do something wrong?

[Carl n Susan]

There are actually two "Download" links. One is in the thin brown ribbon bar and the other is off to the right near the corner. Both do the same thing.

The PDF is a 2-page document. The first page is in English and the second page is in French. My PDF reader always opens the document at the top (English) page. I am guessing the issue is with whatever PDF reader you are using. But weird regardless.