Float ball in fresh water sight tube

[RLKramer]

Hi All, I'm contemplating putting a little float ball in the site tube of each of my water tanks so I can see the water level in the tube more easily.

I'm worried about contamination of the water from the ball or the ball accidentally getting into the water lines if the tanks should completely empty.

Anyone have thoughts on this idea?

Thanks!

 

[Comodave]

It may cause trouble. My luck is that it definitely would. How about some LED backlights behind the sight tube to make it more visible. I do that with my Racor fuel filter bowls. It makes it easy to see what debris is in there.

 

[BruceK]

Shining a torch on the sight tube might help see the level.

 

[Lepke]

You can solder a screen or wire over the inlet at the bottom of the sight tube. The flow in or out of the sight tube is very slow. You should be able to find a Styrofoam ball depending on the size. But it could be a short, round, rod.

 

[Mac2]

Interesting idea. Since I replaced my nylon sight tube/hose, I have a hell of a time seeing the water level through the new hose. I have bright lights, but the white backdrop makes it very difficult to see the level. I have a ball valve at the bottom of the sight tube, so I would want something that floats, but can’t get past the ball valves, or jam the ball valve. I’ll be interested to see if someone has a solution.

 

[ABfish]

I have sight tubes on numerous pieces of equipment at work to show hydraulic fluid levels and the like. Without exception, they are hard to read if the equipment is more than a few years old. Hydraulic oil is particularly tough to see as the tubes yellow with age.

The only ones that are easily readable are on fuel tanks, because the fuel is dyed red, just like off-road fuel used in boats.

 

[heysteve]

I changed my old plastic sight tubes for glass with the red stripe on the back. Got them from McMaster-Carr. Beyond the clarity of the glass, the red stripe makes it much easier to read the level.

 

[Mac2]

I changed my old plastic sight tubes for glass with the red stripe on the back. Got them from McMaster-Carr. Beyond the clarity of the glass, the red stripe makes it much easier to read the level.

I recall looking at those, but couldn’t find an exact match to fit between my two ball valves used at the top and bottom of my sight tube. Did you custom fit yours?

 

[Taras]

What if you take a strip of Black crate paper to place behind the sight tube. Maybe just double stick tape to get the black paper to stay permanently. I'm thinking the black background would help the visibility of the water level

 

[heysteve]

I recall looking at those, but couldn’t find an exact match to fit between my two ball valves used at the top and bottom of my sight tube. Did you custom fit yours?

I did have to cut one of them using the tube cutter they sell (here). A little nerve wracking but it worked fine.

 

[twistedtree]

I like the idea, and think you just need some sort of choke point in the plumbing to keep the float from escaping. There are flow restrictors for hydraulic systems that might be adaptable, and probably for plumbing systems too. Or even off-the-shelf fittings to step down one pipe size, then step back up. Lepke mentions a short rod rather than a ball as a float. If you have 90 degelbows, the rod won't go past it if long enough.

 

[Mac2]

Thinking on this, I will go to a fishing store. They make colorful floating balls that you can thread on a line. Maybe glue a plastic rod through the balls, so they can’t make the 90 degree turn at the ball valve-as mentioned by TT.

 

[Mac2]

Like these

 

[HeadedToTexas]

There is a valve on the bottom connection where the sight glass meets the tank, right? The ball won't make it through that valve even if the tank level goes to zero.

 

[LongJohn]

I used a red/white fishing float in mine for years - Styrofoam with a stick through the middle. Worked like a champ.

 

[MOJO]

Hi All, I'm contemplating putting a little float ball in the site tube of each of my water tanks so I can see the water level in the tube more easily.

I'm worried about contamination of the water from the ball or the ball accidentally getting into the water lines if the tanks should completely empty.

Anyone have thoughts on this idea?

Thanks!

I'd use a plastic or styrofoam rod rather than a ball. The rod can't make the 90 degree turn at the bottom of the sight tube. A redneck solution would be to use a 1" long section of a plastic colored soda straw...

 

[PNK]

My neighbor has aluminum foil taped to the back of his sight tubes, which works great. Depending on what is behind the tanks and the sight tubes, a dark color might work better for you.
Floats, whether a ball, or a disc, are notorious for getting stuck, through lime build up, dirt, grit, etc. which then disables your water system. Best to avoid them if possible.

 

[ljboyers]

Piper aircraft has a ball in there sight glass in there Cubs that is easy to see. Available at aircraft supply stores.

 

[Mac2]

Piper aircraft has a ball in there sight glass in there Cubs that is easy to see. Available at aircraft supply stores.

Found something similar.

 

[slowgoesit]

Designed for use in tubular sight gauges:

Gauge Glass Float Balls | Gage Glass

Float balls are a composition material called Polyethylene designed for resting inside of your gauge glass unit to allow an easily readable liquid level boiler.

gageglass.net

 

[BeeJay]

I'd use a plastic or styrofoam rod rather than a ball. The rod can't make the 90 degree turn at the bottom of the sight tube. A redneck solution would be to use a 1" long section of a plastic colored soda straw...

Mojo's on to it.
I have used small piece of polyethylene tube for this without issue. you can melt the ends closed if you need to make it more buoyant.