chris-p-duck
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| posted on 13/10/09 at 11:39 AM |
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Fuel Guage Screw Up
Hi All,
I finally got round to testing out my fuel guage set up last night which I have cobbled together from random components. And shock horror it
doesn't work properly. I have a sender of unknown origins and a smiths guage. The sender operates from 50 ohms (empty) to 285 ohms (full).
Unfortunately when connected to the smiths guage it works in reverse! Full shows empty and empty shows 3/4 full!
So my question is does anyone know if there is something clever I can do to reverse the signal or alternatively know of a cheap guage that works over
that range?
Cheers
Chris
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tegwin
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| posted on 13/10/09 at 11:44 AM |
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You can reverse the logic of ana analogue signal with some simple circuitry...
see here
http://www.maxim-ic.com/appnotes.cfm/an_pk/1129
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turbodisplay
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| posted on 13/10/09 at 11:45 AM |
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Float type sensor?
Turn assenbly upside down so when full the float is where it was when empty.
Darren
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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chris-p-duck
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| posted on 13/10/09 at 11:49 AM |
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The sensor is the 'float on the end of an arm' type. So I am stuck with it in it current position I am afraid.
Chris
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x_flow57
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| posted on 13/10/09 at 12:10 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by chris-p-duck
The sensor is the 'float on the end of an arm' type. So I am stuck with it in it current position I am afraid.
Chris
Not necessaraly, I bent my "arm" through 180deg, adjusted the angles so it was accurate on empty and turned the sender upside down.
Nick
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mistergrumpy
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| posted on 13/10/09 at 12:11 PM |
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This happens on mine and what I do is when I see the arm heading towards 3/4 full I put more petrol in. 
But seriously, no I just put up with it. It'll be a Winter fix I think.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 13/10/09 at 12:16 PM |
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Is it one of this type? (Smiths/Greenguages)
If so, you could try sliding the resistor box off the end, turning it over 180 degrees, and refitting it to the shaft. You'll probably have to
bend the wire a bit to make it work again.
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kendo
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| posted on 13/10/09 at 01:05 PM |
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or, could you just swap the wires around on the gauge?
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chris-p-duck
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| posted on 13/10/09 at 01:11 PM |
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My sender is similar to that diagram except that the pivot is fixed to the upper mounting plate and not on a drop down arm.
Swapping the connectors round was my first though! Didn't make any difference unfortunately!
Chris
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dunk3
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| posted on 13/10/09 at 04:03 PM |
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Why not mount the fuel sender from underneath the tank, then it will read the other way round.
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Staple balls
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| posted on 13/10/09 at 04:14 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by dunk3
Why not mount the fuel sender from underneath the tank, then it will read the other way round.
not insignificant risk of leaking?
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DRC INDY 7
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| posted on 13/10/09 at 04:59 PM |
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why not buy matching sender and gauge job done
https://www.facebook.com/groups/462610273778799/
Puddle Dodgers Club
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RoadkillUK
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| posted on 13/10/09 at 06:59 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by x_flow57
quote:
Originally posted by chris-p-duck
The sensor is the 'float on the end of an arm' type. So I am stuck with it in it current position I am afraid.
Chris
Not necessaraly, I bent my "arm" through 180deg, adjusted the angles so it was accurate on empty and turned the sender upside down.
Nick
This will fix it, just bend the arm.
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Roadkill - Lee
www.bradford7.co.uk
Latest Picture (14 Sept 2014)
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ianclark1275
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| posted on 13/10/09 at 09:47 PM |
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solved my issues by using sender from a mini petrol tank i had lying about.
the senders are actually made by smiths so generally compatable
i also used a smiths fuel gauge.
i found i had to bend the arm to hit the Empty stop early to stop it reading past "E" as the travel on the mini tank is much greater and
narrower at bottom, therefore resistor winding is a bit more Spaced out at the last 1/4.?
also - clean up the arm pivot as it carrys earth back to body of sender.
that last last sentence sounds like a crossword clue!
measure twice, cut once, scrap it, start again.
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