Are gas cylinder meters a good idea?

[Firstpupee]

I found a propane gas cylinder meter online at the FlameKing http://www.flameking.com/tipsuses/1.html and wondered if anyone has used them and what they think of them.  Thanks!

[tlhdoc]

Welcome to PUT!
 
I have two tanks of propane on the tongue of my trailer so I don't worry.  I also refill my tank at a place that charges by the pound.  Not a flat rate for a fill, so I refill it when I think it is getting low.  So to answer your question, for me a gage isn't needed.

[mike4947]

Any of the screw on meters rely on pressure to operate the gage. The problem is the tank will not lose pressure until ALL the propane has vaporized. You end up with about a 3 minute warning if you happen to crawl under the bunk end when the cylinder goes empty and the pressure starts to drop.

Save your money.

[flyfisherman]

I picked up one of those gages from Lowe's who was having a special on them awhile back. For me, the gage has done a couple of things: (1) - for some reason the propane tanks sets at an angle to the regulator and it was a tight stretch for the hose to couple up. The gage provides just enough extension that it makes connecting a breeze!  (2) The gage tells me there is a flow of L/P going to the regulator, that the valve inside the L/P tank is not stuck. But as for a warning that your tank is low, forget it. By the time the gage reads "caution", you'll be lucky to have enough propane left to finish perking your coffee!

We live outside of town a little ways and so we use L/P for the hot water heater. One way you can tell your getting low on propane, rather it be the big tank I have at home or the twenty pounder on the front of the Starcraft, and that would be when the L/P is getting real low in the tank you will begin to smell it. Anytime that's happened to me, rather it be with the camper or at home, I started to "check out" lines and connections. One day the truck pulled into my yard to re-fill the tank and I told him about smelling gas. He said, "oh yes, when the tanks get low they start to smell". And darned if he was'nt right.

[Old Goat]

I also have duel tanks and always keep one full so I  don't have to worry if the other is getting low. I can tell when a tank is getting low by the sound of the water heater. The burner gets quieter when the tank gets real low. Also, the flame in the galley stove gets weaker as the tank nears empty.........

[howlinowl]

I seem to remember seeing a strip that you stuck on the side of your tank to indicate how full it was.  I believe that it would indicate the level of liquid propane in your tank (may have measured tempurature, as the LP cools as it changes state from a liquid to a gas).  Thought it was a pretty cool idea, but I have dual tanks and always swap out the empty for a full one when it runs out, so didn't need it.  Also, I am not sure if it was removeable.  Hate to buy it and watch it go bye-bye when I exchange tanks.  

Can't remember where I seen it, maybe a hardware store in their BBQ section.
Allan