Clear stiff plastic tube for tank sight glass

[bobgarrett]

My tank gauge was never particularly good, never moved and then suddenly fell to near zero despite fuel being there. When it packed up I did not replace it. I know my general litres per hour and can work out what I have left. I carry a can too, in case I am wrong!

 

[Praxinoscope]

The sight tube on my fuel tank appears to be a piece of reinforced garden hose, installed by the previous owner, it has started to go a bit translucent rather than transparent, as replacing it will involve draining the tank (as far as I can see) I found that by illuminating it from behind that fuel level was easily seen. I have attached a strip of LED's behind the tube, (not touching it,) and when illuminated the diffusion of the light caused by the fuel in the tube distorts the lights making it easy to read the level. The LED’s use about 100 milliamps are switched and protected by a 0.2 amp fuse for safety.
the two photo’s show roughly the fixing and visual effect of the fuel on the lights. As the tank needs some rust remedial work this winter I will be draining it so can change the sight tube, but am considering keeping the illumination system as it seems to be effective and will work just as well with a new clear tube.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

The sight tube on my fuel tank appears to be a piece of reinforced garden hose, installed by the previous owner, it has started to go a bit translucent rather than transparent, as replacing it will involve draining the tank (as far as I can see) I found that by illuminating it from behind that fuel level was easily seen. I have attached a strip of LED's behind the tube, (not touching it,) and when illuminated the diffusion of the light caused by the fuel in the tube distorts the lights making it easy to read the level. The LED’s use about 100 milliamps are switched and protected by a 0.2 amp fuse for safety.
the two photo’s show roughly the fixing and visual effect of the fuel on the lights. As the tank needs some rust remedial work this winter I will be draining it so can change the sight tube, but am considering keeping the illumination system as it seems to be effective and will work just as well with a new clear tube.

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All the boiler sight glasses I ever came across had lights behind them. And almost every other that I can think off!