Gas Cylinder meter, such a thing?

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tdgeek

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Topic # 199203 8-Aug-2016 20:12

We have gas in our new place, one big bottle. 40Kg or so, I'd say.

Problem is there is only one bottle as the gap between the bottle and whatever else (door, window) doesnt allow for two bottles, so when it runs out we have a two day outage. Is there a level meter that can attach to the outside of the bottle temporarily? I think I've seen this before as it measures based on temp of the gas/no gas?

Or any other suggestions?

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Reply # 1606562 8-Aug-2016 20:15

You could weigh the bottle.

Location: Dunedin

tdgeek

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Reply # 1606565 8-Aug-2016 20:18

andrewNZ: You could weigh the bottle.

Not sure how moveable it is, I'll check in the morning. It sitting on scales would help, but unsure if outdoor scales exist that will handle frost and rain and not cost a bomb

There is always wait till it runs out and do a highly scientific wiggle test.

Jase2985

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Reply # 1606576 8-Aug-2016 20:31

http://www.stevens.co.nz/product/Magnetic-Gas-Level-Indicator/?p=5812296

tdgeek

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Reply # 1606598 8-Aug-2016 20:52

Jase2985:

http://www.stevens.co.nz/product/Magnetic-Gas-Level-Indicator/?p=5812296

??

And ordered! Perfect. Cheap, magnetic, perfect.

Oblivian

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Reply # 1606600 8-Aug-2016 20:57

Pee on it. Frozen bit = level left :P

Depending on how cold the ambient and cylinder is, and how much you are consuming will also depend on the outside frost that the temp guages rely on.

https://www.elgas.co.nz/resources/elgas-blog/119-why-does-ice-form-on-gas-bottles-and-regulators

tdgeek

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Reply # 1606604 8-Aug-2016 21:05

Oblivian:

Pee on it. Frozen bit = level left :P

Depending on how cold the ambient and cylinder is, and how much you are consuming will also depend on the outside frost that the temp guages rely on.

https://www.elgas.co.nz/resources/elgas-blog/119-why-does-ice-form-on-gas-bottles-and-regulators

Lol, yep, read that link. Looks best to check when using the gas. Quite interesting for a seemingly boring topic. Will be handy for the 9kg too.

djtOtago

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Reply # 1606624 8-Aug-2016 21:31

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Can you keep a spare gas cylinder somewhere else on your property and swap as needed? Saving you waiting 2 days for delivery.

Doesn't have to be another 45kg, a 9kg or even a 12kg would probably do.

gzt

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Reply # 1606628 8-Aug-2016 21:49

There is probably room for that to sit ready on a shelf above the 45kg.

jnimmo

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Reply # 1606634 8-Aug-2016 22:18

I assume you could get a regulator with a pressure gague built in - we have big bottle banks at work with electric pressure gagues on, might be a bit overkill but certainly an analog one could work

richms

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Reply # 1606636 8-Aug-2016 22:34

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Its a liquid in there, so the pressure is set by the temperature, not the amount of liquid left in it.

the slosh test is what I use on the BBQ, give it a shove and see how it feels.

Richard rich.ms

tdgeek

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Reply # 1606677 9-Aug-2016 05:59

djtOtago:

Can you keep a spare gas cylinder somewhere else on your property and swap as needed? Saving you waiting 2 days for delivery.

Doesn't have to be another 45kg, a 9kg or even a 12kg would probably do.

We have a couple of 9kg, just needs to sit on top of green bin. My main issue is to know when the big one will run out, order, and let them swap it out with no mucking around

olivernz

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Reply # 1606711 9-Aug-2016 09:01

Those magnetic indicators can be had on AliExpress for about $3. just search for "Gas level indicator"

MikeAqua

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Reply # 1606749 9-Aug-2016 09:51

jnimmo:

I assume you could get a regulator with a pressure gauge built in - we have big bottle banks at work with electric pressure gagues on, might be a bit overkill but certainly an analog one could work

Yes you can. I have seen them at Burnsco. [Edit: It's called a GasFuse].

Those magnetic indicator strips have never worked for me. If its cold enough outside the whole thing just colours up.

Mike

MikeAqua

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Reply # 1606781 9-Aug-2016 10:15

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richms:

Its a liquid in there, so the pressure is set by the temperature, not the amount of liquid left in it.

That applies to a gas too. Yet pressure is used for a variety of gas cylinders, including scuba where survival can depend on what is left in the cylinder.

An LPG bottle contains gas above a liquid (sort of like a pressure cooker). As the liquid level decreases the volume available for gas increases and therefore the pressure decreases. We see this effect when the bottle is getting low, the pressure drops below the regulator set point and the flame gets weak in the BBQ.

Temperature has an effect of course but pressure is still a useful coarse indicator e.g. high/medium/low.

Mike

andrew027

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Reply # 1606805 9-Aug-2016 10:27

Someone gave me one of those magnetic ones once. It seems to be just an LCD thermometer, so when it's cold enough outside the volume of liquid in the cylinder doesn't make much difference. Even when the ambient temperature is warmer it's not particularly accurate.

Has anybody had any experience with the ultrasonic ones, e.g.: Gaslock GasLevel Pen?

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