The fuel level sensor has additional settings that are contained in three nested blocks: General settings, Filling settings, Theft settings.
General settings
Ignore the messages after the start of motion
This option allows skipping messages during the indicated number of seconds at the beginning of movement when determining the fuel level. Otherwise, you can get inaccurate data due to various factors. The start of the movement is registered when the minimum speed indicated in the trip detector is reached.
Calculate fuel consumption by sensor
This option allows detecting thefts and fillings. If it is enabled, the data calculated by fuel level sensors is taken into account in the Consumed row in statistics, as well as in reports in the Consumed by FLS, Consumed in motion, Consumed without motion, Avg consumption, etc. columns.
The option doesn't influence notifications about fuel fillings and fuel thefts, that is, if the option is disabled, these notifications can be triggered.
When using this sensor, the fuel consumption is calculated on the basis of the fuel level in the tank according to the following formula: [fuel level value at the beginning of the interval] − [value at the end of the interval] + [fillings] − [thefts] (thefts are subtracted if the Exclude thefts from fuel consumption option is activated in the report settings).
Different report tables have different intervals. For more information about the intervals, see the description of the tables.
Replace invalid values with those calculated mathematically
This option becomes available when the previous one is activated. If this option is enabled, the erroneous values detected in the interval are replaced with the ones calculated mathematically. The data indicated in the properties of the ignition sensors, relative and absolute engine hours (the Consumption, l/h option), and the value of the engine efficiency sensor are used during the mathematical calculation.
Calculate fuel consumption by time
This option becomes available when the Calculate fuel consumption by sensor option is activated. If this option is enabled, all time intervals, regardless of whether the unit has been moving or not, are included in the calculation of fuel consumption. If this option is disabled, the fuel level on the intervals without movement is not included in the calculation.
For the time-based fuel calculation, you should activate the Calculate fillings by time, Calculate thefts by time, and Calculate fuel consumption by time options at the same time.
Filter sensor values
This option becomes available when the Calculate fuel consumption by sensor option is activated. If this option is enabled, median smoothing is applied to the received values of the sensor to exclude data fluctuations (sudden increases or decreases in the fuel level).
The smoothing level is indicated in the Filtration level field. Here you can specify a value from 0 to 255. If the filtration level is equal to 0, smoothing is carried out on the basis of three messages. In other cases, the number of messages on the basis of which smoothing should be carried out is calculated as follows:
- if the field value is an odd number from 1 to 255, it is multiplied by 5;
- if the value is an even number from 2 to 254, it is multiplied by 5, and 1 is added to the result.
The higher the filtration level, the closer the fuel chart to a straight line, therefore, we don’t recommend specifying a value higher than 8. The optimal filtration level is from 0 to 3.
The filtration level is taken into account in reports (in tables and charts when displaying smoothed lines), in jobs for sending fuel level information, and in notifications about fuel fillings and thefts.
Filling settings
Minimum fuel filling volume
The minimum increase in the fuel level which should be considered a filling. The value of this field should be greater than 0 and can be fractional.
Timeout to separate consecutive fillings
If this option is enabled and more than one filling within a short time interval is detected, the fillings are combined into one, provided that the time between them (timeout) does not exceed the time indicated in this setting.
Detect fuel fillings only during stops
When this option is enabled, fillings are detected only at stops, that is, when the speed of the unit is lower than the minimum one indicated in the trip detection. This allows reducing the number of false fillings which are caused, for example, by fluctuations in the fuel level during movement.
The initial fuel level is taken from the first message without movement or from the last message with movement.
If any value is indicated in the Timeout to detect final filling volume field, the fillings are also detected during this time after the stop ends.
If a time period between stops is less than the one indicated in the Timeout to separate consecutive fillings field, such stops and the movement intervals between them are considered as one stop. The time when the first stop begins is considered to be the beginning of the filling, and the time after the last stop and the expiration of the timeout is considered to be the end of the filling.
Timeout to detect final filling volume
This field becomes available when the previous option is activated. Here you can indicate the duration of interruptions between fuel entries in the process of filling. To determine the fuel level after the filling, the message that follows the indicated timeout is used, but not the last one that corresponds to the filling. To determine the filling volume, the system calculates the difference between the fuel level from this message and the message that precedes the start of the filling.
Calculate fillings by time
This calculation method is recommended for units with high fuel consumption at idling (generator, tower crane, etc.). When this option is activated, all time intervals are included, regardless of trips/stops.
Calculate filling volume by raw data
This option can be useful if you set a high filtration level for smoothing the outliers of FLS values (see the Filter sensor values option). As a result of such filtration, the values of the initial and final fuel level and of the filling volume are distorted. Under certain conditions, the option allows replacing them with the values calculated on the basis of raw data, that is, the data before smoothing.
If this option is enabled, the system uses the following algorithm:
- The filling volume (Vfilled) is calculated according to the formula:
Vfilled = Vmax — Vmin,
where:
Vmax is the maximum fuel level within the filling interval according to the raw data;
Vmin is the minimum fuel level within the filling interval according to the raw data.
Vmin is also considered to be the initial fuel level within the filling interval. To calculate the final level within this interval, the filling volume (Vfilled) is added to the initial level. - If the resulting value of the filling volume exceeds the volume calculated on the basis of raw data, the values of the initial and final level and of the filling volume are replaced with the new ones. Otherwise, the values remain the same.
In the fields for indicating duration value, you can enter only 0 or an integer greater than 0.
You can get information on fillings by executing the Fuel fillings report, using the Send fuel information by email or SMS job or the notification about fuel fillings.
Theft settings
Minimum fuel theft volume
The minimum decrease in the fuel level which should be considered a theft. The value of this field should be greater than 0 and can be fractional.
Minimum stop duration to detect a fuel theft
The minimum duration of the interval without movement which is followed by a decrease in the fuel level in the tank by more than the minimum fuel theft volume indicated above.
Timeout to separate consecutive thefts
If this option is enabled and more than one theft during a short time interval is detected, the thefts are combined into one, provided that the time between them (timeout) does not exceed the time indicated in this setting and the fuel level has not increased.
Detect fuel thefts in motion
If this option is enabled, thefts are detected not only during stops, but also during movement, which can be useful, for example, for ships. However, in many cases, activating this option can result in the detection of false thefts due to changes in fuel level, for example, while driving on rough terrain.
Calculate thefts by time
It is similar to the Calculate fillings by time option (see above).
Calculate theft volume by raw data
It is similar to the Calculate filling volume by raw data option (see above).
In the fields for indicating duration value, you can enter only 0 or an integer greater than 0.
You can get information on thefts by executing the Fuel thefts report, using the Send fuel information by email or SMS job or the notification about thefts.
Download PDF file
Download Word document