Next project: fuel totalizer

P-Dogg · Post by **P-Dogg** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 4:10 pm

Is anyone using a fuel totalizer that outputs, MPG as well as miles to empty? My car has one, planes have them, why doesn't every boat? Floscan makes what I want, but only in a diesel version. Anyone have a source suitable for a twin gas installation? Perhaps there is a chartplotter that takes an input from a flow meter instead of a flowmeter that takes an input from a GPS? Thanks, Perry

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 5:52 pm

Look at the Flow Scan 9000 series Will do most of what to want (but no miles to empty ) interface with the GPS

http://www.floscan.com/html/blue/series ... 13&catid=2

Navman made a GPS the could measure fuel flow . don't know if the still do .

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:03 pm

You got some good answers on the other forum...

I use the Floscan Twin Scan on the F32.
How would you calculate not running out of fuel on the water, if like you asked, your meter knew how many miles per gallon you traveled? Wind, cross current, tide all are factors when going from point A to point B. There will not always be a straight, accurate and known course.

I fill up my tanks, reset my totalizer. I hold 220 gallons of fuel. I burn 125 gallons of fuel, I know I have 95 gallons of fuel left. What's the figure...1nm per gallon of fuel...something like that.?

It also tells me how much each engine is burning at every rpm. With this, you can optimize and find the most efficient mph per fuel burn. And, you'll be able to see which engine is running it's best or, needs attention. I no longer need or want fuel gauges.

Simple math and plotting will be your best friend.
This is my unit and is for gas engines.

http://www.floscan.com/html/blue/series ... php?sid=14

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:33 pm

Garman may have the anwser .

GFSâ„¢ 10 Fuel Sensor

Add fuel tracking capabilities to your Garmin chartplotter and optimize your boat's fuel economy. The GFS 10 tracks fuel flow use and sends the data to your chartplotter via the Garmin CANet or NMEA 2000.

Unlike other fuel flow sensors, the GFS 10 will include fuel level sensing capability when connected to an existing analog fuel gauge or resistive fuel tank sensor. Maximum fuel flow rate for the GFS 10 is 50 gallons per hour, and the minimum flow rate is two gallons per hour.

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:40 pm

prowlersfish wrote:Garman may have the anwser .

GFSâ„¢ 10 Fuel Sensor

Add fuel tracking capabilities to your Garmin chartplotter and optimize your boat's fuel economy. The GFS 10 tracks fuel flow use and sends the data to your chartplotter via the Garmin CANet or NMEA 2000.

Unlike other fuel flow sensors, the GFS 10 will include fuel level sensing capability when connected to an existing analog fuel gauge or resistive fuel tank sensor. Maximum fuel flow rate for the GFS 10 is 50 gallons per hour, and the minimum flow rate is two gallons per hour.

this is the one we all talked about a few months back when I was researching the system. with garman you just have to buy the network hub and you can add up to 10 items, radar, fuel flow, rudder etc. I got the hub for 150$ I think

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:48 pm

Just wish the had something for diesels cheap

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:53 pm

I dont understand why they dont, whats the difference? lots of boats are deisel, the market is there, right?
I wanna say Tony said there was a better system but I cant remember the name of the other popular system he was talking about, brain fart

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:55 pm

he said the minimum flow rate went to 0.3 gallons on the other system. I think it was Tony I cant remember

Vitaliy · Post by **Vitaliy** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:11 pm

that sounds like a great little gadget to have

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 8:16 pm

jefflaw35 wrote:I dont understand why they dont, whats the difference? lots of boats are deisel, the market is there, right?
I wanna say Tony said there was a better system but I cant remember the name of the other popular system he was talking about, brain fart

Good question . here is the answer to the question
On a Diesels you need a sensor on the fuel line and another on the fuel return line . The meter needs to minus return line flow from the fuel line flow . this all ads to the cost . and bigger sensors are needed some times due to the large fuel flow . My engines flow around 70 GPH at idle .

why doesn't every boat have them ? cost but that will change .

With the newer electronic engines the PCM can cal. the fuel burn . This what we see on cars and trucks nowadays . It is calculated not measured , but it is surprisingly close to real fuel burn. The latest marine engines are doing this also gas and diesel.

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 9:44 pm

prowlersfish wrote:
jefflaw35 wrote:I dont understand why they dont, whats the difference? lots of boats are deisel, the market is there, right?
I wanna say Tony said there was a better system but I cant remember the name of the other popular system he was talking about, brain fart
Good question . here is the answer to the question
On a Diesels you need a sensor on the fuel line and another on the fuel return line . The meter needs to minus return line flow from the fuel line flow . this all ads to the cost . and bigger sensors are needed some times due to the large fuel flow . My engines flow around 70 GPH at idle .

why doesn't every boat have them ? cost but that will change .

crazy!! my best buddy is a deisel mech, hard to find!!! I called him an hour ago and he told me the same exact thing!!! very interesting, but I have no interest in desiel. He said there is no way to make the same system as cheap at least not yet...availible but he see's it coming

With the newer electronic engines the PCM can cal. the fuel burn . This what we see on cars and trucks nowadays . It is calculated not measured , but it is surprisingly close to real fuel burn. The latest marine engines are doing this also gas and diesel.

crazy!! my best buddy is a deisel mech, hard to find!!! I called him an hour ago and he told me the same exact thing!!! very interesting, but I have no interest in desiel. He said there is no way to make the same system as cheap at least not yet...availible but he see's it coming

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 10:24 pm

With the electronic engines , its all software , and most engines have gone that way .

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 10:26 pm

yea I suppose we would need computers (several) on our old boats these days. My wife has an 08 BMW 23 computers, LOL I wont be fixing it when it breaks for sure! I like Jamies idea better, simple math and some simple planning!!!