STAR-Tank Phased Coherent Radar Water Tank Sensor

Battery-operated phased-coherent radar water-tank level sensor, Victron/Cerbo compatible.

About this product

STAR-Tank sits on top of the tank and measures the liquid surface with phased coherent radar. Nothing goes inside the tank — no float to jam, no probe to corrode, no sender loom to run — and level, temperature and the sensor's own battery voltage stream straight to a Victron GX over Bluetooth.

Radar measures the distance down to the air-liquid interface rather than floating on it or listening through it. That is the difference that matters in the tanks people actually complain about: foam and gas above the liquid line do not throw the reading, which is why it holds up in grey and black water where float and ultrasonic senders struggle.

For comparison, Safiery's own technology comparison rates resistive float senders at 20-30mm and pressure senders at typically 20mm, while ultrasonic readings vary with build quality and degrade in the presence of foam and temperature swings.

Nothing goes inside the tank

On polyethylene, plastic or fibreglass the radar reads straight through the tank wall, so nothing is cut and nothing is drilled: the base plate bonds to the top of the tank, and once cured the sensor screws onto it. Metal tanks need a clear view of the liquid, so the base carries an SAE 5-bolt pattern — the industry-standard hole set — sealed with gas sealing tape.

Foam and gas do not fool it

Most black-water tanks are polyethylene, and almost nothing sticks to polyethylene except a thin film that builds up over time. Radar is unaffected by the foam and gasses sitting above the liquid line, so the reading stays honest in exactly the tank that defeats a float — fresh, grey and black water all read the same way.

One button, and it tunes itself

A tank is a box full of reflections. Press and hold the black button for about ten seconds and the sensor runs a startup routine that picks the dominant line-of-sight return out of that clutter, then locks to it so it is not re-solving the problem on every reading. The ring LED holds solid red while it works and turns solid green when it is done.

Measured in years, not months

There is no wiring to run because there is no wire. The sensor samples every 60 seconds, which is what buys the battery life: about five years where the tank averages around half full, falling toward three where it habitually sits low. A short press of the button steps reporting up to every 10 seconds for 10 minutes while you commission it, then it drops back on its own.

It arrives in Venus OS already knowing what it is

STAR-Tank support is built into Venus OS, so a GX device picks the sensor up in the Bluetooth sensors menu and lists it — there is no GX Tank 140 and no sender wiring in between. It reports three values, not one: liquid level, tank temperature, and its own battery voltage, so the sensor tells you when it is getting tired. The temperature value can drive the GX temperature relay to run a tank heater or stirrer.

Works with

  • Victron GX (Cerbo GX, Ekrano GX) — Bluetooth advertising, native Venus OS support
  • Marine MFD — Via the STAR-Tank to MFD interface kit
  • STAR-Switch Custom — Logic blocks can act on tank level
  • Phones, tablets, third-party displays — Not supported

Specification

Measurement

Technology
Phased coherent radar
Repeatability
1mm
Liquids
Fresh, grey and black water
Dead band
30mm from the sensor base
Measuring range
Set at order — ask Safiery

Power

Supply
Internal battery — no wiring
Expected battery life
3-5 years
Reporting interval
60 s (10 s for 10 min at setup)

Communications

Radio
Bluetooth 5.3, advertising output only
Pairs with
Victron GX / Venus OS only
Reports
Level, temperature, battery voltage

Construction

Housing
Billet-machined aluminium
Mounting
Bond-on base plate, or SAE 5-bolt on metal tanks

Approvals and warranty

Approvals
FCC (USA), CE, UKCA
EU declaration
RED 2014/53/EU art. 3.1 and 3.2
Warranty
5 years excl. battery (non-metallic tanks)
Warranty, metal tanks
1 year (SAE 5-bolt installation)

Questions

How deep a tank will it read?

The measuring range is configured when the sensor is ordered and can be extended for deeper tanks. Tell us your tank depth and we will confirm the right build before you buy.

Do I still need a GX Tank 140?

No. STAR-Tank talks to the GX device directly over Bluetooth, so there is no tank-sender input to wire and no Tank 140 in the middle.

Can I read it on my phone?

No. The radio is advertising-output only and is intended for a Victron GX device. You read the tank on the GX, on the Victron touch display, or remotely through VRM.

What is the dead band?

The first 30mm below the base of the sensor cannot be measured. The tank wall counts toward that figure rather than adding to it — on a 12mm fibreglass tank the dead band ends about 18mm below the inside top of the tank.

Will it work on a metal tank?

Yes, but the radar cannot see through steel or aluminium, so a hole is cut and the sensor mounts to the SAE 5-bolt pattern built into its base, sealed with gas sealing tape. Note the warranty differs for that installation: 1 year, against 5 years excluding the battery for an above-tank non-metallic install.

SKU
RDR10208002
Category
STAR Digital Switching
Price
$345.46 AUD inc. GST
Availability
In stock

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