dual station fuel gauge (Bayliner possibly others)

[markspark7]

Hi All

Recently bought a Bayliner 288 classic flybridge.
After Going through the inevatable list of jobs to do, one of the main ones was change the non working fuel gauge in the saloon.
I ordered the correct item and fitted it no problem and its all working well however most of my boating will be done from the flybridge due to better all round vision so I investigated fitting the fuel gauge up there.
I removed the binnacle has there are two or three blanks fitted and found the boat is prewired for the fuel gauge so I ordered another one.
When i fitted it however the gauges started reading differently to when only one was fitted.

is this because they are wired in series and as such the resistance is greater leading to wrong readings or should there always have been two and the readings are wrong when only one is fitted???

Thanks in advance..

 

[PCUK]

You'll need a dual sender to operate two gauges or do what I did and fit a change-over switch so your gauge can be switched to the upper helm position when required.

 

[Whitelighter]

Are you really going to run the boat that tight on fuel?
I check my fuel with the sight guage on the tank before any trip, and satisfy myself I have enoug fuel.
You could also do the same from your lower helm.

If you are relying on monitoring your fuel while you are going you a) aren't planning correctly and b) are relying on vague information as at the lower levels they become very inaccurate

 

[markspark7]

Are you really going to run the boat that tight on fuel?
I check my fuel with the sight guage on the tank before any trip, and satisfy myself I have enoug fuel.
You could also do the same from your lower helm.

If you are relying on monitoring your fuel while you are going you a) aren't planning correctly and b) are relying on vague information as at the lower levels they become very inaccurate

Thats a fair point however i'm a bit anoracky when it comes to working as they should.

 

[Whitelighter]

Thats a fair point however i'm a bit anoracky when it comes to working as they should.

Ok, that's fair enough.

 

[rogerthebodger]

You'll need a dual sender to operate two gauges or do what I did and fit a change-over switch so your gauge can be switched to the upper helm position when required.

PCUK is correct you need a different sender or 2 separate senders when using duel gauges with fuel and all other gauge display.

 

[nigelmercier]

Or, as PCUK also says, a switch.

 

[markspark7]

just a little bit of an update followed by a question,

with only one gauge connected (flybridge) the gauge was reading just under half of a tank, with two connected it showed just over empty.
I ran out of fuel sat on the quayside :redface-new: thankfully not out to sea..
my tank is stainless steel so no chance of being able to check how much is in it visually so it beggers the question, if the sender relies on two gauges being fitted to give a correct reading, why was only one fitted??
i've reconnected both gauges and fill her up with fuel and it seems to be working spot on.

 

[rogerthebodger]

just a little bit of an update followed by a question,

with only one gauge connected (flybridge) the gauge was reading just under half of a tank, with two connected it showed just over empty.
I ran out of fuel sat on the quayside :redface-new: thankfully not out to sea..
my tank is stainless steel so no chance of being able to check how much is in it visually so it beggers the question, if the sender relies on two gauges being fitted to give a correct reading, why was only one fitted??
i've reconnected both gauges and fill her up with fuel and it seems to be working spot on.

It looks like you had a duel gauge sender all the time and as to why only one gauge was connected, ask the previous owner or whoever fitted the setup in the first place.

 

[rosssavage]

Slight Fred drift, and answering whitelighter..

I check my fuel with a sight glass too, and calculate fuel required plus a hefty safety margin.

However, I also check the lower helm mounted gauges periodically, as it's a quick way to check I haven't developed a fuel leak enroute.