Date: | Fri, 2 May 97 09:12:56 -0700 |
Sender: | Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com> |
From: | vince_pappalardo@om.cv.hp.com |
Subject: | |
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Item Subject: Text_1
Hi All,
Several people responded that it is not a safe idea to tap into a
propane tank.
I DID NOT INTEND THIS AS A DO IT YOURSELF JOB. YOU WOULD NOT ONLY
NEED TO DRILL INTO THE TANK BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO WELD A BOSS ONTO THE
TANK BY A CERTIFIED WELDER IN ORDER FOR THIS TO WORK AND BE SAFE &
LEGAL. I WROTE THIS MAINLY TO SHOW WHAT ONE COULD DO AND IS PROBABLY
WHAT IS USED BY RV MANUFACTURES TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.
Now if you excuse me I will go back into DEEP lurking mode!!!!!!!!!!
See Ya,
Vince.
______________________ REPLY SEPARATOR _______________________________
Hi All,
If you want to spend a little time and money there is a way to sense
the level of propane in the tank. You can use an inductive proximity
sensor. They are commercially available for around $50 depending on
the type needed--there a only about 500 types available from any given
manufacture of these devices. Now for the hard part, you would
probably need to tap a hole into your tank since the sensor can not
sense through metal very well. There is small chance that if the
liquid is as dense as water and the wall of the tank is thin you might
be able to get away with sensing through the wall of the tank. The
other device needed would be a transformer to step the 12V DC from the
battery to 24V DC since most of these device run off 24V DC.
If any one is still interest let me know and I will research this a
bit more. For me, I prefer looking at the condensation on the
tank--the prox. idea seems a bit overboard for the convenience
achieved. I would venture a guess this is the system used by the
campers that have such gages--no moving parts and about $100 of
additional cost if designed into the original equipment
Regards,
Vince.
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