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Author Topic:   Electronic Fuel Flow Sensor

floater88 posted 03-02-2012 08:26 AM ET (US)
I have a Lowrance HDS-7 multi-function display on my [Boston Whaler boat], and [I am] going to be buying [an electronic fuel flow sensor]. Where [do I] put [the electronic fuel sensor] in the [fuel delivery system]? My [fuel line] comes out of the [deck] and goes to a fuel-water separator. Should I put the [electronic fuel flow sensor upstream of] the [fuel-water] separator [filter]? Or after? An article said to put an in-line fuel filter to protect the [electronic fuel flow sensor], but if I put the [electronic fuel flow sensor] after the separator, would [the installation of a fuel flow filter upstream of the sensor] still be necessary? Thanks.
newt posted 03-02-2012 08:50 AM ET (US)
The fuel flow sensor is the Lowrance EP-60. You should be fine installing the flow sensor after your fuel filter. They do recommend installing the EP-60 vertically, so you need to scout out a good location to mount the sensor.
floater88 posted 03-02-2012 07:07 PM ET (US)
I went and grabbed one today and it sais to use an in line fuel filter before the unit. Does the water separator I have now act as a filter as well? Thanks
JMARTIN posted 03-02-2012 08:23 PM ET (US)
I have never seen a fuel water separator that did not have a filter of some type in it. What's it look like, an oil filter?
John
floater88 posted 03-02-2012 09:57 PM ET (US)
Yeah looks like an oil filter. I guess i'm gonna mount the gizmo right after that near the engine. Thanks
newt posted 03-03-2012 02:51 PM ET (US)
Your water separator is also a filter. Just install the fuel flow sensor downstream from your water separator/filter.
floater88 posted 03-06-2012 09:14 AM ET (US)
Ok great thanks for the info. Gonna get nice and warm up here this week so I should get the boat uncovered and start on the spring work.
newt posted 03-06-2012 11:17 AM ET (US)
One bit of advice...DO NOT EVER delete the sensor from your head unit. You can re-configure it, change the port/starboard setting, or perform other resets, but once you delete the sensor, there is a good chance that it will never be recognized again, and the only fix is a new sensor.
divtruk posted 03-07-2012 09:18 PM ET (US)
I installed mine at the fuel tank. I chose that location so that I would not have to extend the length of the cable to reach the console. You can see it in the picture just below and to the right of the fuel fill cap.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14929283@N03/5995546759/in/ set-72157627202270919/
Ferdinando posted 03-07-2012 10:44 PM ET (US)
[Changed TOPIC to talk about the boat shown in the links above.].
jmorgan40 posted 03-09-2012 01:53 PM ET (US)
I installed the EP-60 and LMF-400 on my Outrage 20. [In the link that follows you have to read through a lot of the thread to find some links to the pictures of jmorgan's installation]:http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/002019.html
floater88 posted 03-10-2012 01:28 AM ET (US)
Thanks for the tips, guys. I'm gonna rig [the electronic fuel flow sensor] the same way with an in-line filter before the Racor and make sure I point it upwards.
jimh posted 03-12-2012 06:49 PM ET (US)
Most fuel-water separating filters are also 10-micron filters and will remove any debris from the fuel along with the water. It is not necessary nor a recommended practice to install an addition fuel filter upstream of an electronic fuel flow sensor and then install a fuel-water separating filter downstream of the sensor. That sort of installation makes no sense at all to me. Rather, you should install the electronic fuel flow sensor downstream of the 10-micron fuel-water separating filter.
In the fuel system for an outboard engine there should not be flow restrictions that cause too much vacuum in the fuel suction. All filters, including fuel-water separating filters, add some flow restriction to a fuel hose, particularly as the filter element become clogged with debris. In typical installations a vacuum gauge is installed across the filter to measure the added flow restriction. When the vacuum pressure across the filter reaches the pressure of a clogged filter, you must change the filter element. The pressure gauge provides an indicator of the state of the filter.
Electronic flow sensors, particularly the lower cost ones like Lowrance EP-60, are typically based on a turbine flow sensor. Such a sensor also adds some flow restriction to the fuel flow. Usually the pressure drop across a turbine flow sensor like an EP-60 is minimal, and adding one to the fuel line is not likely to cause the flow restriction to become too great.
There is no compelling reason (that I can see) for installing the electronic fuel flow sensor upstream of the fuel-water separating filter. It is contrary to the manufacturer's recommendations. There is also no compelling reason to install another filter in the fuel system simply to place it upstream of the flow sensor and then add the fuel-water separating filter downstream of the flow sensor.
floater88 posted 03-13-2012 05:24 AM ET (US)
Thanks for all the info. I got the boat out of storage and see that my lines from the cannister filter all flow downwards. I guess i'll install some 90 degree elbows and get that flow meter to point upwards. Looks like all the feul lines are original and i'm going to replace everything I can fined above and below the deck. Thanks for the help.
jimh posted 03-13-2012 08:25 AM ET (US)
When I was using an in-line electronic fuel flow sensor in the fuel hose, I placed it downstream of the fuel-water separating filter. To secure the fuel hose into a somewhat fixed position, I bought two rubber fittings that are actually intended to be a storage mount for a navigation lamp pole. These rubber fittings are sold in most marine stores. They made a nice, soft cradle for the fuel line. I installed these rubber fittings on the inboard side of the transom and popped the fuel line into place, with the electronic fuel flow transducer between the fittings. The fuel hose was oriented upwards; it was the section from the filter output fitting to the engine.
Here is a link to information about the pole lamp fittings:
http://www.perko.com/catalog/category/deck_hardware/product/381/
This may be useful for your installation.

