IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (IOSR-JMCE)

e-ISSN: 2278-1684,p-ISSN: 2320-334X, Volume 11, Issue 2 Ver. III (Mar- Apr. 2014), PP 80-84
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Digital fuel level indicator in two-wheeler along with distance to

zero indicator
A.Avinashkumar1, U.Singaravelan2, T.V.Premkumar3, K.Gnanaprakash4
1(

2, 3,4

Assistant Professor, Priyadarshini EngineeringCollege/ Anna University, Tamilnadu, India.)

(Finalyear Mechanical Engineering, Priyadarshini Engineering College/Anna University, Tamilnadu,
India.)

Abstract :Today in this digitized world, if the fuel indicator in the automobiles is also made digital it
will help to know the exact amount of fuel available in the fuel tank. The above furnished fact is
considered in our project and we found out a proper solution for indicating the exact availability of fuel
in the tank digitally . Here, we are indicating the amount of fuel in the tank in litres . This value in
litres will be in numerical digits (ex:1.2, 1.3, 1.4). This project mainly concentrates about the indication
of fuel level in two- wheeler tanks . Various other features like the distance can be travelled to the
corresponding fuel , is added with this arrangement which will explain the clear performance of the
vehicle to the corresponding fuel.
Keywords :A/D Converter , Analog fuel gauge, Mileage, Two-wheeler.

I.

INTRODUCTION

The analog fuel gauge has two main units, namely the sending unit and the gauge. Here, when
the fuel tank is full, resistance values decreases, current value increases and when the tank is empty, resistance
values increases and current value decreases [1]. The rear side of the analog fuel gauge has three terminals, namely
B-battery, F-float, G-ground. From these terminals, voltage values are taken from the terminals-FG and resistance
value is taken from the terminal-F from zero to 11 litres. So, for a particular volt value, the corresponding litres
value will be shown in digital [2]. Along with this, fuel mileage is also displayed in A/D Convertor to the
corresponding fuel in the fuel tank. Fuel mileage in vehicles refers to the relationship between the distances can
be travelled by an automobile to the amount of fuel in the fuel tank [3].

II.

PROPOSED SOLUTION

This project focuses on creating a device which can help to actively display the exact amount of
fuel and fuel mileage [4] of a motorbike in real time. It involves the making of the system to provide a mileage
indicator which is reliable, easy to read and of dependable/compatible overall design. The system comprises of
Fuel tank, Analog fuel gauge, Battery, A/D Converter [5] with LCD display [6].
PETROL TANK
WITH FLOAT SENSOR

LCD

Analog to
Digital
Converter

PIC16F877A
MICROCONTROLLER

ANALOG FUEL
GAUGE

BATTERY

III.

COMPONENTS

Pic 16F877A Microcontroller

It is an 14-bit words microcontroller and has 8KB of Flash programmable and erasable read only
memory. It has an operating frequency of DC-20Mhz.
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Digital fuel level indicator in two-wheeler along with distance to zero indicator
LCD
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen is an electronic display module and finds a wide range of
applications. A 16x2 LCD display is very basic module and is very commonly used in various devices and
circuits. These modules are preferred over seven segments.
Analog fuel gauge
It is a device which shows the amount of petrol in petrol tank .(EMPTY , HALF , FULL ) .
It is used in most of the two-wheelers.
Petrol Tank with Float
It is used to store petrol in two-wheelers. Float is an object which sinks over the petrol inside the petrol
tank to measure the amount of petrol left in the tank.
A/D Converter
It is a device which converts analog value into digital value.
Battery
A 12 volt 7Ah battery is used to give supply to Analog fuel gauge , A/D converter along with LCD.

IV.

EXPERIMENTATION METHOD

The rear side of the analog fuel gauge [7] has three terminals, namely F, G and B. From these
terminals, we had taken terminals-FG as constant and collected the voltage values from those terminals to the
corresponding litres in the petrol tank. By removing the terminal-F separately from the setup, we had taken
resistance values from that terminal, to the corresponding litres in the petrol tank. The volt and resistance values
was taken with the help of multi-meter. The current is obtained by using the formula, I = V/R.
Rear view of analog fuel gauge connected with multi meter to measure potentials at different fuel levels
of tank as in figure

F - Float
G - Ground
B - Battery
Mileage obtained at various speed intervals
Here the mileage value is taken for 1 litre of petrol and the distance travelled
tabulated below at various speed intervals.
SPEED
(km/hr)
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90

[8]

corresponding to it is

MILEAGE OBTAINED (km/lt)

SINGLE PERSON
DOUBLE PERSON
LOAD
LOAD
51
48
54
51
56
53
60
57
58
55
56
53
50
46
44
41
28
25

So , the average mileage for both single person and double person load will be around 50 (km/ltr).

