VERY unreliable “WEMA” tank sensors

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Jerry Raznov

My 1999 “410”, which I purchased new in July of 1999, has 6 “WEMA” tank sensors, 3 water tanks, two holding tanks and 1 fuel tank. The sensors are VERY unreliable. After one month of ownership Hunter replaced the aft holding tank sensor. Sept. of 2000 the starboard and port water tank sensors failed along with the forward holding tank. All read ½ full when empty. This week I replaced two of the four sensors and I am sure that the fuel tank sensor just failed along with the aft holding tank for the 2nd time. When I removed the two failed sensors, which were still connected to their respective 12 V DC lines, the meters would read OK if I hit the top of the sensors and go bad after striking them again. An Ohm meter across both sensors showed a shift in resistance when the sensors tops are hit. Am I the only Hunter owner with this annoying problem? If you are experiencing the same concern please let me know what your strategy is. Is there an alternate more reliable sensor available?
 
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Danny Reid

Hunter Sensors

I am developing a new set of hunter sensors which will compensate for heal and motion plus give you calculated accurate readings. I am planning to use the existing wiring and gauge placement area. The Hunter gauges are well known for not working. This is a hard order to have cost efective sensors for a boat tank. I will keep you informed, but in the short haul look at the tanks to be sure of the level. Good Luck
 
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Jerry Olivero

Welcome to the wonderful world of WEMA

My 1998 H-310 has experienced a very similar WEMA gauge failure pattern. The water tank sensor has been replaced twice and even though the tank is full it reads empty. The fuel tank sensor has been replaced once and it currently reads empty even though the tank is 95% full. The waste tank sensor currently reads 1/4 which is at least something but then since the tank was pumped and actually has less than 1 gal. in it I would not like to brag on it's accuracy. I have been looking at the Snake River Electronics gauges on HOW but would really like to find gauges that could be calibrated to read in gallons rather than empty, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and full. Haven't found anything yet but I am hopeful that a little searching will yield some results. I realize that this is a complicated problem and that the simplest method of calibrating a tank volume sensor is to create a table of sensor readings at known quantities of the the tank's liquid and interpolating from that, basically linearizing a non-linear function. Wouldn't it also be nice to feed the fuel availability information into a navigation program to calculate fuel efficiency and cruising range. Just dreamin which is why I keep sailing.
 
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Wolfram Milz

Hunter 410 tank gages

Hi there, I have the same boat as you have and I purchased it in May 1999. Since then I had one gage sensor replaced under warranty and two are not working right now. Sorry, at this point I have no better solution or remedy to this problem. I am still working on my refrigeration/freezer dilemma with Hunter. How is this working on your boat? I would be interessed to know. Best wishes, Wolf Wolf
 
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Steve Feinsilver

nonsense from sensors

Have a 2000 h 410 and pay no attenetion to the sensors any more, although I think the fuel tank one does work. Usually my water gauges are stuck in the full position, though, not the empty readings that you seem to be getting. Unfortunately some of my tanks are not accessible to easy visual inspection. Am considering getting the externally mounted sensors listed on the Hunter Chandlery and just adding them on as a second system, then perhaps one or another sensor will work. Anyone done this? s/v Breathless
 
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Dennis Ferriello

Sensors

Steve: Take a look at our sensors on this site. We have been manufacturing the Acugage for over 20 years. I hear this story of bad sensors every day. Our unit is an easy replacement for your system and we are capable of doing up to 8 tanks on one panel. We can do water, waste and Diesel. If you talk to anyone who has done business with us you will find lots of very happy customers. I will write or call you to talk about our product. We still do business the old fashion way, one customer at a time. I personally answer all emails as soon as I get them. If I need to talk to you I will ask for your phone number. We feel this is very important and our customers deserve our full attention. Dennis Ferriello Sales Manager Snake River electronics snake.river@gte.net Dennis@snake-river.org
 
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Dennis Ferriello

Jerry

Have heard your problem many times. Check out the Chanderly and take a look at our units. It is an easy replacement for your unit and I think you will be very happy with the results. If you talk to anyone who has used our units you will find lots of very happy people. There is a sale on this site now and we are selling LOT's of units. Dennis Ferriello Snake River Electronics snake.river@gte.net
 
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Wim van den Toorn

same problems with Hunter 430

My 1996 Hunter 430 swohs the same problems. Does anyonehhere have any experience with replacement systems? Wim
 
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Dennis Ferriello

Wim

So many units have been sold as replacements I am sure that some one will write to give you there experience on replacing the unit. We sell lots of units each year as replacements on the aftermarket. My experience it is not to hard. Just a little time consuming. But when you are done it is well worth the trouble. Dennis
 
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John Van Wagoner

Dennis Ferriello, are you out there?

Dennis,I am interested in your tank sensors. I am not able to connect to your web site. Can you provide a phone number on this site so that I can call? I have a question about the number of tanks you can handle on one panel. Your advertisement on this site lists a maximum of 4 tanks/panel. Your note above says 8. I have 6. What do you suggest?
 
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Bob Wyka

Tank Tender

I put the Tank Tender on my 430. It has no electrical connections and reads the volume of the tank by me pumping a small amount of air into each tank at the guage mounted at the nav station. It handles all five tanks. You can find them advertised in the back of all the sailing mags. I have had it for 6 months now. Boy am I happy!!! Yes every Wema gauge had to be replaced before I went with this permanent solution. Bob Wyka s/v Machhupuchhre
 
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Mark juetten

My Wemas seem to wobble

My wemas are shot for the 2cd time. Would like to replace wiith acugauge. Can the three wire run for the wema from sender to guage be used for the acuguage. There is 3 microwires in a common sheath. Until replacement time I can observe level by looking through the hole where the darn wema was before it fell into the tank
 
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Roger Haney

Wema Woes

The air type guages are around 1,200 to install. I understand that Wema has a new sensor that can be flushed with water. My problem is mainly with holding tanks. Fuel and water seem to be ok. I'm not sure why Hunter continues to use this system it's nothing but troubles. Roger Haney s/v Valhalla Marina del Rey
 
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Dennis Ferriello

John Van den Toorn

John: You can call our office at 208-235-1212 and leave your phone number and I will call you back. Or you can email me with your phone number and a time to call. Day or night number. The 8 tank unit can be used for 5-8 tanks. Thanks so much for your interest Dennis Ferriello Sales Manager snake.river@gte.net www.snake-river.org
 
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Dennis Ferriello

Roger Haney

On your waste tank. We have been selling a LOT of units on this site. There is a terrific sale on our mini one tank. $107.95. The panel is 1 3/4" X 3". You will not have any problems any more if you install our unit on your waste tank. Dennis Ferriello Sales Manager Snake River Electronics snake.river@gte.net 208-235-1212
 
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Dennis Ferriello

Want to thank HOW

How has put together a terrific sale and we are getting so many orders I just wanted to thank them on line. I am glad to talk to anyone who wants more information before purchasing. Our goal at Snake River Electronics is to take care of each customer one at a time. I talk and write to dozen's of customers each day. Thanks again for all your support. Dennis Ferriello Snake River Electronics snake.river@gte.net 208-235-1212
 
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Pete

Are you out there HUNTER?

I hope someone from the factory has seen this thread and all the respones! The question begs a answer WHY IS HUNTER STILL USING WEMA ? ? ?
 
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David Dunagan

Hunter, WEMA ask you to change

Hunter must have a multi-year deal with WEMA. This thread shows up every few months...everyone complaining about the same thing, and Hunter still ships their boats with this inferior product. I'm on my 3rd Hunter, and each time, the first thing I order is an Acugage. The one thing I do is wait to see how long it takes the WEMA to fail. My 380 took 1 month. One question for anyone: On my 2000 380, I can't figure out how to get access to my water tank (under the vberth) to install the sensor. Any solutions?
 
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Andy Liljequist

Ditto on the sensors

I'm also very surprised that Hunter still uses these sensors. Our rear water tank sensor has never worked and the fuel sensor gives false readings and I gave up on the waste sensors. I will research my options and have designated this as my winter project.
 
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