S3 Fuel and Water Sender
- Unit price
- / per
316 stainless steel
1 ¼" BSP thread
0-190 ohms or 240-30 ohms
IP65
Simple to install and remove
Very reliable
Lengths from 150mm - 1600mm +
Wema S3 Fuel and Water Senders are tried and tested over millions of units, decades of use and in almost every kind of application.
These senders are reliable and accurate giving customers the confidence to depend on our technology year after year. Fitted as original equipment by major British and European boat builders for over 40 years, and trusted by commercial vehicle, defence and agricultural manufacturers worldwide.
Manufactured from 316 stainless steel, the S3 works on the simple principle of twin magnets in the float tripping a series of reed switches, securely housed and doubly insulated inside the stainless tube.
The sender is passive and draws power from the gauge.
They are available in lengths from 150mm to 1600mm. Longer and custom lengths are available on request, including calibrated senders for odd-shaped tanks.
There are two standard resistance ranges:
- 0-190Ω — European specification
- 240-30Ω — American specification
Sender and gauge must have the same resistance range — or the gauge will read backwards, or not at all. European vs American resistance →
Output from the sender is usually resistance but voltage options (0-5V, 0-10V, 4-20mA) are also available in some sizes and as a special order item. Special orders may be subject to a minimum order quantity depending on the modification — contact us to discuss your requirements.
If your current sender has a voltage output then you will have 3 wires not 2. Three or four wires could also mean that you have a sender with a high or low level alarm so it's always best to check the product code on the ID plate before ordering. How to identify your sender →
The S3 screws into a 1¼" BSP parallel thread.
Note: BSP sizing refers to the internal bore of a pipe — a 1¼" BSP thread measures larger than 1.25" with a tape measure.
If your tank has a 1.5" BSP, 1.25" NPT tapered thread or other fitting, you may need an adapter. We have many common flanges and thread adapters available. If unsure just ask.
Advancements in reed switch technology have allowed us to fit more switches inside the senders, giving the improved resolution required by modern digital displays.
For shallow tanks less than 400mm deep, high-resolution senders are available with approximately twice the number of switching points — a change of state approximately every 10mm instead of ~20mm in a standard resolution sender.
Wema S3 senders are suitable for diesel, petrol, fresh water, grey water, black water, hydraulic oil, AdBlue and ethanol.
Supplied with two nitrile O-rings for use in diesel tanks. If you are fitting to a petrol tank then Viton O-rings are recommended as ethanol content in modern fuels degrades nitrile over time. Viton O-rings available here →
The S3 can also be used as a position sensor by mounting the sender to a stationary part and clamping the float to a moving component. This is often used in industrial and agricultural machinery — a lifting trailer tailgate or a lifting keel on a yacht for example.
If you have an existing Wema sender, the identification plate on the head shows the product model, spec, length, Wema product code, output and batch code.
The code 001300 stamped on the head indicates an S3. How to identify a replacement Wema sender →
Specifications
- Fitting: 1¼" BSP parallel thread
- Material: 316 stainless steel
- Output: 0-190Ω / 240-30Ω resistance (standard), or 0-5V / 0-10V / 4-20mA (custom)
- Lengths: 150–1600mm standard
- Working voltage: 12V or 24V (draws power from gauge)
- Max carrying current: 1.2A
- Max switching current: 0.5A, 10W
- IP rating: IP65
- Operating temp: -40°C to +85°C
- Torque: 9 ±1 Nm (steel flange) / 7 ±1 Nm (nylon flange)
How long should your sender be? → | How to measure a level sender → | Replacing a floating-arm sender? →
[Please note: the code 001300 refers to the S3 head]
Simply connect one wire to earth and the other wire to the sensor cable on the gauge.
S3 Fuel and Water Sender
- Unit price
- / per
European vs American Resistance
What's the difference between the European and American resistance specifications?
-
European spec. products work on a variable resistance from 0 ohms at empty to 190 ohms at full.
-
American spec. products work on a variable resistance from 240 ohms at empty to 30 ohms at full.
US resistance is known as US purely due to the fact that, historically, this resistance range was used more by US boat builders and EU resistance was favoured by European OEMs – a bit like 240v/110v AC, PAL/NTSC etc. – today both resistance ranges are used on both sides of the Atlantic. There is no advance or disadvantage to either resistance range.
Why is the resistance Important?
Both the sender and gauge must have the same resistance values.
If you pair an American and European sender and gauge then the gauge will read backwards.
If you are converting an analogue sender to a digital network - like NMEA2000 - then you will also need to know the resistance value of the sender in order to get the correct converter and set it correctly in the NMEA network.
What Specification Is My Gauge?
To test if your gauge is working properly or to find out if it's European or American specification:
If you have access to the wires on the back of the gauge;
-
Power the gauge off
-
Disconnect the black wire (sender)
-
Power the gauge on
-
If it's an American gauge the needle will show EMPTY
-
Touch the black wire to earth, the needle will go to FULL
-
If it's a European gauge the needle will show FULL
-
Touch the black wire to earth, the needle will go to EMPTY
If you don't have access to the back of the gauge;
-
Disconnect the two wires in the loom that attach to the sender.
