Need Wireless/Internet monitoring of fuel tank.

shiphen

Hi


I am looking for a cheap way to remotely monitor the level of oil (kerosene) in our large domestic heating oil tanks, using the Internet.


There is a thing called a Watchman Anywhere but it needs a decent mobile phone signal (at least 4 out of 5 bars according to the lady at Kingspan). However although the big old house in question has broadband & WiFi, it is located in the wilds of Scotland with very little no mobile phone signal.


Another problem is that apparently the Watchman Anywhere only takes a reading once per week - whereas with a 1.5 USGallons/hour burner I calculate we can burn through 950 litres during one week. Hopeless.

Can anyone suggest a WiFi device?


Thanks


J

Ebe_Scrooge

950 litres a week ??? Blimey, that's going some !

May I ask why you need a remote monitor ? I've never found the remote ones to be all that reliable, and as you say, mobile phone signals are flaky at the best of times in the middle of nowhere.

If it's a house that you're renting out, it may be cheaper, easier and more reliable to just ask the tenants to take a reading and let you know what it is ?

Failing that, you could look at a contract with an oil supplier - you pay a direct debit, they monitor it for you and top up as necessary. Normally I would strongly advise against this, as you invariable pay higher prices, but if you need someone to monitor it for you then it may be an option.

shiphen

Yes it's a fairly large house in somewhat remote area, which we are planning to let out. We are going to install a usage/flow meter (which we are planning to get either guests and/or cleaning staff to take readings from).

BUT the flow meter will only measure the oil usage of the boiler, not the Aga (which is pretty thristy too!). And either way oil usage is not the same as measuring what is actually left in the tank! (In fact there are two 2400L tanks connected with a valve... but we tend not to fill them up because it is tying up so much money plus being fairly remote we would be v open to theft of oil...)

Of course 950 litres/week is a theoretical max and would only be if we were running it flat out 24x7. The risk is that rental guests may want to blast the place with heat in order to get their money's worth!

Like I say, the mobile signal is v weak that side of the house so I doubt that the oil supplier would find it easy to monitor remotely either. On the other hand I think the WiFi signal from the house land line would reach the tanks...

daniel80

We use this, Apollo Ultrasonic Electronic Oil Tank Contents Gauge. Not had any problems so far.

jess1974

i stick a garden cane in mine...works for me x