Water Tank Gauge / Sight Tube

[discovery2]

Due to no space available above the water tank to fit a sender, I need to consider another method of monitoring the contents of the water tank.

A transparent sight tube seems to be the best alternative, but I need to source a 500mm length of (rigid) transparent tube to which I can join two 90 degree elbows that a flexible pipe can be attached to inside a locker (the sight tube will remain outside the locker). As the ends of the sight tube will be visible, I would rather not use jubilee clips to attach flexible pipe to the rigid tube.

Does anyone know of any supplier of rigid transparent tube (approx 12/15mm dia) and 90 degree elbows can be glued?

Thanks in advance - this forum certainly has many ideas & much experience that can solve many problems. Hopefully a solution can be found for mine!

 

[sarabande]

Your local farm supplies place will have lots of Titan tank equipment.

Don't forget to include a shut-off valve in your shopping list ! And as the top end of the sight tube will be open (to allow the fluid level to adjust ) the top of the tube should not be anywhere where flammable vapours could be ignited.

 

[billskip]

You can buy sight tubes as fitted to domestic oil tanks for central heating.

or make your own..take a length of rigid tube with I.D. the same as O.D. of flexible
transparent tube ..cut a slot down the length of the rigid tube and insert the flexible tube..leave enough flex tube at bottom end and you wont need bends..

stick rigid tube with double sided tape...bobs your uncle!

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
the top of the tube should not be anywhere where flammable vapours could be ignited.

[/ QUOTE ]
????????????????
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[sarabande]

There's free surface area at the top of the liquid in the tube, OK ? So there will be evaporation, aided by the fuel level varying with pitching and rolling. Fuel-laden air ignites.

I suppose you could do what all oil companies do, and fit a flame trap at the top, but on a small marine installation It's best to make sure the top of the tube is extended into an area without access to flames, sparks, etc.

The more I think about this, the less I like the idea of an open tube from a fuel tank being inside the boat. Air vents / breathers are normally led to the outside.

 

[macd]

Probably why we spend so much on diesel, VicS. Can't for the life of me persuade my water to burn, either.

 

[BrendanS]

It's a water tank

I was going to recommend an oil tank sight gauge as well, as they are engineered for the job with all the fittings available, though probably more expensive than diy job. The valve that oil tank sight gauges have may be a good idea if the water can drop anywhere it shouldn't if the gauge or fittings broke.

 

[macd]

Surprised you have a boat at all, Sarabande -- doesn't it worry you floating about on all that inflammable briny? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
No worries, mate. We all miss the obvious from time to time

 

[sarabande]

Sorry, whenever anyone says tanks to me, I go into automatic explosion prevention mode.

exits left, covered in confusion !

Never mind, there IS still a danger that hydrolysis..

SHUT UP ! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[BrendanS]

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[sarabande]

No worries, I'm preparing for an IT test at the weekend, so working late waiting for some techies to revise a shutdown procedure on a data centre, that doesn't involve taking an axe to the LV cupboards !

Normally I do read the question in full, though ....

 

[jax]

Fuel tanks are vented, therefore feed the top of the gauge tube back into the top of the tank - no problem- did this to my boat 6 years ago .

 

[jax]

Fuel or water, it will work for both (Gauge that is - not ignition!)

 

[tangofour]

You could always use transparent PVC hose without elbows. Just use a couple of P clips to hold a length straight.

Saves on elbows and fabrication.
Less likely to shatter if it gets hit, kicked or banged.
Costs next to nothing - available from local Halfords, Do-it-all or homebase.
Will run easily to adapt to location.

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
Due to no space available above the water tank to fit a sender, I need to consider another method of monitoring the contents of the water tank.

A transparent sight tube seems to be the best alternative, but I need to source a 500mm length of (rigid) transparent tube to which I can join two 90 degree elbows that a flexible pipe can be attached to inside a locker (the sight tube will remain outside the locker). As the ends of the sight tube will be visible, I would rather not use jubilee clips to attach flexible pipe to the rigid tube.

Does anyone know of any supplier of rigid transparent tube (approx 12/15mm dia) and 90 degree elbows can be glued?

Thanks in advance - this forum certainly has many ideas & much experience that can solve many problems. Hopefully a solution can be found for mine!

[/ QUOTE ]

Overflow protection can be via a "bath-water" alarm ... I have one that is purely contacts that close a very low power relay to sound an alarm. Mine has a 2m legth of cable on ... so can be set at any height in tank.

As to sight tube .... flexible piping is no problem ... and you could use 90 degree water taps and push on fittings ... The fact of fixing the taps top and bottom holds the pipe straight and reasonably taut.

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
Your local farm supplies place will have lots of Titan tank equipment.

Don't forget to include a shut-off valve in your shopping list ! And as the top end of the sight tube will be open (to allow the fluid level to adjust ) the top of the tube should not be anywhere where flammable vapours could be ignited.

[/ QUOTE ]


Water ...water everywhere !

Why does top of pipe have to be open ? best is to return it to top of tank ... various ways to do that ... can be via tank vent, tank filling pipe, or just staright to tank top ... absolutely no need to have open end.

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
There's free surface area at the top of the liquid in the tube, OK ? So there will be evaporation, aided by the fuel level varying with pitching and rolling. Fuel-laden air ignites.

I suppose you could do what all oil companies do, and fit a flame trap at the top, but on a small marine installation It's best to make sure the top of the tube is extended into an area without access to flames, sparks, etc.

The more I think about this, the less I like the idea of an open tube from a fuel tank being inside the boat. Air vents / breathers are normally led to the outside.

[/ QUOTE ]


Doh ..... as said before ... wataer water water ...

And return top of pipe to tank ... no open end !!

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
Fuel tanks are vented, therefore feed the top of the gauge tube back into the top of the tank - no problem- did this to my boat 6 years ago .

[/ QUOTE ]

Tanks are vented ... but that is not reason returning to tank works ... it's because of equilibrium ....

 

[jerryat]

Exactly! This is by far the simplest solution and lasts for years before becoming a bit 'cloudy' when you simply replace it with another new bit costing about a pound!

Changed mine last winter as it happens. Took all of 5 minutes.

 

[cliffordpope]

The simplest solution is to tap the side of the tank and listen for the different sound as you cross the waterline.

Don't do this if you are wearing jewellery - risk of accidental sparks.