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Topic: How is this Possible (Tank level question) (Read 709 times) previous topic - next topic

How is this Possible (Tank level question)

Full  freshwater at MOT.  Now Wednesday with no hookups.  Freshwater down less than gray water.

Randy


[edited topic title to be more descriptive - Michelle]
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: How is this Possible.

Reply #1
These gauges are very often inaccurate.  We lived with it for a year and put in a SeeLevel system.  Much better.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: How is this Possible.

Reply #2
After Clide cleaned the sensors, MOT talked me out of the SeaLevel but would be happy to install if I really wanted one, which I did, but the cleaned and functioning contacts were good

As for Randy, he may find that the contact at one level works but not another.  So you might not read half full, though it is, and it only shows a reading again when more or less full.....I had that, one sensor failed.

Then you could get to some other ideas......try filling to top, see if get full reading.  I suppose are using pump, so getting water or has gone to empty, i.e. a leak.

OR, you just used it all up so gray is now more full because you took very long baths?  Or did you use shore water, which did not impact the fresh tank, but it got counted in the gray tank and so it climbed?  Hmmm

Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: How is this Possible.

Reply #3
Michael, curious as to why MOT talked you out of Sealevel? They have worked well for me.
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: How is this Possible.

Reply #4
A couple years ago I suggested that everyone should test their gauges and senders by, first, make sure each tank is empty and then, second, fill each tank while watching the gauges until full is reached. Any error should show up.
Easiest way to check your system.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: How is this Possible.

Reply #5
Mine are really not accurate, when my fresh water starts to move off of full it's about 3/4 of a tank.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: How is this Possible.

Reply #6
Same here............. OEM gauges just aren't that accurate on our GV.  :headwall:
Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota

Re: How is this Possible.

Reply #7
Jeff, just due to expense.

Randy, i wonder if gray and fresh levels by gauges are just due to volume differnces in tanks?  I feel kina silly asking that....i forget the relative volumes those tanks.
Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: How is this Possible.

Reply #8
When filling my water tank one can watch the gauge moving back and forth as the tank fills. So in the beginning when I thought the fresh water tank was full; in realty it was not full. The gauge would say full but if one continued watching it, it would move off of full.
John
1998 U270 34'

Re: How is this Possible.

Reply #9
In addition to all the prior comments, (and like Mike just surmised) your fresh and gray tanks are probably not the same size?  1/2 empty fresh tank does not necessarily equal 1/2 full gray tank.

PS:  Don't you guys ever use the toilet?

PSS:  Disregard my comment on tank size.  Mike (below) checked - almost the same size.  Please go back to what you were doing.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: How is this Possible.

Reply #10
There are billions of thirsty trees out there----think of poor California. :))
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: How is this Possible.

Reply #11
Think I was guessing wrongly......gray and fresh water tanks very close same size, just checked on a 2000

sorry to belabor this and repeat others have said....but to reiterate, I got to where one tank would just skip registering the half-full mark.  It either was 1/4 or 3/4, so a time delay in actual volumes, just never noted 1/2.  that was fixed when the sensor contacts were cleaned, easily.

How it doing today, Randy?

Mike
2001 U320 4010 Build 5878 (Gus)
Wrangle Unlimited Toad
Nacogdoches

Re: How is this Possible (Tank level question)

Reply #12
I currently do not use gauges.  I can visually check fresh water in the bay by color differentiation.  I fill the fresh water to a couple of inches above the metal bar.  The tanks are within a few gallons of each other ergo if I need fresh water I am close to grey tank needing to be dumped.  Black tank adds gallons as well and we know that tank is a weekly.  I am considering see level but low on the list.  So I plan on once a week and check propane at the same time.
George and Steph
1997 U270 36 Build 5081 "Honu"
1180w Solar 400A lithium all Victron house system
Motorcade 17670, SKP 128300, FMCA F459019
73 VW Camper, 79 VW Camper, 2363 Sunline, and an Arctic Fox 25P

Re: How is this Possible (Tank level question)

Reply #13
Example--only for our 1989 GV:
LP (only allowed 44 gal on 50 gal tank)
Fuel diesel 100 gallons
Fresh water  88 gallons
Grey  water 44 gallons
Black water  44 gallons
(got these figures from James Holder, Service Mgr at Tennessee RV. He has a 1984 GV)
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: How is this Possible (Tank level question)

Reply #14
These gauges are very often inaccurate.  We lived with it for a year and put in a SeeLevel system.  Much better.


We also installed See Level. One display panel in bath, one in wet bay.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

 

Re: How is this Possible (Tank level question)

Reply #15
Same here Dan, easy to check any time without having to have anything on the dash turned on.  It uses almost no power to be available anytime.  Having the display in the wet bay is very handy as well.  Best way to do this is to buy two kits.  You need extra strips anyway for the tall FT tanks and two kits are usually no more expensive than one kit plus extra strips.

Randy, Pretty easy project to do yourself.  I hope your trip is going well.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN