Water tank VDO sender, sourcing replacement.

[sharpness]

Tackled one of the numerous "on the to do list" jobs today - water gauge faulty. After testing gauge and sender, i'm satisfied that the issue is the sender at fault. Unfortunately to change the sender, the tank has to come out due to their not being enough room between the tank and the cockpit floor (Sedan 36, lovely boat but access to things like this is rubbish - don't even get me started on the access to the front of the engines ).

Anyhow my question is; the current water tank sender is VDO with the following numbers 40/102 828/1/1 . Doing various searches for a replacement for this item hasn't brought up a lot so far, do any of you know where a replacement could be sourced ?
I know ASAP supply water tank senders, although theirs wouldn't be a like for like, but then i'm assuming to get a direct replacement is a bit of a long shot, and maybe not actually necessary so long as it is a 10 to 180 ohm sender and the correct length ?

Thanks in advance for all replies.

 

[nigelmercier]

...so long as it is a 10 to 180 ohm sender and the correct length ?

If this is what your sender unit is, something similar will be fine. The lengths are often adjustable.

 

[DAKA]

Tackled one of the numerous "on the to do list" jobs today - water gauge faulty. After testing gauge and sender, i'm satisfied that the issue is the sender at fault. Unfortunately to change the sender, the tank has to come out due to their not being enough room between the tank and the cockpit floor (Sedan 36, lovely boat but access to things like this is rubbish - don't even get me started on the access to the front of the engines ).

Anyhow my question is; the current water tank sender is VDO with the following numbers 40/102 828/1/1 . Doing various searches for a replacement for this item hasn't brought up a lot so far, do any of you know where a replacement could be sourced ?
I know ASAP supply water tank senders, although theirs wouldn't be a like for like, but then i'm assuming to get a direct replacement is a bit of a long shot, and maybe not actually necessary so long as it is a 10 to 180 ohm sender and the correct length ?

Thanks in advance for all replies.

when you take it out they are very easy to repair, 15 mins dockside repair.

solder joints can corrode on the diodes, might just need a lighter on a penknife to the joint and repaired, simple as that although soldering iron would be easier to use. At worst a new reed valve /diode from Maplins 50p max.
Much , much easier than attempting to replace it.

Are you sure there isnt an access hatch under a bunk or seat ?

 

[Scarron]

Have you tried Furneaux Riddall? http://www.furneauxriddall.com/acatalog/VDO_Viewline.html

They are VDO Agents and pretty helpful

 

[David2452]

Just had a similar issue with access in a black water tank, I fitted an ultrasonic sender instead, a bit more expensive to buy but a lot cheaper than taking the tank out (and a lot less nasty). Tek Tanks will programme it to suit any gauge resistance, unsually 10 to 180 Ω this side of the pond, I say usually as the origonal equipment Vetus black water gauge I have just done was 0 - 300 Ω even on a European built boat, not expected and caused me a bit of head scratching.

 

[sharpness]

Thanks for the replies. Good to have confirmed that any correct sized 10 to 180 ohm sender can be used if needed.


DAKA - Unfortunately Fairline in their wisdom decided not to fit an inspection hatch, so the only way the sender can come out is by removing the tank to give the room necessary above (Tank is located in the lazarette with about 100mm between top of tank and the cockpit floor). Hopefully won't be too bad a job (Famous last words), and once removed i'm hoping a repair of the current sender will be possible like you suggest. If not at least i now have a few more ideas regarding a replacement.

 

[im715]

when you take it out they are very easy to repair, 15 mins dockside repair.

solder joints can corrode on the diodes, might just need a lighter on a penknife to the joint and repaired, simple as that although soldering iron would be easier to use. At worst a new reed valve /diode from Maplins 50p max.
Much , much easier than attempting to replace it.

Are you sure there isnt an access hatch under a bunk or seat ?

hi there sorry to open an old thread but Ive got one of these gauges .
It was working but spade terminal snapped off I need to
Open top can you enable me to extend the wire and solder it. Just wondering if the top cap comes off?

 

[DAKA]

It is an old post , and to make it worse I probably did the repair 8 years before the post.
good news is that the dock side repair is still working.
sender unscrews out the tank.
the tube has to be removed next , think it was screwed on with o ring to make water tight But it was a long time ago now
then there was an inner tube , appeared just to hold everything together to fit into the outer tube.

the solder joints fail , it is a wet environment, mine has been submerged for almost 30 years now and only needed one repair.

when you slide it out and find the faulty one or two just reheat the joint and test it.