Level indicator

[yetiman]

I'm looking into installing a clear tube on the side of my R/O and saltwater storage tanks to indicate water level. I would install bulkheads at the top and bottom of the tank with 90 degree elbows and a clear tube in between. My question is what to use for the clear tube. If you use an acrylic tube how do you bond it to pvc? Is there a thread already covering this topic? Thanks for your help.

[cpetty]

here is a link to a place that you can order clear PVC www.usplastic.com this is where i get all of my diy parts

[GuySmilie]

Originally posted by yetiman
......My question is what to use for the clear tube. If you use an acrylic tube how do you bond it to pvc? Is there a thread already covering this topic? Thanks for your help.

You could use barbed elbows and clear vinyl tubing. Wouldn't look very slick but if you bump into it you won't put any stress on your bulkhead fittings.

You could also use translucent poly line, like used on RO/DI. Again won't look so cool but it will give you an indication.

Another thing I've seen done on a guys Brute lid was he mounted a plastic 1/2" flange (kinda like a bulkhead) on the top of the lid, drilled out the lid through the flange, then he fashioned a piece of 1/2" CPVC into a dipstick affair. He glued the tube to a toilet valve float so when the water in the Brute was high, the CPVC pipe would protrude high from the container. And the opposite when water was low. If I were to do this I'd use one of those 36" grey PVC plastic cold water supplies that run from water faucets to the supply valves on older sinks.

[Icefire]

+1 on the barb+vinyl

[jdieck]

If you use John Guest conectors and fittings you could use a rigid 1/4" line as the indicator tube just inserted into the fitting.

[madadi]

i agree with jdieck, i did the same. made sure the tube was tight and straight and i put a little red plastic ball inside the tube that floated and it was easy to see. made the water level stand out a bit more.

[blcard]

Great idea on the red ball.

I'm always up close trying to see the little water line.

[just dave]

I used clear PVC on mine.