-
Touch the two wires together (on gauge side of loom!)
-
If it's an American gauge the needle will show EMPTY
-
-
Touch the black wire to earth, the needle will go to FULL
-
If it's a European gauge the needle will show FULL
-
Touch the black wire to earth, the needle will go to EMPTY
-
What Specification Is My Fuel / Water / Holding Tank Sender?
To test if your sender is working properly or to find out if it's European or American specification:
-
Disconnect the two wires on top of the sender.
-
Remove the sender from the tank.
-
Connect the wires on the sender to a multimeter.
-
Set the multimeter to resistance [Ω ohms]
-
Move the float to the top of the sender and take a reading on the multimeter:
-
At the top of the sender (full) the resistance should be:
-
European specification - 190 ohms
-
American specification - 30 ohms
-
Move the float to the bottom of the sender and take a second reading:
-
At the bottom of the sender (empty) the resistance should be:
-
European specification - 0 ohms
-
American specification - 240 ohms
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The price and available shipping options will depend on your location as well as the size and weight of your order.
If you choose 'free delivery' or some Royal Mail services, the order may not be trackable for the duration of the journey and only show tracking events when the order is shipped and when it is delivered.
We aim to dispatch all morning (GMT) orders the same day and all orders received afternoon or at weekends the following business day.
Once your order has shipped you will be notified by email.
Adding product to your cart
Frequently bought together
316 stainless steel
1 ¼" BSP thread
0-190 ohms or 240-30 ohms
IP65
Simple to install and remove
Very reliable
Lengths from 150mm - 1600mm +
Wema S3 Fuel and Water Senders are tried and tested over millions of units, decades of use and in almost every kind of application.
These senders are reliable and accurate giving customers the confidence to depend on our technology year after year. Fitted as original equipment by major British and European boat builders for over 40 years, and trusted by commercial vehicle, defence and agricultural manufacturers worldwide.
Manufactured from 316 stainless steel, the S3 works on the simple principle of twin magnets in the float tripping a series of reed switches, securely housed and doubly insulated inside the stainless tube.
The sender is passive and draws power from the gauge.
They are available in lengths from 150mm to 1600mm. Longer and custom lengths are available on request, including calibrated senders for odd-shaped tanks.
There are two standard resistance ranges:
- 0-190Ω — European specification
- 240-30Ω — American specification
Sender and gauge must have the same resistance range — or the gauge will read backwards, or not at all. European vs American resistance →
Output from the sender is usually resistance but voltage options (0-5V, 0-10V, 4-20mA) are also available in some sizes and as a special order item. Special orders may be subject to a minimum order quantity depending on the modification — contact us to discuss your requirements.
If your current sender has a voltage output then you will have 3 wires not 2. Three or four wires could also mean that you have a sender with a high or low level alarm so it's always best to check the product code on the ID plate before ordering. How to identify your sender →
The S3 screws into a 1¼" BSP parallel thread.
Note: BSP sizing refers to the internal bore of a pipe — a 1¼" BSP thread measures larger than 1.25" with a tape measure.
If your tank has a 1.5" BSP, 1.25" NPT tapered thread or other fitting, you may need an adapter. We have many common flanges and thread adapters available. If unsure just ask.
Advancements in reed switch technology have allowed us to fit more switches inside the senders, giving the improved resolution required by modern digital displays.
For shallow tanks less than 400mm deep, high-resolution senders are available with approximately twice the number of switching points — a change of state approximately every 10mm instead of ~20mm in a standard resolution sender.
Wema S3 senders are suitable for diesel, petrol, fresh water, grey water, black water, hydraulic oil, AdBlue and ethanol.
Supplied with two nitrile O-rings for use in diesel tanks. If you are fitting to a petrol tank then Viton O-rings are recommended as ethanol content in modern fuels degrades nitrile over time. Viton O-rings available here →
The S3 can also be used as a position sensor by mounting the sender to a stationary part and clamping the float to a moving component. This is often used in industrial and agricultural machinery — a lifting trailer tailgate or a lifting keel on a yacht for example.
If you have an existing Wema sender, the identification plate on the head shows the product model, spec, length, Wema product code, output and batch code.
The code 001300 stamped on the head indicates an S3. How to identify a replacement Wema sender →
Specifications
- Fitting: 1¼" BSP parallel thread
- Material: 316 stainless steel
- Output: 0-190Ω / 240-30Ω resistance (standard), or 0-5V / 0-10V / 4-20mA (custom)
- Lengths: 150–1600mm standard
- Working voltage: 12V or 24V (draws power from gauge)
- Max carrying current: 1.2A
- Max switching current: 0.5A, 10W
- IP rating: IP65
- Operating temp: -40°C to +85°C
- Torque: 9 ±1 Nm (steel flange) / 7 ±1 Nm (nylon flange)
How long should your sender be? → | How to measure a level sender → | Replacing a floating-arm sender? →
[Please note: the code 001300 refers to the S3 head]
Simply connect one wire to earth and the other wire to the sensor cable on the gauge.