The Best Water Tank Gauge for Van Conversions? | KUS Tank Gauge and Sender Unit Explained

[@rosslukeman]

Get the Ultimate Van Power Cheat Sheet: www.rosslukeman.com/vanpower

[@explor794]

Another excellent video, I don’t know what it is but some people explain things much better than others.

[@rosslukeman]

Thanks Robert!

[@joefranco7012]

Thank you for making things easy to understand. Easy to follow and very detailed. Thank you!

[@rosslukeman]

Thanks Joe!

[@Keysengine17]

Thanks Ross!! Excellent instruction. Really appreciate it!

[@rosslukeman]

Thanks for the kind words, I'm glad you found that helpful!

[@Boy_rich]

Ross!!! thank you so much for doing this video! you just gained another subscriber and the value you created here is tremendous

[@rosslukeman]

Hey Richard, great to hear that video made an impact! Thanks for subscribing!

[@lamonttblackshire1638]

Great video…EXACTLY what I was looking for!

[@rosslukeman]

Good deal, I'm glad that helped! Thanks for tuning in-

[@cesalt2408]

This was a great help to me, as I had already planned to use this gauge. Thanks so much!

[@rosslukeman]

Awesome, glad that helped with your project!

[@TimAndShannonLTD]

Good information Ross! Thanks for sharing!

[@rosslukeman]

Thanks, I'm glad that was helpful! They are cool little gauges. Thanks for tuning in!

[@JensDueOhlsen]

nice and simple instructions. thank you.

[@rosslukeman]

Thanks for watching, glad that was helpful!

[@carlnapolitano9766]

Great video it helped me out Thanks

[@rosslukeman]

Glad that helped, thanks for watching!

[@no_worries_van]

So I hooked up everything exactly like my instructions said and mine is still showing empty when my tank is full, so I have no idea what to do.

[@lfooty2058]

Yea Im having the same issue, got the red light, but needle won’t move

[@johnsfox123]

Love the video. Especially the rewind on the water pitcher! Do you know if it's possible to wire up the sender to both a KUS gauge and a Cerbo GX? I'd love to have a KUS at the back of my van for when I'm filling, and then use the Cerbo while in the van to monitor tank levels. I'm guessing there'd be a problem if both units were trying to measure at the same time. Probably both would get half the current and then assume twice the actual resistance. Maybe I could add a switch at the rear of the van that toggles between the two so that there's only one current return path active at a time. Curious what your thoughts are on this.

[@rosslukeman]

Hi John, thanks for tuning in! Great to hear you liked my water pitcher rewind trick. On the KUS, it is my understanding that they make a special model with 2 outputs for situations like yours. I would contact KUS directly or surf their site to see if you can locate it. I haven't used it but it reportedly exists. Hope that helps, and thanks again for tuning in!

[@kelRGo]

Very helpful video

[@mapa1979]

Great video! Which cable gage should i use to connect the sensor from my battery?

[@rosslukeman]

Hi Manuel, 18 AWG is fine for the whole circuit.

[@rebekahkim9500]

Hi Ross, Can i extend the black wire so that I can mount my gauge far from the actual sensor?

[@rosslukeman]

Hi Rebekah, yes that is fine, I have tacked on 10-15 feet of wire to these in the past and they still work great. Hope that helps, thanks for the question!

[@BrianP_US]

Nice video! I’m new to your channel, and had a few thoughts while watching this video. I’m sure you have a thousand requests for various content. I’m curious what your thoughts are on “advanced installation” options? If you are creating content for #VanLife DIY builders, this water level sending unit and gauge option is perfect to get started and may be enough to for most. If a builder plans to expand the functionality of this level and gauge, builders should be told to plan ahead with wiring (Giving them easier access later). “Click here for advanced installation and functionality” Two options to expand functionality come to mind: 1. Plan to wire this level sending unit to a Victron Cerbo GX 2. No Cerbo GX, but you want a visual warning? Wire the yellow and orange/red lights so they indicate “low water level warnings”. You could even have the orange/red light flash when below 5-10% with a bit of simple circuitry. Thank you for any feedback or links to videos that may cover this type of installation.

[@rosslukeman]

Hey there, thanks for checking out my videos. Interesting ideas you have here. As far as hooking this sending unit to the Cerbo, I do tie it in or mention in several of my Cerbo videos. I have a playlist on the Cerbo here: kzbin.info/aero/PLWoQHaxPSGfwdZif5uZSCAES_RLFR3_xJ I suppose on the 5-10 flashing lights, that would be cool but would probably be for someone with additional electronics interest. I am mostly covering broader topics here. Thanks again for tuning in!

[@slrotation4520]

Excellent

[@rosslukeman]

Thank you!

[@jufalucian2762]

Hello! I looked for many minutes and did not understand the diagram, can you send the exact step-by-step diagram?

[@SingularCinema]

Hi Ross, thanks for the video, I gave it a like - how exactly did you measure the length in the tank to choose the length for the sensor?

[@rosslukeman]

Hey Sam, thanks for the like! For the sensor size, you would just measure the outside height of the tank, and subtract 1 inch. Hope that helps!

[@hielkek]

Hi, thank you for the great instruction. Don’t know what happened with my gauge (or sensor) but it shows the opposite of the water level. So when it’s empty it shows it is full. Any idea what I did wrong? Thanks!

