Hi!Guys
Slight correction to that statement:-the large hole was for mounting the
fuel level probe but it was made sufficiently large to enable a mop out
annually because that is the only way you can know what is in there and
with the ethanol issue now a fact you can check out the water implication
for stress free flight!
Regards
Bob Harrison G=PTAG
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Jan de Jong
Sent: 30 November 2013 14:09
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Re: sight gauge alternative
Hi Remi,
The unspoken issue that fuels the discussion is the desire to avoid cutting
a hole in the tank. Ofcourse, Bob Harrison thinks a large hole is of the
essence to allow yearly cleaning..
Jan de Jong
On 11/30/2013 1:44 PM, Remi Guerner wrote:
> --> <air.guerner@orange.fr>
>
> Hi all,
> I am following this post - and previous discussions on fuel flow sensors
and fuel computers- with amusement as it seems to me that all this high tech
stuff needs a lot of attention and may be less reliable than the old
fashioned equipment they want to replace. It is true that float type fuel
gauges in the typical wing fuel tank are not accurate nor reliable. This is
mainly due to the flat shape of the tank were a small height error makes a
big volume error. I remember when flying Cessnas the gauges were only rough
indicators that there were some fuel on board, and were useless in flight as
they were looking like windshield wipers at the lightest turbulence. The
Europa fuel tank geometry, being all in height, makes it a lot easier to
accurately gauge the fuel quantity. My aircraft was originally fitted with
an Avelec capacitive gauge with a digital indicator. It was giving a false
sense of a great accuracy due to the digital display, but the indication was
varying with th!
e !
> type of fuel used. After about 200 hours it started to give random
indications and finally failed completely. I decided to replace it with an
old fashioned resistive, float type with an analog indicator. This Jaeger
unit is used on Robin DR400 type certificated aircraft. I had to weld an
extension to the oscillating arm to take into account the unusual height of
the tank. The fuel quantity accuracy and repeatability are very good. They
are not visibly affected by the attitude of the aircraft and when refueling
I can predict the quantity to be added to top the tank by a few liters.
Additionally there is a low fuel switch integrated into the probe system
which illuminates a warning light when the fuel remaining is 1.5 liters.
Then I know I had better to switch to the reserve side. My back up is my
watch: flight time and a conservative calculation using the maximum cruise
fuel flow. This system has been working fine for me for 10 years and 800
hours..... without any fancy e!
lec!
> tronic chip, computers etc...
> Remi Guerner
> F-PGKL
>
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