Fresh water tank monitor

[exwindsurfer]

can it be fitted in any postion Martin ?

 

[gypo]

Digital Water Meter with Test KitDefault Title

This digital water meter comes with 3/8" Push fit fittings, ideal for Water Coolers. Also included are 2 test strips to test hardness of water.

spring-clear.co.uk

Great idea, How is it powered?

 

[Chasn]

I see that the display has a 3v supply using batteries. Rather than having to change the batteries it should be possible to use a USB power lead. In case 5v is too much voltage putting 2 or 3 diodes in the power lead would drop it down to a acceptable voltage.

 

[merl]

I see that the display has a 3v supply using batteries. Rather than having to change the batteries it should be possible to use a USB power lead. In case 5v is too much voltage putting 2 or 3 diodes in the power lead would drop it down to a acceptable voltage.

Yep, or scrap the batteries and the USB supply altogether and use a simple resistor (20k -100k) and a 3v zenner diode.
Or substitute the 3v zenner for a string of 6 conventional diodes.
This would cost pence to build and would fit into the battery compartment.

EDIT.
You of course only need a string of 5 diodes not 6 as drawn to give 3v. Well done at the back!

 

[Robmac]

Yep, or scrap the batteries and the USB supply altogether and use a simple resistor (20k -100k) and a 3v zenner diode.
Or substitute the 3v zenner for a string of 6 conventional diodes.
This would cost pence to build and would fit into the battery compartment.
View attachment 145393
EDIT.
You of course only need a string of 5 diodes not 6 as drawn to give 3v. Well done at the back!

I was just about to leap into action Merl and build one of these but then I thought Nah, I'll just change the batteries every couple of years or so.

Well that and the fact that I haven't got a scooby how to do it.

 

[Geek]

That is a nice solution

An alternative is the Mopeka Sensor if you can access the bottom of the water tank,

Looking at the mopeka website, they seem to sell magnetic sensors that fit to the bottom of pressure tanks and non-magnetic sensors that it to the top.of non- pressure tanks, such as water and diesel. Didn't look at the price, though

 

[wildebus]

Looking at the mopeka website, they seem to sell magnetic sensors that fit to the bottom of pressure tanks and non-magnetic sensors that it to the top.of non- pressure tanks, such as water and diesel. Didn't look at the price, though

The same magnetic sensors that attache to the underside of a metal tank will fit to the bottom of non-magnetic tanks by using an adhesive collar that the sensor then gets secured in.
In my own case, the adhesive was not very good at sticking to the tank but as there was a protective casing around the underslung water tank I could securely wedge it against the underside of the water tank.

 

[UFO]

Fitted today.
Very simple job
Measures litres used
So when I fill the tank I reset and it then it counts down the litres.
I now know a full freshwater tank gives me 88 litres!

Nice, simple solution. Thank you.

Ours has four sensors and is tempermental. There was a digital display on our daughter's Chausson MH for fresh and grey water, which I liked.

Question. What are the fittings shown in your photo? I see it is supplied with push-fit fittings.

 

[Martin P]

Hi.
The fittings supplied were 3/8 which I didnt use.
I got these 12mm ones from amazon

https://amzn.eu/d/hc4jXJF

 

[Martin P]

The threads on the sensor are male 1/4NPT
The sensor was supplied with a roll of ptfe so I used it.

 

[Robmac]

Just popped out and they tried to deliver mine whilst I was out so they will try again tomorrow.

Pretty quick though.

 

[r4dent]

My tank gauge is bit hit and miss at the mo.

I use my tank gauge to generate random numbers to use for the Lottery.

 

[mistericeman]

Looking at the mopeka website, they seem to sell magnetic sensors that fit to the bottom of pressure tanks and non-magnetic sensors that it to the top.of non- pressure tanks, such as water and diesel. Didn't look at the price, though

We've got the mopeka ones on our 2 x Gaslow bottles...

Work well

 

[Geek]

The same magnetic sensors that attache to the underside of a metal tank will fit to the bottom of non-magnetic tanks by using an adhesive collar that the sensor then gets secured in.

As they do a sensor for non-pressure tanks that reads from the top, I'd feel happier about that for both the diesel tank and the fresh water tank.
Sticking a sensor on underneath feels like a bit of a cludge. Glue isn't forever, except when you want to change the batteries.
Having said that, anything on the bottom of the underslung tank would need more than a magnet to make me feel confident that long grass won't wipe it off.

 

[exwindsurfer]

Well thats the gauge fitted just need 2 x1/4in female bsp to 12mm push fits and we are sorted .

 

[Sid]

bit like my standard one, which goes by 25% increments.

The Mopeka is a bit more precise. This is my tank data (not up to date as my on-board router is off at the moment)
View attachment 145365

I'm guessing the Mopeka sensor is on the bottom of the tank? It looks like it reads ok through the plastic ok. So I have 4 Mopeka sensors, the 12V wired one on the top of the fresh tank, 2 on the Alugas cylinders and one on the waste tank. All work well apart from the one on waste tank which is a bit odd. Mopeka are sending me a spare but as I was a tight bu**er only to my original address in TN where I was working at the time. Fortunately an ex-colleague is out there this week.

 

[exwindsurfer]

does anyone use a in line water filter on the cold supply and if so what type please has to be 12mm push fits.

 

[mistericeman]

Was thinking along the same lines and ordered one of these to play with a week or so back....

Still not landed yet.... But for less than £20 I'm not complaining...

YET

 

[wildebus]

As they do a sensor for non-pressure tanks that reads from the top, I'd feel happier about that for both the diesel tank and the fresh water tank.
Sticking a sensor on underneath feels like a bit of a cludge. Glue isn't forever, except when you want to change the batteries.
Having said that, anything on the bottom of the underslung tank would need more than a magnet to make me feel confident that long grass won't wipe it off.

Not a gludge in the least.

I'm guessing the Mopeka sensor is on the bottom of the tank? It looks like it reads ok through the plastic ok. So I have 4 Mopeka sensors, the 12V wired one on the top of the fresh tank, 2 on the Alugas cylinders and one on the waste tank. All work well apart from the one on waste tank which is a bit odd. Mopeka are sending me a spare but as I was a tight bu**er only to my original address in TN where I was working at the time. Fortunately an ex-colleague is out there this week.

When you say "waste tank", do you mean 'Black Tank'? (just thinking that as you are quoting a TN address).
If so, the Mopeka sensors can be a bit odd on a Black Tank due to the nature of the contents, compared to Fresh and Gray Tanks which are pretty well just water al the way.
Sounds like your Mopeka Waste Tabnk sensor is working as expected (as opposed to how you would want it to)?

Ref my install ... yes, Mopeka's at the bottom on the tank, not least as I have zero access to the top unless I want to start cutting holes in the floor!

 

[Geek]

Not a gludge in the least.

I'm not a fan of glueing on things that need to be removed for battery changes.