| Author |
Message |
Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 3:11 pm: | |
I'm thinking fiberglass on plywood holding tanks are the way to go for cost. My friends and I have done a fair amount of fiberglassing.
How could I monitor the levels in a plywood tank? I don't want the bolts like used in cheap RVs and I assume the stick on sensors can't read through plywood and fiberglass.
Brian Elfert |
Cliff (Floridacracker)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 3:29 pm: | |
Brian,
I have the stick on sensor on poly tanks and they work fine.
You could also put an outlet in the top and bottom of the sides and run a clear tube to see the level.
Cliff |
Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 4:23 pm: | |
In the textile industry, we use a bubbler tube to measure the tank level of nasty things (acids, caustics, dyes, etc. You put the tube in the tank near the bottom ,blow air thru it & measure the back pressure in inches of water colum with a manometer or pressure gauge or (if hi tech is desired) a pressure transducer & digital panel.
Ace used a clear tube & a couple of fittings to create an economical sight glass.
Another ecconomical way to check the tank level from a remote location is to use stainless bolts at graduated intervals & used the conductivity of the fluid to turn on lights to show level. (But you said you did not like this.)
Lots of good ways to choose from, Just depends on how you want to check the level, while at the sink?, while driving?, while looking in the bay?
good luck,
kyle4501 |
Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 6:16 pm: | |
I would like to be able to monitor the tank level in the coach remotely if possible.
I don't mind the stainless steel bolts except they are so unreliable. The black tank sensors in my last RV always read full after a while.
The stick-on sensors work great on poly tank, but I can't see them working on a plywood tank.
Brian Elfert |
James Smith (Tomcat)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 6:32 pm: | |
I use the monitor system from this company.
http://www.catconproducts.com/
And although I used poly tanks on my own conversion, their website states..."The sensor will operate equally well whether the tank is polyethylene, aluminum, steel, or any other material."
As long as you can install a 3/4 NPT female fitting in the lower sidewall of your tank, you're set.
I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, but maybe it'll help you figure out your options.
Jay
87 SaftLiner |
Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 6:49 pm: | |
Thanks Jay!
The Catcon looks like it would work great.
Brian Elfert |
Kevin Black (Kblackav8or)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 7:13 pm: | |
Isspro makes ultimate level sensors that will work also. http://www.isspro.com/ |
Ross Carlisle (Rrc62)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 8:28 pm: | |
My sensors stick to a piece of metal tape that sticks to the side of the tank. It's supposed to work on any non-metalic tank. I haven't hooked it up yet, so I don't know for sure if it works.
http://www.snake-river.org/Products.asp?ID=3
I have the 4 LED display model. |
Cliff (Floridacracker)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 8:43 pm: | |
Ross,
Thats the one I have.
I put on the tape and then made holes in the plywood cover to mount the senders on the tape.
Works great.
Cliff |
wec4104
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 9:53 pm: | |
From my work in the industry, I know that there are capacative sensors that will be able to "look" through a reasonably thick plywood and fiberglass wall. In most cases, as long as you aren't using a metal tank, it will work.
These are discrete sensors, so you would need multiple units, depending on how accurately you want to measure the level. One unit mounted at 80% full might be a useful warning, but many folks would want four (1/4, 1/2, 3/4, Full) The sensors are rugged commercial units that will hold up well, but they don't come cheap.
How well the foil tape works through thicker materials, I can't tell you. |
Steve N. (N4rsn)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 10:16 pm: | |
Put a ss bolt in the plywood as you are building the tank, so the head is on the outside of the glass, but on the inside of the plywood, than put the sensor on the bolt. Would that work? Sounds good to me.
I hereby climb down off my soapbox !!!!
My 2 cents
Steve |
James Smith (Tomcat)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2006 - 1:57 pm: | |
After looking at some of the other products available, I am extra pleased with my choice of the Catcon system.
To install this system, you mount the monitor panel, connect it to 12v, screw the sender into the tank, and connect the two with a telephone cord.
Since I have the crimpers needed to make up telephone cords, I made them custom lengths, and used black cable for the black tank sender, and white cable for the fresh tank sender.
Jay
87 SaftLiner |