Has anyone had any experience with holding tank gauges/sensors? After doing very poorly estimating when my holding tank needs to be pumped, I am considering purchasing one. I've seen a few in the marine stores, but I am always wary of sales people telling me how easy it is to install yourself. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks
Holding Tank Gauge
- Thread starter tomk
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Accugauge
We've had good reports from owners who installed the Acugage. While no tank guage is necessarily easy to install, this one does not require that you drill holes in the tank. this not makes installation easy (and less noxious) but also gets you more accurate readings. See link below - ph.
We've had good reports from owners who installed the Acugage. While no tank guage is necessarily easy to install, this one does not require that you drill holes in the tank. this not makes installation easy (and less noxious) but also gets you more accurate readings. See link below - ph.
Accugauge
Tom, Just installed a Snake River Accugauge system on our C30 1987 this spring, it was fairly easy to do. Running wires did not cause too much problems, accessing water tanks was also fairly easy, as far as the holding tank is concerned, it was a bit different, in order to better position the sensing strips and get a good reading, I had to cut a 10" x 10" opening on the settee wall (under the salon table) adjacent to the holding tank. I had to be extrememly careful, of course not to cut through the tank...Dremmel worked great. I made a teak access panel to close up opening and allow access for servicing etc. Overall it was not a difficult project and I must say that I am still very impressed with the ease the system provides me for monitor water levels in all tanks. I'm now considering buying the adaptor for the fuel tank. Hope this help. G C30 1987 4708.
Tom, Just installed a Snake River Accugauge system on our C30 1987 this spring, it was fairly easy to do. Running wires did not cause too much problems, accessing water tanks was also fairly easy, as far as the holding tank is concerned, it was a bit different, in order to better position the sensing strips and get a good reading, I had to cut a 10" x 10" opening on the settee wall (under the salon table) adjacent to the holding tank. I had to be extrememly careful, of course not to cut through the tank...Dremmel worked great. I made a teak access panel to close up opening and allow access for servicing etc. Overall it was not a difficult project and I must say that I am still very impressed with the ease the system provides me for monitor water levels in all tanks. I'm now considering buying the adaptor for the fuel tank. Hope this help. G C30 1987 4708.
Cancer patients
You know what they say about cancer patients. Once you open them up, things get worse. That's analgous to the holding tank. I suggest a bright flashlight held to the top. It can illuminate how full the tank is. Easy.
You know what they say about cancer patients. Once you open them up, things get worse. That's analgous to the holding tank. I suggest a bright flashlight held to the top. It can illuminate how full the tank is. Easy.
Snake River /Accugauge
Have used their metal tank probe version with my original holding tank and now use the foil version with the replacement tank. My only complaint is that the Ultra Eight Panel can only be calibrated when the tank is full and empty. Stll trying to empty my water tank so I can calibrate it. There is a lot of water in it and it pumps out slow.
Have used their metal tank probe version with my original holding tank and now use the foil version with the replacement tank. My only complaint is that the Ultra Eight Panel can only be calibrated when the tank is full and empty. Stll trying to empty my water tank so I can calibrate it. There is a lot of water in it and it pumps out slow.
Thanks
Thanks for your comments and advice. You guys are a fountain of knowledge. It's great not to have to re-invent the wheel.
Thanks for your comments and advice. You guys are a fountain of knowledge. It's great not to have to re-invent the wheel.
Works okay, but not great
I installed the Accugauge on my water tank (60 gal or so) and the calibration has been difficult. I finally settled for calibrating it so I knew when it was almost empty, as I couldn't seem to get the whole range (could either accurately gauge the top 3/4 or the lower 3/4). I installed it on the holding tank and it doesn't work at all but I think that's due to a bad ground wire. Just haven't gotten around to finishing that one yet.
I installed the Accugauge on my water tank (60 gal or so) and the calibration has been difficult. I finally settled for calibrating it so I knew when it was almost empty, as I couldn't seem to get the whole range (could either accurately gauge the top 3/4 or the lower 3/4). I installed it on the holding tank and it doesn't work at all but I think that's due to a bad ground wire. Just haven't gotten around to finishing that one yet.
"SensaTank" Marine Tank Monitor
I've never installed nor used one; but here's some of what they say: The “SensaTank” system uses Mirus™ detector cells based on field effect technology. These solid state sensors reside on the outside of the holding tank (or in the tank wall itself), thus avoiding contamination from the tank contents. The SensaTank system includes a display panel with LED indicator lights that is designed to be flush mounted. The system offers full digital compatibility with the new electronic controls enabled by the CAN bus architecture. SensaTank™ Marine 100 Tank Monitoring Kit ... Price: USD $199.99 Materials Sciences Corporation website (lotz of info'): http://www.msc-emd.com/apps_marine.shtml#sensatank
I've never installed nor used one; but here's some of what they say: The “SensaTank” system uses Mirus™ detector cells based on field effect technology. These solid state sensors reside on the outside of the holding tank (or in the tank wall itself), thus avoiding contamination from the tank contents. The SensaTank system includes a display panel with LED indicator lights that is designed to be flush mounted. The system offers full digital compatibility with the new electronic controls enabled by the CAN bus architecture. SensaTank™ Marine 100 Tank Monitoring Kit ... Price: USD $199.99 Materials Sciences Corporation website (lotz of info'): http://www.msc-emd.com/apps_marine.shtml#sensatank
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