Fuel sight guage - conversion

LadyInBed

LadyInBed

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 Sep 2001
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Me - Zumerzet Boat - Wareham
montymariner.co.uk
The sight guage is a PITA to read as it is located in a bilge compartment. A thought struck me that it might be possible to convert it to a rod and meter guage by dropping the rod down the sight guage tube (putting in a larger diameter tube if necessary).
Is this feasible and are there guage systems available that use wire sensors rather than pressure tubes?
 
My water tanks are like that next to my engine.

I fitted a plastic tube to the top of the tank going up a bulkhead next to the tank.

I then fitted a rod with a float from a water ball cock that would rise up an down sa the water rises and fell.

Got some pics somewhere.
36086121945_95d7c0ce27_c.jpg


The float is attached to a tube that rises up the centre rod into a plastic tube inside the bulkhead.

I replaced the top part of the guide rod with a perspex tube with a string pf LEDs that could be eliminated for easy reading

36046394696_9404618b45_b.jpg
 
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LadyInBed said:
More info - the bilge height is about 18 - 24 inches and the sight gauge tube if is about 3/16 inch. I could replace the tube with a length of pipe upto about 3 inch D, but sealing the bottom will need some thought.
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The key is to have the same height above the tank as the depth of the tank but you only need a pipe 15 to 20mm dia above the tank.

The 3 in dia pipe to the top of the tank would then be reduced to asy 20mm . I arranged this next to a bulkhead or wall so it was out of the way and the pipe was supported vertical by the wall.

The size of the float is not important as long as it will support the tube above. The rising pipe could be coloured plastic buy needs to be rigid.
 
No Vyv, no ball. I read it ok using a red laser light. My issue is getting to the dammed thing - lift out a side table top, move life raft stored below it, getting down on my belly and lifting access hatch, then the reverse process afterwards!
A meter would make life so much easier.
 
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LadyInBed said:
I think that there are meters that use wire sensors (capacitive effect?) rather that a float, can anyone point me to one. The ones that I have seen on the web are using float sensors.
Click to expand...

I posted one in my post #8 but here it is again.

Capacitance fuel level sensor - T/LL140 - Fozmula

I also think there is several DIY web articles on capacitive sensors

diy capacitive fuel level sensor - Google Search

You can also have a single gauge with a changeover switch to select which sensor /tank you wish the read

The capacitive one I posted will fit down your sight tube. The sensor tube on mine is 10 to 12 mm dia

The spec sheet shows 12mm sensor tube.

https://www.fozmula.com/wp-content/...0-Fozmula-Fuel-Level-Sensor-Data-8_6-34R2.pdf
 
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LadyInBed said:
I have twin tanks and unfortunately I can't get to the top of either of them!
Click to expand...

In that case any sort of regular sensor - resistance, float, capacitance or ultrasonic - won't be easy to fit!

Your best bet would be a pneumatic gauge. Sterling sell one, and you can connect it to more than one tank. You could fit it in your existing sight tube, although you'd need to be aware of the need to fit the sensor high up so as prevent diesel getting to it in the tank filling process.

Pneumatic Tank Guage
 
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