Tank Monitoring

Tank sensors & tank senders – level measurement for boats, yachts and motorhomes

For reliable monitoring of fresh water, waste water, black water and fuel you will find tank senders for every installation situation here – from dip-tube senders, pressure probes and ultrasound to Gobius sensors that measure through the tank wall. Tank monitors, interfaces, flow measurement and installation accessories complete the range.

In brief: Which tank sender fits depends on the liquid, tank depth, tank material and access. The guide Tank monitoring on board covers the basics, and the tank sender finder names the right sender.

The matching displays, from round gauges to the TCS, VTM 2 and BTM2 tank monitors, are collected under Tank gauges & tank monitors.

Which tank sender for which tank?

Tank senders at a glance

TGW and TGT dip-tube senders – water and fuel

The TGW (water) and TGT (diesel and petrol) dip-tube senders measure with a switching point every 16 mm, deliver a resistance signal of 8–180 Ω and are installed vertically from above. The measuring electronics are galvanically isolated, and the sender can be removed for inspection. They are not intended for black water tanks. Matching accessories: GWA adapter ring for SAE bolt circles, GWF/GWW flange ring and TRV cover cap.

TDS and TDN 200 pressure probes – water, diesel and black water

The probes measure the level via the hydrostatic pressure at the tank bottom, with 1 cm resolution in tanks up to 200 cm high. The TDS 200 is suitable for diesel, water, waste water and black water, the TDN 200 for water, waste water and black water; neither is suitable for petrol. The probe is lowered to the bottom of the tank. The TDT-10-250 is available as a fixed screw-in probe with G1/2″ thread.

UTV ultrasonic probe – contactless from above

The UTV measures the level by ultrasound without contact from above, in ten installation lengths from 20 to 80 cm. It is intended for waste and black water tanks; for water and fuel philippi recommends other senders. There is a dead zone of 2.5 cm below the sensor, which the UTS 25 spacer ring compensates. The UFT sound guide tube improves the measurement when heeling and in waves.

Black water tanks: TRS 130 and FAF

The TRS 130 tank sender reports the 3/4-full state required by the German black water tank regulation, 80 mm below the top of the tank, for tank depths of 200 to 400 mm. The FAF alarm panel shows the alarm visually and audibly, for 12 V or 24 V. The FAF also works with the RSW or DSW float switches.

Gobius – measurement through the tank wall

Gobius sensors measure without contact with the liquid. The Gobius C is mounted on top of the tank, measures continuously with ±2–3 mm in tanks up to 2 m deep and is set up via a Bluetooth app. It is available with analogue outputs, as an NMEA 2000 version and as Basic with a 10–180 Ω output. On plastic tanks it measures through the tank wall; on metal tanks it sits in the existing 1 1/4″ flange with a mounting adapter. The Gobius Pro is mounted on the side, reports via Bluetooth and two switching contacts and is suitable as a full or empty alarm; up to eight sensors can be registered per tank.

Float switches and interface

The RSW float switch (side installation, for oil and petrol) and the DSW (mounted entirely from outside, for low filling pressure) provide a simple switching contact for alarm and warning functions. The UTI universal tank interface converts the 4–20 mA signal of the TDS, TDN and TDT probes for existing analogue round gauges.

DFS 24 flow sensor

Measures fresh water consumption litre by litre in real time, at 1 to 25 l/min; with DFF 1/2" connection flange for 1/2" hoses.

Displays and compatibility

The philippi tank senders TGW, TGT, TDS/TDN, TDT and UTV connect directly to the TCS, VTM 2 and BTM2 tank monitors, as do third-party senders with 10–180 Ω, 240–33 Ω, 0–3 V or 4–20 mA. Volume, tank shape and alarm thresholds can be set for each tank.

Frequently asked questions about tank sensors

Which tank sensor is suitable for black water tanks?

The TGW and TGT dip-tube senders are not intended for black water tanks. The level is measured by the UTV ultrasonic probe, the TDS and TDN 200 pressure probes, the TDT-10-250 screw-in probe and the Gobius C. The 3/4-full alarm required by the German black water tank regulation comes from the TRS 130 sender with the FAF alarm panel.

Do I have to drill my tank for installation?

That depends on the sensor type. Dip-tube senders, pressure probes and the UTV ultrasonic probe are installed from above in a tank opening, the TDT-10-250 near the bottom in a G1/2″ thread. The Gobius C measures through the wall of plastic tanks without any drilling. On metal tanks it sits in the existing 1 1/4″ flange with a mounting adapter.

Which sensor measures most accurately?

The TDS and TDN 200 pressure probes measure continuously with 1 cm resolution, the Gobius C with ±2–3 mm. The TGW and TGT dip-tube senders resolve in steps of 16 mm. A level switch such as the Gobius Pro only reports whether the level is above or below the sensor and is suitable as a full or empty alarm.

Which display suits the tank senders?

The philippi tank senders TGW, TGT, TDS/TDN, TDT and UTV connect directly to the TCS, VTM 2 and BTM2 tank monitors. For the PSM3 and PSL P-BUS system monitors, the CMT3 tank interface integrates up to four tank senders. Values reach the chartplotter via NMEA 2000, for example from the BTM2 or the Gobius C NMEA 2000.

How do I find the right tank sender?

Which sender fits depends on the liquid, tank depth, tank material and access. The Academy's tank sender finder asks for these points and names the right sender with length, installation parts and display, plus alternatives. This avoids wrong purchases, such as a float sender for a black water tank.