fuel level sender for aircraft

[Mark Harriss]

Ross Herbert wrote:

The one I pulled apart was made in the 50's and I don't think it was
from a car.

In order to get any sort of arcing you first need the circuit carrying
the current to go open circuit. Since the wiper is tied to one end of
the resistive element it can never go open circuit so there is no
arcing. The only effect is that the full resistance of the element is
applied.

What if the wiper wears through the wire while
power is applied and then the fuel level changes
so as to have the wiper pass over the wire break
moving towards the end connected to the wiper.