Phoenix of Hamble
Active member
Much prefer red hankies.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Nice suggestion Nigel...
Nice suggestion Nigel...
How accurate is your fuel gauge?
- Thread starter FullCircle
- Start date
G
Guest
Guest
No moving parts ! The ball can stick - watch one in a Kitchen Kettle - some you have to tap the glass to get it to lift ...
The alternate lined card method is how ships do it in engine rooms ... for service tanks. In fact they paint the tank wall behind the sight tube ...
The alternate lined card method is how ships do it in engine rooms ... for service tanks. In fact they paint the tank wall behind the sight tube ...
catmandoo
Active member
The air gauge is called tank tender . You can also handle several tanks with one gauge without contamination ie diesel , water , heads etc butr you have to calibrate the tank volume to the inches measured on the gauge
web site . www.thetanktender.com/1.htm
European agent is in Paris
web site . www.thetanktender.com/1.htm
European agent is in Paris
cliff
Active member
[ QUOTE ]
The air gauge is called tank tender . You can also handle several tanks with one gauge without contamination ie diesel , water , heads etc butr you have to calibrate the tank volume to the inches measured on the gauge
web site . www.thetanktender.com/1.htm
European agent is in Paris
[/ QUOTE ]Thats the one - I knew someone would know the unit I was thinking off.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>
The air gauge is called tank tender . You can also handle several tanks with one gauge without contamination ie diesel , water , heads etc butr you have to calibrate the tank volume to the inches measured on the gauge
web site . www.thetanktender.com/1.htm
European agent is in Paris
[/ QUOTE ]Thats the one - I knew someone would know the unit I was thinking off.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
--------------------
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>
G
Guest
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks Nigel,
That sounds like a pretty easy to install option - will check it out.
regards,
Alan
[/ QUOTE ]
Here it is ....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fuel-Tank-Gauge-an...1QQcmdZViewItem
There's actually a couple of guys on ebay who sell these ... so even though it says 1 available - there are others !!
Thanks Nigel,
That sounds like a pretty easy to install option - will check it out.
regards,
Alan
[/ QUOTE ]
Here it is ....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fuel-Tank-Gauge-an...1QQcmdZViewItem
There's actually a couple of guys on ebay who sell these ... so even though it says 1 available - there are others !!
tome
New member
We have the tank tender for fuel and both water tanks. I've calibrated the fuel gauge and reckon I can reliably estimate to within 5-10 litres on a 175 l tank.
I always make a point of estimating the reamining fuel before filling the tank - this gives us a check that all is well
The system came with the boat and I hadn't seen it before. Highly recommended
I always make a point of estimating the reamining fuel before filling the tank - this gives us a check that all is well
The system came with the boat and I hadn't seen it before. Highly recommended
rogerthebodger
Well-known member
Have a look at some of the tank level indicators here there is one mechanical with a rotory gauge the fits on top of the tank together with various site glass gauges
catmandoo
Active member
me too however with a long slim semicircular tank you have to be careful when near the bottom as with each increment the capacity per inch is much less so like you I never get it too low and i also top up when below half
tome
New member
I ran our tank as close to empty as I dared, then fuelled her up stopping at 10 litre increments thanks to the patient staff at Northney. At each increment I noted the tank tender reading in inches of fuel and the amount of fuel we'd loaded. When she was full I knew we had 175 litres so worked backwards to generate a graph of inches of fuel v tank contents
Have used the system for 5 years now and very confident of how much we have on board. When we refuel I check the contents via my graph and estimate how much fuel we can take - rarely out by more than 5 litres. Before setting off on passage, I always note the fuel contents
I've never encountered a simpler, more accurate or more convenient method of checking the tank. I commend it to the house!
Have used the system for 5 years now and very confident of how much we have on board. When we refuel I check the contents via my graph and estimate how much fuel we can take - rarely out by more than 5 litres. Before setting off on passage, I always note the fuel contents
I've never encountered a simpler, more accurate or more convenient method of checking the tank. I commend it to the house!
G
Guest
Guest
Agree .. as in earlier posts of mine - I actually emptied my tank ... filtered the fuel and put back in in increments ( 5 ltr cans ) ... dipping the tank as I went ... noting fuel gauge reading ..
Luckily as I have a top half of tank is square and easily calculated - I only had to perform for the bottom half which has a V bottom to fit hull. (Prior to this - brought on by Pela vacuuming bottom of tank to remove crud ! - I had calculated the volume of the tank ... which in fact turned out very close indeed !)
I now have a paper tape scale stuck to the underside of the bunk-board that sits over the tank ... so if necessary I can dip and hold stick against to get absolute fuel on board... as well as the fuel gauge in cockpit next to engine stop button.
Luckily as I have a top half of tank is square and easily calculated - I only had to perform for the bottom half which has a V bottom to fit hull. (Prior to this - brought on by Pela vacuuming bottom of tank to remove crud ! - I had calculated the volume of the tank ... which in fact turned out very close indeed !)
I now have a paper tape scale stuck to the underside of the bunk-board that sits over the tank ... so if necessary I can dip and hold stick against to get absolute fuel on board... as well as the fuel gauge in cockpit next to engine stop button.
sailorman
Well-known member
my "Previous" owner calibrated the sight gauge in Ltrs, i had to install a stop cock / valve when purchace survey done
2Tizwoz
Well-known member
It appears to be a standard type of fuel gauge which is typically a variable resistance.
Adjustment is described in the Vetus manual which is available here just keep going through the various instrument ones listed until you find it.
Then its a matter of adjusting the length of the arm to suit the tank depth and no doubt giving it a bend so that it reads correctly full and empty. It comes out through the top of the tank, so you shouldn't need to drain it.
Typically they need playing with a bit to get them to read correctly so perhaps the reason for changing them previously has something to do with poor installation. I see that they are extremely expensive. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Adjustment is described in the Vetus manual which is available here just keep going through the various instrument ones listed until you find it.
Then its a matter of adjusting the length of the arm to suit the tank depth and no doubt giving it a bend so that it reads correctly full and empty. It comes out through the top of the tank, so you shouldn't need to drain it.
Typically they need playing with a bit to get them to read correctly so perhaps the reason for changing them previously has something to do with poor installation. I see that they are extremely expensive. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
DaveS
Well-known member
If, when you cut and pasted a link like this, you were logged on to the RS site under your RS user ID (rather than just visiting), it is likely to result in anyone clicking on the link having their their YBW window closed down (a "security" feature!)!
Try it if you don't believe me.
Try it if you don't believe me.
LadyInBed
Well-known member
Sorry about that.
http://rswww.com
EMC1500 5 digit elapsed hour meter,8.6mm
RS Stock no. 365-6274
Manufact. part no. EMC 1500
£19.95 +vat
That should help you find it.
Edit: Lascar also do a nice little Voltage monitor, same profile.
3 digit 2 wire signal powered voltmeter
RS Stock no. 365-6252 £19.89+vat
http://rswww.com
EMC1500 5 digit elapsed hour meter,8.6mm
RS Stock no. 365-6274
Manufact. part no. EMC 1500
£19.95 +vat
That should help you find it.
Edit: Lascar also do a nice little Voltage monitor, same profile.
3 digit 2 wire signal powered voltmeter
RS Stock no. 365-6252 £19.89+vat
G
Guest
Guest
Most gauges have a table supplied with them - detailing length of arm and also height of pivot ... combination of the two matches tank depth.
I found that doing my gauge to the table - the gauge under-read - so I experimented with varying arm lemngth, leg depth ..... finally reaching a reasonable mid level solution.
I am sure that the table applies to near all pivot arm gauges - as they near all work on the variable resistor principle..... by float. If I can find it ... I'll try and post it up ...
I found that doing my gauge to the table - the gauge under-read - so I experimented with varying arm lemngth, leg depth ..... finally reaching a reasonable mid level solution.
I am sure that the table applies to near all pivot arm gauges - as they near all work on the variable resistor principle..... by float. If I can find it ... I'll try and post it up ...
FullCircle
Well-known member
Fuel Gauge - the answer
So I have taken it all apart, and the standard Jeanneau fit is a Siemens VDO adjustable length sensor, with an adjustable float length too.
The unit is adjustable betweek 6 inches and 23 inches.
Fine so sar, and a very nicely made piece of kit it is too.
However......
the fuel tank is only 7 inches deep, and therefore, even with the length fully retracted, the float will sit on the the bottom off the tank whilst reading 1/4 full.
The only way to over come this is to adjust the float toward the unit so that the zero point is at its highest, and then bend the float wire down as much as possible.
Final result of this compromise is that I an now get a zero tank reading at zero.
But.....