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Author	Topic: Electronic Fuel Flow Sensor
floater88	posted 03-02-2012 08:26 AM ET (US) I have a Lowrance HDS-7 multi-function display on my [Boston Whaler boat], and [I am] going to be buying [an electronic fuel flow sensor]. Where [do I] put [the electronic fuel sensor] in the [fuel delivery system]? My [fuel line] comes out of the [deck] and goes to a fuel-water separator. Should I put the [electronic fuel flow sensor upstream of] the [fuel-water] separator [filter]? Or after? An article said to put an in-line fuel filter to protect the [electronic fuel flow sensor], but if I put the [electronic fuel flow sensor] after the separator, would [the installation of a fuel flow filter upstream of the sensor] still be necessary? Thanks.
newt	posted 03-02-2012 08:50 AM ET (US) The fuel flow sensor is the Lowrance EP-60. You should be fine installing the flow sensor after your fuel filter. They do recommend installing the EP-60 vertically, so you need to scout out a good location to mount the sensor.
floater88	posted 03-02-2012 07:07 PM ET (US) I went and grabbed one today and it sais to use an in line fuel filter before the unit. Does the water separator I have now act as a filter as well? Thanks
JMARTIN	posted 03-02-2012 08:23 PM ET (US) I have never seen a fuel water separator that did not have a filter of some type in it. What's it look like, an oil filter? John
floater88	posted 03-02-2012 09:57 PM ET (US) Yeah looks like an oil filter. I guess i'm gonna mount the gizmo right after that near the engine. Thanks
newt	posted 03-03-2012 02:51 PM ET (US) Your water separator is also a filter. Just install the fuel flow sensor downstream from your water separator/filter.
floater88	posted 03-06-2012 09:14 AM ET (US) Ok great thanks for the info. Gonna get nice and warm up here this week so I should get the boat uncovered and start on the spring work.
newt	posted 03-06-2012 11:17 AM ET (US) One bit of advice...DO NOT EVER delete the sensor from your head unit. You can re-configure it, change the port/starboard setting, or perform other resets, but once you delete the sensor, there is a good chance that it will never be recognized again, and the only fix is a new sensor.
divtruk	posted 03-07-2012 09:18 PM ET (US) I installed mine at the fuel tank. I chose that location so that I would not have to extend the length of the cable to reach the console. You can see it in the picture just below and to the right of the fuel fill cap. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14929283@N03/5995546759/in/ set-72157627202270919/
Ferdinando	posted 03-07-2012 10:44 PM ET (US) [Changed TOPIC to talk about the boat shown in the links above.].
jmorgan40	posted 03-09-2012 01:53 PM ET (US) I installed the EP-60 and LMF-400 on my Outrage 20. [In the link that follows you have to read through a lot of the thread to find some links to the pictures of jmorgan's installation]:http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/002019.html
floater88	posted 03-10-2012 01:28 AM ET (US) Thanks for the tips, guys. I'm gonna rig [the electronic fuel flow sensor] the same way with an in-line filter before the Racor and make sure I point it upwards.
jimh	posted 03-12-2012 06:49 PM ET (US) Most fuel-water separating filters are also 10-micron filters and will remove any debris from the fuel along with the water. It is not necessary nor a recommended practice to install an addition fuel filter upstream of an electronic fuel flow sensor and then install a fuel-water separating filter downstream of the sensor. That sort of installation makes no sense at all to me. Rather, you should install the electronic fuel flow sensor downstream of the 10-micron fuel-water separating filter. In the fuel system for an outboard engine there should not be flow restrictions that cause too much vacuum in the fuel suction. All filters, including fuel-water separating filters, add some flow restriction to a fuel hose, particularly as the filter element become clogged with debris. In typical installations a vacuum gauge is installed across the filter to measure the added flow restriction. When the vacuum pressure across the filter reaches the pressure of a clogged filter, you must change the filter element. The pressure gauge provides an indicator of the state of the filter. Electronic flow sensors, particularly the lower cost ones like Lowrance EP-60, are typically based on a turbine flow sensor. Such a sensor also adds some flow restriction to the fuel flow. Usually the pressure drop across a turbine flow sensor like an EP-60 is minimal, and adding one to the fuel line is not likely to cause the flow restriction to become too great. There is no compelling reason (that I can see) for installing the electronic fuel flow sensor upstream of the fuel-water separating filter. It is contrary to the manufacturer's recommendations. There is also no compelling reason to install another filter in the fuel system simply to place it upstream of the flow sensor and then add the fuel-water separating filter downstream of the flow sensor.
floater88	posted 03-13-2012 05:24 AM ET (US) Thanks for all the info. I got the boat out of storage and see that my lines from the cannister filter all flow downwards. I guess i'll install some 90 degree elbows and get that flow meter to point upwards. Looks like all the feul lines are original and i'm going to replace everything I can fined above and below the deck. Thanks for the help.
jimh	posted 03-13-2012 08:25 AM ET (US) When I was using an in-line electronic fuel flow sensor in the fuel hose, I placed it downstream of the fuel-water separating filter. To secure the fuel hose into a somewhat fixed position, I bought two rubber fittings that are actually intended to be a storage mount for a navigation lamp pole. These rubber fittings are sold in most marine stores. They made a nice, soft cradle for the fuel line. I installed these rubber fittings on the inboard side of the transom and popped the fuel line into place, with the electronic fuel flow transducer between the fittings. The fuel hose was oriented upwards; it was the section from the filter output fitting to the engine. Here is a link to information about the pole lamp fittings: http://www.perko.com/catalog/category/deck_hardware/product/381/ This may be useful for your installation.