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fastjeff
#1 Posted : Tuesday, June 15, 2010 1:45:12 AM(UTC)
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Somebody straighten me out here, please: Gas gage reads WAY above full (when it ain't). Short to ground, or open circuit?

Thanks,

Jeff
"...reality is not nearly as lovely as the world of Liberal Land. No wonder so many people want to go there." - Tom Sowell
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jsimanella
#2 Posted : Tuesday, June 15, 2010 2:39:15 AM(UTC)
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I believe that's what it does, when there is no ground...
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Roger2
#3 Posted : Tuesday, June 15, 2010 5:20:36 AM(UTC)
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I believe it is a short to ground. Majority of senders are 30 ohms @ full & 240 ohms @ emptyTherefore a short to ground gives the overfull reading, less than30 ohms.

Roger
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1983 37 double cabin, twin 230hp Volvo diesels, twin disk 1.5-1 20X 23 4 blade props
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fastjeff
#4 Posted : Tuesday, June 15, 2010 5:35:42 AM(UTC)
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Okay. Thanks.

Jeff
"...reality is not nearly as lovely as the world of Liberal Land. No wonder so many people want to go there." - Tom Sowell
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TinChips
#5 Posted : Wednesday, June 30, 2010 11:45:57 AM(UTC)
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My starboard gage goes all the way pegged to empty. Any chance it's wired backwards? (little project that has been on the list for years).

Thanks, Craig
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pfhlaw
#6 Posted : Thursday, July 01, 2010 2:32:27 AM(UTC)
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TinChips wrote:
My starboard gage goes all the way pegged to empty. Any chance it's wired backwards? (little project that has been on the list for years).


Craig:
It's not wired wrong. The float swing arm at the bottom of the sender can be installed the right way or the wrong way (up side down). I learned this the hard way. Just remove the sender from the tank, loosen the set screw and flip the aluminum pivot bracket and tighten the set screw.
Peter
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fastjeff
#7 Posted : Saturday, July 17, 2010 1:04:24 AM(UTC)
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Grrr!! Sweated my butt off in a junkyard getting another gas gage for my kit car, then hooking it up this very humid morning and--still no joy. The new (to me) gage also reads full plus (as in way over full).

The book says: "90 ohms full tank" and "0 ohms empty tank". I'm getting an open circuit reading on the wire leading to the sender unit in the tank.

Question: Is it possible that "0 ohms empty" really means minimal ohms, and that an open circuit (like I have) means a broken wire somewhere or a missing ground? I mean, how could the gage read if the sender does have any resistance at empty?

Jeff (frustrated and confused)

PS: There's at least a 1/4 tank of gas in it.
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Rick100
#8 Posted : Saturday, July 17, 2010 2:30:13 AM(UTC)
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Jeff, If I remember correctly it sounds like the wire from the gauge to the sender is shorted to ground or the gauge itself is defective. Check to see if there is voltage on the wire leading to the sender (disconnect it first from the sender) It may have a low or pulsating voltage which is normal but 0 volts could indicate a shorted wire. If there is no voltage on the wire then check it to see if it is shorted to ground as that will peg the gauge. Rick
When I die I hope my wife sells my stuff for more than I told her I paid for it.
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fastjeff
#9 Posted : Saturday, July 17, 2010 7:48:37 AM(UTC)
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Power to gage--it runs up to 'Full' on its own.

Open curcuit to the sender.

Jeff
"...reality is not nearly as lovely as the world of Liberal Land. No wonder so many people want to go there." - Tom Sowell
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fastjeff
#10 Posted : Sunday, July 18, 2010 12:33:04 AM(UTC)
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The plot thickens......

This morning I grounded the wire to the fuel level sensor (in the tank) and the fuel gage immediately went from Full (and more) right down to Empty. This is the EXACT opposite of what the manual claims should happen. Grrr!

Jeff

PS: By the way, this fool gage worked perfectly before I put the car away for winter; and nothing was changed went I got it out in the spring.
"...reality is not nearly as lovely as the world of Liberal Land. No wonder so many people want to go there." - Tom Sowell
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pfhlaw
#11 Posted : Sunday, July 18, 2010 2:38:02 AM(UTC)
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Jeff:
Ohms are units of resistance. Zero ohms means no resistance.
You have a bad ground from the sending unit.
Peter
1981 32' sedan bridge
twin Chrysler 360 cu. in. 250 hp engines
Raw water cooled
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dougrose
#12 Posted : Sunday, July 18, 2010 3:18:05 AM(UTC)
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Jeff,

There are several different systems out there for gauges.

Many American cars and our Marinettes use a sensor that is 33 ohms for a full reading, and 240 ohms for an empty reading. If the "S" terminal is somehow shorted to ground, then the gauge reads above full, because the resistance to ground is near zero. If the "S" terminal is not connected, then the resistance is very high and the gauge will read below empty. It likely will also read below empty if there is no power at all.

According to the book, you have a 0/90 ohm system. This should read empty when the sensor terminal on the gauge is shorted to ground, and above full if there is no connection to the sensor terminal on the gauge.

You can get a 45 ohm resistor and a 90 ohm resistor at Radio Ripoff and test the gauge with them: a short from the sense terminal on the gauge to ground should give you an empty reading, the 45 ohm resistor should give half tank, and the 90 should show full. You have already done the first test, and you got empty as you should. You said "The book says: "90 ohms full tank" and "0 ohms empty tank". I'm getting an open circuit reading on the wire leading to the sender unit in the tank". Try the other two (45 ohm and 90 ohm) to complete the gauge test, but it seems pretty clear that, as you said, you either have an open connection to the sender, or that the sender is defective, failed open.



1975 32' Flybridge Sedan, twin Perkins 6-354 diesels, 1:1.53 velvetdrives, 16 X 19 props. Merritt Island, Florida
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jralbert
#13 Posted : Sunday, July 18, 2010 10:51:05 AM(UTC)
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From the tips & tricks section of the forum, some add'l Doug Rose electrical wisdom on gauge-testing:

http://marinetteboat.com...Testing-your-Gauges.aspx
Joel Albert, Potomac MD
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fastjeff
#14 Posted : Sunday, July 18, 2010 11:18:40 PM(UTC)
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.."According to the book, you have a 0/90 ohm system. This should read empty when the sensor terminal on the gauge is shorted to ground, and above full if there is no connection to the sensor terminal on the gauge. "

That is exactly correct--that's just what it's doing.

Looks like the damn tank may have to come out.

Thanks!

Jeff
"...reality is not nearly as lovely as the world of Liberal Land. No wonder so many people want to go there." - Tom Sowell
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