Oh pshaw, on Wed 28 Jun 2006 05:54:30p, Blair P. Houghton meant to say...

> Wayne Boatwright <wayneboatwright_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>>I also had a Weber that used a scale to determine the amount of propane.
>> I didn't find that any more accurate than the gauge.
>
> The newer Weber Genesis models have a spring-scale hanger
> for the tank, but it's useless. Mine registered "empty"
> about ten fires ago.
>
> The liquid-crystal thermometer things they paste to the
> sides don't work either. At least not when the ambient
> temperature is 95 or above...
>
>>> It's easier IMO to have two tanks so if you run out of gas you can
>>> switch.
>>
>>I have almost always had a spare tank available.
>
> I've been thinking of that. I'll probably do it when
> I change out The Eternal Flame, here. I want to weigh
> this tank empty first, just to see how close to full
> the trade-a-tank people are filling them. The rules
> are you can't fill them more than 80% full, to allow the
> float-valve to work. (The float shuts the outlet if the tank
> is tipped, so the fluid won't be ejected; if the tank is
> too full, the float always thinks it's tipped; the question
> is how far below the 80% level the vendors are cheating).

Where I buy propane I don't think they're making any additional money by
cheating. I pay for the metered amount dispensed into the tank. I may be
returning sooner for a refill if they fill less than 80% full, but I'm not
paying for anything more than what they dispensed.

> Someone invented a fiberglass propane tank. It's not clear,
> but it is translucent, and you can see the fluid level with
> a little backlighting and sloshing. They'll sell like mad
> if they're ever approved.

Maybe I'm overreacting, but I would be skeptical about a fiberglass tank
under pressure.

--
Wayne Boatwright @¿@¬
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