Message-ID: <00d201c18fa7$7c0690c0$196eaccf@oemcomputer>
From: "Bill & Sue" <harrelson@erols.com>
To: <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
Cc: <redig001@umn.edu>
References: <20011228052429.AAA19477@pop3.olsusa.com>
Subject: fuel senders and gauges
Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 08:56:43 -0500
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Reply-To: lancair.list@olsusa.com

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> Greetings:  I'm about to apply bottom wing skins to my 320.  I see no
> mention in the manual regarding installation of fuel level senders.  I
> would like to have fuel indication for both wing tanks as well as the
> header tank.  What have other builders done about this?

Hi Pat,  I put the Vision Micro fuel probes in the wings and header tank of
my 320. I have the VM1000 indicator as well as their annunciator system.
They work extremely well. The fuel quantity indication is always within a
gallon of the fuel remaining reading (known quantity minus burn), and a
fill-up always confirms the accuracy of both.  The key to accuracy is a very
slow and careful calibration during the setup.

Another suggestion if you're going to use the VM system is to have them make
up the chip with NO warning set for low wing fuel. With the "standard" chip
setup you get a warning with either wing below 6 gal. In my opinion, this is
not a good thing since operating with less than 22gal (10 gal header plus 6
gal each wing) is not a particularly hazardous operation. The warning goes
off on takeoff as the fuel is forced aft, away from the probe. This is not a
good time to have a warning tone in your headset and flashing lights on the
annunciator unless something is REALLY wrong.

Since you haven't closed out the wings yet, you might also want to think
about putting a float switch in each wing. In my installation a red "wing
fuel low" light is wired through a float switch in series with the transfer
pump to give me a warning if I'm trying to pump fuel from an empty wing.
Probably make the pumps last a little longer if they don't run dry.

I'll be happy to supply you with details of my installation and pictures if
you'd like. Let me know.

Bill Harrelson
harrelson@erols.com
N5ZQ

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Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
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