REFLECTOR: Fuel Sight Gauges

Wed Jun 8 15:47:40 CDT 2011

Are you guys using blue LED's or is the glow blue because of the fuel color?
I wonder what would give the most contrast lighting -wise with the blue
fuel?

  _____  

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Dennis Martin
Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 10:27 PM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Fuel Sight Gauges

I followed Jim Agnew's idea with LED lights behind the fuel gauge. (See
attached photo). Makes it very easy to see fuel levels. Here are a few
details about my install:

1. Install power line for the LEDs. I'll try to find the web site where I
bought them if you're interested.
2. Remove the plastic tube before upholstery. It's rather easy to make a
small slit in your carpet/leather for the two brass fixtures to pop through.
Plug the brass fixtures to make sure no trash gets in.
3. My factory supplied tube turned yellow. I found a 5 foot length of
fuel-proof plastic tubing at Home Depot (Plumbing Section). It's labeled
FUEL PROOF or gasoline proof. I had enough material to cut the piece to size
several times to get a perfect fit and to stretch the tube to make it remain
straight.
4. I bought two small fuel-proof floating balls that go inside my sight
gauges. Very easy to see fuel level with these floats. See pg. 8 on this web
site for photo of the orange balls:
http://online.simmarket.com/aerosoft/SCUB/manual.pdf    
5. I ordered the orange sight balls a few years ago - I'm sure you can find
out how to get them from this web site. Caution: balls are too small for the
orifice in my brass tube - they will float away. I drilled a small hole in
an aluminum slug before wedging it into the brass fixture. Works great.

Good luck,

Dennis  

On Tue, Jun 7, 2011 at 8:53 AM, Tom Falls <tomfalls6 at gmail.com> wrote:

I guess I missed that. I do plan on using auto fuel, so it's the factory
design for me. 

For those with the factory style sight gauges, could please send pictures of
how you did the interior around them to make them more pleasing to the eye?

Thanks much,

Tom

On Mon, Jun 6, 2011 at 5:00 PM, vance atkinson <nostromo56 at tx.rr.com> wrote:

On 6/5/2011 12:45 AM, Al Gietzen wrote: 

As I've mentioned previously; if you intend to use auto fuels, don't use the
Atkinson gauge. The white plastic background material is not compatible -
unless it has been changed within the past couple of years.

Al

-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Tom Falls
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2011 6:11 AM
To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
Subject: REFLECTOR: Fuel Sight Gauges

On the topic of sight gauges (from Low fuel warning thread), I've heard
rumblings of issues with the Atkinson gauges. I'm getting ready to install
them. What are the watch-outs and/or improvements to make sure they remain
effective and useful for the life of the plane? Or is it a matter of
avoiding certain fuels?

Tom

They are not approved for auto fuel anymore and for the past several years
the mfgs have been putting things in the fuel (and not telling the public)
that can make the gauges crack and also soften.  The gauges  are certainly
NOT to be used with ethanol.  I just use Av gas in my COZY, and for 25 years
have had NO problems.  

I usually tell builders if you HAVE  to use auto fuel (no ethanol in it)
then put it the tank and use it up right away on your flight.  don't let it
sit there for a month.

Vance Atkinson
EAA Tech and Flt Advisor

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-- 
All the best,
Dennis

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