Sonex fuel level probe and MGL calibration

Discussion of aircraft electrical system design, construction, and problems.

Sonex fuel level probe and MGL calibration

Postby bvolcko38 » Sat May 12, 2018 11:05 am

Does anyone have experience on calibrating the Sonex fuel level probe with MGL efis?
Bill Volcko XNS0068
Xenos A N68WV 99% flush rivets
Aerovee and Prince P-Tip
MGL Discovery Lite w/ Sandia STX 165R
V6
First hole 4/1/16
First flight 8/24/18
Phase I complete...finally!!!
Also flying a Challenger II since 1999
User avatar
bvolcko38
 
Posts: 284
Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2016 7:40 am
Location: Finger Lakes

Re: Sonex fuel level probe and MGL calibration

Postby Onex107 » Sun May 13, 2018 9:26 pm

It's been several years since I did that. but there were no problems. I started with an empty tank, nose dragger, and added car gas in two gallon increments, recording the probe resistance at each level. I'm at 220 hours on the hobbs and I have considered doing it again. When I add a known amount of gas to a reading on the gage it doesn't add up exactly to the tenth. I don't fly below an hour in the tank so I'm not worried, just curious.
OneX 107
N2107X
Onex107
 
Posts: 506
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:44 pm
Location: Peoria, IL

Re: Sonex fuel level probe and MGL calibration

Postby Brett » Sun May 13, 2018 9:32 pm

Just on a side topic do you run auto gas all the time? I thought the probes fall apart if auto fuel used? Ive stuck to avgas mainly as I love the accuracy of the level prob.

I had no isses with the calibration. Filled in 5 litre increments and wrote the numbers down so i dont lose them if my efis gets updated or reset.. has happened once already.
Sonex 1645
VH-VWS
Tailwheel
Former Aerovee Turbo
Rotax 912
Brett
 
Posts: 269
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 3:49 am
Location: Geraldton W.A Australia

Re: Sonex fuel level probe and MGL calibration

Postby wlarson861 » Mon May 14, 2018 12:22 am

I run primarily auto gas and have had no problems with the probe. As I understand it, alcohol will destroy the probe. I run 91 octane unleaded fuel.
Bill Larson
N861SX
Sonex, polished, tail wheel, Generation 4 Jabiru 3300
wlarson861
 
Posts: 499
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:41 pm

Re: Sonex fuel level probe and MGL calibration

Postby Brett » Mon May 14, 2018 12:47 am

Oh ok... thanks for the clarification. I think I'll start testing auto fuel out then.
Sonex 1645
VH-VWS
Tailwheel
Former Aerovee Turbo
Rotax 912
Brett
 
Posts: 269
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 3:49 am
Location: Geraldton W.A Australia

Re: Sonex fuel level probe and MGL calibration

Postby Onex107 » Mon May 14, 2018 10:16 am

Like Bill, I only run auto gas, ethanol free. He tells me that when he has to add 100 LL the probe does not read correctly. I haven't had to do that. Evidently the resistance is different for the two fuels.
OneX 107
N2107X
Onex107
 
Posts: 506
Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:44 pm
Location: Peoria, IL

Re: Sonex fuel level probe and MGL calibration

Postby sonex892. » Mon May 14, 2018 4:12 pm

Hi Brett
I use the princeton (sonex) sender with MGL. Mostly I run 98 octane unleaded, using avgas only when I have to. My experience is that alternating between fuels does not make any difference whatsoever to the fuel gauge readings.
Steve
Sonex 892
Steve
Lazair kit 1981 sold
Sonerai 2LS plansbuilt 2003 sold
Sonex kit 2010
Sonerai 2LS project rotax 912
User avatar
sonex892.
 
Posts: 414
Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2015 12:32 am

Re: Sonex fuel level probe and MGL calibration

Postby bvolcko38 » Tue May 15, 2018 8:44 am

Where did you find the instruction to record resistances at different fuel levels? It seems that I've read that somewhere, but now that I'm at that stage, I cannot find it.

BV
Bill Volcko XNS0068
Xenos A N68WV 99% flush rivets
Aerovee and Prince P-Tip
MGL Discovery Lite w/ Sandia STX 165R
V6
First hole 4/1/16
First flight 8/24/18
Phase I complete...finally!!!
Also flying a Challenger II since 1999
User avatar
bvolcko38
 
Posts: 284
Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2016 7:40 am
Location: Finger Lakes

Re: Sonex fuel level probe and MGL calibration

Postby Murray Parr » Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:49 pm

Does anyone know what the empty calibration numbers should be? On my MGL IEFIS ( Discovery Lite) it shows 2760 and when I added 15 litres of fuel it still shows 2760 so I aborted the calibration in search of help instead. The RDAC pull up resistor is on as per instructions. I am scratching my head wondering why it isn't changing with more fuel (98 Octane unleaded Methanol free) being added.
Murray Parr
WXB0015
Rotax 912ULS
MGL Explorer Lite
First flight May 6/23
RV9 builder (Sold)
Murray Parr
 
Posts: 248
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2016 6:50 pm

Re: Sonex fuel level probe and MGL calibration

Postby wlarson861 » Thu Dec 23, 2021 12:25 am

make sure the probe is grounded, my ground disconnected and it stopped working
Bill Larson
N861SX
Sonex, polished, tail wheel, Generation 4 Jabiru 3300
wlarson861
 
Posts: 499
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:41 pm

Next

Return to Electrical System

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests