REFLECTOR: Fuel Sight Gauges

Wed Jun 8 16:24:04 CDT 2011

We're using Blue LEDs to go with the exterior blue of the paint, I've got
an blue inset logo/registration number and LED backlighting on my overhead
switch panel as well as soft blue EL lights on my backup 2 1/4" round
gauges and glareshield.

Brett

	-------Original Message-------
  From: Alex Balic
  To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Fuel Sight Gauges
  Sent: 08 Jun '11 15:47

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: [LINK:
http://online.simmarket.com/aerosoft/SCUB/manual.pdf]
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  <[LINK:
mailto:tomfalls6 at gmail.com] 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 <[LINK:
mailto:nostromo56 at tx.rr.com] 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: [LINK: mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org]
reflector-bounces at tvbf.org  [[LINK: mailto: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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