Propane Tank monitor Redux - RV-Dreams Community Forum

tincanman · RV-Dreams Family Member

Propane Tank monitor Redux

tincanman · RV-Dreams Family Member

For those interested I did search out more information at PPLMotorhomes review & they also sell them for ~$120. I bought the Marshall option for ~$92, so not much more expensive.

-- Edited by tincanman on Friday 19th of February 2016 09:42:09 PM

Clay L · RV-Dreams Family Member

Are you sure they are out of business? Their web site is up and running and they still list the Extend A Stay.

tincanman · RV-Dreams Family Member

Marshall is out of business.

Howard · Host

We have the Truma LevelCheck. Just another option.

D and M · RV-Dreams Family Member

Here is a second vote for the Truma LevelCheck.... we've used it for over a year and it works well.

tincanman · RV-Dreams Family Member

The difference is, the Truma is a manual "find the level", one off tool. Where as the Mopeka TankCheck sensor attaches to the bottom of the tank and monitors all the time as well as working with a blue-tooth device in the RV & a mobile app. At ~$70 I guess the Truma is okay for a manual level checker, but for $50 more I like the convenience of the constant monitoring especially in winter.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

The Mopeka website severely lacks information on the system. If the sensor is on the very bottom of the cylinder, then will it give an indication of how full the cylinder is, or does it just notify when a cylinder goes empty?

If one has twin 40# cylinders like we do, when the temps get really low, a cylinder can go empty in just a day or two, and if one thinks that both cylinders are "ok" when one is nearly empty, one's time to get a cylinder refilled is shortened.

Terry

tincanman · RV-Dreams Family Member

True. Their web site is a bit sparse thus the "Coming Soon" notice. However, if you dig a bit into some of the links, particularly the installation instructions, you find more answers; "The sensor mounts to the bottom center of the tank. Your LPG Tank (Check) has magnets that will hold it to the tank..." "Propane is a liquid, and LPG Tank (Check) uses sound pulses to detect how much liquid is in the tank"

Additionally, if you follow this link (PPLMotorhomes) which I also included above, there is further explanation & a video. FYI; I am not a dealer or sales rep, I'm just looking for a good solution. My only problem I have with this solution, is me forgetting the sensor is on the bottom of the tank & loosing or breaking it. However that is my flaw not the products. biggrin

Howard · Host

The Mopeka system looks interesting although I'm skeptical about a few points (besides the fact the website is "under construction").

1. How does it know whether you have 30 lb. cylinders, 40 lb cylinders, or a motorhome tank? I don't see where you program that in anywhere, and that would affect the percentages shown on the monitor.

2. I'd really like to know how the sonar/ultrasound technology can determine how much is in the cylinder or tank from the placement of the sensor on the bottom. In the video, the percentage on the phone app they showed was bouncing all over the place, so accuracy could be a concern. I'm no techie, but I just don't understand how the sensors can determine an actual liquid level in inches.

3. Because the sensors are constantly monitoring, the batteries have to wear out. How long will the batteries last? How do you replace them? Will the readings be compromised when the batteries get low?

4. I'm very skeptical about the bluetooth transmission from the bottom of a metal tank to an interior mounted monitor.

5. Technology used this way is too new, and they are still fixing bugs on the app (recent fix done on 2/10/2016).

Again, it looks interesting, but I'd probably wait until there is quite a bit more time to test it and get user reviews. Perhaps you can contact Mopeka and be a field tester and then post your experiences here. :)

tincanman · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hmm, appears to be another company that is nolonger:
Mopeka Products LLC filed as a Domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC) in the State of Texas and is no longer active. This corporate entity was filed approximately three years ago on Tuesday, September 3, 2013 as recorded in documents filed with Texas Secretary of State.

I also called the only number I could find but it is nolonger in service. I'm going to send an email, but I don't hold out hope that this is not another defunct company.

Dranoel · RV-Dreams Family Member

So far, my Mopeka Tankcheck is working well. I have the dual setup with monitors on each 40# tank. In setup, you specify the tank size(20, 30 or 40b) and how you want the meter to display; inches, centimeters or %. The app reports signal strength and battery level. I'll see how long the batteries last. I have noticed that the tank level changes somewhat depending on outside temperature and the Bluetooth signal is good to about 20'. This number works: 800-874-3271

-- Edited by Dranoel on Monday 29th of February 2016 03:54:27 AM

-- Edited by Dranoel on Monday 29th of February 2016 04:04:14 AM

-- Edited by Dranoel on Monday 29th of February 2016 04:07:41 AM

RonC · RV-Dreams Family Member

I also have the Mopeka system purchased from PPL ... Love the iPhone app I can easily check my tank levels with enough accuracy to help me manage them. Although, I must admit that the very economical Truma AquaGo instant hot water heater makes propane "management" pretty irrelevant. I'd have to go two or three months before propane refill of one tank would be necessary.

Add in the furnace for cold weather ... different story. I intend to stay in weather that that DOES NOT need the furnace.

-- Edited by RonC on Saturday 23rd of July 2016 07:45:09 PM

-- Edited by RonC on Tuesday 6th of September 2016 09:54:28 AM