Fuel Computers

Chris · 15 April 2007, 22:02

I have had a search and it seems that the std unit people go for is the Navman 2100.

Is there any other unit that are better for the same money or is this the one to go for?

Also I have had a look at the instructions on their website and it states that the digital guage must be 500mm away from the VHF is this critical as I am short on space on my console and would have to mount the guage just above the VHF (100mm)?

Chris

Mark Halliday · 16 April 2007, 10:24

Mine is mounted around 150mm from the radio and does not seem to be affected.

Once calibrated, I have found it to be very accurate.

Chris · 16 April 2007, 11:51

Mark how did you go about calibrating?

Chris

Pete7 · 16 April 2007, 13:54

Chris, the Navman has a simple menu with 2 buttons to change units or calibrate. For the money they are a nice bit of kit, however be aware they are not as water proof as you might want, therefore keep the hose pipe away from the dial. Had to send my first one back after vigorously washing the boat down. Took a little while but eventually Navman sent a free replacement.

Pete

codprawn · 16 April 2007, 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

Chris, the Navman has a simple menu with 2 buttons to change units or calibrate. For the money they are a nice bit of kit, however be aware they are not as water proof as you might want, therefore keep the hose pipe away from the dial. Had to send my first one back after vigorously washing the boat down. Took a little while but eventually Navman sent a free replacement.

Pete

I had exactly the same problem - mine stopped working - spoke to Navman they said they would change it. I was going to remove it last week so they could replace it - now it's working again!!! I wonder for how long though???

Mark Halliday · 16 April 2007, 16:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris1573

Mark how did you go about calibrating?

Chris

Can't remember exactly. How to is in the instructions somewhere.
In essence you fill up a few times, record how much you have put in and then tell the gizmo how much it should be reading.

Accuracy is now around +/-1/2 litre in 60, which is my average refill.

MarkM · 16 April 2007, 21:20

I have the Evinrude one. The maual that goes with it is the same as the Navman and the Faria. So the inside of the apparatus is the same.
The Evinrude is twice the price of the Navman, and three times the price of the Faria, but that includes a RVS ring.

Tim M · 18 April 2007, 23:40

I need to get one of these too. Thinking about ordering from America given the rather favorable exchange rates. Every time I type Navman 2100 into google I get pages about a depth finder. Is the fuel flow meter the same gauge just with a different sensor?

codprawn · 19 April 2007, 12:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

I need to get one of these too. Thinking about ordering from America given the rather favorable exchange rates. Every time I type Navman 2100 into google I get pages about a depth finder. Is the fuel flow meter the same gauge just with a different sensor?

Probably - and different software.

Also look at the 3100 - more expensive but a bigger display and a few extra features.

Beware of the lack of waterproofing though. They don't like RIBs unless they have improved recently. I am going to have to find a way of protecting mine.

Nasher · 19 April 2007, 14:19

My 2100 is proving to need calibrating quite badly.

I'm waiting for a few more 'fills' before doing it to be more accurate.

For Example.

Unit showed 104L used yet I could only get 87L in the tank afterwards.

Unit showed 51L used yet I could only get 42L in the tank afterwards.

At least its roughly consistant in how far out it is considering I'm filling with a forecourt pump until it comes out the breather each time.

Nasher

Pete7 · 19 April 2007, 15:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nasher

My 2100 is proving to need calibrating quite badly.

What if its the Navman that turns out to be quite accurate

Pete

DGR · 19 April 2007, 16:30

Pete, do you use the Navman with your Pac22? If so, was the diesel installation relatively simple or not?

Cheers,

D...

Nasher · 19 April 2007, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

What if its the Navman that turns out to be quite accurate

Pete

Pete

perhaps madly I'm assuming the pumps at Morrisons are reasonably accurate!

Be interesting to know the regulations surrounding tolerances on amount of actual fuel delivered at a petrol station per indicated litre.

Nasher

Pete7 · 19 April 2007, 22:53

Stu tested them for a while, think he regularly found up to 5% errors in either direction.

The Navman was on the petrol Ribtec, easy enough to fit, just need to keep the sender unit vertical to reduce bubbles over the paddle wheel.

The diesel version is £500 in this country which is hard to justify as it would buy a lot of red stuff.

Pete

Mark Halliday · 20 April 2007, 09:39

Nasher
You may well have to play with the sample rate of the unit too.
Mine was ok with the default setting, however injected engines suck fuel in "lumps" and the sample rater has to be extended to average this out. My carb engine has a nice even flow, a bit like pouring a Jerry can down a drain.

One other thing I have found is that I should have wired it through the ignition circuit so it switches off with the engine. I sometimes show 0.5 l/h withe the engine off. I assume this is the fuel column moving with wave action.

codprawn · 20 April 2007, 13:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Halliday

Nasher
You may well have to play with the sample rate of the unit too.
Mine was ok with the default setting, however injected engines suck fuel in "lumps" and the sample rater has to be extended to average this out. My carb engine has a nice even flow, a bit like pouring a Jerry can down a drain.

One other thing I have found is that I should have wired it through the ignition circuit so it switches off with the engine. I sometimes show 0.5 l/h withe the engine off. I assume this is the fuel column moving with wave action.

Watch the display when pumping the bulb - that will give you a fright!!!

One thing that concerns me is that I am wondering if the fuel transducer is resticing fuel flow somewhat - I am going to take it out for a while to see if I get more revs.

Tim M · 20 April 2007, 14:41

The US price comes in at £98 including delivery (plus possible tax).

Worth it?

Erin · 20 April 2007, 22:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nasher

My 2100 is proving to need calibrating quite badly.

I'm waiting for a few more 'fills' before doing it to be more accurate.

Unit showed 104L used yet I could only get 87L in the tank afterwards.
At least its roughly consistant in how far out it is considering I'm filling with a forecourt pump until it comes out the breather each time.

Nasher

If the Navman's right, tell us where your Morrisons is, cos I think we'd all like to get 104 litres for the price of 87

Nos4r2 · 21 April 2007, 08:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

If the Navman's right, tell us where your Morrisons is, cos I think we'd all like to get 104 litres for the price of 87

It'd still be cheaper to get 104 litres at channel islands prices

Can you post petrol tax free?

Jizm · 21 April 2007, 12:53

I have just plumbed mine in on my boat.

T5110i and the optional FS35 fuel transducer, the manual does harp on about the unit being vertical. Haven't tried it yet tho'.