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Jimmy Young
Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Posts: 182
Location: Missouri City, TX
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 Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:47 am Post subject: VDO fuel gauge question |
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701 builders,
I am building a 750 and am using the factory-supplied VDO gauges & senders. I've got wings on with 10 gal of fuel in each tank, and I have the 15 gal tanks.
I put 5 gal in each tank and the gauge needles were both showing empty, but they did move. Put 5 more in each tank and they read just over 1/4 full. They should be reading 2/3 full. I checked with Zenith that they had sent me matching senders & gauges, & they confirmed both are the 70-10 ohm type. I have not checked the this yet with a multimeter.
I did some internet searching and found the VDO gauge I have has an adjustment screw located on the side of the barrel. Have those of you who have been down this road before had to adjust the gauges using this screw to calibrate what's actually in the tank with what the gauge shows?
Thanks for any advice and comments,
Jimmy Young
N75ZX getting close to flying, Houston TX
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dougsnash
Joined: 14 Apr 2008
Posts: 281
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:41 am Post subject: VDO fuel gauge question |
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First of all, yes, they will need some tweaking to get them correct. Second of all, the senders and gauges that come with the kit are absolute junk. Problem is, there isn't much out there that is any better short of spending major dollars on capacitive senders. I don't know what the rules are where you are but here in Canada, the gauges only have to be accurate when empty so the kit versions with the VDO gauges work for that.
I highly recommend getting a decent fuel flow gauge if you are going to use the senders and gauges that come with the kit. Flight Data Systems makes a nice one. It interfaces with your GPS to give you fuel to next waypoint, reserve at next waypoint, and miles per gallon in addition to the stadard flow, fuel used and fuel remaining. Its about $350 including the certified Red-Cube fuel sender.
Doug M
CH-701 from scratch
NW Ontario, Canada
From: Jimmy Young <jdy100(at)comcast.net>
To: zenith701801-list(at)matronics.com
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2012 1:47:34 PM
Subject: VDO fuel gauge question
--> Zenith701801-List message posted by: "Jimmy Young" <jdy100(at)comcast.net (jdy100(at)comcast.net)>
701 builders,
I am building a 750 and am using the factory-supplied VDO gauges & senders. I've got wings on with 10 gal of fuel in each tank, and I have the 15 gal tanks.
I put 5 gal in each tank and the gauge needles were both showing empty, but they did move. Put 5 more in each tank and they read just over 1/4 full. They should be reading 2/3 full. I checked with Zenith that they had sent me matching senders & gauges, & they confirmed both are the 70-10 ohm type. I have not checked the this yet with a multimeter.
I did some internet searching and found the VDO gauge I have has an adjustment screw located on the side of the barrel. Have those of you who have been down this road before had to adjust the gauges using this screw to calibrate what's actually in the tank with what the gauge shows?
Thanks for any advice and comments,
Jimmy Young
N75ZX getting close to flying, Houston TX
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=375667#375667 - The Zenith701801-List Email Forum -http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith701801-Lista href="http://forums.matronics.com" target="_blank">http://forums.matr &nbs//www.matronics.com/contribution" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.co==================
[quote][b]
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cdnch701builder
Joined: 21 Aug 2010
Posts: 21
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:34 pm Post subject: VDO fuel gauge question |
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Hey Jimmy
Get rid of that VDO junk! I made the mistake of buying them and they are just plain junk... ok
for a VW car, but not for an aircraft! My VDO junk is for sale now cheap!
I have replaced them with ISS gauges and Senders made by Stewart Warner! I found them at Van's
which are standard in all of Van's kits. They also have them at Aircraft Spruce and sold under
the ISS brand. I bought the gauges at ACS... as Van's(branded) gauges are calibrated in
gallons! Van's Senders are the same as ACS... left and right. At ACS the Senders are $33 and
$39 and I don't know why. Anyway I bought the Senders from Vans for $27 each L and R! Van's
supplies full instructions on how to bend the float arm to fit your tank... it's very easy, I
don't know about ACS!
http://www.aircraftspruce.ca/catalog/inpages/issgauges13.php
http://www.aircraftspruce.ca/catalog/inpages/issgauges11.php
ISS FUEL SENDER RH 6-12 TANK - $39.75
ISS FUEL SENDER LH 6-12 TANK - $33.00
http://www.vansaircraft.com/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi?ident=1339704419-84-258&browse=ei&product=vans-
fuellev - Part Numbers = IE F-385B IE F-385C Price = $27.00
I compared them to the VDO junk and it is like night and day. The ISS(Stewart Warner) are real
aircraft gauges...
--
R.D.(Ron) Leclerc
Winnipeg, MB Canada
49-56-27N 097-06-44W Elev 729'
Plans Builder CH701 STOL
VW Type 4 Power, Redrive
http://www.ronleclerc.net
http://www.flyingonfloats.com
cdnch701(at)mts.net,
14/06/2012
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This E-Mail scanned with AVG Anti-Virus Ver: 10.0!
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:--)>
:--)>
:--)> 701 builders,
:--)>
:--)> I am building a 750 and am using the factory-supplied VDO gauges & senders. I've
:--)> got wings on with 10 gal of fuel in each tank, and I have the 15 gal tanks.
:--)>
:--)> I put 5 gal in each tank and the gauge needles were both showing empty, but they
:--)> did move. Put 5 more in each tank and they read just over 1/4 full. They should be
:--)> reading 2/3 full. I checked with Zenith that they had sent me matching senders &
:--)> gauges, & they confirmed both are the 70-10 ohm type. I have not checked the this
:--)> yet with a multimeter.
:--)>
:--)> I did some internet searching and found the VDO gauge I have has an adjustment
:--)> screw located on the side of the barrel. Have those of you who have been down this
:--)> road before had to adjust the gauges using this screw to calibrate what's actually
:--)> in the tank with what the gauge shows?
:--)>
:--)> Thanks for any advice and comments,
:--)>
:--)> Jimmy Young
:--)> N75ZX getting close to flying, Houston TX
:--)>
:--)>
:--)> Read this topic online here:
:--)>
:--)> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=375667#375667
:--)>
:--)>
:--)> MATRONICS WEB FORUMS -
:--)> http://www.matronics.com/contribution
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cdnch701builder |
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stepinwolf
Joined: 21 Jan 2008
Posts: 133
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:01 pm Post subject: VDO fuel gauge question |
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Been there, done that, also have a shit load of crappy VDO gauges along with
their associated senders. I took Ron's advice and purchased the all the
parts he recommended.
Best recommendations I ever received.
Robert
In case your worried about the holes in the tank sides ( if you made them )
don't, since they can be used with the new senders, however you will need to
tweak the sender wire to get a correct reading.
fly safe
---
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craig(at)craigandjean.com
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:52 pm Post subject: VDO fuel gauge question |
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[quote]A smart electronic gauge (like MGL’s 3 1/8 inch FF-3 or 2 1/4 inch FF-1) can be taught the shape of an irregular tank or non-linear sender. They also connect to fuel flow senders. http://www.mglavionics.com With regards to capacitive probes be aware that they give different readings when you switch between leaded and unleaded – basically anything that changes the dielectric constant of the fuel. -- Craig [b]
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cdnch701builder
Joined: 21 Aug 2010
Posts: 21
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 5:32 pm Post subject: VDO fuel gauge question |
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Here are some ISS and VDO gauges
This is the drawing of my ISS Sender install in my tank. My tanks have been modified and follows the wing profile... curved top!
Here is a view of the ISS(top) and VDO(Bottom) Senders. Note the 1/8" flanges of the ISS unit! The ISS float arm detaches from the sender... the VDO does not!
I have loads of photos comparing the ISS to the VDO junk!
Ron
:--)> --> Zenith701801-List message posted by: "Robert Pelland"
:--)> <robert.pelland(at)cgocable.ca>
:--)>
:--)> Been there, done that, also have a shit load of crappy VDO gauges along with their
:--)> associated senders. I took Ron's advice and purchased the all the parts he
:--)> recommended.
:--)>
:--)> Best recommendations I ever received.
:--)>
:--)> Robert
:--)>
:--)> In case your worried about the holes in the tank sides ( if you made them )
:--)> don't, since they can be used with the new senders, however you will need to tweak
:--)> the sender wire to get a correct reading.
:--)>
:--)> fly safe
:--)>
:--)>
:--)> ---
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cdnch701builder |
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Jimmy Young
Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Posts: 182
Location: Missouri City, TX
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 1:47 am Post subject: Re: VDO fuel gauge question |
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It appears the consensus is, the VDO products are junk.
I do have the GRT model 4000 EIS in the plane, and I could install their fuel flow option as back up.
I will take a closer look at the options ya'll have presented and figure out a plan. Thanks!
Jimmy Y
Houston TX
750 builder
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Tommy Walker
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 442
Location: Anniston, AL 36207
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 9:32 am Post subject: Re: VDO fuel gauge question |
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I have a couple of those VDO gauges in my hangar. They were mismatches sent by Zenith on one of the 701s I built.
Be glad to give them to anyone who wants them.
Tommy
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Tommy Walker
N25A - Anniston, AL |
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