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Specifications & Installation Instructions for universal LED Fuel Gauge from Belite Electronics
Specifications & Installation Instructions for universal LED Fuel Gauge from Belite Electronics
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| LED Fuel Gauge from Belite Electronics. Dual tank version also available. |
Part Numbers:
SINGLE TANK – XXXX
DUAL TANK -- XXXX
See the video explaining it here:
At A Glance:
· Lightest Weight
· Smallest Size
· Best visibility of any fuel gauge
· LED colors: green, then yellow, then red, and also increases in brightness as fuel level goes down
· Bottom LED flashes brilliant red when out of fuel
· Single or Dual tank versions
· Compatible with Capacitive (0-5v) and Resistive Fuel Probe Senders
· May be calibrated to any individual Fuel Probe Sender
· Dimmable
Belite’s Improved LED Fuel Gauge provides a LED display
which shows the current amount of fuel in your fuel tank. Calibrated from 0% to 100%, it features
unusually bright LEDs which are completely readable in direct sunlight. It is available in a single or dual version,
for support of one or two fuel tanks.
The input compatibility is selectable between traditional float style
fuel senders and newer style capacitive fuel senders. It may be calibrated to match the full and
empty point of any fuel sender / tank at the push of a button. The unit uses digital electronics to
interpret, calibrate and display the fuel tank level. Calibration of the fuel level is done via a
single button for each tank.
SPECIFICATIONS
· Dimensions: 2 3/8” x 2 3/8” x 5/8” (not including connector height). Fits standard 2 ¼” instrument hole. Including connector, complete depth of instrument is 1.0”.
· Power Supply: Attaches to any DC power supply between 8 and 14 volts. Alternatively, you may use LITHIUM 9V batteries. DO NOT USE ALKALINE 9V batteries. Battery life is approximately 4 – 8 hours using a lithium 9V battery.
· Power Consumption: less than 30ma for single display; less than 50ma for dual display.
· Weight: 1.2 ounce / 35 grams (includes electrical connector).
· Color LED Range: Green (full), Yellow and Red (empty).
· Probe Compatibility: Use with any capacitive probe (standard 0-5v output); use with any resistive probe (EG: 30 – 240 ohm; will also work with any other ohm range such as 40 – 90 ohm)
· Slosh Damping: Electronic filtering built into the Belite Fuel Gauge controls minor errant reading due to fuel sloshing.
· FCC Part 15: Compliant by EXEMPTION, Section 15.103(a)
· For other directives: THIS EQUIPMENT IS DESIGNED FOR USE IN AIRCRAFT and VEHICLES.
· Internal Fusing: None, use external fuse <= 1A.
· Power: use external switching.
· Power On Self Test: Observe all LEDs illuminated through pattern check and variable brightness check.
· Dimming Control: 0 – 12V; 0 = full bright; 12V = full dim. Use external 5K potentiometer. Dimming the LEDs substantially reduces power consumption.
· TSO/PMA: No. For use in non-certified aircraft.
· Warranty: US: 1 year. Rest of world: 2 year.
· Temperature Range: -20C – 45C (operating). -40C – 70C (nonoperating).
· Humidity: Non-condensing.
· Cabling: Black = ground; Red = 8-14v; Yellow = Dimming (leave unconnected if unused). Remaining wires are for left / right fuel sender input.
INSTALLATION
Install in any 2 ¼” instrument hole using provided screws
and lock nuts.
Attach ground and power to black and red wires by cutting
off the 9V connector. The supplied 9V battery
connector may be used for temporary unit testing, or may be used as a permanent
source of power. Use only Lithium 9V
batteries. Walmart sells them, as do
many other battery retailers. They are
usually found in the photo section of the store.
If you have decided to install a dimmer, attach the yellow
wire to the middle lug of a 5K potentiometer.
The other lugs of the potentiometer must be attached to ground and
+12V. (Using +9V for the dimming
potentiometer will not provide full dimming.)
INSTALLATION - SELECTING CAPACITIVE OR RESISTIVE FUEL
SENDERS
When you turn the fuel gauge on, it will perform a Power On
Self Test. If the LEDs light up from
bottom to top, your unit is configured for capacitive fuel senders. If the LEDs light up from top to bottom, your
unit is configured for resistive fuel senders.
To reverse, attach the switch assembly to the program
connector, and depress the switch before you power the unit up. The fuel gauge will sense this condition and
permanently reconfigure the gauge form capacitive to resistive, or vice
versa. (Each side [left tank / right
tank] of the display gauge has an independent switch.)
We recommend ‘playing’ with this capability before you
install the fuel gauge in your airplane.
You MUST have the correct configuration set in your fuel
gauge (relative to your type of fuel sender) or you will have improper
operation.
INSTALLATION - WIRING – CAPACITIVE FUEL SENDERS
The remaining one or two wires are attached to the
capacitive fuel senders. (You may verify
the right / left wires by touching them briefly to the positive 9V battery post.) After verification of right / left, the gauge
may be attached to the fuel senders. Each
capacitive fuel sender has an ‘output’ that supplies a voltage indication of
the fuel tank level, 0 – 5 volts. This
voltage level is interpreted by the LED fuel gauge to show the amount of fuel
in your tank. Just connect the fuel
sender to the fuel gauge and it will work.
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| Capacitive Probe Fuel Tank Wiring Diagram. Figure 1. |
INSTALLATION - WIRING – RESISTIVE FUEL SENDERS
The remaining one or two wires are attached to the resistive
fuel sender. Additionally, you must
attach a 330 ohm resistor (included) from +12V (your system power) to the same
line.
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| Resistive probe fuel tank wiring. Figure 2. |
INSTALLATION – CALIBRATION
Calibration is easy.
Each side of the gauge is calibrated independently. Calibration is performed AFTER you’ve
selected fuel sender type (capacitive vs resistive) and after you’ve attached
the senders.
You must have the switch assembly attached to the fuel
gauge.
When the fuel tank condition is empty, depress the switch
for less than one second. The fuel gauge
will permanently remember this level as being the empty level.
When the fuel tank condition is full, depress the switch for
more than three seconds. The fuel gauge
will permanently remember this level as being the full level.
Calibration for each tank is done independently.
The fuel gauge will retain these calibration levels in
permanent flash memory storage within the fuel gauge.
After calibration, the switch assembly should be disconnected from the fuel gauge.
TIPS
We strongly recommend ‘playing’ with the unit prior to
installation in your aircraft. Sender
type should be set and verified.
Operation of the LED scale may be verified simply by brushing the input wire
against a positive voltage source. You’ll
see the LED jump up and then slowly dissipate down. If the unit is configured for capacitive
senders, a positive voltage will cause the LED indication to rise. If configured for resistive senders, a positive
voltage will cause the LED indication to fall.
It is much easier to resolve issues prior to installing the
probes in your aircraft.
Contact us if you have any questions.
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