Propane changeover valve??

[Smellson]

Ive got two 30lb lp tanks on the wheel house and Im getting kind of sick of running out of gas in the middle of the night and having to go out with the wrench to switch the hose over to the other tank so I was thinking about getting a changeover valve so all I would have to do it switch the valve to the other tank. The problem I have run in to is that I can only find automatic valves...but I want to know when one of my tanks goes empty. Anyone know where I can find a manual changeover valve? Could I just put a t-connection between tanks and keep one tank closed all the time?

Thanks

[Nutty Fisherman]

I like my auto change over.Then you don't have to go out at night to switch it. It will only use out of one at a time. All you have to do is when you go out look and see if it is red, if it is then switch the valve over to the full one and take the empty one off and have it filled. If you know about how long a tank will run (depending on how cold it is out) Check it after that.

[fishindon]

I have the same, two 30lb tanks. Just purchased the auto change over from Fish House Supply. Will find out this weekend if it works.

[McGurk]

This isn't a fix for the switching valve, but might be a quick fix. I keep my eyes open for dead gas grills in the metal dumpster at work and snag the black plastic quick-change hand-tightened connectors that most new grills use. I've swapped a few of the old wrench-type connectors on my old propane stuff to the new hand-tightened ones, just not my sunflower as that actually should be tightened with a wrench due to the fact that it is mounted to the tank. It will still require that you go out and change it manually, but it will be a lot faster and not require any tools.

[Big Buck Buster]

If you are mechanically inclined, you can make a switch over valve yourself. Find a place that sells fittings for LP or Natural gas. Get two shut off valves, one for each tank. Hook the two tanks together (with LP hose), and then to the house. I like to use the hose because of the flexibility. When the one tank goes dry, turn that valve to closed, and open the other one. By installing the shut off valves on each tank, this will allow you to get the empty tank filled, while still being able to use the other.