Are there auto-changeover propane regulators (or separate auto-changeover
devices) for fixed (2x 1000 gallon) tanks? The propane company putting in
my tanks had not heard of this, and Google searches turn up only ones for
small RV tanks. Ideally something with a remote indicator would be nice;
I could arrange for the computer to email me to call for a delivery...

Dan Lanciani
ddl@danlan.*com

Dan Lanciani wrote:
Are there auto-changeover propane regulators (or separate auto-changeover
devices) for fixed (2x 1000 gallon) tanks? The propane company putting in
my tanks had not heard of this, and Google searches turn up only ones for
small RV tanks. Ideally something with a remote indicator would be nice;
I could arrange for the computer to email me to call for a delivery...

Dan Lanciani
ddl@danlan.*com
1000 gal tanks have gauges to read the percentage. 80%=full. 0%= almost
empty. Depending on the type and size of load, you don't want the tanks
to drain separately.

"Tom Lachance" wrote in message
news:s-ydnb6tDuzzHLnRnZ2dnUVZ_oudnZ2d@metrocastcablevisio n.com...
Dan Lanciani wrote:
Are there auto-changeover propane regulators (or separate auto-changeover
devices) for fixed (2x 1000 gallon) tanks? The propane company putting in
my tanks had not heard of this, and Google searches turn up only ones for
small RV tanks. Ideally something with a remote indicator would be nice;
I could arrange for the computer to email me to call for a delivery...

How much gas flow are you planning on? Will the RV regulator handle it? I have
an auto-switch regulator on two 100-pound tanks for my standby generator. The
regulator doesn't care of they are 5 gallon tanks or 10,000 gallon tanks, it
just switches when the vapor pressure drops in one tank. Those auto-shift
regulators are not just used in the RV world, they are used all over the south
in places where rental 100# tanks are used for cooking and DHW.

I have never seen a remote indicating one, but I am not in the 'biz.

Vaughn

On Jun 24, 5:41*pm, ddl@danlan.*com (Dan Lanciani) wrote:
Are there auto-changeover propane regulators (or separate auto-changeover
devices) for fixed (2x 1000 gallon) tanks? *The propane company putting in
my tanks had not heard of this, and Google searches turn up only ones for
small RV tanks. *Ideally something with a remote indicator would be nice;
I could arrange for the computer to email me to call for a delivery...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dan Lanciani
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ddl@danlan.*com

Is there a reson you can't use the rv ones? Are you using the same
pressure? I've not seen any with remote indicators though.

In article , (jamesgangnc) writes:
| On Jun 24, 5:41=A0pm, ddl@danlan.*com (Dan Lanciani) wrote:
| Are there auto-changeover propane regulators (or separate auto-changeover
| devices) for fixed (2x 1000 gallon) tanks? =A0The propane company putting=
| in
| my tanks had not heard of this, and Google searches turn up only ones for
| small RV tanks. =A0Ideally something with a remote indicator would be nic=
| e;
| I could arrange for the computer to email me to call for a delivery...
|
| =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Dan Lanci=
| ani
| =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 ddl@danla=
| n.*com
|
| Is there a reson you can't use the rv ones?

Yes, two reasons. First, as far as I can tell, the RV units are all low
pressure regulators. That is, they drop the pressure to the final ~11" WC.
I'm looking for a "first stage" regulator that drops the pressure to 10psi
for the longish pipe to the house and generator. Second, most of the RV
regulators have relatively low capacity. I think I found one that would
probably have been enough (if it wasn't a misprint) but it still had the
low-pressure output. The funny thing is that some (most?) of the RV units
appear to consist of dual regulators with the first stage high-pressure
switchover regulator coupled directly to the second stage regulator. It
might be possible to take them apart, but I suspect that would void any
safety listing.

| Are you using the same
| pressure? I've not seen any with remote indicators though.

The RV ones have remote indicators which is what caught my eye in the
first place. Unfortunately, after extensive additional Googling I've
come to the conclusion that what I want just doesn't exist in the US.
They are certainly available in the UK and I found a nice one in Israel,
but here again I'd be worried about safety listing and codes if I imported
one.

