[C320-list] fuel gauge

[Chris Burti]

Industry standard range for these senders is 33-240 ohms. So, 40 ohms is
approximately what resistance the tank sender should read when the float is
at or near the top. It sounds as if everything is correct electrically and
perhaps your float is sticking in the full position.

I did not use any gasket sealer and have had no leaks. FWIW, I listened
to someone's advice and replaced sender before finding out how to test the
system from the techie at Seaward.

On Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 2:50 AM, Bruce Stanley <brucestanley36 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hi Chris ........2 questions
>
> re faulty Fuel Gauge reading .. mine jumps to FULL and stays there.
>
> Taking your advice I took an OHMs reading from the top of the fuel Gauge.
> First I disconnected all of the wires.
> The reading settled at 39.6 OHMs.
>
> 1) does this 39.6 OHMs indicate anything to you?
> 2) if I remove the sender from the Tank, do I use Gasket Glue when
> putting it back?
>
> thanks for any help
>
> Bruce Stanley /C320#1084/Sydney Australia
>
> On Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 2:38 AM, Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Yes, I got mine from Seaward. You can test the sender too. Remove the
> pink
> > hot wire and use an ohmeter to test across the lugs, if the tank is full,
> it
> > should read around 120 ohms. If the sender is defective, it is a standard
> > fuel tank sender and any local marine supplier can furnish you with one.
> >
> > On Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 12:29 PM, Joe Barrett <joe at dolphinmortgage.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Thanks Chris, I'll check the wiring on the Sender first. I might have
> hit
> >> it
> >> with a beach chair or something. Where do I get a new Gauge, Seaward?
> >> Joe
> >>
> >>
> >> ------------------------------------
> >> Worldbanc Financial Group of Naples
> >> Joseph T. Barrett jr.
> >> Branch President
> >> jb at worldbancfinanceulp.com
> >> 9010 Strada Stell Court
> >> Suite 209
> >> Naples, Florida 34109
> >>
> >> In The Vanderbilt Galleria
> >> tel: 239-597-2266
> >> tel2:877-437-2262
> >> fax: 239-597-7276
> >> mobile: 239-777-1880
> >> www.worldbancfinanceulp.com
> >> ------------------------------------
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> >>  [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Chris
> Burti
> >> Sent: Monday, June 23, 2008 12:26 PM
> >> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> >> Subject: Re: [C320-list] fuel gauge
> >>
> >> If it is reading empty, more than likely the problem is in the wiring
> from
> >> the sender to the gauge. The sender can be accessed from the aft port
> >> locker
> >> and it is easier if you take the shelf out of the aft starboard locker.
> The
> >> sender is a variable resistor attached to a float. Full tank/float high
> =
> >> minimum ohms and needle on gauge full over. Empty tank/float down = full
> >> resistance and needle doesn't move.
> >>
> >> If the hot or ground wire is broken or the hot wire shorted, you get the
> >> same reading as maximum ohms. Most failures with the sending unit result
> in
> >> a dead short across the unit giving a "full" reading. A bad gauge often
> >> does
> >> the same thing. Quick test of the gauge is to jump the light lead to the
> >> pink wire lug on the gauge, if it moves to full, check your wiring if
> >> doesn't move, replace the guage.
> >> On Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 10:27 AM, Joe Barrett <joe at dolphinmortgage.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> > Where is the Sender and what does it look like? I have power to my
> >> > fuel Gauge (it lights up at night) but reads empty.
> >> > Where do you get a new one?
> >> > Joe Barrett
> >> >
> >> > ------------------------------------
> >> > Worldbanc Financial Group of Naples
> >> > Joseph T. Barrett jr.
> >> > Branch President
> >> > jb at worldbancfinanceulp.com
> >> > 9010 Strada Stell Court
> >> > Suite 209
> >> > Naples, Florida 34109
> >> >
> >> > In The Vanderbilt Galleria
> >> > tel: 239-597-2266
> >> > tel2:877-437-2262
> >> > fax: 239-597-7276
> >> > mobile: 239-777-1880
> >> > www.worldbancfinanceulp.com
> >> > ------------------------------------
> >> >
> >> > -----Original Message-----
> >> > From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> >> > [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of
> >> > hcreech at comcast.net
> >> > Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 5:21 PM
> >> > To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> >> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] fuel gauge
> >> >
> >> > James,
> >> > Bet your sender went south as mine did two years ago.  As I usually
> >> > use about 8 gallons a year I did not even bother to fix it.  I sail
> >> > and only motor to get sails up and back to slip so I really don't care
> >> > about that gauge.  But others have repaired it and i'm sure they will
> >> chime in.
> >> >
> >> > Good luck,
> >> >
> >> > Herb Creech
> >> > Cloud Chaser #606
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> >> > From: "james_delong" <james_delong at bellsouth.net>
> >> > > Last week, worked just fine...this week, an inoperable fuel gauge!
> >> > > And..the fuel tank is full.
> >> > >
> >> > > What sequence of checks would you recommend to find the problem?
> >> > >
> >> > > All the other gauges are working properly.
> >> > >
> >> > > Thanks,   Jim  #453
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Chris Burti
> >> Farmville, NC
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > Chris Burti
> > Farmville, NC
> >
>



-- 
Chris Burti
Farmville, NC