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Digital fuel level indicator in two-wheeler along with distance to zero indicator

V.

Description

In our project the main blocks are micro controller unit, fuel level sensor and LCD display unit. The
fuel level detection circuit is used to detect the level of the fuel in the tank; here sensors are placed at certain
place to find out the fuel level and the signal is sent to the micro controller unit for further operations.
Here sensor is placed at fuel tank to sense the fuel level and the signal from that sensor is sent to the
micro controller unit to decide the exact level [9] information. When the fuel level reaches the top level sensor
which means that the tank is full and this will be indicated to the user by means of maximum tank level and the
level information is indicated through LCD.
The LCD connected with vehicle which showing the present fuel level as 2.1 litres and the distance can
be travelled as 105 Kilometer.

Most of the basic display unit will indicate empty, half, full with analog display [9] but the market
available digital display units were displays the information in terms of percentage but our proposed method
will displayed in terms of exact fuel level and these information are preprogrammed according to the sensor
positional values(Resistance-Voltage). The proposed technique can be improved by adding a buzzer to
announce the user about the abnormal conditions like low level, half level and full levels of the fuel tank.
In this project a float type sensor is placed within the fuel tank the variation of the fuel can change the
position of variable resistance which is connected with the float. The varied resistance can change the voltage of
the analog fuel level indicator to show the approximate value. But the variable resistance from the fuel tank is
connected with the analog to digital converter unit to show the exact quantity of fuel in the fuel tank. The setup
can show the exact value of fuel in the connected LCD and the setup is programmed to show the distance to zero
by considering the rough mileage as 50kmpl. The distance to zero can also be an accurate by programming the
microcontroller by taking the input of present mileage with respective speeds and tank levels.
Voltage, Resistance, Current and Distance to zero for various fuel levels is tabulated below ,
FUEL IN
TERMINAL-FG DIGITSRESISTANCE
CURRENT
DISTANCE
FUEL
VALUES
TO CONSIDER
OBTAINED
TO ZERO
MIN
MAX
TANK
IN
( Volts )
( amps ) (KM)
(litres) (volts ) (volts)
(ohms )
<1.0 3.82
4.00 ( 3.83 to 3.82 ) <89.5
< 0.0425
< 50
1.0
3.81
4.00
3.81
89.5
0.0425
50
1.1
3.79
4.00 ( 3.80 to 3.79 ) 88.26
0.0430
55
1.2

