Wiring fuel senders

[BrendellaJet]

My fuel tanks have sending units in them. Im getting ready to buy new guages, and was wondering if there is a switch available that will allow use of both tanks with one guage, switching back and forth to check the level in each tank...Any ideas?

[Taylorman]

Sure there is. My boat has a three position switch that is use for that purpose. Call Rex, they can fix you up.

[HoffmanEagleMarine]

BrendellaJet, Taylorman is correct. Just run a 3 position switch and use the one guage. With both tank senders grounded, you'll have 2 wires going to the switch. One from each sender and one back from the guage.......Doug :idea:

[PC Rat]

I'm getting new gauges also, but don't know what senders I have. It's a '91 Eliminator Daytona, would they likely just be GM senders?
Brian

[Jordy]

I'm getting new gauges also, but don't know what senders I have. It's a '91 Eliminator Daytona, would they likely just be GM senders?
Brian
You need to know the ohm range they run in, from the bottom of the tank all the way to full. That will determine what gauges you need.

[old rigger]

BrendellaJet, Taylorman is correct. Just run a 3 position switch and use the one guage. With both tank senders grounded, you'll have 2 wires going to the switch. One from each sender and one back from the guage.......Doug :idea:
You only need a 2 position switch with 3 poles on it, unless you want to leave the switch in the center position reading nothing.

[blown428fe]

Shouldnt the tanks draw even anyway?

[flat broke]

Depends on if he is planning on drawing from both, or one at a time. For the relatively low cost of a sender and the switch, you might as well be able to have an idea on what the level is like on each side.
Chris

[old rigger]

Shouldnt the tanks draw even anyway?
He can also install a 6 pole switch and wire in a fuel tank switch at the same time if he wants to. This way he can switch tanks, and sending units together. Personally I always lilked to run one tank dry, passenger side first, that way I always knew how much gas I had to get back with. I didn't a have an elect switch though, just valves on the tank, but did run the toggle like we're talking above, and one gauge.
Our boat now has a belly tank, big SOB too. Something like 45 gallons.

[BrendellaJet]

I plan to draw from both. Both tanks should draw evenly, but if they dont for some reason, I want to know about it before I get stranded...

[flat broke]

I plan to draw from both. Both tanks should draw evenly, but if they dont for some reason, I want to know about it before I get stranded...
You going wifth offshore style senders, or just the standard float type? It's been my experience that the float type give you an "idea" of where your fuel is but probably wouldn't be accurate enough to show small fluctuations between left and right. You might check with Rex about the "Centroid" style senders seen below.
http://www.rexmar.com/images/page57.jpg
They have small calibration screws that allow you to dial in you empty and full resistance settings.
Chris

[BrendellaJet]

Chris, im not sure what senders Ill go with. I want the gauge to work well though, otherwise i might as well stick with the ski flag pole method!
Ill check with rex when the time comes... I had no idea there was more than one type...