Digital Fuel Sensors: Installation-Critical

摘要

Venture on a primary engine instrumentation system retrofit (which often includes a fuel quantity display) and you'll have some critical decisions to make. Primarily, will you use the existing OEM analog fuel tank sensors? This is where a lot of otherwise good installations go off the rails. That's because in an effort to save money, it's tempting to use the existing sensors as they sit or have them repaired or overhauled in hopes of tweaking out some accuracy and reliability. As many discover, this isn't a guarantee that the new digital fuel quantity display will read any more accurately than the mechanical quantity gauge. For real accuracy, shops have been using CiES digital fuel senders, which have proven accuracy and reliability over most analog OEM senders. CiES digital senders are used by plenty of OEMs, including Cirrus, Piper and Textron. Even Garmin suggests using them when installing the EIS (Engine Indication System), which has a fuel quantity function to replace the OEM gauges. But with so many potential traps, we thought it would be a good idea to talk with CiES founder Scott Philiben, who offered sound, take-it-to-the-shop advice for getting the installation right the first time.