Calira 330 Diesel gauge

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The diesel
gauge on my Calira 330 panel is showing zero when the tank is full.

Since my
standard advice to other users of this forum is to use the advanced search
before troubling the other members with questions which already have been
answered multiple times, I naturally consulted the myhanse fountain of wisdom
before writing this. 

Therefore I
have checked that there is good negative ground connected to the tank, I have
opened the inspection cover to visually check the measuring sensor, I have
removed/reinserted the power cable on the back of the Calira (even when the “Service”
main switch is off, the Calira 330 still has power), and I have put new spade
terminals on the blue(-) and white(+) wires connected to the sensor.

When I
press the tank button, the needle moves ½mm, and for a moment just after
pressing the button, I can measure 1,0-1,1 V between the white and blue
terminals, and this voltage is then slowly decreasing until it shows 0,17-0,19
Volt. This seems to be a sort of stand-by voltage.

As
mentioned, the tank is full, so I have not tried to put my hand/arm into the
tank.

Any
suggestions?

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Captain Cook Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 23 May 2006 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 1245	Post Options Post Reply Quote Captain Cook Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Calira 330 Diesel gauge Posted: 12 September 2025 at 20:49
	The diesel gauge on my Calira 330 panel is showing zero when the tank is full. Since my standard advice to other users of this forum is to use the advanced search before troubling the other members with questions which already have been answered multiple times, I naturally consulted the myhanse fountain of wisdom before writing this. Therefore I have checked that there is good negative ground connected to the tank, I have opened the inspection cover to visually check the measuring sensor, I have removed/reinserted the power cable on the back of the Calira (even when the “Service” main switch is off, the Calira 330 still has power), and I have put new spade terminals on the blue(-) and white(+) wires connected to the sensor. When I press the tank button, the needle moves ½mm, and for a moment just after pressing the button, I can measure 1,0-1,1 V between the white and blue terminals, and this voltage is then slowly decreasing until it shows 0,17-0,19 Volt. This seems to be a sort of stand-by voltage. As mentioned, the tank is full, so I have not tried to put my hand/arm into the tank. Any suggestions?
	Freya H400 #27 (2006),2-cabin, 40HP 3JH4E, 3-blade Flexofold, Aries LiftUp Windvane, Exturn 300, Jefa DD1,Simrad NX40,Icom M603(VHF)+M802(SSB)

Mark_J1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 12 March 2013 Location: Dover&Medway UK Status: Offline Points: 690	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mark_J1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15 September 2025 at 22:17
	Given you’ve already been into the tank this may not apply, however the sensor on Grey Goose’s tank did once jam (at 3/4 full). It wasn’t obvious even on visual inspection. I had to pull the whole swing arm out of the tank and free it up. There was some play in the mechanism which I remember having to sort. Put an ohm meter on it to be sure you’re getting the full range. Mark
	Hanse 400e "Grey Goose" Hull #31

Captain Cook Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 23 May 2006 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 1245	Post Options Post Reply Quote Captain Cook Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 16 September 2025 at 18:08
	Hi Mark My sailing season isn´t over yet, so I will burn some diesel, so it will be possible to unmount the sensor. Well, I do in fact own a special tube which can move diesel from the inspection cover into a canister, . If everything fails, I will have to buy a replacement sensor. I guess that the lifespan of the sensor may be approaching. Just like myself, Freya is 20 years older than the happy day in 2006 when I recieved a brand new boat. As for sailing season, I discovered last week in Skillinge (Sweden), that the harbour fee was lowered by 33% in the low season. Nice gesture! :Kjeld Edited by Captain Cook - 16 September 2025 at 18:10
	Freya H400 #27 (2006),2-cabin, 40HP 3JH4E, 3-blade Flexofold, Aries LiftUp Windvane, Exturn 300, Jefa DD1,Simrad NX40,Icom M603(VHF)+M802(SSB)

Merinalle Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 16 January 2007 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 292	Post Options Post Reply Quote Merinalle Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 September 2025 at 18:09
	Hi Kjell, You asked suggestions, so here are some ideas! I upgraded our fuel gauge system some years ago. The main reason was that the original one was quite unpractical. The “gauge” was located to the Calira panel, it was not accurate because it was made of four led lamps, and somebody had to press a switch in order to read those lamps. The only way to correctly estimate the moment when stop filling the tank was keep an ear close to the air ventil. Because on our boat it is located inside the cockpit, it was not too difficult. However, missing the timing meant that we had some diesel on our teak floor. That motivated not overfill and pollute the sea. Our new system is totally different, take a look to these pictures. Changing the sensor was surprisingly easy at least at our 2008 Hanse 320. Just unscrew the 5 screws and remove the old sensor, measure the needed length, and buy and install a new sensor. I installed the new gauge to a port/after locker so that it is easily visible when filling the tank (when the locker is opened). The protective collar around it was made from a leftover air inlet connector. We had several years ago similar problems with the water gauge, so I had installed a new one next to the Calira panel. It has an own power switch. The diesel gauge system is powered through the same switch. It means that after filling any of the tanks, it is quite easy to notice if the gauges are still powered. Normally we keep them powered only when filling those tanks, or checking the remining tank level.
	320#166

Captain Cook Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 23 May 2006 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 1245	Post Options Post Reply Quote Captain Cook Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 September 2025 at 20:30
	Well, the sensor is 19½ years old, so maybe I have to renew it
	Freya H400 #27 (2006),2-cabin, 40HP 3JH4E, 3-blade Flexofold, Aries LiftUp Windvane, Exturn 300, Jefa DD1,Simrad NX40,Icom M603(VHF)+M802(SSB)

DJgun Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 04 April 2020 Location: SydneyAustralia Status: Offline Points: 287	Post Options Post Reply Quote DJgun Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17 November 2025 at 03:12
	I have recently found an excellent replacement for the fuel level sensor. It is made by Holley and is a Lidar sensor (Holley Easy Level Universal Fuel Sensor) at a very reasonable cost. The big advantage is the Holley unit allows you to select the resistance range needed for you boat, but more especially you can adjust the full, empty and intermediate points to suit your gauge. The price is only slight more than a genuine VDO marine float arm type fitted by Hanse.
	DJ.....Sailor Ordinaire HIN DE-HANJ0331J708

Captain Cook Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 23 May 2006 Location: Denmark Status: Offline Points: 1245	Post Options Post Reply Quote Captain Cook Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 November 2025 at 16:17
	I just returned from the harbour, where I went to measure the needed lenght of a Wema sensor. The old VDO sensor is supposed to show 0-190 ohm between the terminals, but today I measured 240 Kiloohm (the tank is full). I measured 0,1V between the wires when they were removed from the sensor. I will order a Wema SAE/5 bolts sensor with a lenght of 25 cm, because the VDO sensor is old technology, and the price of the Wema is less than 50% of the VDO. Edited by Captain Cook - 19 November 2025 at 16:18
	Freya H400 #27 (2006),2-cabin, 40HP 3JH4E, 3-blade Flexofold, Aries LiftUp Windvane, Exturn 300, Jefa DD1,Simrad NX40,Icom M603(VHF)+M802(SSB)



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