LPG for camping cars

Never unexpectedly out of gas again: How to read your gas bottle level from the inside?

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It is a familiar situation for every motorhomer: it’s cold, it’s raining, or you just parked comfortably, and suddenly the heating turns off. You immediately wonder: “Is the tank empty?” Normally, you have to go outside to check. But did you know that nowadays you can easily read your gas bottle level without leaving your motorhome?

Whether you have a fixed LPG tank, an Alugas bottle, a Campko bottle, an RV bottle, or a plastic composite bottle: there is always a smart solution. In this article, we explain exactly how reading the gas bottle level works for each type of installation and what you need.

Situation 1: Reading the gas bottle level of a 4-hole bottle or LPG tank

The classic red vapor gas tanks and the 4-hole bottles from GZWM have a specific meter plate. There are two options to read the level remotely for these:

LPG tank en gasfles inhoud aflezen met meter binnen.

Option A: Wired (With LED display)

This is a robust solution where you mount a sender on the tank and run a cable to an LED display on your dashboard or in the living area.

What do you need?

  1. The Sender: You mount this on the tank/bottle (0-90 Ohm).
  2. The Cable: To route the signal inside.
  3. The LED Display: Choose a model with or without a switch:

Option B: Wireless (Via Smartphone)

Don’t want to run cables? Then you can replace the meter on the tank with a Bluetooth sender.

Situation 2: Measuring the level of an Alugas or Gaslow bottle

LPG tank en gasfles inhoud aflezen op smartphone.

Please note: Do you have an aluminum bottle from Alugas or a Gaslow system? Then you need different parts. The dial (the multivalve) on these tanks has a different size.

Option A: Wired (With LED display)

There is a special sender set for these bottles.

  • The Sender: This set contains the sender that fits Alugas/Gaslow, and the wiring is already included.
  • The LED Display: You will still need a display for the inside. For this, you use the same displays as in Situation 1 (see the links to the 5 or 9 LEDs above).

Option B: Wireless (Via Smartphone)

A Bluetooth solution is also possible here, but you need the specific model that fits the Alugas/Gaslow multivalve.

Situation 3: Reading the gas bottle level of Campko, RV, or steel bottles

With these bottles, it is not possible to mount an internal sender.

gasfles inhoud aflezen met weegschaal
  • The RV bottle: This metal bottle often has a dial on the bottle for direct reading, but it is unfortunately technically impossible to mount a sender on it for reading inside the motorhome.
  • The Campko bottle: This sometimes has a small meter, but this is only an indication for the 80% fill stop. As soon as you consume gas, this meter drops almost immediately to ’empty’, which makes it unreliable.
  • The standard steel exchange bottle: This usually has no meter at all.

However, you can still perfectly read the gas bottle level of these steel and aluminum bottles using external tools:

Option A: Ultrasonic measurement (Mopeka)

This is a sensor that you magnetically place at the bottom of the bottle. Using sound waves, it measures exactly where the liquid level is in the steel bottle. You can easily read this via an app on your phone.

Option B: Digital Scales

You place the bottle on a special scale. The scale communicates the weight wirelessly to your phone.

Situation 4: Reading a composite gas bottle level (Plastic)

With lightweight plastic bottles, ultrasonic measurement (Mopeka) does not work through the material. If you want to digitally read the gas bottle level here, there is only one reliable method: Weighing.

The Solution: Digital Scales

Just like with the steel bottles, you place the composite bottle on a digital scale.

Samenvatting

There is a solution for every situation. Are you looking for other parts? Check out our full range of LPG parts and accessories..

Are you still unsure about exactly which bottle or tank you have? Feel free to contact us, and we will help you put together the right set!

Complete LPG Installation Kit for Motorhomes with Fixed Toroidal Tank | Easy Installation

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In this article, we present an LPG installation kit for motorhomes, equipped with a fixed LPG tank in the shape of a wheel. This kit is designed for easy installation in an existing motorhome and utilizes the existing pressure regulator in your gas bottle compartment to connect to your appliances.

