NovaBandit
Well Known Member
My plane hash capacitive plates in the tanks, and a pair of the Princeton Electronics capacitive converters (single point calibration version), wired up to a Garmin G3X touch system.
My plane first flew in 2015, and the fuel level system was rock solid and perfectly accurate throughout the range.
However, recently, we started having some reading issues with one tank (Left Tank). It would read accurately, but after a bit in flight, would slowly show the levels dropping, eventually to near zero. Sometimes, it will pop back to the actual fuel reading, other times not. Most often the correct level will come back after landing.
Then the other tank started behaving strangely, almost in the total opposite way, where it would show full and not come down while fuel was burned out... but only sometimes.
So far, here's what I've tried/checked so far:
At this point, I'm thinking I may order a new converter to see if the issue persists.
I may also try to run some sort of ground strap to the threaded part of the BNC plug to ensure that is well grounded.
I'm nervous that there may be some sort of intermittent issue in the BNC socket itself, and I really really don't want to have to do tank surgery!
I also have a hard time something is wrong with the plates themselves. There are no moving parts, and all connectors were totally encapsulated in proseal.
Has anyone heard of any similar issues, or have any ideas on the other things to troubleshoot?
My plane first flew in 2015, and the fuel level system was rock solid and perfectly accurate throughout the range.
However, recently, we started having some reading issues with one tank (Left Tank). It would read accurately, but after a bit in flight, would slowly show the levels dropping, eventually to near zero. Sometimes, it will pop back to the actual fuel reading, other times not. Most often the correct level will come back after landing.
Then the other tank started behaving strangely, almost in the total opposite way, where it would show full and not come down while fuel was burned out... but only sometimes.
So far, here's what I've tried/checked so far:
- Re-terminating the BNC plug wired to the Left tank converter
- Running a dedicated ground to all wing electrical devices (in case a ground loop was causing issues
- Confirming that the center pin of the tank BNC socket (the pin wired to the plated) was isolated from the fuel tank itself. 0 ohms measured
- Recalibrated the 0 set point on the converters
- Recalibrated the G3X Touch in 5 gal increments after the converter calibration
- Confirmed that the body of the tank BNC socket is grounded to the tank (tested on the ground, obviously)
At this point, I'm thinking I may order a new converter to see if the issue persists.
I may also try to run some sort of ground strap to the threaded part of the BNC plug to ensure that is well grounded.
I'm nervous that there may be some sort of intermittent issue in the BNC socket itself, and I really really don't want to have to do tank surgery!
I also have a hard time something is wrong with the plates themselves. There are no moving parts, and all connectors were totally encapsulated in proseal.
Has anyone heard of any similar issues, or have any ideas on the other things to troubleshoot?