Electric Fuel Gauge
- Thread starter Skrain
- Start date
Jim Brierley
Well-known member
I just use a dip-stick, calibrated as I filled the tank. My tank is a Rootlieb 18 gallon unit, so doesn't need checking very often. I think this is what most guys use???
QGolden
Well-known member
You can either pick one up or at least order one through Tractor Supply, or a Farm Supply store in your neighborhood. There are a number of 6 volt Positive Ground tractors out there, here is a gauge for one.
http://www.steinertractor.com/JDS1910-6-volt-fuel-gauge
The problem you will find is that most marine tanks (Like the one that I think you are using
) make use of a 35 to 240 Ohm Sending Unit. You can check it with a basic Ohm meter without pulling the sending unit, just hook up your ohm meter and put the tank on its end so you can tip it to make the float travel it full length. You should see 35 Ohm's at one end of the swing and 240 at the other.. There are other ranges like 0 Ohms to 30 Ohms, but most Marine applications use the 35 to 240 Ohm range. So you need a 6volt gauge that is matched to that Ohm range. That will be a challenge.
Here is a list of guage manufacturers and the Ohms used:
SW - SW gauges - 240-33 Ohms
VDO - VDO gauges - 10-180 Ohms
GME - GM up to 1964 - 0-30 Ohms
GML - GM 1965 and up - 0-90 Ohms
ORG - Early Ford & Mopar - 73-10 Ohms
I think you most least expensive option (at least time wise) would be to pick out the gauge that you want, and then change out the sending unit in the tank. They can be had for about 40 bucks.
These units fit into the tank, and you cut the arm support (not the arm) to fit the depth of your tank.
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/universal-fuel-sender
The sending unit cares not what your voltage is. Only the gauge does.
http://www.steinertractor.com/JDS1910-6-volt-fuel-gauge
The problem you will find is that most marine tanks (Like the one that I think you are using
) make use of a 35 to 240 Ohm Sending Unit. You can check it with a basic Ohm meter without pulling the sending unit, just hook up your ohm meter and put the tank on its end so you can tip it to make the float travel it full length. You should see 35 Ohm's at one end of the swing and 240 at the other.. There are other ranges like 0 Ohms to 30 Ohms, but most Marine applications use the 35 to 240 Ohm range. So you need a 6volt gauge that is matched to that Ohm range. That will be a challenge. Here is a list of guage manufacturers and the Ohms used:
SW - SW gauges - 240-33 Ohms
VDO - VDO gauges - 10-180 Ohms
GME - GM up to 1964 - 0-30 Ohms
GML - GM 1965 and up - 0-90 Ohms
ORG - Early Ford & Mopar - 73-10 Ohms
I think you most least expensive option (at least time wise) would be to pick out the gauge that you want, and then change out the sending unit in the tank. They can be had for about 40 bucks.
These units fit into the tank, and you cut the arm support (not the arm) to fit the depth of your tank.
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/universal-fuel-sender
The sending unit cares not what your voltage is. Only the gauge does.
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Logan
Well-known member
Is your gas tank visible from the outside of the car? Like a rootlieb kit? In my boat tail speedster that I made, I used a clear boat gas tank that I bought on amazon for $180 I think. It's a 12 or 15 gallon tank, I can't remember, but it came with an electronic sending unit already in the tank. But since my tank is clear, I haven't mounted up a gauge yet. I can just lean my seat forward, and look in to see where the fuel level is. But I think Stewart Warner is the most popular gauge brand for this kind of stuff. That's what I'll probably end up using if I put a gauge in.
Skrain
Senior Member
I'm thinking that I might try a houseboat manufacturer here in town, since it's a marine tank. They also have the really neat flush mounted filler cap for a boat that can be mounted on the top of the wooden box that is covering the tank, as well as a vent so the tank can breathe. If that does not work out, I can change out the sending unit quite easily. But it looks like the Stewart Warner gauge matches the ohm range pretty closely.
My tank is grey poly, so it's not see through.
My tank is grey poly, so it's not see through.