Blaze FLIGHT-3 Operating Manual
Page 20
4.7.2 Calibrating the fuel level sender
The fuel level sender needs to be calibrated before it can be used with this system. The
calibration allows the system to learn the shape of your tank as well as any errors your
fuel level sender or installation has.
Regardless of your use of a fuel flow sender, you can install a fuel level sender into your
fuel tank. These level senders are inexpensive and are available as after market
replacement fittings from a car spares outlet. We recommend the senders available from
VDO.
Be aware that some makes of cheap level senders can prove troublesome, as the lever arms tend to be sticky.
This prevents the floats from floating on the surface of the fuel at all times. As a consequence, this will lead to in -
correct fuel level indication.
Adjusting calibration points automatically
Select “SENDER” for the mode menu item. Once you have installed a fuel level sender into your tank, make sure the float
can travel all the way from empty to full position without hindrance of any kind. The calibration procedure should be car-
ried out with your aircraft in flight attitude. This means you need to lift the tail if you have a tail-dragger or lift the nose
wheel if you have a weight shift trike.
Calibration procedure
Start the calibration procedure with an empty tank.
Add five Litres of fuel (our reserve quantity) using a suitable measure. Make sure the measure is suitably accu -
rate. This is now the “level sender reading at 0 Lt” position. Move the highlight to this position and wait until the
sender reading has stabilized (You will see the sender ADC reading at the top). This could take up to a minute so
have patience.
ENSURE THAT THE FLOAT IS NOT SUBMERGED AND IS FLOATING ON TOP OF THE FUEL LEVEL.
Should this number not react to changes of your level sender position, then you have a problem. Please check
your wiring according to the installation section of this manual. You should expect the number to change in the re -
gion of at least 20 to 60 counts per calibration position. If the number does not change with fuel level or only
changes a very small amount – check your installation. Something is not right!
•
If you see the number changing then everything is well. Once it has stabilized and the highlight is on the 0 L posi-
tion, press the rotary control to transfer the reading from the sender to the calibration point.
•
Now you are ready for the next step. Add the required amount of fuel to get to the next level (In our case 9 Lt – this
is 20% tank capacity). Once done, wait for the reading to stabilize and press the rotary control again after you
have moved the highlight to the “9 L” position.
•
Proceed in a similar manner until you have reached the last calibration position at 100% tank capacity.
You are done!
To finish your calibration, exit the calibration function.
The instrument uses the 6 calibration points to work out a correction curve that takes into account the tolerances of your
fuel level sender and the shape of your fuel tank. This results in an incredibly accurate and usable fuel level display that
far exceeds that available from ordinary dial type gauges.