How to Read a Forklift LP or propane Bottle Gauge
There are important safety reasons for forklift operators to know how to read a propane bottle gauge on a forklift. The driver has to know when the forklift is running low on gas. Several kinds of forklifts that are older are designed so that the forks lower to the ground slowly and the equipment shuts off automatically when it is out of fuel. This is very unsafe and could lead to personal injury and product damage. Newer models are designed differently to avoid this from happening. The operator could utilize a handle that stops the forks from falling when the propane runs out.
1 Make sure you know where the propane gauge is situated. Forklift propane gauge are a lot like a car's gas gauge. It is a small round object situated either on the valve on the propane tank or on the dash of the forklift where the rest of the gauges and controls are situated.
2 Make sure to keep the gauge cover clean so that information behind the glass is readable.
3 Situated at the bottom of the gauge is the indicator needle. This needle shows you how much fuel is still in the propane tank.
4 On the gauge: F represents full and E represents empty. When the needle arm arrives at 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 Notice the line in the middle of the gauge. When the needle touches the halfway line it would mean that the tank is half full of propane.
6 Usually, there are smaller lines midway between the middle lines. These lines mean quarters. When the needle points at the quarter mark nearest the F, it means there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle arrives at the quarter mark closest to E, the tank is a quarter full.