[@rosslukeman]

Hey there, thanks for tuning in. It sounds like the wires may be reversed. That would be my best guess. Hope that helps!

[@hielkek]

Hi, thanks. Thought so too, didn’t work unfortunately.

[@rosslukeman]

@@hielkek Ah ok. If it were me I would measure the resistance in the wires when the sender is in the full vs. empty position. Make sure your numbers are what they should be, if so, then there could be an issue with the dial. I would use a multimeter to measure ohms of resistance, to see what I'm getting. Hope that helps-

[@hielkek]

@@rosslukeman Thanks a lot, I will try and let you know.

[@MrRobinski]

@@hielkek Hi did you work out the problem as the same thing is happening with mine?

[@davidpatrick1813]

Thanks.. I will look for a unit/kit.

[@rosslukeman]

Awesome, thanks for tuning in David! They are pretty cool little gauges.

[@BlackDogShores]

Hi Ross, Thanks for this informative video on the KUS monitoring system. I have a couple of questions: 1). Any advice on which direction the wire should placed? My assumption is that it should face the direction of the wire that will come from the van (e.g. when hung under the van). 2). Do you have any advice on adding a larger 'clean out' access port to the top of any tank in order to perform cleaning maintenance? 3). Will you be providing a future video on the SeeLevel System installation and wiring? Thank you for these informative videos!

[@rosslukeman]

Hi Kate, I'm glad you liked the video! On the direction of the wire, I am assuming you're talking about the wires from the sending unit. On that, I don't really have a preference. I think any direction should be okay. On the cleanout port, I don't have any experience with that, as I typically just flush the tanks with more water. On the SeeLevel system, I would like to say yes and may cover that in the future but I don't yet have that equipment and have a few more things I'll be covering before I take on newer topics (and buy more parts). Although after the KUS gauge and Micro Monitor videos, I'm kind of feeling like I should round out the collection. I wish I had more affirmative answers, but thanks for tuning in and leaving your thoughtful questions.

[@globaby2058]

What switch are you using?

[@opossumgrylls3275]

This doesnt seem like a good choice for a black tank due to the solids and paper. Or am I wrong?

[@transittravels5763]

This might sound like a stupid question but how do I know what size sender to buy? I really like the look of the gauge and the idea of the sender but I’m not sure what size to buy? I’ve got a 100 litre tank, but am I right in saying it would be the dimensions of the tank that matters?

[@rosslukeman]

Hey there, it's based on the height of your tank, top to bottom. You're supposed to subtract an inch from your tank height and that is your sender dimension. Sometimes I subtract less that an inch, as long as the sender rod does not hit the bottom of your tank, you're good. Thanks for the question!

[@fhproject4676]

hello I want to ask, if I buy a level sensor with a length of 30cm and I want to modify it myself by extending the rod 2 meters long is it possible

[@rosslukeman]

Hey there, thanks for tuning in. I would not do that as there are waterproof electronics (magnetic reed switches and resistors) inside that tube. What I would do is get something ultrasonic from Mopeka (wireless) or Safiery (hardwired) in that case. Hope that helps!

[@spuck2000]

Hello! First, thanks for the video! I do not have a symmetrical tank. Mine is a wheel arch tank. I assume that the system shown is not suitable for this, is it?

[@rosslukeman]

Hi Michael, all of these sensors are pretty much based on taking the water level reading. If you have a clear space where you could get one of these sensors to fit in the tank top to bottom, then it would work. If not, then perhaps a SeeLevel monitor stuck to the outside. Either way it would just read the water level, which as you would suspect will appear to drop faster once it gets below the wheel well and the tank cross section thins out. Either way you would know if the water is at the top, bottom, or middle. Hope that helps, kind of a frustrating situation!

[@spuck2000]

@@rosslukeman Hi Ross! Thanks for the detailed answer. It confirms what I have suspected. I guess I have to use one of the sensors which work with the capacitative method. The one popular in Germany is from Votronic. I just do not like their displays ;)

[@rosslukeman]

Michael I was researching for another video and found that with the Victron Cerbo GX, you can create a "custom tank shape" in the software, so that the readings it takes are translated to a more accurate percentage remaining. Here's a little blurb from them: "Custom shape It is possible to configure custom shapes for non-linear shaped tanks using this setting. For example: if a tank that is wider up top, the tank shape can be configured so that a sensor reading of 50% equals only 25% of volume. Up to 10 positions can be set to accurately describe the relationship between sensor reading and tank shape, even for highly irregular tanks. The tank volume is linearly interpolated between positions." It's been a while since your original comment but I wanted to add this. Good luck with the project!

[@spuck2000]

@@rosslukeman Hi Ross! Thanks for coming back with a recommendation again, that is very kind. I will have a look into it. Kind Regards!

[@thenoisydagger6363]

Hey mate, was wondering how do I work out the measurements when ordering it, my tank from top to bottom is 395mm, when they have there measurements on the site are they measuring from just the rod, or the actual whole thing including the top thing

[@rosslukeman]

Hey there, the official measurement listed on these sensors is only referring to the rod. The top thing is not included in the listed measurement. They also encourage you to leave 1 inch or 25mm between the end of the rod and the bottom of your tank. So maybe go with something around 370-375mm if it's available. Hope that helps, good luck with it!

[@marcusallenyt]

just got one

[@rosslukeman]

Awesome, they are pretty cool gauges. Thanks for checking out the video!