look what I found for my old boat

[bigblockcutlass]

I have been hating that I can not tell how much is in my fresh water tank and my sewage tank. I was at Wolfs Marine in Benton harbor and found this, I bought two of them. Now to see if they work and were to mount the display. They had many more there. Can't say I like the way they mount in the tank. There older than my boat.

 

[sbw1]

So what do they supply, places to insert a dipstick? If so, buy two dipsticks and paint one brown.

 

[Lazy Daze]

They look like simple float switches. But, I'm guessing you need to drill a hole in the tank (for each one), then secure the plate with through-bolts (hopefully the directions don't call for screws alone). But to get access to (meaning, reaching your hand down into the tank to hold the nut) the inside of the tank, you may have to put yet another hole (4" or 6") in the top of the tank.

I saw a thread on CSR a year or two ago about a tank-level-monitoring system that is 100% non-intrusive to the tank. I suppose it uses the "Force" to figure it out. But whomever posted about it was very happy with it and it did seem like a neat system.

This is not the one I saw on CSR, but I just googled "non intrusive holding tank level monitor" and found this one. If it were me, I would look into something like this (or similar) before putting any holes into the sides of a holding tank.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2myjn5HMJM

 

[gerryb]

No offense, but I would return those if you still can. You're not going to like to drill that hole right in the middle of your tank(s) for the 1/2 full sensor -- and have to forever hope it never leaks. The damage a leak will do and time you'll need to spend cleaning it up and repairing the hole, ARE NOT worth the $50 to be saved on those older units. IMO.

 

[MonacoMike]

Dennis, I think it was my post you may be referring to.

I found lots of advantages and no downside to the Raritan Tank Monitor system. No internal sensors to catch material on, one display for up to 4 tanks, and fully adjustable (You get to calibrate each tank for your prefrence as to what volume the display indicates.) MM

http://www.raritaneng.com/products/accessories/tank_monitor.html

http://www.raritaneng.com/pdf_files/tank_monitor/L1036s.pdf

 

[chpsk8]

I installed one similar to the raritan unit. It's two foil strips on the outside of the tank with a sensor between the two. It measures the resistance between the tape and calculates the amount of fluid in the tank. I'm super happy with mine. Very reliable and accurate. I paid around $100. Installation was simple. I'll see if I can come up with the brand.

 

[JimG]

I saw a thread on CSR a year or two ago about a tank-level-monitoring system that is 100% non-intrusive to the tank. I suppose it uses the "Force" to figure it out. But whomever posted about it was very happy with it and it did seem like a neat system.

This is not the one I saw on CSR, but I just googled "non intrusive holding tank level monitor" and found this one. If it were me, I would look into something like this (or similar) before putting any holes into the sides of a holding tank.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2myjn5HMJM

I installed one similar to the raritan unit. It's two foil strips on the outside of the tank with a sensor between the two. It measures the resistance between the tape and calculates the amount of fluid in the tank. I'm super happy with mine. Very reliable and accurate. I paid around $100. Installation was simple. I'll see if I can come up with the brand.

The external, non-contact sensors typically operate using capacitive technology. The material (waste or water) will change the capacitance as it comes within the proximity of the elements.

 

[bigblockcutlass]

I installed one similar to the raritan unit. It's two foil strips on the outside of the tank with a sensor between the two. It measures the resistance between the tape and calculates the amount of fluid in the tank. I'm super happy with mine. Very reliable and accurate. I paid around $100. Installation was simple. I'll see if I can come up with the brand.

let me know what it is, I have a $100 in these two. Trouble with taking them back is I can't get to wolfs this weekend like I planned for there boat swap meet. I figured I could return them then if I didn't like them. Mybe I could just used different flow switch I have found on eBay. They come in from the top of the tank at least.

 

[Lazy Daze]

The external, non-contact sensors typically operate using capacitive technology. The material (waste or water) will change the capacitance as it comes within the proximity of the elements.

I like my explanation better. :smt001

 

[JimG]

I like my explanation better. :smt001

Sorry Dennis... that's the engineer in me :smt024

 

[Lazy Daze]

Sorry Dennis... that's the engineer in me :smt024

I was, of course, just kidding. Actually your explanation was very coherent and made solid, logical sense - I can appreciate that. It just wasn't as "funny" as mine... or at least to me, anyways!