Order this kit online – fits under almost any motorhome:
https://shop.vanmeenen.com/en/camping_outdoor-12/kit-lpg-bottles-59/lpg-installation-kit-for-campers-with-fixed-ring-tank-4475

Contents of this kit:

✅ LPG toroidal tank with vapor withdrawal (58 liters, diameter 630 mm, height 225 mm)
✅ Pre-mounted valves on the tank, filling hose, and external filler
✅ Mounting bolts, large washers, and clamps
✅ Manual shut-off valve for the gas bottle compartment, including fittings
✅ LED fuel gauge (for reading inside the motorhome)
✅ High-pressure hose (2 meters), fittings, and pre-reducer (pressure regulator)
✅ LPG external filler with French connection and filling adapters

This kit includes all the necessary components to install a fixed LPG tank in place of the spare wheel.

Deze kit bevat alle onderdelen die je nodig hebt om een vaste tank te monteren op de plaats van het reservewiel.

Pre-mounted valves on the tank:

✔ 80% fill stop valve with elbow for connecting the fill hose
✔ Manual withdrawal valve with 1/4″ female thread connection – for direct mounting of the 1.5 bar pre-reducer/pressure regulator
✔ Overpressure relief valve
✔ Tank level gauge

Tank mounting

The tank can be mounted underneath the vehicle using the four welded mounting brackets on the tank:

The tank can be mounted underneath the vehicle using the four welded mounting brackets on the tank:

🔹 Bolts and nuts are included to secure the tank to the floor of your motorhome. If the floor is not flat, a spacer can be used, or a support frame can be made using steel profiles.

🔹 If a frame is needed, check whether it can be attached to the existing mounting points of the vehicle using bolts.

🔹 Alternatively, the four holes in the center of the tank can be used for mounting. The necessary rods are not included but can be purchased separately as threaded rods.

🔹 The LPG toroidal tank must be mounted with at least four attachment points.

Connection inside the gas bottle compartment

  1. Existing pressure regulator in the motorhome (not included in the kit)
  2. LPG filter fits on the LPG pressure regulator (not included – available separately)
  3. Manual shut-off valve with fittings (included in the kit)
  4. PVC high-pressure hose (67R class 1) with fittings (included in the kit)

External filler installation

We supply an external filler with a direct French connection:

  1. Recessed filler housing (for mounting in the wall or bumper)
  2. Metal mounting bracket (for under-bumper installation)
  3. LPG external filler with French connection

Manual withdrawal valve with pressure regulator

  1. Manual withdrawal valve on the tank (included)
  2. 1.5 bar pre-reducer (reduces pressure for safety), including fittings (included)
  3. 67R class 1 homologated PVC pressure hose, including fittings (included in the kit)

LPG filling adapters included for all of Europe

This kit includes all necessary LPG filling adapters for travel across Europe:

  1. ACME adapter – Belgium, Germany, UK, Luxembourg
  2. Bayonet adapter – Netherlands, UK, Norway
  3. Euro adapter – Spain, Portugal

Inbegrepen in de kit zijn alle LPG-vulnippels voor heel Europa.

For the following countries, no adapter is needed as the LPG external filler already has the correct filling connection:
France, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Norway, Austria, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, Czech Republic.

Tank level indication for inside the motorhome

The tank level can be read both directly on the tank and inside the motorhome using the included level indicator.

  1. 5-LED indicator:
    A red LED lights up when the tank is almost empty
    All 5 LEDs light up when the tank is full
  2. Analog gauge directly on the tank
    Electrical cable included

Complete with mounting materials and fittings

This kit is delivered fully equipped with:

  1. Cable ties for securing the electrical wiring and high-pressure LPG hose
  2. Clamps for mounting the high-pressure PVC hose
  3. 1/4″ x 1/4″ fitting for mounting the pre-reducer (4) directly onto the withdrawal valve
  4. Pre-reducer (to be mounted directly onto the manual withdrawal valve using (3))
  5. 1/4″ male fitting for connecting the PVC hose to the pre-reducer (4) and the manual shut-off valve in the gas compartment (2 pieces included)
  6. Fitting for the LPG tank on the 80% fill valve to the PVC hose (8)
  7. Fitting for the LPG filler connection to the PVC hose (8) with nut and clamp
  8. 8mm PVC hose, cut to length, 67R homologated
  9. 20/150 fitting (nut, nozzle, and seal) – connects the manual shut-off valve to the pressure regulator
  10. Self-drilling screws