Another fuel gauge question

[Colin K]

Hello,
Another post prompted me! I have one of my tanks that now reads full (and hard against the full stop)
It started this about three weeks ago. I have done a good few miles since it started doing this and have filled up again too. I have checked the contacts in the sender unit and they are ok and not shorting.
I know nothing about tank senders but presume they have a float ? Wonder if these get stuck and whether my symptoms are typical of one thats "broke". Boat is a fairline built 1989.

Cheers, Colin.

 

[David2452]

It may be stuck but that happens less frequently than you may think, if you can remove it and test the resistance if not stuck it should (being a European boat) read 10Ω empty, 95Ω half & 180Ω full. If those readings are obtained and the float is not stuck then suspect the gauge or cabling.

 

[Colin K]

It may be stuck but that happens less frequently than you may think, if you can remove it and test the resistance if not stuck it should (being a European boat) read 10Ω empty, 95Ω half & 180Ω full. If those readings are obtained and the float is not stuck then suspect the gauge or cabling.

Thank you on board Friday and Saturday I will take my meter.

Cheers, Colin.

 

[Martin_J]

Indeed... just as David has said above.

Unfortunately with these European systems, if one of the cables from the sensor becomes broken or simply makes a bad contact then the gauge will see infinite resistance. .. .i.e. closer to the 180 ohm than the 10 ohm and the gauge will show full.

I do wonder why we don't use the US system which would show an empty tank with a bad connection.