How to Read a Forklift LP or propane Bottle Gauge
There are important safety reasons for forklift drivers to know how to read a propane bottle gauge on a forklift. The operator needs to know when the forklift is running low on gas. Several types of forklifts which are older are designed so that the forks lower to the ground slowly and the machinery shuts off automatically when it runs out of fuel. This is really unsafe and can cause product damage and personal injury. Newer kinds of forklifts are designed differently to prevent this from occurring. The driver could operate a handle that stops the forks from falling when the propane runs out.
1 Make certain you know where the propane gauge is located. Forklift propane gauge are a lot like a car's gas gauge. It is a small round object situated either on the propane tank's valve or on the dash of the forklift where the controls and rest of the gauges are situated.
2 Make sure to keep the gauge cover clean so that information behind the glass is readable.
3 Located at the bottom of the gauge is the indicator needle. This needle shows you how much fuel is still in the propane tank.
4 There are two letters on the gauge: F for full and E for empty. When the needle arm touches the letter E, it means that the propane tank is totally empty. When the needle arm touches the letter F, it would mean that the propane tank is totally full.
5 In the middle of the gauge, there is a line. When the needle touches the middle line it will mean the tank is half full of propane.
6 Note that there are smaller lines halfway between the middle lines. These lines indicate quarters. When the needle touches the quarter mark nearest the F, it means there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle touches the quarter mark closest to E, the tank is a quarter full.