How to Read a Forklift LP or propane Bottle Gauge
There are essential safety reasons for forklift drivers to know how to read a forklift propane bottle gauge. The driver has to know when the forklift is running low on gas. Several kinds of forklifts which are older are designed so that the forks lower to the ground slowly and the equipment automatically shuts off when it runs out of fuel. This is very unsafe and could lead to personal injury and product damage. Newer models are designed differently to prevent this from happening. The driver can operate a handle which 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 located either on the forklift dash where the controls and rest of the gauges are situated or on the propane tank's valve.
2 Always keep the gauge cover clean so that the letters and lines behind the glass are readable.
3 Locate the indicator needle at the bottom of the gauge. This needle shows you how much fuel is still in the propane tank.
4 On the gauge: E represents empty and F represents full. When the needle arm arrives at the letter E, it means that the propane tank is totally empty. When the needle arm points at the letter F, it will mean that the propane tank is completely full.
5 Notice the line in the middle of the gauge. When the needle points at the halfway line it would mean the tank is half full of propane.
6 Usually, there are smaller lines midway between the halfway lines. These lines indicate quarters. When the needle touches the quarter mark closest to the F, it would mean that there is three-fourths of a tank remaining. When the needle touches the quarter mark nearest E, the tank is one-fourth full.