> ----------
> From:         Chuck Rice[SMTP:Chuck@WILDRICE.COM]
> Sent:         16 July 1998 07:47
> To:   PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject:      Re: Instantaneous Fuel Consuption Measurement
>
>
> > Hi there!
> >
> >   WITHOUT going way OT like in that injection discussion, I would like
> > to know if someone has used some kind of sensor to measure fuel flow.
> >   The idea is to measure the instantaneous fuel consuption. Problem is
> > that it's a small flow. If cars spent more fuel, it would be a lot
> > easier! 8)
> >   Why am I here?
> >   Well, I want to build a small car-computer, based on PIC. I really
> > would like to include fuel consuption indication on its features.
>
> Years ago I had a cheesy "bolt on" fuel consumption meter, I think made by
> Smiths.  I seem to recall that it used a PIC of some description.  The
> flow sensor was a little plastic job with a tiny turbine mounted on some
> very friction free bearings.  An LED/Phototransistor combination detected
> the rotation of the turbine.  Very cheap, and I suspect, not very
> accurate.
>
> A manufacturers sensor, as fitted to an OEM fuel computer that I took
> apart had a very accurately machined circular groove in an alloy block.
> The fuel entry and exit were cunningly aranged so that a small ball
> bearing ran around the groove.  Again an LED and phototransistor were used
> to detect this.
>
> I think your best bet woulf be to get one of these sensors from a car in a
> breakers/scrapyard.  The deluxe "executive" models generally come fitted
> with this kind of thing.
>
> Mike Rigby-Jones
> mrjones@nortel.co.uk
>