Browse Forums Eco Living 1 Oct 16, 2012 2:50 pm First post here, great forum. Lots of questions to come but something simple to start. I'm trying to source a reliable tank guage to use on 4x 5000 gal poly tanks. I can get these Rainharvest ones at cost ($16 each) with the tanks. Anyone using them and are they durable? Or, is there a simplier alternative, a tried and proven method that's popular? John Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Water tank guages - what do you use? 2Oct 16, 2012 4:09 pm I use this, and it is great. But you need to add the sensor wire. It was easy for me, but if you are technically challenged ask the shop to wire it for you.... then you just pop the wire in the tank (on a stiff rod) and put the LED display anywhere that is convenient. Ed http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.as ... rm=KEYWORD "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: Water tank guages - what do you use? 3Oct 16, 2012 4:15 pm I am going to sound like the biggest idiot here, but my Dad literally used a long piece of wood, kidn of like what you used to use to keep a sliding window shut? Obviously that doesn't work if you want to know actual literage or whatever but it gives a good indication of when you are running low. In their new tank (the whole house is run off tank water) he doesn't have a stick yet (lol!) so just opens the top and looks in with a torch haha. 1st build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59376 *New*-2nd build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70324&p=1154282#p1154282 Re: Water tank guages - what do you use? 4Oct 16, 2012 7:47 pm Quote: I am going to sound like the biggest idiot here, Maybe SB but your method is failsafe and works even if there is a blackout etc. Just a tad inconvenient if it is pouring with rain and the tank is 50m from the house is all. Stewie Re: Water tank guages - what do you use? 5Oct 17, 2012 8:10 am Agree re the measuring stick, the KISS principle in action there. The Jaycar device looks good but with 4 tanks it gets expensive. I think I'll give the Rainharvest ones a go with some sort of UV protection over them. John Re: Water tank guages - what do you use? 6Oct 17, 2012 7:10 pm Hi jnk40, The one you linked is very cheap but I have seen a few that have lost a hand and stopped working. The actual level detection mechanism is just a string on a bit of plastic and not much can go wrong there. The last broken one I saw was only a few weeks ago, I tried to open it up to have a look but couldn't. If it was mine, I would have used a bit more force. It depends on what also takes your fancy. Some people have electronic ones but for me, I like the environmental novelty of using the one I have linked at the bottom as it recycles materials and gives a pensioner a few extra bob in the kip. Costs a bit more than the cheapie though. http://www.tankwaterlevel.com/home.html Don't entertain having a clear plastic tube, algae loves sunlight. You can split some poly pipe to wrap around the tube to block the light but you also block the view. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Water tank guages - what do you use? 8Oct 18, 2012 9:04 pm Are your tanks connected in series or are they independant? If they are in series you may get away with one. I have two 10 000 litres thanks and I simply use my knuckles to tap the side and guage how high the water leavel is. My FIL uses has sensitive hands and can feel the change in temperature were the water stops. Re: Water tank guages - what do you use? 9Oct 18, 2012 9:33 pm Thanks for the links and feedback. The Lucano in SaveH2O's post seems to be simple enough to last the distance and I like that it is a clear visual check that shows the actual water level. The version in my OP would be harder to read from a distance and I had my doubts re its durability. The tanks will be interconnected but I think having a gauge on each will be best to allow for different scenarios, and my OCD. John If you can calculate the reasonable charged head from let's say 100mm below the gutter to the top of where the vertical riser's horizontal discharge pipe will be, that… 11 17991 Building Standards; Getting It Right! Thank you for the generous offer. I need to get the plumber out to give me an explanation. As mentioned I haven't seen any rain water discharge from pipes 1& 3. It… 7 11326 Can a plumber put a tap on a rain water tank which is full? Tank is similar to one in photo. Cheers. 0 1977 |