I received my new Flow Meter last week and connected it inline with my hose to measure how much water I could put in my empty tanks, (empty as in the pump will not draw any more).
Surprise, the 2 x 95L tanks only took 160L to point of overflow. :?
The meter is now connected to the suction side of the pump and I can set it to start counting from 160L and I always know exactly how much is left to the nearest litre. Very handy for long term free camping at one spot.
Legendts said
08:06 PM Mar 9, 2014
Neil & Lynne, what type and where did you get the meter? I looked for one quite awhile ago but they were all too big and costly.
Baz421 said
08:15 PM Mar 9, 2014
I bought one at Bunnings,, haven't seen them lately. Click fittings can use anywhere.
Neil & Lynee you will "find" the remaining capacity is probably air on top as overflows normally in side of tanks.
I fitted click ons or you could plumb in if required.
I looked at these and they would be fine to measure the capacity of your tank.
I wanted to do this but I also wanted an ongoing, accumulating measure of how much water was coming from the tank in total to always know how much is remaining.
Unfortunately the hoselink one resets itself to zero after 30 minutes of non usage.
Kiwi-as said
11:49 AM Mar 10, 2014
I would be checking the accuracy of it by filling a 20lt container. That way you have no doubts.
brian said
12:30 PM Mar 10, 2014
As with all of these flow type measuring devices, they become grossly inaccurate at remaining water indication if you only partially refill your tank.
Nothing beats a proper tank level gauge for really knowing how much water you have left
Delta18 said
12:41 PM Mar 10, 2014
I agree to a point Brian but I have yet to see a decent one in a van yet. Four lights indicating E: 1/4: 1/2: 3/4: F: don't cut it for me.
Another benefit of the one I bought is that you can adjust the gauge to reflect how much water has been put in. I hadn't realised the benefit of this until you posted as I always assumed the tank would be reFILLED and the meter reset to reflect a full tank.
This has the ability to, for example, if there were 25L remaining and I top up from my 100L bladder I could reset the meter to show 125L and counting down.
brian said
01:17 PM Mar 10, 2014
Delta18 wrote:
I agree to a point Brian but I have yet to see a decent one in a van yet. Four lights indicating E: 1/4: 1/2: 3/4: F: don't cut it for me.
Another benefit of the one I bought is that you can adjust the gauge to reflect how much water has been put in. I hadn't realised the benefit of this until you posted as I always assumed the tank would be reFILLED and the meter reset to reflect a full tank.
This has the ability to, for example, if there were 25L remaining and I top up from my 100L bladder I could reset the meter to show 125L and counting down.
True, but as I understand those meters, what you are doing is resetting the tank's full capacity when you do that adjustment. You then have to either reset it to the original amount next time you fill, or set it to another different amount if you again partially refill.
I received my new Flow Meter last week and connected it inline with my hose to measure how much water I could put in my empty tanks, (empty as in the pump will not draw any more).
Surprise, the 2 x 95L tanks only took 160L to point of overflow. :?
The meter is now connected to the suction side of the pump and I can set it to start counting from 160L and I always know exactly how much is left to the nearest litre. Very handy for long term free camping at one spot.
I bought one at Bunnings,, haven't seen them lately. Click fittings can use anywhere.
Neil & Lynee you will "find" the remaining capacity is probably air on top as overflows normally in side of tanks.
This particular one is not the cheapest around but it is sold & specified by an Australian company and if you have questions you can understand who you are talking to.
I like it because you can set the capacity of your tank and the counter winds down to 0, or minus if you didn't get the capacity setting right.
Probably took 10 minutes to fit into the suction hose right by the pump as that was the most accessible spot.
Ledgendts
Here's the one we use,, simple and costs $20.
http://www.hoselink.com.au/buy/flow-meter-gauge/5815
I fitted click ons or you could plumb in if required.
Both appear to have their uses. Should have googled again as it must have been several years since I looked for one.
I looked at these and they would be fine to measure the capacity of your tank.
I wanted to do this but I also wanted an ongoing, accumulating measure of how much water was coming from the tank in total to always know how much is remaining.
Unfortunately the hoselink one resets itself to zero after 30 minutes of non usage.
As with all of these flow type measuring devices, they become grossly inaccurate at remaining water indication if you only partially refill your tank.
Nothing beats a proper tank level gauge for really knowing how much water you have left
I agree to a point Brian but I have yet to see a decent one in a van yet. Four lights indicating E: 1/4: 1/2: 3/4: F: don't cut it for me.
Another benefit of the one I bought is that you can adjust the gauge to reflect how much water has been put in. I hadn't realised the benefit of this until you posted as I always assumed the tank would be reFILLED and the meter reset to reflect a full tank.
This has the ability to, for example, if there were 25L remaining and I top up from my 100L bladder I could reset the meter to show 125L and counting down.
True, but as I understand those meters, what you are doing is resetting the tank's full capacity when you do that adjustment. You then have to either reset it to the original amount next time you fill, or set it to another different amount if you again partially refill.
In my view, not a simple way to go.