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Old 30-03-2009, 14:19   #1
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Fuel Sending Unit

This next month's project is to possibly install a fuel sending unit in my metal diesel tank.

Currently, I am using a stick. The only holes/fittings currently in the tank are for the breather, return, and fill. In order to install the sender, I will most likely have to cut a hole in the top of the tank.

Is this feasible without causing more problems than it is worth?

One idea that I had was to use a 1.5 inch NPT diesel deck fill and instead of using the cap, to use a sender with a 1.5 inch NPT flange. I can do this since the current fitting, short fuel hose, and tank are in line. Of course, this would mean electrically disconnecting the sender whenever I needed to fill the tank. It would also mean a small inaccuracy due to the top of the float actually being at the level of the fitting rather than at the top of the tank.
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Old 30-03-2009, 15:40   #2
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fuel gauge

We instaled a Hart Tank Tender several years ago and it has been wonderful. Very small hole, about 1/8" and very accurate. We purchased a 2 tank system so we could monitor our water usage as well.
Never thought I would spend that much for a gauge but its worth every penny.
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Old 30-03-2009, 17:55   #3
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I am with Slacker on this one. The Hart Tank Tender requires no power and the intallation is pretty easy. It is a drill and tap of a very small hole.I think the thread is a 10-32. I use a four tank model. 2 fuels , water, and waste. It measures by back pressure caused by height of the liquid. A few strokes of a small hand pump and you know your tank level.
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Old 30-03-2009, 22:25   #4
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Wema WEMA USA, Inc. Home Page - Boat fuel, water and holding tank level sensors and related instruments is the largest maker of fuel tank senders for boats. But if you would rather not cut a hole in the tank you can get gauges that attach to the outside of the tank and sense the fluid level inside the tank. try Tek-tanks Tek-Tanks - Custom made or standard fit water, waste and fuel tanks These aren't cheap but they solve the problem of having to cut holes in your tank
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Old 30-03-2009, 22:51   #5
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I use Wema also, and was lucky enough to have aluminum inspection plates on the tops of my tanks so the retrofit was easy with a hole saw. Interface with Maretron TLA100 is easy. These sensors are infinitely nicer than those old swing-arm things.

I have a 4-channel Tank Tender, which looks at my water tanks, and the clean/dirty oil tanks in the oil-changing system. Works very well, and would be fine for diesel... though for that, I do prefer an at-a-glance display. The NMEA2000 network lets me see it from anywhere (I got rid of the icky gauge and tank-select pushbuttons that came with the boat).

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Old 31-03-2009, 06:56   #6
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Thanks for the input so far, please keep it coming.

The tank is metal, so I can't use the sensors that tape to the outside.

While I am sure the pneumatic system works fine, I already have a WEMA gauge on my holding tank and am pleased with its performance. I had planned on using another if I can figure out the sender issue.
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