It is 1/4 full at 10 litres,
1/2 full at 25 litres, and full at 40 litres.
I now know that when the gauge starts to read less than full, I have 40 litres.
I guess that is better than the previous result of not knowing anything.
I did this by stopping the fuel fill at various points to measure the gauge point.
I will now go off and get a proper electronic dip gauge made by Tek Tanks.
Thanks to all those who responded.......
So I have taken it all apart, and the standard Jeanneau fit is a Siemens VDO adjustable length sensor, with an adjustable float length too.
The unit is adjustable betweek 6 inches and 23 inches.
Fine so sar, and a very nicely made piece of kit it is too.
However......
the fuel tank is only 7 inches deep, and therefore, even with the length fully retracted, the float will sit on the the bottom off the tank whilst reading 1/4 full.
The only way to over come this is to adjust the float toward the unit so that the zero point is at its highest, and then bend the float wire down as much as possible.
Final result of this compromise is that I an now get a zero tank reading at zero.
But.....
It is 1/4 full at 10 litres,
1/2 full at 25 litres, and full at 40 litres.
I now know that when the gauge starts to read less than full, I have 40 litres.
I guess that is better than the previous result of not knowing anything.
I did this by stopping the fuel fill at various points to measure the gauge point.
I will now go off and get a proper electronic dip gauge made by Tek Tanks.
Thanks to all those who responded.......
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Fuel Gauge - the answer
Sounds literally the same set-up as mine ...
A 7" deep tank !! Then exactly - the gauge sender unit is totally unsuitable IMHO. Only way I could imagine you could get that to even get anywhere near correct would be to pad out the fitting to raise it up from tank top ... adjust float arm and leg to minimum + small amount to allow touch bottom / top of tank.
Before I fitted the gauge from eBay ... I looked at sealed reed switches ... I thought about having a number .. maybe 3 switches fitted to a tube and fixed in the tank. Inside the tube which was castellated at bottom to allow fuel to enter and rise to level - would be a small magnet ball - which would activate the reed as it passed. Would need a bit of sorting ... but could be made to be extremely accurate at set points. The switches would light up a set of LED's marked for level on a panel.
A DIY and electronics geeks project !!
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM just remembered !! My House emergency generator has a Magic-Eye level gauge on the top next to the filler cap. I have a 12hr long run tank. The gauge is a small float in the tank - tank is about 4 - 5" deep only .. but it pivots into the sight gauge. The indicator is a red arrow that moves horizontally along a green / orange scale showing the level in the tank .... Only problem is - you have to access top of tank to see it. But it works very well ... has to - my house electrics needs to know when to refill the tank !! I think similar can be found on some larger outboard tanks ...
Good luck !
Sounds literally the same set-up as mine ...
A 7" deep tank !! Then exactly - the gauge sender unit is totally unsuitable IMHO. Only way I could imagine you could get that to even get anywhere near correct would be to pad out the fitting to raise it up from tank top ... adjust float arm and leg to minimum + small amount to allow touch bottom / top of tank.
Before I fitted the gauge from eBay ... I looked at sealed reed switches ... I thought about having a number .. maybe 3 switches fitted to a tube and fixed in the tank. Inside the tube which was castellated at bottom to allow fuel to enter and rise to level - would be a small magnet ball - which would activate the reed as it passed. Would need a bit of sorting ... but could be made to be extremely accurate at set points. The switches would light up a set of LED's marked for level on a panel.
A DIY and electronics geeks project !!
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM just remembered !! My House emergency generator has a Magic-Eye level gauge on the top next to the filler cap. I have a 12hr long run tank. The gauge is a small float in the tank - tank is about 4 - 5" deep only .. but it pivots into the sight gauge. The indicator is a red arrow that moves horizontally along a green / orange scale showing the level in the tank .... Only problem is - you have to access top of tank to see it. But it works very well ... has to - my house electrics needs to know when to refill the tank !! I think similar can be found on some larger outboard tanks ...
Good luck !
tome
New member
Re: Fuel Gauge - the answer
Just checked my fuel tank using the tank tender. By my reckoning she has 65 litres remaining, so will fill her up ready for our cruise in the morning. She should take 110 litres and I'll post the actual amount before we leave
Just checked my fuel tank using the tank tender. By my reckoning she has 65 litres remaining, so will fill her up ready for our cruise in the morning. She should take 110 litres and I'll post the actual amount before we leave