Chris-

Two different ways to deal with the "how much propane" question.

(1) Always fill up before a trip, and know about how long you can camp on
your fuel (we get about 2 weeks) or
(b) there is a wee self-adhesive gauge thing you can buy at propane/RV
places to stick on the end of the tank. Trouble is, it is actually a
thermometer, and it has to have hot water poured over it to work. I.e. You
pour the 180 degree (f) water on it, and it shows you which area remains
150+ and which area is rapidly cooled by the propane on the other side of
the metal wall of the propane tank. It is up to you to figure out where to
get hot water when you are camping, and how to pour it UP under your van.

AS for the aux. battery, if you are using a solenoid for switching and the
aux battery is hooked up correctly, your little Westy three-light gauge
should tell you the remaining "juice" Green means 'party-on', Yellow means
'turn off the AC converter & hair dryer', Red means, "you will soon have
 too few electrons to be of any use".

G. Matthew Bulley
Director
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree

-----Original Message-----
From:   Chris Paquette [SMTP:cp@IX.NETCOM.COM]
Sent:   Tuesday, November 16, 1999 2:45 PM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Do These Devices Exist?

After a recent week-long campout in my '88 Westy, I came home wishing for
two things:

1. A way to know how much propane is left in the propane tank; and

2. A way to know how much "juice" is left in my auxiliary battery.

Random observation: Camping makes meals taste better, especially breakfast.

Chris
'88 Westy, "Rocinante"
Los Angeles