Gas bottle gauges compared: stick-on, pressure and smart sensors
A plain comparison of the gas bottle gauges sold in Australia and NZ: what each one actually measures, and which suits a BBQ, caravan or home bottle.
What a gas bottle gauge needs to do
A useful gauge tells you how much gas is left early enough to swap or refill before you run out. Different gauge types measure very different things.
Stick-on strips
Cheap and simple. They react to the temperature difference between the liquid and empty parts of the bottle, usually after pouring warm water down the side. Readings are rough and you still have to go out and check.
Pressure gauges
Some gauges fit between the bottle and regulator, but any accessory must be approved for that connection and fitted according to its instructions. While liquid remains, pressure depends mainly on temperature and gas composition, so it is not a reliable level reading or dependable near-empty warning.
Scales
Suitable scales can estimate the mass of gas by subtracting the tare weight. Before moving a portable bottle, turn off the appliance, close the bottle valve and disconnect according to the supplier’s instructions. Keep it upright, use scales rated for its full weight and subtract the tare in matching units, allowing for accessories not included in the tare. Do not lift a connected bottle or attempt to weigh a heavy installed cylinder yourself.
Smart level sensors
A sensor under the bottle measures the liquid level and sends it to your phone. WiseTank offers two: a Bluetooth model (A$79) that runs on a coin battery and is read when your phone is nearby, and a WiFi model (A$109) with an Australian-plug 5 V power adapter that you can check from anywhere with internet.
Both attach magnetically to steel bottles with a flat area in the centre of the base. They do not suit aluminium or composite bottles.
Which one suits you
For occasional BBQ checks, a strip or suitable scales may be enough. Consider Bluetooth after checking steel bottle suitability and reception. Consider WiFi for remote checks only if power and working 2.4 GHz WiFi are available at the bottle; remote readings and alerts also depend on internet access. Level monitoring is not leak detection.