Monitoring your diesel tanks via SNMP

Do you use diesel generators to provide backup (or even primary) power to remote locations? If so, you know that tracking your diesel tank levels is very important. A dry tank at the wrong moment can mean a site goes completely dark. Whether you're providing telecom service, coordinating railway traffic, managing a public-safety radio system, or anything else, you can't afford to have your network go down.

Fortunately, SNMP ("Simple Network Management Protocol") provides an effective means to remotely track and report your diesel levels. Protocols have changed over the decades, but SNMP is a popular standard today for the remote management of telecom and other assets.

To track your diesel tank levels, the first thing you need is a diesel sensor. Technically, you can approximate diesel levels by tracking generator running time, but that isn't as accurate as a true sensor.

Diesel sensors can take a few different forms. If a float was not integrated when you bought your tank, one of the more popular methods is a machine-readable gauge. This simply replaces the standard needle gauge on your tank and outputs a voltage/current that indicates the tank level.

An SNMP RTU will collect the reading from your diesel sensor (in addition to a lot of other data from the site, of course) and send it back to your SNMP manager as an SNMP trap.

Compared with other protocols you could choose for diesel monitoring, SNMP has the advantage of being a popular, open standard. You don't have to choose an RTU and a master station (SNMP manager, in this case) from the same manufacturer in order to maintain support for some proprietary protocol.

Advanced Monitoring Features with Modern SNMP Devices

Monitoring your diesel tanks doesn't have to stop at basic level readings. Advanced SNMP-compatible devices now offer capabilities like historical trend analysis and predictive alerts. By leveraging these tools, you can forecast when refueling will be needed, helping you plan logistics more efficiently and avoid emergency situations.

Some remote terminal units (RTUs), such as the DPS NetGuardian series, can aggregate sensor data and present it in user-friendly web interfaces. These interfaces allow you to monitor levels in real-time, view historical usage trends, and set custom alarm thresholds for proactive management. For instance, you can configure alarms to notify you of rapid fuel consumption, which might indicate potential generator overuse or even theft.

Enhancing Security in Diesel Tank Monitoring

Diesel tanks are critical assets, and protecting them from tampering or theft is as important as monitoring their fuel levels. Modern RTUs equipped with SNMP capabilities also offer security enhancements. For example, integrating your monitoring system with motion sensors or door contacts can provide alerts if unauthorized access is detected near your tanks.

Additionally, SNMPv3 encryption ensures secure data transmission between your RTU and SNMP manager, preventing data breaches and ensuring that sensitive operational information remains private. For older systems that don't natively support SNMPv3, solutions like the DPS SNMPv3 Proxy allow you to upgrade security without replacing your entire system​​.

Take the First Step Towards Efficiency

Don't leave your diesel tank monitoring - or your network's uptime - to chance. Whether you're managing a telecom site, utility station, or public safety network, having the right monitoring system in place can save you time, money, and stress.

At DPS Telecom, we have decades of experience designing and manufacturing reliable, custom-fit monitoring solutions. Our team of experts is here to help you navigate your options, find the perfect solution for your needs, and make sure your operations stay up and running.

Contact us today to get started - your network deserves the best. Call us at 1-800-622-3314 or send us your questions to learn more. Let's build a smarter, more secure monitoring system together!