I may have to go back to the idea of a remote level readout. I initially
dropped this because the propane company said they used to do it but that
the product they used was no longer available. Now that I think about it
they may have been talking about a comprehensive service that alerted
*them* to the level in my tanks. I want to alert me. It looks like I
should be asking for "remote ready float gauges" to which several kinds
of senders can be attached. I'd like something hard-wired and with an
output I can connect to a computer. The "residential" ones look to be
wireless with just a visual bar graph, but some of the "commercial" ones
look better.

Dan Lanciani
ddl@danlan.*com

ddl@danlan.*com (Dan Lanciani) writes:


I may have to go back to the idea of a remote level readout. I initially
dropped this because the propane company said they used to do it but that
the product they used was no longer available. Now that I think about it
they may have been talking about a comprehensive service that alerted
*them* to the level in my tanks. I want to alert me. It looks like I
should be asking for "remote ready float gauges" to which several kinds
of senders can be attached. I'd like something hard-wired and with an
output I can connect to a computer. The "residential" ones look to be
wireless with just a visual bar graph, but some of the "commercial" ones
look better.


I too need a propane tank level sensor scheme. I found
http://www.rochestergauges.com/Pages/PDFs/R3D.pdf mentioned.





--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

In article
,
jamesgangnc wrote:

On Jun 24, 5:41*pm, ddl@danlan.*com (Dan Lanciani) wrote:
Are there auto-changeover propane regulators (or separate auto-changeover
devices) for fixed (2x 1000 gallon) tanks? *The propane company putting in
my tanks had not heard of this, and Google searches turn up only ones for
small RV tanks. *Ideally something with a remote indicator would be nice;
I could arrange for the computer to email me to call for a delivery...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dan Lanciani
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ddl@danlan.*com

Is there a reson you can't use the rv ones? Are you using the same
pressure? I've not seen any with remote indicators though.

there is ONE BIG reason you can't RV tanks on a generator of any size.
(10Kw) they are Vapor withdraw type tanks and they don't have enough
surface area to allow the propane liquid to boil off into gas, without
freezing up the tank.... duh... anyone who has ever tried it knows
this...

"You" wrote in message
...
there is ONE BIG reason you can't RV tanks on a generator of any size.
(10Kw) they are Vapor withdraw type tanks and they don't have enough
surface area to allow the propane liquid to boil off into gas, without
freezing up the tank.... duh... anyone who has ever tried it knows
this...

Huh? The OP was asking about 2-1000 gallon tanks. That is plenty of surface
area unless we are talking about sub-zero temperatures. The flow capacity of
the regulator is a bigger concern.

Vaughn

On Jun 25, 9:08*pm, "vaughn" wrote:
"You" wrote in message

...

there is ONE BIG reason you can't RV tanks on a generator of any size.
(10Kw) they are Vapor withdraw type tanks and they don't have enough
surface area to allow the propane liquid to boil off into gas, without
freezing up the tank.... duh... anyone who has ever tried it knows
this...

Huh? *The OP was asking about 2-1000 gallon tanks. *That is plenty of surface
area unless we are talking about sub-zero temperatures. *The flow capacity of
the regulator is a bigger concern.

Vaughn

No chance except in very hot conditions. The latent heat requirements
of the propane soon cool the tank down to a point were the gas won't
vapourise off.

This is true even with liquid oxygen never mind propane.

"harry" wrote in message
...

No chance except in very hot conditions. The latent heat requirements
of the propane soon cool the tank down to a point were the gas won't
vapourise off.

That is a huge overstatement. If what you say were true, then nobody would use
vapor directly from a propane tank. But actually vapor withdrawal is the most
common method!. How much gas you can draw from a given propane tank depends on
the tank's size and the outside temperature. Scroll down on this page for a
table that gives you the maximum BTUs based on tank size and outside
temperature. http://www.propane-generators.com/propane_usage.htm

I can connect a 20# BBQ tank to my 4000 watt generator at full load and the tank
will drop perhaps 10 degrees in temperature. I can draw the tank totally empty
without the slightest concern for tank freeze up. With that same generator on
a 100# tank, the cooling is barely detectible. From there, you can do the math
to extrapolate to the comparatively huge tanks the OP is considering.

Vaughn


..

"vaughn" wrote in message
...

"You" wrote in message
...
there is ONE BIG reason you can't RV tanks on a generator of any size.
(10Kw) they are Vapor withdraw type tanks and they don't have enough
surface area to allow the propane liquid to boil off into gas, without
freezing up the tank.... duh... anyone who has ever tried it knows
this...

