Hi Allan, most of the bigger caravan and camping online stores sell various types of water level monitors and gauges to install. Northcoach, Coast to Coast etc. There is another alternative. Waeco sell a small handheld device that you hold against the tank and press the button and move up and down to find the level. It's designed for finding the gas level in your gas tank but should work just as well on a fuel tank/water tank/diesel tanks. It's around the $90 mark so not cheap. Works on ultra sound like the baby thing so it should work. Just how easy to use with the position of your water tank is the question.
Try the above link to one such stores page on water level equipment. There are others of course but it will give you some idea what's available.
-- Edited by Yuglamron on Tuesday 15th of October 2013 09:46:08 AM
-- Edited by Yuglamron on Tuesday 15th of October 2013 09:52:27 AM
Allan Marais said
03:08 PM Oct 15, 2013
Hi there travellers, I wish to install a water level monitor to our 2 fresh water tanks. Any ides or suggestions.
mongrel said
04:26 PM Oct 15, 2013
Welcome to the forum Allan. I can't help you with your question but I am sure someone will have the answer.Good luck..Alan..
If you wanted to save money you could instal a "T" piece in the supply line and attach some clear plastic tubing, then run the plastic tubing to the side or rear of the van and have the end of the tubing higher that the water level. Use it then as a sight glass and calibrate it. Done properly this can be much more accurate and reliable than any store-bought unit.
Allan Marais said
07:18 AM Nov 13, 2013
Thanks for all the useful info. We have settled on a flow metre from topargee. This way we will know exactly how many litres are left in our tanks at any stage. Great idea and easy to fit. Only need to insert device in the line not tanks.. Cheers
brian said
08:59 PM Nov 13, 2013
From what I know of those Topargee flow meters, they are accurate only so long as you don't do partial refills.
They can only be reset on a total refill basis, which can be a bit inconvenient at times.
We often bring back a few 10 litre containers when we go to town, and that is often not enough to totally fill the tanks, so the flow meter would become less and less accurate with each partial refill, and could actually be telling you that the tank is empty when it may in fact be almost full.
snabby said
01:58 PM Dec 1, 2013
I have recently (November 2013) installed latest Topargee water flow meter ... Once calibrated you can reset after partial refills by holding the reset button on for 3+ seconds (will then flash and reset volume to previously calibrated maximum) ..... I am very satisfied with the unit ..... was easy to install .... in most setups u will need to buy with longer (optional) power cable. total cost was $100 with delivery.
In the situation Brian refers to, i THINK you can solve by checking level before adding extra, then reprogram Max Setting .... In my case if 85 litre tank was reading 25 litres remaining, and i added an extra 20 litres - i could reprogram Max setting 45 litres - would then have to reset to 85 when fully topped up - although the reprogramming is not difficult, it is a little fiddly as brian suggests (i had not run into this circumstance.)
-- Edited by snabby on Sunday 1st of December 2013 02:18:42 PM
brian said
02:10 PM Dec 1, 2013
Resetting to the previously calibrated maximum after a partial refill will result in the reading being inaccurate as a partial refill does not actually fill the tank to maximum. That's why it's called a "partial" refill. However, if you are happy with the device, that's all that matters.
snabby said
02:23 PM Dec 1, 2013
Brian ..... you are correct .... i misread your post. Please check my edited post as i suggest a possible solution there ..... I think that MAY work, what's your opinion?
brian said
04:58 PM Dec 1, 2013
You certainly could do that, but it's a painful way to go about it, and will gradually accumulate errors that will need to be cancelled out with a reset to the original tank capacity when they are again known to be full.
http://www.awardrv.com.au/dloads/pdf/productpdf_subcatid24.pdf
http://www.caravanandrvworld.com.au/plumbing-and-bathroom?Page=5&Items=20
Hi Allan, most of the bigger caravan and camping online stores sell various types of water level monitors and gauges to install. Northcoach, Coast to Coast etc. There is another alternative. Waeco sell a small handheld device that you hold against the tank and press the button and move up and down to find the level. It's designed for finding the gas level in your gas tank but should work just as well on a fuel tank/water tank/diesel tanks. It's around the $90 mark so not cheap. Works on ultra sound like the baby thing so it should work. Just how easy to use with the position of your water tank is the question.
Try the above link to one such stores page on water level equipment. There are others of course but it will give you some idea what's available.
-- Edited by Yuglamron on Tuesday 15th of October 2013 09:46:08 AM
-- Edited by Yuglamron on Tuesday 15th of October 2013 09:52:27 AM
Hi there travellers, I wish to install a water level monitor to our 2 fresh water tanks. Any ides or suggestions.
Another selection here
Thanks for all the useful info. We have settled on a flow metre from topargee. This way we will know exactly how many litres are left in our tanks at any stage. Great idea and easy to fit. Only need to insert device in the line not tanks.. Cheers
From what I know of those Topargee flow meters, they are accurate only so long as you don't do partial refills.
They can only be reset on a total refill basis, which can be a bit inconvenient at times.
We often bring back a few 10 litre containers when we go to town, and that is often not enough to totally fill the tanks, so the flow meter would become less and less accurate with each partial refill, and could actually be telling you that the tank is empty when it may in fact be almost full.
I have recently (November 2013) installed latest Topargee water flow meter ... Once calibrated you can reset after partial refills by holding the reset button on for 3+ seconds (will then flash and reset volume to previously calibrated maximum) ..... I am very satisfied with the unit ..... was easy to install .... in most setups u will need to buy with longer (optional) power cable. total cost was $100 with delivery.
In the situation Brian refers to, i THINK you can solve by checking level before adding extra, then reprogram Max Setting .... In my case if 85 litre tank was reading 25 litres remaining, and i added an extra 20 litres - i could reprogram Max setting 45 litres - would then have to reset to 85 when fully topped up - although the reprogramming is not difficult, it is a little fiddly as brian suggests (i had not run into this circumstance.)
-- Edited by snabby on Sunday 1st of December 2013 02:18:42 PM
Brian ..... you are correct .... i misread your post. Please check my edited post as i suggest a possible solution there ..... I think that MAY work, what's your opinion?
You certainly could do that, but it's a painful way to go about it, and will gradually accumulate errors that will need to be cancelled out with a reset to the original tank capacity when they are again known to be full.
A water level gauge would be a whole lot simpler.