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11-01-2013, 04:33
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Grenada
Boat: Shorebro,Royal 33 - Aloisius
Posts: 1,059
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Ultra sound water tank sensor
Another problem. My water tank gauge does not work so we try to keep track of usage and guess when to fill. We also have rain catchers so are constantly filling from 5 gallon jugs.
I was reading on the internet about a water tank gauge that is attached to the outside of the tank and it uses ultrasound to determine the level of the water. It can only be used on the plastic type tanks. Has anyone had experience with this type of system? I have had to seal the top of the tank due to a leak and would prefer not to remove the tank and put in a new hoe for the traditional type sensor.
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11-01-2013, 05:15
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Boat: Valiant 42
Posts: 6,008
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Re: Ultra sound water tank sensor
Quote:
Originally Posted by landonshaw
I was reading on the internet about a water tank gauge that is attached to the outside of the tank and it uses ultrasound to determine the level of the water. It can only be used on the plastic type tanks. Has anyone had experience with this type of system?
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They work only on plastic fresh water tanks not by ultra sound but by capacitance change. Water has about 80 times the capactance of air. So the sensor is made from 2 strips of metal tape stuck to the tank and then an electronic device connects between the strips. As the water level changes the capacitance between the strips changes and then it displays a relative water level. There is usually a calibration needed to set empty and full. They are not terribly accurate in the middle scale but pretty accurate at empty and full which is fine. Some require no standby power because you press a button to apply power and read the tank level. The rest of the time the power consumption is zero.
Regards,
Dan
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11-01-2013, 07:03
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Grenada
Boat: Shorebro,Royal 33 - Aloisius
Posts: 1,059
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Re: Ultra sound water tank sensor
Thank you. Have you seen this successfully used? Or, would it be better to put the time into taking the tank out and putting an internal sensor in it? Aloisius
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11-01-2013, 09:56
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#4
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,084
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Re: Ultra sound water tank sensor
In addition to float level sensors, there are pressure, capacitance, and ultrasonic liquid level sensors.
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
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11-01-2013, 12:24
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Grenada
Boat: Shorebro,Royal 33 - Aloisius
Posts: 1,059
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Re: Ultra sound water tank sensor
GordMay, with these other sensors do you need to mount them IN the tank through a hole?
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11-01-2013, 20:35
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Boat: Valiant 42
Posts: 6,008
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Re: Ultra sound water tank sensor
Quote:
Originally Posted by landonshaw
Thank you. Have you seen this successfully used? Or, would it be better to put the time into taking the tank out and putting an internal sensor in it? Aloisius
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Yes, the capacitive ones I have seen worked ok. You only need access to the side of the tank to stick the sensor to it. You do not need internal access.
For the float type sensors as well as pneumatic sensors (no power required) you only need top access to make a relatively small hole in the top of the tank. You do not have to remove the tank to install the sensor.
If you cannot get to the top of the tank then a stick-on sensor on the side is probably your best bet.
Dan
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11-01-2013, 20:58
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami Florida
Boat: Ellis Flybridge 28
Posts: 4,057
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Re: Ultra sound water tank sensor
I've heard that they work pretty good but I haven't tried one.
Raritan makes one that looks pretty good.
Raritan Engineering | Accessories | Tank Monitor
If you have any questions about it, contact Mac McCoy or Dale Weatherstone at Raritan's Ft. Lauderdale office.
floffice@raritaneng.com
__________________
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supplies
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11-01-2013, 23:05
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Vancouver BC
Boat: Lagoon 380
Posts: 367
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Re: Ultra sound water tank sensor
I have 3 Sensa Tank sensing units one on the fresh water and 1 each on the 2 holding tanks. Set the fresh water one up as a low level sensor indicator and put the sensor at 1/4 full level and the tow holding tank units are set as high level indicators at about the 3/4 full level.
2 years old and no issues.
__________________
You can sail anywhere on the planet and never be more than 7 miles from land - it might be straight down, but its never more than seven miles
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21-01-2013, 07:23
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2013
Boat: Hunter, 290
Posts: 2
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Re: Ultra sound water tank sensor
Marine Gauge Systems offers an externally applied capacitive sensor sender. It operates with existing 30-270ohm resistance type gauges and requires no new wiring.
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21-01-2013, 09:01
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 953
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Re: Ultra sound water tank sensor
I installed the capacitance sensors on our plastic holding tank. I've found the calibration and scale to be very accurate. Depending on the model, they have settings for the shape of the tank. I've measured the levels and compared to the LED indicators and was pleased with the accuracy.
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