REFLECTOR: Fuel Sight Gauges

[John Dibble]

Alex,

My gauges are totally clear and I've never seen any hint of color from
the fuel.

John

Alex Balic wrote:

> 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, TomFalls <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 TomFalls
> 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
>
> _______________________________________________
> To change your email address, visit
> http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
>
> Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
> user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
> Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
> Check old archives:
> http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
>
> _______________________________________________
> To change your email address, visit
> http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
>
> Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
> user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
> Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
> Check old archives:
> http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
>
>
>
> --
> All the best,
> Dennis
>
>    ----------------------------------------------------------------
> _______________________________________________
> To change your email address, visit
> http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
>
> Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
> user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
> Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
> Check old archives:
> http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/private/reflector/attachments/20110608/2a6597c2/attachment-0001.htm>