Fuel sender/gauges

[Sojourn]

My Trader doesn't have fuel gauges, I have to check fuel level via sight tubes on the side of each tank, which is obviously very accurate but have to climb under the floor.
My question is, can I retrofit a sender on the tank without having to drill any holes in it? Is there anything on the market that works maybe like a depth sounder, rather than a float inside the tank?

 

[Sojourn]

Just seen a system by tec tanks called Gobius 4, has anyone got any experience with this?

 

[vas]

The "official" solutions involve drilling a hole (or having a hole already) on the top of the tank.

You can have senders with moving parts or non moving parts and you can have ultrasonic ones.

If you've not got any hole up there and obviously no access to the top of the tanks, you have a problem

I'm investigating and going to test a couple of methods:

A. pressure sender fits on the outlet of the tank. Feed some current to it, outputs an analogue signal that can be manipulated to feed a gauge (not easy!)

B. ultrasound on an extra thickish tube somewhere around where the sight tube is

C. multiwire sender dipped in the fluid (looks like it only works on water and not very clean one...) was explained in a thread recently in PBO


A. has the problem that as the boat slams, pressure changes and so does the gauge values (I think, haven't tested it)

B. I'll experiment once the arduino compatible sensors arrive (couple of weeks) I'm worried that you'll probably need a 40mm dia tube or even more and that's not very helpful and/or easy to manage...

cheers

V.

 

[rgarside]

With an Arduino system, averaging the pressure readings to get a more stable indication should be quite easy.

 

[vas]

With an Arduino system, averaging the pressure readings to get a more stable indication should be quite easy.

true, may use that for the diesel tank, since I have the sensor already, I may try it this w/e

V.

 

[Bandit]

Electrical fuel senders are not at all accurate.

I have these fitted which are accurate to within 10mm
http://www.thetanktender.com/

 

[TheOrs]

I have to check fuel level via sight tubes on the side of each tank, which is obviously very accurate but have to climb under the floor.

Could you fit a couple of small cameras pointing at the sight tubes & feeding to ???? on/near the helm? Bit naff maybe but perhaps a quick and cheap solution.

 

[PCUK]

How about replacing the sight tubes with large bore tubes that can take a gauge sender?

 

[vas]

How about replacing the sight tubes with large bore tubes that can take a gauge sender?

no need to replace sight tubes, just T off the bottom and add a vertical large bore tube so you have both options available. If you place it centrally you wont have much of a issue with wrong values when listing.
Ideally though you need to vent this new tube back to the tank on top.

V.

 

[Spi D]

No personal experiendce with the Swedish Gobius
http://www.gobius.se/en/

but mr. Google has some reviews - eg.
http://www.sailingtoday.co.uk/gear/gear-on-test/gobius-holding-tank-gauge/

and a mini-review
http://marinedirectory.ybw.com/Mari...sumer/full_review.jsp?r_id=487&category_id=20

Some reviews in Swedish, Norwegian and Danish who state that it's an easy fit, reliable and good to have. But expensive.

 

[PCUK]

no need to replace sight tubes, just T off the bottom and add a vertical large bore tube so you have both options available. If you place it centrally you wont have much of a issue with wrong values when listing.
Ideally though you need to vent this new tube back to the tank on top.

V.

Thanks Vas, even better. I think we've cracked it!:encouragement: