kiwi k Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 (edited) Hi Fellow Pilots , right while trawling thru a certain Auction site earlier in the week i came across this,listed as a Non-contact Water Level Sensor Detect Liquid Switch Container they come 5,12 or 24 Volt so think it could be usable on my set-up, obviously i would need to modify it, as in moving the Light from the body and fixing into my Hand-grip, seems to be a compact item so not a lot of extra weight but possibly a doable exercise. my thoughts are having a 12 litre tank fix it at 3 ltr warning ? My question is not seen others commenting on fuel level sensors or gauges apart from small mirrors, so what do or is on the market as a permanent gauge ? Edited November 10, 2016 by kiwi k 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi k Posted November 10, 2016 Author Share Posted November 10, 2016 (edited) Oops may have thought of a minor flaw in my thinking with fitting this device, if you're an active wing tip down or spiral kind of flyer is the device going to be going crazy with the petrol movement in the tank , maybe best suited to XC flyers Edited November 10, 2016 by kiwi k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cas_whitmore Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 Give it a go if it's cheap enough to try out . Even active pilots will fly level at some point ' go for it . cas . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi k Posted November 11, 2016 Author Share Posted November 11, 2016 Cas that was exactly my thinking as it's certainly cheap enough to do, and it will take away the niggling inconvenience of trying to guesstimate the fuel level. I'm committed now as i have already ordered 1 and i have a mental image of my design into my set-up, And the wife said its another of my hair brain ideas so i'll do it whether something is already on the market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted November 11, 2016 Share Posted November 11, 2016 You'd only check your fuel level when flying level so I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calcifer Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 if I've well understood, this device only shows when the fuel level has reached a certain level (reserve). Well, who of us would really 100% trust an electronic device for knowing when the reserve level has been reached ? I'm more than sure that even if I'd have this device installed and verified that it is reliable, I would go on checking the level visually with the little mirror I always carry in the harness.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
admin (Simon W) Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 Any plane or helicopter that's ever flown once the initial check is done it SHOULD be all about burn rare per hour. Everyone should know their personal burn rates for this exact reason. Never trust gauges 100% SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi k Posted November 21, 2016 Author Share Posted November 21, 2016 On 11/14/2016 at 12:26, calcifer said: I would go on checking the level visually with the little mirror I always carry in the harness.... Looks like i will too as after numerous emails the pillock told me today i need a 24v plug in transformer which he omitted to tell me previously , and Si it was more purely being a newby to all this flying malarkey and not 100% upto how long and how much fuel i'm using . But this is not dead and buried i'm already looking into another similar device just need to dismantle it and see if i can re-figure it to work, plus it comes in 12 volt form so easier to add on to my existing set-up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cas_whitmore Posted November 21, 2016 Share Posted November 21, 2016 Don't give up . Everyone loves a gizmo to play with. Never know they might start putting them in cars might even get a light come on when you get low on fuel . Never know ? Cas . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Jackson Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 I obviously use burn rate as Simon has said above, i.e. I always fill 6 litres per hour of flight expected + 2 (spare). I'm on a moster burning 5-6 litres per hour. That said, I sometimes find myself having a bit more fun than expected and losing track of time! When that happens the mirror finds itself working overtime. I'd be keen to see if a warning light could be used. Lee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon_dunn Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 6 litres per hour seems quite excessive. I'm doing around 3 litres per hour on a Miniplane Top 80/ Fusion 26. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
admin (Simon W) Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 Not dissing the idea For sure you should go for it and test it out. This is a 12 to 24 v stepper which may well work I am as crap as crap can be when it comes to electrics so likely that I am wrong with the link... ? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/322102434761?lpid=122&chn=ps&adgroupid=27378760866&rlsatarget=pla-181484317986&adtype=pla&poi=&googleloc=9045600&device=c&campaignid=620865095&crdt=0 SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Jackson Posted November 22, 2016 Share Posted November 22, 2016 3 hours ago, gordon_dunn said: 6 litres per hour seems quite excessive. I'm doing around 3 litres per hour on a Miniplane Top 80/ Fusion 26. Yes it is, but its apparently normal for a Moster. I'm weighing in at about 135-140Kg's all up on a Nucleonwrc 29 More significant height changes and I will use 6 litres and a consistent height cross country will peg me nearer 4-5 litres. I have done better, but not often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatPux Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 22 hours ago, reactionjackson said: Yes it is, but its apparently normal for a Moster. I'm weighing in at about 135-140Kg's all up on a Nucleonwrc 29 More significant height changes and I will use 6 litres and a consistent height cross country will peg me nearer 4-5 litres. I have done better, but not often. I'll second that. I'm 150kg all up on the big Synth 1 and I consistently use 5-6lts/hr with my Moster 185 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hann__ Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 I`m now getting sub-4 L/hr now on the Moster after 3 years of fine tuning! My first flights were 6l/hr.... There are plans afoot to get it down even more. On the subject of a fuel gauge, honestly - a mirror is all you need. Keep it simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GR002 Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 Hi Hans, what sort of fine tuning have you done and what plans afoot to get it even lower? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hann__ Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 Hi GR, my tuning has been nothing more than setting up the carb `properly` and fitting a 130 prop. The prop made a slight difference over the 125 but the factory recommended carburetor low and high needle settings made my engine run way too rich - the plug was BLACK! (and jump around a lot on the rubber mountings which the Moster was noted for when it first came out) I`m going to experiment with an adjustable pitch prop to knock a few hundred rpm off my engine speeds (hopefully) - all my flying is 2 - 3 hour XC`s and if i can get my rpm`s down to about 5500 (currently 6200) it`ll make flights much more relaxing and quieter! I think having to use over 2/3 engine speed for level flight is too much, and i`d rather trade some of the Mosters outright power (which i don`t really need) for lower fuel consumption.....maybe.. I`m probably flying the wrong engine, but i`m not changing motors now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi k Posted November 23, 2016 Author Share Posted November 23, 2016 Hann i like my Gizmo's and like said being a newbie it's something less i have to worry about if i have a gauge or audible warning device, a friend who's been flying for awhile has twice crashed down because he estimated fuel content wrong, thankfully he was only bruised and battered but paramotor survived ok. Maybe next year or year after i will have more idea and be able to judge flight time to fuel usage And i now know of the "Tiggy fuel gauge" so i may just order 1 of them, once set right no worries as it tells you fuel and time left for flight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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