KUS tank sensor/ Marking full level position?

[albinalaska]

Good morning,

We're working with KUS-USA to order some tank sensors but they keep saying they are missing information. I've sent a handful of emails to them back and forth and have gotten nowhere so I'm appealing to anyones experience in this matter for help!

KUS keeps asking us to "please mark the full level position and send back a revised file". I assumed the tank was full when the water reached the top of the object but apparently I'm sorely mistaken.

When I asked the company for clarification on what they mean or how best to add that mark for them they suggested I try to google tank designs and see what I come up with. Google has been a bottomless pit that has got me nowhere.

Any thoughts on what KUS means or how to send this information back to them? Is this "Full level" something I need to program into the design file in Fusion 360 for their 3D software to read or is it as simple as drawing on the image as they have below? Side note - it's odd the company won't clarify this for me directly but I have zero prior experience with this process and perhaps have offended them greatly in asking such novice questions.

I thank you kindly for any suggestions or assistance!



> I've attached the file they keep sending back to me.

 

[CharlieO.]

Water Tank? Fill it to the top. Did you ask what the minimum distance is required for the sensor?

If it was for black water, I'd want to be sure the level didn't get high enough to effect my vent

 

[C lectric]

I don't know of KUS but it sounds like they expect the FULL level to be somewhat below the physical tank top. Expansion room, trigger room so the level does not show as empty at one point and then full with a minor level change. Without a warning of impending FULL you could overflow the tank without realizing.

Can you print the dwg? THen mark it and copy that marked dwg. and Email it back to them?

However it also sounds like they could use some lessons about dealing with those of us with less than expert computer skills.
I tried to copy, to print, to blow up the photo to no avail.
I finally got it to blow up but no idea about how to manipulate. Of course I have no skin in this game and am inexpert also.

Maybe it's time to telephone them, get some ones name if possible.

If they still won't co-operated then maybe find someone else because if they are this uncooperative now imagine what they will be like if there are any hiccups.

 

[HeadedToTexas]

You might be expecting too much from your KUS gauge. I've always looked at our KUS water, holding tank, and fuel gauges as more of an approximation of tank level.

 

[albinalaska]

You might be expecting too much from your KUS gauge. I've always looked at our KUS water, holding tank, and fuel gauges as more of an approximation of tank level.

That’s my philosophy on it too, but apparently I have to be very specific. I just gave them very general rounded off measurements of my tank, but perhaps I need to go get a flow meter and find out the exact capacity of our water tanks before proceeding.

 

[albinalaska]

I appreciate the replies. I Should also mention that these are potable water tanks.

My only thinking with trying to set a fill limit smaller than the capacity of the tank is for expansion on the off-chance the water freezes?

Does anyone with sensor rods in their tank have any input on this matter? I know that the minimum clearance of a sensor rod is 1 inch above the bottom of the tank, for example, but is there anything like that for the top of the tank?

 

[STB]

I have kus senders for my potable water and fuel tanks. If you send me a DM I can send you my email and maybe you can send me the mail chain and the file and I can try to help. This doesn't seem to hard from here...but when I see the details I coukd be surprised.

 

[ranger58sb]

We have had KUS (previously WEMA) tank level sensors in the past.

Dead simple; just be sure the resistance curve matches your display gauge (33-240, 10-180, etc.), order by length, so the rod ends about 1-2" above the bottom of the tank. We had their display gauges too, so length was our only factor.

They seemed to have several young kids working customer service. Phone call works better, and even then it sometimes turned into a weird discussion with a 15-something.

The sensors worked pretty well. We had those for fresh water, waste/holding, and eventually fuel.

-Chris

 

[Bmarler]

Do they just want the dimension to the bottom of the tank? Looks like you want 7 inches at the top, but I don’t see a total tank height.

 

[albinalaska]

Do they just want the dimension to the bottom of the tank? Looks like you want 7 inches at the top, but I don’t see a total tank height.[/]

Good question. Oh that’s just a line they drew apparently with their mouse and put on the image they sent back to me. I created a rendering of the tank in Fusion 360 based on general measurements I got from the tank so all of the dimensions would have been there for them that file.

 

[albinalaska]

We have had KUS (previously WEMA) tank level sensors in the past.

