How about this for knowing how much water used from tanks

[jetcrew]

Wanted a solution for the drawbar tap to keep count of water used in each shower session plus total used and this simple device looks perfect.

It counts what you used in the shower say 12ltr then after 30min of no flow it resetts to zero but it remembers the 12 ltrs then next time you use 8ltr it displays this then after 30min of no activity it resetts to zero but adds the 8 to the 12 and shows total of 20 ltrs . it keeps doing this until you manually reset the total figure. i think this could be a real winner for the drawbar tap.

just thought Id share.


https://www.hoselink.com.au/buy/digital-flow-meter-gauge/5815

jet

[feisty]

Been thinking about this sort of device myself. The chaps on the conqueror forum seem to be dead keen on the topargee unit at about 100 bucks.  Was going to ask if any swagger had one. Seems way better than a guage if you know your usable capacity (as opposed to tank size)
And no drilling into your tank!!!!
http://www.conquerorforum.com/post/topargee-inlibe-flow-meter-7127961

[jetcrew]

yeah I have seen them too I just oredred 2 of theses as I like the fact I can also use it to count liters put into the tank as well then resett and use it to count liters out of the front tank.

May still consider a top agree for the kitchen tank but for the front shower tank as it has a tap on draw bar I think this will be awesome.

Time will tell i guess

jet

[MrCruza]

I picked up a similar unit from Bunnings. Works great.

[Jav7]

Excellent idea. Will order one. Thx for the link.

[Fizzie]

I saw reference (think it was on here?) to a similar type of flowmeter: http://www.futurlec.com/Flow_Sensor.shtml#FLOWMETER

Only arrived this week so haven't fitted it yet but have read a number of good reports & only about $25 against $100 for Topagee!
 

[#jonesy]

The remote ones look like a good idea attached to the tank to count the total water used.

What was the Bunnings one?
 How do they perform with lower flow rates?

[weeds]

Three to choose from so far....

I like how the topagree counts down the capacity of your tank......and has an alarm

The hose link looks a little fragile

The futurlec looks OK, simile to topagree low end one (which they don't recommend for a mobile install)

[Wazza999]

You could always set it up in-line with hose either side if you were worried and avoid most ways of putting strain on it.

[jetcrew]

Three to choose from so far....

I like how the topagree counts down the capacity of your tank......and has an alarm

The hose link looks a little fragile

The futurlec looks OK, simile to topagree low end one (which they don't recommend for a mobile install)

what do you mean by fragile mate..it wont be left on the tap , so i cant see the fragileness of it unless I have missed something  ..

Jet

[MrCruza]

The remote ones look like a good idea attached to the tank to count the total water used.

What was the Bunnings one?
 How do they perform with lower flow rates?

The Bunnings one is a Gardena model..

Gardena Flow Meter

I use mine on my kitchen tap which is a 3.5Lt/min job and it works fine.

They don't always have them in stock so you might need to hunt around.
Think I paid around $35 for mine.

[tryagain]

I saw reference (think it was on here?) to a similar type of flowmeter: http://www.futurlec.com/Flow_Sensor.shtml#FLOWMETER

Only arrived this week so haven't fitted it yet but have read a number of good reports & only about $25 against $100 for Topagee!

Have you been happy with this? thinking about getting one.

[Merts]

Considering the Hoselink device isn't particularly accurate ("Accuracy of the flow meter gauge is expected to be above 95% but this can vary slightly depending on a number of variables.") and you are only measuring what is going through the drawbar tap and not the kitchen tap, it won't actually tell you how much water you have left in the tank. 

The remote type which could measure the total flow seem like a much better idea to me.

[Fizzie]

Have you been happy with this? thinking about getting one.

Took a while to be delivered & it apparently came from Germany, despite buying it from a supposedly Australian site with an Oz address.

Have only used it once & gave very confusing results - according to it's display we managed to get 167l out of our 80l tank!   

Filling 600ml water bottles & displaying 3l going in?

But when we got home & I drained the tank, filled just over 2 buckets (not to the top) & the display went from 150 to 167l which would be pretty spot on?

Maybe it's the first time we've used it so it's got to calibrate itself or something?

Could also be our set-up effecting the result - we have the hose coming out of the tank to a T piece - one line goes through a non-return valve to a manual pump, the other line also through a NRV, then the meter to the electric pump feeding the kitchen tap, so that may disrupt the water flow or something?

Having said that though, if we know that we've got "167l" to play with & it shows that we've only used 140 so far, then we know we've still got water left in the tank.

