--> Europa-List message posted by: "Nigel Graham" <nigel_graham@btclick.com>
Whoaa there! the facts are getting lost in the "Chinese Whispers".
Capacitance gauges can be very accurate but you need to know how they work
to get the best out of them.
The Avelec, along with all other capacitance probes work by correlating the
capacitance at the probe to a given volume of fuel using a programmable
"look-up table". This gives another advantage that the fuel indication can
be "linearized" to compensate for odd shaped tanks (i.e. the Europa tank).
Since different fuels (Mogas, Avgas etc) have different dielectric
constants, a capacitance gauge calibrated for one type of fuel will not give
the correct reading if a different fuel is used - and that is the %age
"error" quoted by Avelec. Get water in the tank and the gauge will read
zero.
If you regularly use the same fuel (as most Rotax drivers tend to) and don't
fill up with water too often, you will not have a problem.
If you do want the flexibility to change fuels - go for a
magnetic-float-and-reed-switch type gauge.
Either is preferable to the sight tube "attitude indicator" (IMHO of course
;-)
Nigel
----- Original Message -----
From: <EuropaXSA276@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Funny fuel gauge
--> Europa-List message posted by: EuropaXSA276@aol.com
In a message dated 5/18/2005 4:16:16 PM Central Standard Time,
peter.rees05@ntlworld.com writes:
We had the Avalec capacitance gauge - by their own figures, it could give
errors of 10% plus from one type of avgas to another and 50% plus if you use
Mogas.
50% error?!!! And how is this better than the factory sight tube? Has
anyone
else had this problem with the Princeton model? I had planned on ordering
mine this month!
< It's always something>
Brian Skelly
Texas
Europa # A276 TriGear
See My build photos at:
http://www.europaowners.org/BrianS
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