Dead simple; just be sure the resistance curve matches your display gauge (33-240, 10-180, etc.), order by length, so the rod ends about 1-2" above the bottom of the tank. We had their display gauges too, so length was our only factor.

They seemed to have several young kids working customer service. Phone call works better, and even then it sometimes turned into a weird discussion with a 15-something.

The sensors worked pretty well. We had those for fresh water, waste/holding, and eventually fuel.

-Chris

Thanks Chris,

Yeah I will definitely give them a call today and see if they wouldn’t mind clarifying. Thanks for the response

 

[Bmarler]

Do they just want the dimension to the bottom of the tank? Looks like you want 7 inches at the top, but I don’t see a total tank height.[/]

Good question. Oh that’s just a line they drew apparently with their mouse and put on the image they sent back to me. I created a rendering of the tank in Fusion 360 based on general measurements I got from the tank so all of the dimensions would have been there for them that file.

ok, shouldn't be that tough then. they just want to know how long to make the sensor and how high you want the level when it reads full on the gauge.
the red line and the number7 are just an example. you can just plug in the number you want there, like 1-1/2, or 3, or something. whatever you think it would be when full and the boat is trimmed properly. at least that's what i make of it.

 

[albinalaska]

UPDATE:

Called KUS, the tech support specialist said he couldn’t offer any insight as to what is needed because the email request came from the engineers and he was just the middle man. I asked to be transferred to engineers to speak to them about what they mean and he said that’s impossible because they were in China.

I just threw a dart at the board and arbitrarily told them 2” from the top of the tank will represent full for the tank. The tech didn’t know if that would work but said he’d send my info along and see if it kicks back.

I know my tank isn’t a common shape but I thought it would be less involved than this. Guess that’s boat work for ya.

Appreciate all the insight and help, once again!

 

[bkcorwin]

I am actively removing a simarine system for monitoring 5 fuel tanks and 1 water tank with KUS sensors. I never really got to the bottom of why but the floats got stuck at random times and the readings would lock up with zero notification.

It may have been related to the simarine thing as well, but I was really not happy with the KUS stuff.

 

[ranger58sb]

I just threw a dart at the board and arbitrarily told them 2” from the top of the tank will represent full for the tank. The tech didn’t know if that would work but said he’d send my info along and see if it kicks back.

I know my tank isn’t a common shape but I thought it would be less involved than this. Guess that’s boat work for ya.

Revisiting: is this for fuel tanks?

If so, CruzPro makes a gauge that you can calibrate to your tanks -- even odd shaped -- without much regard to whatever sender you're using. You have to be willing to go through their calibration routine -- fill 1/16th tank and fiddle with the gauge, repeat 'til full -- but it's another way to skin that cat.

-Chris

 

[albinalaska]

RESOLVED.

Thanks again for the suggestions. This group has been crucial in the refit work we're involved. Much appreciation!

Just to conclude this matter I wanted to follow up with what I've found out. Nothing too profound here... The middle man at KUS sent my request for "2 inches from the top to mark full" to the engineers in China and they emailed me today with a product quote.

It's a 32" sender (I was trying to order 33"/ tank is 34" tall) and calibrated for 240-33ohm. Thats the US standard. If the tech at KUS simply clarified that it was to determine the length of the rod that would have given me some helpful context for sure.

If anyone runs into this issue in the future - the length of the rod is apparently all they're trying to determine.

 

[albinalaska]

Revisiting: is this for fuel tanks?

If so, CruzPro makes a gauge that you can calibrate to your tanks -- even odd shaped -- without much regard to whatever sender you're using. You have to be willing to go through their calibration routine -- fill 1/16th tank and fiddle with the gauge, repeat 'til full -- but it's another way to skin that cat.

-Chris

Thanks for the response. This is for potable water.

 

[Martin J]

I used 7 kus sensors on my tanks, just measured to be sure I was 1" from the bottom. I used 0-100% digital gauges from I believe summit racing. Measured my tanks by shape etc and equated the volume on a graph showing gallonage. Somewhere in TF is a thread with photos showing gauges etc. No problem in the last 3 years or so. All working perfectly. There is a breakdown of costs as well.