Flow Scans

[solanderi]

Is a flow scan installation a do it yourself deal or is there more than meets the eye? The application is a 1985 45C w/ 692's (535hp Covingtons).

 

[Genesis]

I put them in my boat.

Here's the basic deal:

1. You have to figure out how to mount the senders. They're BIG. My forward ones are on the crossbraces in front of the engines; the reverse are just forward on the gear mount, aft of the fuel filters. The mechanical on this - and getting the flow right so you don't trap air - are the big deal.

2. Electrically its not too bad. You need new tach senders if you have a glendinning, as you can't have any cable whip. Xintex makes some that work ok. Run a wire to the existing jumper block in the ER electrical panel, and leave the old senders in place.

3. At the bridge you will need to mount terminal blocks to terminate all of the wiring. You need two pushbutton resets and one switch to swap between flow and mpg for one instrument. Power is taken from the ignition side of each keyswitch on the bridge. The wiring up to the bridge is best handled with a SINGLE RUN of the Ancor shielded signal wire - it usually has to be ordered. Terminate the sender wiring in the engine room; I did it to terminal blocks mounted on the forward ER bulkhead.

I mounted the resets inside the flybridge cabinet doors and the mpg/flow switch is a pull style like the original Hatt switches for things like Nav lights and the blowers - that one just went into a hole I drilled in an appropriate place.

The instructions say its 20 man-hours of work. They're right - it is. If you pay someone its expensive and they may do a crap job of it. I did it right and it did take the whole 20 hours.

I'll shoot some pics if you'd like. I love mine now that they are installed, but I won't tell you it was trivial to do - it wasn't.

It is, however, definitely within the realm of being able to be done by a reasonably-technical owner, provided you pay attention to good marine practices.

 

[Capten]

I'll shoot some pics if you'd like. I love mine now that they are installed, but I won't tell you it was trivial to do - it wasn't.

Karl,

I would appreciate seeing some photos if possible. I plan on tackling the FloScan project this winter on my 8V92s.

Photos posted to this thread or sent to my email would be great. pfhannum@yahoo.com

Thanks,

 

[jim rosenthal]

FloScans now have some competition...Navman, which is part of Northstar, makes a similar line of products but the sensors are smaller. You might look at those if you haven't bought FloScans already. I think the installation and plumbing are similar.

 

[solanderi]

It looks like I am not the only one who would appreciate pictures...as always, Thank you.

 

[Genesis]

Does the Navman system work on high-flow engines like the Detroits? Detroits return a LOT more fuel than they burn - which is part of why you need their "big" sensor blocks.....

 

[J's Dream]

I have sold both Flo Scan and Navman products through a retail store and the Flo Scan products are far superior. All but one of the Navman fuel management systems had been returned due to defects in manufacturing. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Genesis]

I have had no trouble with the small Navman's on gas engines (e.g. outboards)

No experience with the diesel capable versions though....

 

[Liquid Asset]

Genesis, Is your boat 32v? does flowscan make a 32v version? you said you got the power from your key switch, so I would expect you would need to have a 32v system.

I have a flowscan on my center console and have had it for years with hardly a lick of trouble, but it is for outboards. This is a whole new world of fuel flow.

 

[Genesis]

My boat is 12V, not 32. I don't know if FloScan makes a 32V system - if not you would have to put in a DC-DC converter off the keyswitches (two of them, one for each side) for power. The units require very little power (couple hundred milliamps, including backlights), so even an inexpensive voltage regulator setup is good enough.

 

[Liquid Asset]

Must be nice to have a 12v system in the boat.

 

[Genesis]

Must be nice to have a 12v system in the boat.

It is......

 

[jim rosenthal]

They will accommodate diesels with high flow rates. However they are new to the market. I do not have first-hand experience with them. If there is already bad press on them, uh oh. As Karl said, the install is not a walk in the park.