Fuel Tank Calibration - Capacitance

skypilotusa

I love flying!
Joined
Mar 1, 2014
Messages
17
I went through the fuel tank calibration steps and it seemed all was fine. But, after my first initial flights, and top offs... I continue to get Fuel mis-match pop-ups. The tanks read about half full with a "+12" indication. I selected the "Match" option within the pop-up message. My question is... Is there a way to fix this issue without draining the tanks dry? I have no way of storing 10 to 15 gallons of 100LL. and I am nervous about running the tanks low, since the gauges seem to be inaccurate.
 

TRCsmith

Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2006
Messages
258
Location
Suisun City, CA
"and I am nervous about running the tanks low, since the gauges seem to be inaccurate."

Nothing to be nervous about, until you have a good answer manage your fuel the way you did before SV came along.  ::)
 

swatson999

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2010
Messages
1,625
Which converters do you have? The Dynon ones, or some others (Princeton)?
 

skypilotusa

I love flying!
Joined
Mar 1, 2014
Messages
17
Yep... I understand, I am sticking it now. In the RV I can accurately stick to about 8 gallons per side. I took the time to mark my stick in 1 gal increments, so I have a real good idea above the 8 gallon mark. I have a fresh overhaul, so fuel flows are high... we calculated 12.1 gph at this junction. I know I can tweak the voltage a bit at a time inside SV... I am expecting to have to drain the tanks and start the calibration process over. I was hopeful the gauges could be calibrated a bit more accurate than cessna gauges... ;)
 

swatson999

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Joined
Oct 6, 2010
Messages
1,625
As much as I *love* my Dynon stuff, the capacitance to voltage converters they offer are, IMHO, sub-par. They use only a tiny range of 0-5V, and I had a bear of a time with them. Switched to Princeton 2-point converters (you calibrate them to empty and full, and they use the full 5V range), and now it's just a matter of some slight adjustments in set points (they're already within about a gallon at all points).

Ditch the Dynon units and install the Princetons. :)
 

Edwardoc

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Joined
Dec 6, 2011
Messages
159
Location
Colorado
Whats a source for the Princetons and are they a direct replacement, i.e. just rewire and calibrate? :)
 
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