Revision 1.8.3
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4.2.12
Fuel Management
WARNING: Maretron fuel management products are designed to be accurate and
reliable; however, they should be used only as aids for fuel management and not
as a replacement for traditional fuel management techniques. BEWARE:
Conditions can quickly change that drastically effect time and distance to empty.
You should not use the fuel management data types unless you fully understand
all the parameters associated with fuel management. All fuel tanks and all
engines must be included when setting up the DSM570 plus there must be
accurate fuel rate sensors installed on the vessel and accurate speed
information in order for the DSM570 to properly display fuel management
information. You should also note that fuel levels may contain significant error if
the boat is not sitting level in the water (i.e., sailboat heeled over or a power boat
riding bow up won’t necessarily report the correct amount of fuel). Even when
setup correctly, the DSM570 should be used only as an aid and not the sole
source for fuel management information.
Total Fuel Economy
– displays distance traveled per unit fuel used (for example, miles per gallon
or kilometers per liter) using the specified GPS and specified engine instances within the
favorite screen setup (see Section 5.2.6.4.2 for details).
Total Fuel Rate
– displays rate of fuel usage per unit time (for example, gallons or liters per hour)
for all engine instances specified within the favorite screen setup (see Section 5.2.6.4.2 for
details)
Total Fuel Remaining
– displays total fuel remaining in all fuel tanks specified within the favorite
screen setup (see Section 5.2.6.4.2. In order for the DSM570 to properly calculate total fuel
remaining, tank monitors connected to the network must provide tank capacity in addition to
fluid level.
Distance to Empty
– displays the distance you can travel before all fuel is consumed, assuming
all conditions remain the same. The DSM570 computes distance to empty using several
different parameters including the total fuel remaining (see above) and fuel economy (also
discussed above). Remember, conditions can rapidly change that may drastically effect
distance to empty. For example, if you are going out to sea with the wind and current behind
you, the distance to empty may indicate that there is enough fuel to return home when in fact
there isn’t enough fuel to return. Distance to empty is only applicable if the conditions remain
the same.
Time to Empty
– displays the amount of time you can travel before all fuel is consumed,
assuming all conditions remain the same. The DSM570 computes time to empty using total
fuel remaining (see above) and the engine(s) fuel rate. Remember, conditions can rapidly
change that may drastically effect time to empty. For example, if you are going out to sea with
the wind and current behind you, the time to empty may indicate that there is enough fuel to
return home when in fact there isn’t enough fuel to return. Time to empty is only applicable if
the conditions remain the same.
Total Fuel Capacity
– displays the total capacity of all fuel tanks. The DSM570 can only compute
total fuel capacity assuming all totalized tanks are transmitting their capacity.
Total Fuel Level
– displays the percentage of fuel remaining in all fuel tanks.