3.77

4.00 ( 3.78 to 3.77 ) 87.02

0.0434

60

1.3

3.75

4.00 ( 3.76 to 3.75 ) 85.78

0.0438

65

1.4

3.73

4.00 ( 3.74 to 3.73 ) 84.54

0.0442

70

1.5

3.71

4.00 ( 3.72 to 3.71 ) 83.3

0.0446

75

1.6
1.7

3.69
3.67

4.00 ( 3.70 to 3.69 ) 82.06

4.00 ( 3.68 to 3.67 ) 80.82

0.0450
0.0455

80
85

1.8
1.9
2.0

3.65
3.63
3.61

4.00 ( 3.66 to 3.65 ) 79.58

4.00 ( 3.64 to 3.63 ) 78.34
4.00 ( 3.62 to 3.61 ) 77.1

0.0459
0.0464
0.0469

90
95
100

2.1
2.2

3.59
3.57

4.00 ( 3.60 to 3.59 ) 75.97

4.00 ( 3.58 to 3.57 ) 74.84

0.0473
0.0478

105
110

2.3
2.4
2.5

3.55
3.53
3.51

4.00 ( 3.56 to 3.55 ) 73.71

4.00 ( 3.54 to 3.53 ) 72.58
4.00 ( 3.52 to 3.51 ) 71.45

0.0482
0.0487
0.0492

115
120
125

2.6
2.7

3.49
3.47

4.00 ( 3.50 to 3.49 ) 70.32

4.00 ( 3.48 to 3.47 ) 69.19

0.0497
0.0502

130
135

2.8

3.45

4.00 ( 3.46 to 3.45 ) 68.06

0.0508

140

FUEL IN
TERMINAL-FG
DIGITSRESISTANCE
CURRENT
DISTANCE
FUEL
TO CONSIDER
VALUES IN
OBTAINED
TO ZERO
MIN MAX
TANK
(volts ) (volts) ( Volts ) (ohms ) ( amps ) (KM)
(litres)
( 2.82 to
6.0
2.81
4.00
38.5
0.0732
300
2.81 )
( 2.80 to
6.1
2.79
4.00
37.8
0.0740
305
2.79 )
( 2.78 to
6.2
2.77
4.00
37.1
0.0749
310
2.77 )
( 2.76 to
6.3
2.75
4.00
36.4
0.0758
315
2.75 )
( 2.74 to
6.4
2.73
4.00
35.7
0.0767
320
2.73 )
( 2.72 to
6.5
2.71
4.00
35
0.0777
325
2.71 )
( 2.70 to
6.6
2.69
4.00
34.3
0.0787
330
2.69 )
( 2.68 to
6.7
2.67
4.00
33.6
0.0797
335
2.67 )
( 2.66 to
6.8
2.65
4.00
32.9
0.0808
340
2.65 )
( 2.64 to
6.9
2.63
4.00
32.2
0.0819
345
2.63 )
( 2.62 to
7.0
2.61
4.00
31.5
0.0831
350
2.61 )
( 2.60 to
7.1
2.59
4.00
30.91
0.0841
355
2.59 )

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Digital fuel level indicator in two-wheeler along with distance to zero indicator
2.9

3.43

4.00 ( 3.44 to 3.43 ) 66.93

0.0513

145

7.2

2.57

4.00

3.0
3.1

3.41
3.39

4.00 ( 3.42 to 3.41 ) 65.8

4.00 ( 3.40 to 3.39 ) 64.78

0.0519
0.0524

150
155

7.3

2.55

4.00

3.2
3.3
3.4

3.37
3.35
3.33

4.00 ( 3.38 to 3.37 ) 63.76

4.00 ( 3.36 to 3.35 ) 62.74
4.00 ( 3.34 to 3.33 ) 61.72

0.0530
0.0535
0.0541

160
165
170

7.4

2.53

4.00

7.5

2.51

4.00

3.5
3.6

3.31
3.29

4.00 ( 3.32 to 3.31 ) 60.7

4.00 ( 3.30 to 3.29 ) 59.68

0.0546
0.0552

175
180

7.6

2.49

4.00

3.7
3.8

3.27
3.25

4.00 ( 3.28 to 3.27 ) 58.66

4.00 ( 3.26 to 3.25 ) 57.64

0.0559
0.0565

185
190

7.7

2.47

4.00

3.9
4.0
4.1

3.23
3.21
3.19

4.00 ( 3.24 to 3.23 ) 56.62

4.00 ( 3.22 to 3.21 ) 55.6
4.00 ( 3.20 to 3.19 ) 54.69

0.0572
0.0579
0.0585

195
200
205

7.8

2.45

4.00

7.9

2.43

4.00

4.2
4.3

3.17
3.15

4.00 ( 3.18 to 3.17 ) 53.78

4.00 ( 3.16 to 3.15 ) 52.87

0.0591
0.0597

210
215

8.0

2.41

4.00

8.1

2.39

4.00

4.4
4.5
4.6

3.13
3.11
3.09

4.00 ( 3.14 to 3.13 ) 51.96

4.00 ( 3.12 to 3.11 ) 51.05
4.00 ( 3.10 to 3.09 ) 50.14

0.0604
0.0611
0.0618

220
225
230

8.2

2.37

4.00

4.7
4.8

3.07
3.05

4.00 ( 3.08 to 3.07 ) 49.23

4.00 ( 3.06 to 3.05 ) 48.32

0.0625
0.0633

235
240

8.3

2.35

4.00

8.4

2.33

4.00

4.9
5.0

3.03
3.01

47.41
46.5

0.0641
0.0649

245
250

8.5

2.31

4.00

5.1

2.99

45.7

0.0656

255

8.6

2.29

4.00

5.2

2.97

44.9

0.0663

260

8.7

2.27

4.00

5.3

2.95

44.1

0.0671

265

8.8

2.25

4.00

5.4

2.93

43.3

0.0678

270

8.9

2.23

4.00

5.5

2.91

42.5

0.0687

275

9.0

2.21

4.00

5.6

2.89

41.7

0.0695

280

9.1

2.19

4.00

5.7

2.87

40.9

0.0704

285

9.2

2.17

4.00

5.8

2.85

40.1

0.0713

290

9.3

2.15

4.00

5.9

2.83

4.00 ( 3.04 to 3.03 )

