If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
"Evan Carew" wrote in message
... -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Isn't this just a capacitance meter on a chip? Evan Yes and no. It's not meant to measure absolute capacitor values. It compares a relatively large fixed capacitance (reference capacitor) to a much smaller external capacitance. The external capacitance can be two metal strips attached to the tank, right next to eachother. The air around the strips, the plastic of the tank and the fuel inside the tank form the dielectricum for the small capacitor. When flying, the fuel slowly gets replaced by air, so the capacitor changes value. The chip translates this into digital information or a PWM signal, depending on which chip you select. PWM is easy to convert to a voltage, and can drive standard fuel gauges. The full inner working is a bit more complex and includes I have used some of their other chips (QT60040) for solid state keypads and they work quite well. I have ordered a couple QT300's to play with, if it works out I'll post results here. Possible issues are stability over temperature, and maybe radio interference. These chips use some kind of pulse burst system which may introduce noise. Rob |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Jim Weir wrote:
I think the chips themselves are worth investigating. I do have a prejudice against UK semiconductor manufacturers, having had a major one and a minor one simply stop producing parts that rendered several tens of thousands of dollars of hardware and engineering time down the drain. I realize that they are not ALL like that, but the only two that have screwed me thus far in 40 years have been UK based. Jim -If you want to do some tinkering of your own (legal disclaimer here..) you -may want to look at sensor chips from QProx (www.qprox.com). They have a -couple of capacitive level monitor chips like the QT300/301 or QT117L that -may provide real-time non-contact level information. If you have a non-metal -tank you may be able to just attach two strips on the side of the tank and -be done. - -Jim, what do you think? - -Rob - Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup) VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor http://www.rst-engr.com I've used the QT114 for a single point fluid (alcohol) level control in a one liter plactic cylinder. Precise within fractions of a mm. I also used the QT110 for an isolated (behind a glass display window) proximity switch for one of our students' Physics class projects. The QT117 or QT300 might work for a tank level gauge. They even have "slosh" filter software built in, |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Airplane Parts on Ebay Vac Reg Valves, Fuel Floats, O-200 Spider, Fuel Injection Valve | Bill Berle | Home Built | 0 | January 26th 04 07:48 AM |
Fuel dump switch in homebuilt | Jay | Home Built | 36 | December 5th 03 02:21 AM |
Yo! Fuel Tank! | Veeduber | Home Built | 15 | October 25th 03 02:57 AM |
Pumping fuel backwards through an electric fuel pump | Greg Reid | Home Built | 15 | October 7th 03 07:09 PM |
Hot weather and autogas? | Rich S. | Home Built | 33 | July 30th 03 11:25 PM |