A full tank sits out the back all winter, then empties in a fortnight
Farm diesel tank monitoring has to handle two opposite problems. Between campaigns a full tank sits idle at the shed, and that suits a quiet siphon.
At planting and harvest the same tank empties faster than a dip stick can follow. A dry tank stops the machines, and the header and haul-out crews are still on the clock.
A dip tells you where the tank is now. It doesn't tell you when the level dropped, or how fast.
- Thieves siphon or pump into IBCs and ute tanks, usually at night.
- A loss shows up days later, when a machine won't start.
- A delivery takes longer to arrive than the tank takes to empty.
What we put on the shed and the trailer
We check tank shape and fittings at the site visit, then pick the sensor to suit.
-
Tank level sensor
Sits on a centre-top fitting, clear of baffles and the fill pipe, and reads the diesel level.
Reads every 5 to 15 min
-
Trailer level sensor
Same type of sensor on the field fuel trailer, so a refill isn't read as a loss.
Works within shed range
-
Bowser and hatch contact
Tells you when the bowser cabinet or tank hatch is opened, before the level moves.
SMS if opened out of hours
-
Shed gateway
Collects every sensor in range and sends the readings on.
Mains or solar, battery backup
-
Starlink or 4G backhaul
Gets the alert to your phone from the shed, out of mobile range or not.
No wifi needed
How farm diesel tank monitoring works at your shed
- 1
A sensor sits on each tank
It reads the level every 5 to 15 minutes and works out litres from the tank size, then we check it against a dip.
- 2
The trailer gets one too
It reports while it's in range of the shed. We test range paddock by paddock before we commit.
- 3
A gateway on the shed passes it on
It uses Starlink or 4G, so there's no wifi to set up and no cable run to the house.
- 4
You get the alert, and the history
A step drop or a low reserve texts you. The dashboard shows daily draw and days of supply.
What lands on your phone when the diesel moves
We set the drop size and low level for each tank, and lift the reorder level before planting and harvest.
-
Tue 1:42 am
Shed tank dropped 1,000 L in 25 min. No machines logged. Check the shed now.
-
Thu 2:30 pm
Shed tank at 3,900 L. About 1.5 days of supply at harvest draw. Order diesel today.
-
Fri 9:15 am
Shed tank back up to 18,500 L after delivery. Level normal.
Messages go to the people you nominate, by SMS to any phone and by email, with the reading and the time in every alert.
Dipping the tank versus a reading every few minutes
| Topic | Today | With monitoring |
|---|---|---|
| How often | When someone remembers | Every 5 to 15 minutes |
| A siphon at night | Found days later, if at all | SMS within minutes |
| Running short | A surprise mid-paddock | Low alert and days of supply |
| Fuel tax credit records | Guess the loss from invoices | Time and volume on record |
What farm diesel tank monitoring costs
We fix the price after a short scoping call or a site visit. It depends on tank and trailer numbers, distance to the gateway and backhaul. Ongoing support is available as a plan after handover.
Price a fuel tank alertThe fixed price covers
- Level sensors for each tank and trailer
- Gateway and Starlink or 4G backhaul
- Installation and electrical work under licence 1513082
- Calibration against a dip, alert set-up and commissioning
- Training on the dashboard and alerts
- An ongoing support plan after handover
Farm diesel tank monitoring across a cropping property
Planting, spraying, harvest and cane crush use most of the year's diesel in a few weeks. Shed tanks of 10,000 to 50,000 L are common, and contractors draw from them too.
The shed isn't the only place worth watching. A farm gate alarm covers the gates that guard your fuel and machinery.
Keeping the pumps going matters just as much, so look at irrigation pump monitoring. To follow the headers and haul-outs, see harvest machinery tracking.
What this won't do
- It shows a theft soon after it starts. It doesn't stop it, and it won't tell you who took the fuel.
- Readings are a good guide, not a certified measurement. Foam and temperature can nudge them, so dip to confirm.
- It's not a certified overfill or leak detection system, and it doesn't replace AS 1940 bunding, venting or your WHS duties.
- A trailer outside gateway range sends nothing, and a backhaul failure delays the SMS.