Neither Plan C nor Plan D tell you when you'll run out of propane. Once
the second bottle has been switched to, the Intrepid Westy Owner will
still find himself wondering how many more days he/she has until things
go cold. Or warm, in the case of the refrigerator.

But Plan C has the advantage of giving a fellow a good excuse to explain
why there is a meadowmuffin on his dash.

Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR

On 1/19/2007 8:57 AM Pensioner wrote:
> Date:    Thu, 18 Jan 2007 20:50:26 -0500
> From:    Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
> Subject: Re: Gauging propane level
>
> One simply has to use Plan B. Pour some warm water over the liquid
> crystal indicator. The part of the tank with liquid will absorb the
> heat quicker, so there will be a temperature difference at the level of
> the liquid, which will be indicated.
>
> How to pour warm water onto a tank mounted under a Westy is an exercise
> left to the reader. :-)
>
> Howdeydodat:  First if you are OUT of propane invoke Plan C below.  If not
> light the stove warm some water put it in the ever present NFL Authorized
> GatorAde (tm) bottle.  Now by squeezing the bottle squirt lots of warm
> gator^h^h^h^h^h water on the LCD indicator.  Remember, you have to heat the
> METAL behind the LCD tape not just the tape.  Might just work.
>
> Plan C:  Get a second manifold piece from your (FLRVS) and install so you
> have a cappable tee fitting with the same pipe thread as the original. Now
> you have a downstream tap into the system which you cap off.  Purchase a
> regulator and hose that will fit a DOT portable bottle/tank (FLRVS).  TURN
> OFF WESTY TANK AT VALVE.  Undo the cap, plug in the hose-regulator-tank
> backup and put a cowpie on the instrument panel housing.  Now you're good to
> stay until the propane runs out of the backup tank.  When this happens
> notice the cowpie (meadowmuffin), recall it's there to remind you that you
> don't intend to drag the spare propane setup all the way to the propane
> vendor and remove it.  Take it with you and fill both the Westy tank and the
> backup tank.  Reserve the muffin for emergency heat or to use again as a
> reminder (works best with an already aged meadowmuffin, NB these are not
> available at your Friendly Local Recreational Vehicle Store:
>
> Plan D: (the roadhaus(tm) solution)  Buy a second Westy Tank and install
> under the passenger side door, tee it into the existing system and keep it
> turned off until you run out of propane on the main tank.  Turn off the main
> tank, turn on the auxiliary tank and you're set.  Doesn't require hunting
> for meadowmuffins in the dark or storage of such.  When the propex runs out
> on the main tank you merely slide the door open a smidge and turn on the
> auxiliary tank.  Remember to turn off the main tank at the first
> opportunity.
>
>