Will have to check it again next time we use it & will report back again 

[Bird]

Have only used it once & gave very confusing results - according to it's display we managed to get 167l out of our 80l tank!   

Top value, I'm buyin one... some how it makes water expand....

[briann532]

So if I get one and put in in line with the tank output, then when I get down to 10 litres or so left I can run a hose from the tap to the tank inlet and refill my tank???

Awesome, why didn't I think of this before???
Also has anyone tested to see if it works with beer?
 

[Bird]

... so has anyone tested to see if it works with beer?

**** we're onto something here... keep it quiet

[tryagain]

Took a while to be delivered & it apparently came from Germany, despite buying it from a supposedly Australian site with an Oz address.

Have only used it once & gave very confusing results - according to it's display we managed to get 167l out of our 80l tank!   

Filling 600ml water bottles & displaying 3l going in?

But when we got home & I drained the tank, filled just over 2 buckets (not to the top) & the display went from 150 to 167l which would be pretty spot on?

Maybe it's the first time we've used it so it's got to calibrate itself or something?

Did you get the 1/2" or the 1/4" one. If you got the 1/2" I wonder if you had flow less than it's minimum 1.5lpm and it therefore measured a greater flow than the actual.

[Spada]

Maybe it's the first time we've used it so it's got to calibrate itself or something?

I've heard of cheap versions of these sensors being susceptible to giving dodgy readings after travelling, as the vibrations and jiggling (especially after corrugated roads) fools the sensor into thinking water is flowing.

I've been using the Topargee version of these meters without issue for a few years now.

[Fizzie]

So if I get one and put in in line with the tank output, then when I get down to 10 litres or so left I can run a hose from the tap to the tank inlet and refill my tank???

Awesome, why didn't I think of this before???
Also has anyone tested to see if it works with beer?
 

 

Thanks Brian, we'll have to try that idea! 

Did you get the 1/2" or the 1/4" one. If you got the 1/2" I wonder if you had flow less than it's minimum 1.5lpm and it therefore measured a greater flow than the actual.

TA 1/2" unit with 1/2" hose throughout. Running through a little 3.5lpm pump as it's only for the kitchen sink. Possibly the tap not being turned on hard while filling bottles etc effected the reading, but when I drained the tank with the tap on full, it then read correctly?

[tryagain]

TA 1/2" unit with 1/2" hose throughout. Running through a little 3.5lpm pump as it's only for the kitchen sink. Possibly the tap not being turned on hard while filling bottles etc effected the reading, but when I drained the tank with the tap on full, it then read correctly?

So it did read correctly when you just emptied out the tank?

 

[aussie9]

The Bunnings one is a Gardena model..

Gardena Flow Meter

I use mine on my kitchen tap which is a 3.5Lt/min job and it works fine.

They don't always have them in stock so you might need to hunt around.
Think I paid around $35 for mine.

I've got of the Gardena jobs on our camper
I used it on the hose to fill the camper tank and it measured 120lts on the dot
Then I fitted it to the kitchen tap. Backwards, so it counted back and eventually the pump sucked air at 9.7lts
I undid the bottom bung in the tank and drained out just on 7lts
So they are accurate enough
Cheers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Fizzie]

So it did read correctly when you just emptied out the tank?

Seemed to. Was reading 150l, I filled a bucket to about the 7-8l mark twice, then another couple of l's finished the tank off & gauge was then reading 167 so pretty close to 17l.

[tryagain]

Possibly the tap not being turned on hard while filling bottles etc effected the reading.

That was my initial thought but I would assume that low flow would give a low reading, not a high one. The similar Topargee ones have the same rated flow sensor so I would think it would be ok . Did you drive with it on? it would seem that this can be the main downfall with these ones as opposed to the $100ish ones is that it looks like bumps/vibrations can affect them. Topargee also has this picture on their website for where best to mount it (200mm away from the pump and elbows) but I doubt it would throw it out to the extent yours was my guess is vibrations giving a false reading, it would explain why it worked properly when you tested it with a bucket as well.

[img width= height=]http://www.topargee.com.au/uploads/9/7/4/1/9741869/sender-positions_1_orig.jpg[/img]

I think I have gone full circle I was about to buy one when you posted your issues then went back to the drawing board and looked at the alternatives and am back to this one again, I am also in no rush as most people have indicated a long wait time for delivery.

Changed again, by the time you add postage and convert the dollar I think I will wait for an eBay sale and get one of the black topargee ones. Will hopefully be had for about $75 posted.
 

[Fizzie]

Thanks for that diagram 

I've got our's mounted before the pump & I don't think it's 200mm either so that (combined) may be the answer