Huh? The OP was asking about 2-1000 gallon tanks. That is plenty of
surface area unless we are talking about sub-zero temperatures. The flow
capacity of the regulator is a bigger concern.

Vaughn


Just killfilter that idiot. I did years ago.

Mike

"vaughn" wrote in message
...

"You" wrote in message
...
there is ONE BIG reason you can't RV tanks on a generator of any size.
(10Kw) they are Vapor withdraw type tanks and they don't have enough
surface area to allow the propane liquid to boil off into gas, without
freezing up the tank.... duh... anyone who has ever tried it knows
this...

Huh? The OP was asking about 2-1000 gallon tanks. That is plenty of
surface area unless we are talking about sub-zero temperatures. The flow
capacity of the regulator is a bigger concern.

Vaughn


Just killfilter that idiot. I did years ago.

Mike

On Jun 25, 8:42*pm, You wrote:
In article
,

*jamesgangnc wrote:
On Jun 24, 5:41 pm, ddl@danlan.*com (Dan Lanciani) wrote:
Are there auto-changeover propane regulators (or separate auto-changeover
devices) for fixed (2x 1000 gallon) tanks? The propane company putting in
my tanks had not heard of this, and Google searches turn up only ones for
small RV tanks. Ideally something with a remote indicator would be nice;
I could arrange for the computer to email me to call for a delivery....

Dan Lanciani
ddl@danlan.*com

Is there a reson you can't use the rv ones? *Are you using the same
pressure? *I've not seen any with remote indicators though.

there is ONE BIG reason you can't RV tanks on a generator of any size.
(10Kw) they are Vapor withdraw type tanks and they don't have enough
surface area to allow the propane liquid to boil off into gas, without
freezing up the tank.... duh... anyone who has ever tried it knows
this...

This is true. We run cars on propane over here. The liquid propane
is vapourised in a heat exchange device that draws water from the
coolant jacket of the IC engine. Many are converted from petrol,
there is an annular ring fitted between the carburretor and the inlet
manifold that injects the gas through a ring of holes. Needle jet
controls the gas on the liquid side of the vapouriser device.

On 6/26/2010 3:20 AM, harry wrote:
On Jun 25, 8:42 pm, wrote:
In article
,

wrote:
On Jun 24, 5:41 pm, ddl@danlan.*com (Dan Lanciani) wrote:
Are there auto-changeover propane regulators (or separate auto-changeover
devices) for fixed (2x 1000 gallon) tanks? The propane company putting in
my tanks had not heard of this, and Google searches turn up only ones for
small RV tanks. Ideally something with a remote indicator would be nice;
I could arrange for the computer to email me to call for a delivery...

Dan Lanciani
ddl@danlan.*com

Is there a reson you can't use the rv ones? Are you using the same
pressure? I've not seen any with remote indicators though.

there is ONE BIG reason you can't RV tanks on a generator of any size.
(10Kw) they are Vapor withdraw type tanks and they don't have enough
surface area to allow the propane liquid to boil off into gas, without
freezing up the tank.... duh... anyone who has ever tried it knows
this...

This is true. We run cars on propane over here. The liquid propane
is vapourised in a heat exchange device that draws water from the
coolant jacket of the IC engine. Many are converted from petrol,
there is an annular ring fitted between the carburretor and the inlet
manifold that injects the gas through a ring of holes. Needle jet
controls the gas on the liquid side of the vapouriser device.



Here, Alabama Gas has been running their vehicles on natural gas for
many years. You can see the CNG tanks on the beds of their service
trucks. Those vehicles have a similar setup to those that run on
Propane.

TDD

On Jun 26, 1:09*pm, The Daring Dufas
wrote:
On 6/26/2010 3:20 AM, harry wrote:





On Jun 25, 8:42 pm, *wrote:
In article
,

* *wrote:
On Jun 24, 5:41 pm, ddl@danlan.*com (Dan Lanciani) wrote:
Are there auto-changeover propane regulators (or separate auto-changeover
devices) for fixed (2x 1000 gallon) tanks? The propane company putting in
my tanks had not heard of this, and Google searches turn up only ones for
small RV tanks. Ideally something with a remote indicator would be nice;
I could arrange for the computer to email me to call for a delivery....

