Level senders

[Big-G]

I have a 0-90 ohm level sender on my tank, ran out of LPG today and the changeover switch still had 1 green led.

I'm guessing that the sender has a dead short when empty and 90ohm resistance when full?

And if that's the case I need to have a look at my solder joints.

[deathbadger]

I can only go on my very limited experience, but on my system (ESGI II) I found that initially when i filled the tank i only got 3 out of the 4 leds, and very quickly went down to one, which then lasted over 100 miles. I solved this by connecting my laptop and in the settings adjusted the fuel level which each LED comes on at. I assume this needs to be set up as different tank sizes would cause the sender to read over different ranges.

When the car runs out of gas, you can plug in a laptop and read what the actual reading from the level sender is, you can then set the figure required to turn the first light on just above that figure.

I hope that makes sense.

[Gilbertd]

Probably. Or you need to set the thresholds for each LED up in your software, or the float isn't dropping all the way down. Have a look and see what the gauge itself says, even though you are empty, it may still be reading something.

[Big-G]

As far as I'm aware I don't have software settable led's.

The pointer on the level sender is saying empty, and even if I take the screws out and twist the sender all the way to empty ( just to make sure) it still lights 1 green led.

That's why I wondered If it was 0 ohms empty and 90 full, as that would mean my wire/solder joints had a significant resistance that was telling the switch I always had something in the tank.

If it's the other way round ( 90 empty, 0 full) then I could put a resistor in line to get the resistance up to 90 ohms when empty. But I suspect it doesnt work that way round.

[deathbadger]

probably a daft thought, but did it ever read properly? I mean to say did it work and its now playing up, or has it always been wrong?

I am surprised that the leds are not settable in the software, again only drawing from my own expereince. In the software in mine you can select the type of sensor (50ohm,90ohm....etc), and the threshold levels. Surely due to the fact that there are senders available with different resistance values, and so many tank/valve/sender combinations it would be essential to have entered this information to receive a usefull reading back?

Again i only hav expereince of one system. So id be interested to see the views of those with greater experience.

[Big-G]

My switch takes a 0-90 ohm level sender, so that's what I've bought.

It's a brand new (new tank, pipes, wires, but second hand front kit) install which I've just completed, so just going through the teething problems.

My lambda control system isn't compatable with a pc, its a handheld unit only, and thus has one switch and 3 leds. It's a mixer system and not a multipoint.

[Gilbertd]

That's why I wondered If it was 0 ohms empty and 90 full, as that would mean my wire/solder joints had a significant resistance that was telling the switch I always had something in the tank.

If it's the other way round ( 90 empty, 0 full) then I could put a resistor in line to get the resistance up to 90 ohms when empty. But I suspect it doesnt work that way round.

Get a handful of resistors and try it. See what it reads with a dead short, a 22, 33, 47 and a combination to get near to 90 Ohms. At least that way you'll know which way it goes and if you can bias it one way or another.