4.00 ( 3.02 to 3.01 )
( 3.00 to
4.00
2.99 )
( 2.98 to
4.00
2.97 )
( 2.96 to
4.00
2.95 )
( 2.94 to
4.00
2.93 )
( 2.92 to
4.00
2.91 )
( 2.90 to
4.00
2.89 )
( 2.88 to
4.00
2.87 )
( 2.86 to
4.00
2.85 )
( 2.84 to
4.00
2.83 )

39.3

0.0722

295

9.4

2.13

4.00

9.5

2.11

4.00

9.6

2.09

4.00

9.7

2.07

4.00

9.8

2.05

4.00

9.9

2.03

4.00

10.0

2.01

4.00

10.1

1.99

4.00

10.2

1.97

4.00

10.3

1.95

4.00

10.4

1.93

4.00

10.5

1.91

4.00

10.6

1.89

4.00

10.7

1.87

4.00

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( 2.58 to
2.57 )
( 2.56 to
2.55 )
( 2.54 to
2.53 )
( 2.52 to
2.51 )
( 2.50 to
2.49 )
( 2.48 to
2.47 )
( 2.46 to
2.45 )
( 2.44 to
2.43 )
( 2.42 to
2.41 )
( 2.40 to
2.39 )
( 2.38 to
2.37 )
( 2.36 to
2.35 )
( 2.34 to
2.33 )
( 2.32 to
2.31 )
( 2.30 to
2.29 )
( 2.28 to
2.27 )
( 2.26 to
2.25 )
( 2.24 to
2.23 )
( 2.22 to
2.21 )
( 2.20 to
2.19 )
( 2.18 to
2.17 )
( 2.16 to
2.15 )
( 2.14 to
2.13 )
( 2.12 to
2.11 )
( 2.10 to
2.09 )
( 2.08 to
2.07 )
( 2.06 to
2.05 )
( 2.04 to
2.03 )
( 2.02 to
2.01 )
( 2.00 to
1.99 )
( 1.98 to
1.97 )
( 1.96 to
1.95 )
( 1.94 to
1.93 )
( 1.92 to
1.91 )
( 1.90 to
1.89 )
( 1.88 to
1.87 )

30.32

0.0850

360

29.73

0.0861

365

29.14

0.0871

370

28.55

0.0882

375

27.96

0.0894

380

27.37

0.0906

385

26.78

0.0918

390

26.19

0.0931

395

25.6

0.0945

400

25.12

0.0955

405

24.64

0.0965

410

24.16

0.0976

415

23.68

0.0988

420

23.2

0.1

425

22.72

0.1012

430

22.24

0.1025

435

21.76

0.1038

440

21.28

0.1052

445

20.8

0.1067

450

20.43

0.1076

455

20.06

0.1086

460

19.69

0.1097

465

19.32

0.1107

470

18.95

0.1118

475

18.58

0.1130

480

18.21

0.1142

485

17.84

0.1154

490

17.47

0.1167

495

17.1

0.1181

500

16.84

0.1187

505

16.58

0.1194

510

16.32

0.1200

515

16.06

0.1207

520

15.8

0.1215

525

15.54

0.1222

530

15.28

0.1230

535

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Digital fuel level indicator in two-wheeler along with distance to zero indicator

VI.

10.8

1.85

4.00

10.9

1.83

4.00

11.0

1.81

4.00

( 1.86 to
1.85 )
( 1.84 to
1.83 )
( 1.82
to
below
1.82 )

15.02

0.1238

540

14.76

0.1246

545

14.5

0.1255

550

CONCLUSION

The A/D converter with LCD was fitted with the Analog fuel gauge of the two-wheeler and the result
was successfully obtained. The A/D converter shows the amount of fuel in fuel tank in exact litres (EX : 1.3,
1.4, 1.5 ). The A/D converter shows the exact fuel in litres only when the the fuel in the fuel tank is more then 1
litre. The accuracy level is upto95 98% because the error was around 0.2 litres, because the fuel in the fuel
tank was measured on the basis of float level in the tank and we didnt use any other sensors. It displays the
exact litres on plane roads and shows error value on slope surfaces.

VII.

Future Enhancements

In future the proposed technique can be improved by adding fuel cells at different places of fuel tank to
measure exact fuel levels at different conditions like day/night for particular densities at different altitude
conditions of vehicle and a buzzer to announce the user about the abnormal conditions like low level, half level
and full levels of the fuel tank to refill or warn themselves. The accurate distance to zero can also be done by
programming the microcontroller by taking the input of present mileage with respective speeds and tank levels.

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