Dan Lanciani
ddl@danlan.*com

Is there a reson you can't use the rv ones? *Are you using the same
pressure? *I've not seen any with remote indicators though.

there is ONE BIG reason you can't RV tanks on a generator of any size.
(10Kw) they are Vapor withdraw type tanks and they don't have enough
surface area to allow the propane liquid to boil off into gas, without
freezing up the tank.... duh... anyone who has ever tried it knows
this...

This is true. *We run cars on propane over here. *The liquid propane
is vapourised in a heat exchange device that draws water from the
coolant jacket of the IC engine. * Many are converted from petrol,
there is an annular ring fitted between the carburretor and the inlet
manifold that injects the gas through a ring of holes. *Needle jet
controls the gas on the liquid side of the vapouriser device.

Here, Alabama Gas has been running their vehicles on natural gas for
many years. You can see the CNG tanks on the beds of their service
trucks. Those vehicles have a similar setup to those that run on
Propane.

TDD- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Aha. There is a difference .The natural gas is just compressed. The
propane is liquid and has to be evaporated off. I suppose in a warm
climate you might not need an evaporator but even here in the UK you
do.
In the hospital where I worked we had liquid oxygen. It held about
three tons of LOXWe even needed a heat exchanger on that to evaporate
the LOX. It was just like a big car radiator. Even so it used to
freeze up. We had to clear the ice off with a steam lance in certain
weather conditions.

On Jun 24, 10:41*pm, ddl@danlan.*com (Dan Lanciani) wrote:
Are there auto-changeover propane regulators (or separate auto-changeover
devices) for fixed (2x 1000 gallon) tanks? *The propane company putting in
my tanks had not heard of this, and Google searches turn up only ones for
small RV tanks. *Ideally something with a remote indicator would be nice;
I could arrange for the computer to email me to call for a delivery...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dan Lanciani
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ddl@danlan.*com

There are in the UK. You don't need an auto change over . Why do you
need two tanks? There exists devices that calls the gas company to
top up the gas when it's low. Works on cell phone net. Some weigh
the tank, some have a floating thingy inside the tank.
Even without that technology, they'll come and top up on a regular
basis once your useage pattern has been established.

"harry" wrote in message
...
Even without that technology, they'll come and top up on a regular
basis once your useage pattern has been established.

I don't know that the OP's tanks are for, but remember that standby generators
have no constant fuel usage pattern, expect whatever gas is used by periodic
exercising. Also, in the middle of a long general power failure, it is
somewhere between difficult and impossible to get a fuel delivery.

Vaughn

On Jun 25, 9:24*am, "vaughn" wrote:
"harry" wrote in message

...

Even without that technology, they'll come and top up on a regular
basis once your useage pattern has been established.

I don't know that the OP's tanks are for, but remember that standby generators
have no constant fuel usage pattern, expect whatever gas is used by periodic
exercising. *Also, in the middle of a long general power failure, it is
somewhere between difficult and impossible to get a fuel delivery.

Vaughn

could they add a valve and piping to parell the tanks in a emergency?

In article , Dan Lanciani ddl@danlan.*com wrote:
Are there auto-changeover propane regulators (or separate auto-changeover
devices) for fixed (2x 1000 gallon) tanks? The propane company putting in
my tanks had not heard of this, and Google searches turn up only ones for
small RV tanks. [ ... ]

Have you tried contacting the manufacturer of the RV regulators and asking
them? If they don't make one, they may know who does and can point you in
the right direction.


Gary

--
Gary Heston http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/

If you want to reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,
go plant trees.

In article ,
ddl@danlan.*com (Dan Lanciani) wrote:

Are there auto-changeover propane regulators (or separate auto-changeover
devices) for fixed (2x 1000 gallon) tanks? The propane company putting in
my tanks had not heard of this, and Google searches turn up only ones for
small RV tanks. Ideally something with a remote indicator would be nice;
I could arrange for the computer to email me to call for a delivery...

Well, they are certainly bone stock standard for 100 lb portable tanks
(not generally seen on RVs, commonly seen beside houses with gas stoves
and dryers away from gas lines, up until the 250lb pigs become more
standard.) Any propane company that changes tanks rather than running a
tanker truck should have them - I don't know if they would have
limitations that would not permit connecting a 1000 lb tank. Remote
indicator is standard, but you'll need to come up with the electronics
part of it if you want a computer to report the little red ring showing
in the indicator. Usually it's just run on it's little copper tube to
the closest window, so the homeowner can look out and see the red.

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by