Water tank level indicator.

Discussion in 'All Things Boats & Boating' started by Frosty, Mar 26, 2009.

  1. CDK
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    CDK retired engineer

    Frosty, it took some time because the company I did business with in the far past had their name changed.

    http://www.gentechsensors.com/products.asp

    This is a UK supplier with a worldwide sales network. Good luck!
     
  2. dskira

    dskira Previous Member

    The wood stick. Never fail, no need of power accurate and cheap.
    Serious.
    cheers
    Daniel
     
  3. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Fly on the Wall - Miss ddt yet?

    This is the same technique used by gas stations. Works every time.
     
  4. apex1

    apex1 Guest

    Does´nt it give a bad taste to the water when you use the same stick?
     
  5. hoytedow
    Joined: Sep 2009
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    hoytedow Fly on the Wall - Miss ddt yet?

    Funny.:p
     
  6. Submarine Tom

    Submarine Tom Previous Member

    And it doesn't have to be a wooden stick.

    If it's awkward to get at use a bendable strip of plastic or whatever.

    Another hole can even be made and an engine dip-stick style device can be

    used. You may choose to sanitise it before, after or during use to avoid

    infecting the tank.

    -Tom
     
  7. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    All very helpful but totally unsuitable.

    What I was hoping for was a electronics expert draw a circuit of the electronics required to measure the depth of water by the 2 wire method measuring resistance corresponding to the depth in the tank.

    I already have this on STBD tank but the port tank has now been replaced twice. My thoughts are that there would not be much in them and one could be made.
     
  8. CDK
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    CDK retired engineer

    That's correct Frosty. Just two parallel wires, a low power AC source and a current measuring circuit. It can also be done with DC, but in that case the wires must be inert, like gold, tungsten etc.
     
  9. Frosty

    Frosty Previous Member

    CDK so what do I buy to make one. the innards of the old one will not be removable as it is epoxied in. I would smash this out and rebuild the circuit in there. What do I need to build one?
     

  10. CDK
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    Location: Adriatic sea

    CDK retired engineer

    Just one LM3914 bar graph driver and 10 small LEDs, a few resistors.
    The datasheet (http://www.national.com/ds/LM/LM3914.pdf) shows several examples.
    The wires should be straight and parallel. Stainless steel will survive several years if the current is kept low.
     
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