41DS fuel guage

Aug 26, 2007
272
Hunter 41DS Ventura, California
Installed rebuilt Balmar 100 amp alternator and new ARS-5 voltage regulator. Works great but now fuel gauge inop- pegs above full when ignition turned on. Is this a missing ground or other problem? Where do I start to diagnose? Had to have a temporary Hitachi internal regulator installed when the Balmar failed in Avalon- fuel gauge worked fine. Rewired for the external regulator IAW Balmar and everything works as it should except the gauge. Coincidence??
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Jun 1, 2016
162
Hunter 28.5 Lake City, MN
Just learned this with my Hunter 28.5. The circuit is fairly simple. 12v to the meter through a fuse to the meter. From the meter it connects to the top of the float. The bottom of the float is then grounded.

Using a volt meter, measure from the ground on the engine control to both sides of the fuse, both sides should measure EXACTLY the same, if not, your fuse connection is bad (this was my problem).

Measure from the ground (same as above) to both sides of the meter, fore yours, I'm guessing that you will see the same voltage as at the fuse. Measure the voltage at the top of the fuel float. If that is 12v (or the same as what you measured at the fuse, then the float is open. If there is no voltage at the float (negative lead of the meter still at the ground at the engine control) then the wire from the meter to the float is open. Measure the voltage at the float ground, if it is 12v, then the ground wire is open.

Last, turn off tha boat DC switch and set your volt meter to the 2000 Ohms scale. Measure from the top of the float to the float ground. It should read somewhere between 250 to 25 ohms resistance.

You can google the fuel level meter circuits to get an idea of what the circuit looks like.

Hope this helps.

Mike
 
Jun 1, 2016
162
Hunter 28.5 Lake City, MN
Being more specific, do a google search for: "boat fuel tank gauge wiring diagram" and you'll get a better idea of how it's wired and look at the Images.

Here's a link to the thread when I looked for information, and my solution.
http://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/fuel-gauge.180082/&highlight=SirMichael

I'm pretty familiar with wiring (I was an electronics tech/engineer in a past life). I'm still pretty active in Ham Radio and more recently re-wiring some of my boat!

Mike