Can A Third Tank Be Added To A Propane Tank Setup With An Automatic Changeover Regulator

Updated 08/28/2023 | Published 08/27/2023

Question:

I have a standard 2 - 20 lb. tank set up with the automatic switch over on my RV. I am getting a 3-way spliter to run a grill of to the side. My question is can I add a back feed on the 3rd leg from a 30 lb, cylinder to suppliment the right side of the swithover /regulatior device with out problems? In the winter the full timing it, makes for many trips to the propane shop. Thanks in advance for any direction I could recieve to not waste money on a idea that wouldnt work.

asked by: Micheal S

Expert Reply:

You wouldn't want to have a third tank backfeeding into the other tanks as you could run into an issue where one or two tanks overfill. An automatic changeover regulator # 37207-30395 separates the two tanks so that only one is in use at a time to prevent this from happening. Adding a third tank without some sort of shutoff to separate the three tanks just isn't safe.

If you're running a grill that has a regulator on it and needs an unregulated line you'd be better off just carrying the third tank separate and hooking it directly to the grill instead of trying to tie it into your RV's propane system.

The only way to make the three tanks work together would be to run them all to a tee and then have some sort of changeover to pressurize your regulated and unregulated lines and would have to physically shut the tanks on and off to prevent any backfeed into other tanks.

expert reply by: Kevin C