Tracking genny fuel use

Chris-380

Chris-380

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2019
2,436
Pontoon Beach IL
Boat Info
2000 380 Sundancer
Engines
7.4L Horizon w/V drives
Looking for advise/experience with adding garmin tank sensors to nmea2k network

trying to get a more accurate reading of fuel level. Right now I have fox marine gateways (mefi-3) on my 7.4 horizons that communicate with my garmin 4210 mfd. I like the fuel burn and tank total better than without, but looking to get a something to track the genny use also. Curious if a flow meter on that fuel line would be able to account for that. Would something like this on work?
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/11561

also thinking, maybe these would be nice to add for tank level, if it would help at all. https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/35608#accessories

Any ideas on how to track genny fuel burn and adding it to my system is appreciated
Thanks in advance
 
I've contemplated the same thing. Garmin GFS-10's are rated for a 2 GPH minimum. They can and do measure below that, but accuracy suffers.

Lowrance's meters I think measure as low as .5, but even that is borderline for a genny. The genny mfr's tend to rate consumption at full load, which is a rare state of running in my experience.

I let it go and manually calculate consumption using an average of .75 gph for my 7KW. (Westerbeke says 1.2 GPH at full load)
 
I replaced my float style fuel senders with Maretron TLM100 (Tank Level Monitors) and I am very happy with that upgrade. I had the ability to use the float style senders that were installed and just digitize it, but elected to get rid of the float senders as they tend to be the weak link in the chain, and its a huge pain to get to them. Hopefully I'm replaced my last fuel sender.

However, installing the Garmin tank lever would be a great improvement. Also consider the Yacht Devices version at $149 https://www.yachtd.com/products/tank_adapter.html
 
Not the answer to your question but perhaps a less involved solution.
We have flow use meters on both engines. We have 300 gallons of fuel. Some times (Rarely when we go north) we run to within 50 gallons of empty. When we fill-up we are within 5%. Based on that we find; if we run the generator on one tank we see the true fuel consumption of the generator. 8KW Quicksilver is 1 GPH. We try to load it at 60%.
 
I tried a Garmin GFS 10 and it either had an air leak or got clogged because I started noticing the engine to which it was connected "hunt" at low RPMs. Now to be fair, I did buy it used, so it may have not been treated well. I ultimately removed it and connected up the SmartCraft so I could read fuel flow directly from the ECM. I realize this will not work for your gennie so it might be worth looking into the Maretron fuel flow sensors.

I tried several ways to get tank levels on my NMEA network, and ended up settling on Maretron Tank level sensors. They can be wired and calibrated to work in parallel with your existing (useless) Sea Ray analog gages.
 
dtfeld said:
As far as fuel flow, I think you could do it with Maretron. They have a fuel flow sensor that reads .0088 gal/min is about .5 gals/hr. Isnt cheap ($750 installed??), but would likely work.

https://www.navstore.com/maretron-fuel-flow-sensor-0.033-1.67-lpm-0.0088-0.44-gpm-m1ar-en.html
Click to expand...
dtfeld said:
I replaced my float style fuel senders with Maretron TLM100 (Tank Level Monitors) and I am very happy with that upgrade. I had the ability to use the float style senders that were installed and just digitize it, but elected to get rid of the float senders as they tend to be the weak link in the chain, and its a huge pain to get to them. Hopefully I'm replaced my last fuel sender.

However, installing the Garmin tank lever would be a great improvement. Also consider the Yacht Devices version at $149 https://www.yachtd.com/products/tank_adapter.html
Click to expand...
Dave - did you install with the focus tubes?
I tested with and without the focus tube but no end cap either time on the water tank and found with the focus tube it provided a more stable consistent readings.
 
ttmott said:
Dave - did you install with the focus tubes?
I tested with and without the focus tube but no end cap either time on the water tank and found with the focus tube it provided a more stable consistent readings.
Click to expand...

Tom

I did not install focus tubes, the 410 doesn’t have clearance above the tanks to allow that installation. They are not particularly accurate at running attitude, but at rest, dead accurate. Unless they can be installed in the center of the tank, there will be some inaccuracy while running.

I spoke with skybolt before I made the decision, he did the exact same thing, and generally thought this was a good outcome...I followed his example, and I’m pretty happy with the outcome.
 
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