Capacitance Fuel Level Sensor supporting cutting short to fit fuel tank height
Product Nol: FL05
With capacitance as the sensitive element, this capacitance fuel sensor continuously detects the height of the fuel level at less than 1mm resolution. Sensor length can also be shortened to fit tanks with different heights. This sensor can replace the original fuel level sensor on vehicles and connects with oil gauge. With wide range of voltage input, it has no limitation to input voltage.
- Suitable for car, truck, GPS fleet management, GPS tracking system, generator set, production machinery
- Compatible with GPS market leading GPS tracker and software to monitor vehicle fuel level at any time
- The parameters can be conveniently reset and re-calibrated with an external calibrator.
- Signal output with high-resolution :1mm.
- Continuous and steady output signal.
- Length could be cut shorter to suit tanks in the field.
- Fits different tank sizes, minimizing customer inventory level.
- length could be 200mm to 3000mm.
- Used for diesel, gasoline and kerosene level measuring(not applicable to conductive liquid).
Fuel Level Sensor Wires Connection
Pin1: VCC(10~32V);
Pin2: V out (0.5~4.5V/ );
Pin3: GND;
Pin4: Connect to calibrator/sensor TX;
Pin5: Connect to calibrator;
Pin6: Connect to calibrator;
technical specs
| Material | plastic and aluminum alloy |
| Length Range | 200 –3000mm |
| Assembly | SAE standard 5 holes |
| Mounting | 5 pieces of M5 screws and 2 mm thick NBR gasket,or recommended 2 mm thick FPM gasket if be used in gas tank |
| Supply voltage | 10 to 32V |
| Rated current for alarm switch | 500mA |
| Output signal | RS232, RS485, analog input |
| Resolution | ≤1mm |
| Operating temperature | 40 to 85°C |
| Protection rank | IP65 |
fuel charts & fuel theft on fleet management software platform
the fuel level sensor is a base of fuel management in fleet tracking software platform.
Fuel Level Sensor Calibration
Calibrator must couple with the sensor, and it has 12V/23A battery inside. Red light is the power light. If the light isn’t on when switch on, battery replacement is needed; Green light is the calibration light. Full/ Empty button is showed in above picture.
Note: Calibration is necessary before using the sensor due to different fuel types.
Length adjustment and Calibrator
1 Adjustment of sensor length
Aluminum tube at the bottom can be shorter according to different requirements from customers.
Steps are as follows:
1.1 Customer specifies the sensor length according to the needs
For example, if you want to cut the sensor length to L, then dimension of the cutting position is L-4.5mm.
1.2 Cut the unwanted part with steel saw.
Fix the sensor with proper force, too big force will cause deformation of the casing tube.
1.3 Get rid of the burrs and the debris at the cutting area with blade or a screwdriver to avoid short circuit.
Note: Inside of the tube should keep clean, burrs dropped into the tube must be cleaned, or else, there is a risk of blocking the oil drainage hole.
1.4 Take down the filter unit, take out the plug, and assemble the plug in the aluminum tube, then assemble the filter.
Note: Filter assembly must be assembled in correct position. White plug in the filter assembly must be closely attached to casing tube; otherwise, this is a risk of falling down during application.
2 Calibration of the fuel level sensor
Calibration of the fuel sensor is calibration of the full level and empty level. The fundamental principle is to record a full value and empty value in the fuel sensor when tank is full and empty; defining the positions of fuel is full and empty in the tank. The signal changes as the fuel level changes, calculating the height of the fuel level.
Note: when the fuel sensor becomes shorter, it shall be re-calibrated. Calibration to empty level and full level is related to the medium and the fuel level, instead of volume of the tank, so this operation can be operated in room (make a container, full filled with diesel, simulation of the tank). Calibration of full level shall go first, then the empty level, or else, it is impossible for the sensor to enter the setting mode.
2.1. Calibration of full level
Full fill the tank, put sensor into the tank, wait for about 30s till the aluminum tube of the sensor is full of fuel, then press the “full” button on the calibrator for 5 seconds till the green LED light slowly flickers, it indicates that calibration enters full level mode. The green LED light is off after about 10 seconds and it indicates that the calibration of the full level is OK.
2.2. Calibration of the empty level
Take the sensor out of the tank; put it outside of the tank. When all the fuel flows out of the sensor, press the “empty” button for 5 seconds till the green LED light flickers fast, it indicates that calibration enters empty level mode. The green LED light is off after about 10 seconds and it indicates that the calibration of empty level is OK.
2.3. Calibration completion
Disconnect the calibrator after calibration is done. Connect Pin 1 and Pin 3 on sensor with power, calibration becomes effective when sensor is power on.
Note: If press the wrong button during operation, you can switch off the calibrator and exit the mode and readjust. Customer specifies the sensor length according to the needs;
2.4. Inspection
When calibration of the full level and empty level is done, inspect the output signal of the sensor:
| Volt | Full | 1/2 Level | Empty Level |
| 0-5v | 5v | 2.5v | 0v |
| 0.5- 4.5v | 4-5v | 2.5v | 0.5v |
| 0-3.3v | 3.3v | 1.65v | 0v |
If the output signal meets the values listed above, it means calibration is OK and normal operation of the sensor. Otherwise, please check the mode of connection and recalibrate it.