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Topic: Our SeeLevel Saga (Read 376 times) previous topic - next topic

Our SeeLevel Saga

We replaced our Javelina sensors with a SeeLevel system like many others have done before. We learned a few things along the way and wanted to write them down for others.

On our 36' 00 non-slide, the tanks are very accessible from the Manabloc/water pump bay. Just remove the carpeted wall panels, and you will have excellent access to the flat side of all (3) tanks.

Our plan was to add a SeeLevel display in the wet/utility bay as well as one inside the coach.  We ran a "smurf" tube (non split tube) across the top of the gray tank to run the sensor wires as well any anything else that may need to get from side to side.

We started by cleaning the tank faces, first Simple Green and then denatured alcohol.  The instructions recommend temporally positioning the sensors with painter's tape.  I assure you, it will not hold. In fact, I think it repels.  I then tried regular duct tape, not industrial/Gorilla, but plain old duct tape.  That weakly adhered to the tanks but did stick well to the sensor faces. Doing a lite sanding of the tank faces with a scouring pad greatly improved the duct tape adhesion and TBH I could not really see a change on the tank faces pre/post scrubbing.

https://youtu.be/n4zo2SEN9u4 
With the sensors (stacked) positioned and temporally held in place plus all temporary wiring in place, we hooked up the display in the wet bay.  The display blinked values when you pressed battery/grey/etc but did not stay on.  A really strange behavior.  We contacted Garnet and after some diagnostic steps, they felt it was a bad display.  We waited until a new one arrived and, you guessed it, the same behavior.

I then took the display and powered it with a regulated dc 12v power supply, because who does not have one of those, and it ran fine.  I tried another source of 12V, the one going to the bay lights, and the unit worked fine.  I had originally jumped off the 12V line that goes to the pump / fill switches, the ones used to signal the relays to activate.  The digital voltmeter read 13.8V so I can only assume it's fed from a capacitor that the display would drain and then wait for it to charge, causing the pulsing.  Those relays are not the original ones and I have not traced that wiring.

temp.jpg With the voltage oddities understood, I redid all the temporary sensor placements.  As part of the display issue, everything had been removed, both sensors and wiring, to make sure none of that was causing the problem.  Everything was working and reading as it should.

Next up is the final installation.  I removed the 3M liner from the back of the sensors and aligned them to the marks I had made during the temporary positioning. That 3M adhesive will stick tenaciously to the tank, so only expose enough to get it aligned to your marks and then peel as you go.  All the wires were then put in split looms and Gorilla tape was on the top/bottom of the sensors as insurance.  Once complete, gave it a test, and the system showed random readings, like black and grey tanks at 30 to 40 percent.

One by one, I UN-wired the sensors to see if I had broken one during the installation. I removed the split loom, I removed the Gorilla tape, then suddenly it was reading normally.  Fine, I'll redo this again another day.

gandb.jpg fresh.jpg The "another day" came, and I wired up the black tank, split loom, tape, etc.  Did a test, all good.  Then the grey tank and testing was all good.  Next, the fresh tank, gave it a test and now ALL the sensors now reported ERR.  I'm thinking that old Javelina system is looking pretty sweet right now.  In looking into all ERR readouts, the only thing to check was electrical/EMI interference.  I decided to power it with a regulated DC 12v power supply, because who does not have one of those, and it ran fine.  Back on coach 12V, and it gave all ERR, so dirty power/ground was confusing the SeeLevel. 

Michelle remembered an issue on our 03 with the fluorescent lights and went on a coach lights on/off check.  We found that if the front Thin-Lite fluorescent was on, the SeeLevel would display ERR on all tank values.  If it was off and other lights were on, it might act normally.  If it was on and others were on, you may get an abnormal reading or ERR.  Old ballast = bad SeeLevel mojo.  Throughout the numerous installations, various lights were randomly on/off depending on what was being done inside, all of which led to the wonky behavior.

I think I've done 4 complete installations of this system, so if anyone needs help or bad luck, give me a call.  Anyway, a 2-3 hour job turned into a couple of weeks of "fun" but it's done.
2000 / 36' / U320 / WTFE
WildEBeest / "Striving to put right what once went wrong"

Re: Our SeeLevel Saga

Reply #1 –
I have installed several of these and one gave me all sorts of problems, but redid the wiring and then was okay. I don't know what was different, but maybe a bad wire crimp. They are great when they work.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: Our SeeLevel Saga

Reply #2 –
Those relays can cause havoc. I had an air horn solenoid damage my nice Heathkit power supply. Spiking the voltage when opening I think. Probably needs a tank circuit to clean up the power. Clips the peaks. Sounds like some of my projects. Did you buy the two systems to have full range of tank capacity? I was thinking I only needed the full on the waist tank and the empty on the potable. Currently the Javelina still works for levels. That Gorilla tape will cure in position and become unremovable in a couple months. Crazy stuff.

Re: Our SeeLevel Saga

Reply #3 –
I installed mine in one hour using original wires for the front and new wires for the wet bay. Has worked great once you know if you use either of the displays you have to wait for it to go out before using the other one.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Our SeeLevel Saga

Reply #4 –
Quote from: dsd –
Did you buy the two systems to have full range of tank capacity?
Purchased one system and 3 extra sensors so I could stack them, that was a little less $ then two systems.  We purchased the N2K (NMEA2000 version) with the intention of integrating it to the Victron Cerbo and its 7" display for our in coach display.  The Cerbo speaks N2K or RVC data bus (new support) we choose the N2K version.

I did forget to mention, to mask the power issues the fixtures/ballast were/are causing I added in a automotive power filter that I had in my collections of stuff.  It looks like one of these Car Power Filter 12V basically a LC filter that fixed/masked the issue (until we change those lights).  I simply wired the 12V and ground to this and the output to the SeeLevel.

Quote from: red tractor –
I have installed several of these and one gave me all sorts of problems
When we finally determined what was causing the issue, I had visions of National Lampoon Christmas going through my head, I was Clark checking the wiring to all those tiny little lights, I don't understand, this should work!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHVG2UrWNh0 
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2000 / 36' / U320 / WTFE
WildEBeest / "Striving to put right what once went wrong"

Re: Our SeeLevel Saga

Reply #5 –
Yep that's a tank circuit. Capacitor, transformer coil, and a clipping diode.

Re: Our SeeLevel Saga

Reply #6 –
Finally got to look at the front fixture, the one we determined was causing the electrical noise to the seelevel.

there is your problem.jpg well, there is your problem! 

Removed that beauty and rewired the fixture to use 12V LED bulbs for now.
2000 / 36' / U320 / WTFE
WildEBeest / "Striving to put right what once went wrong"

Re: Our SeeLevel Saga

Reply #7 –
Our SeeLevel system was installed by the PO.  It was acting up on one of the tanks.  I thought it was the wiring but turns out the bottom end of one of the strips was detached down where the tank starts curving in.  The SeeLevel folks said to just trim off that little bit and it will work fine and that fixed it.  Zero is not quite zero but it's close enough.
I'd like to install a second monitor inside but haven't gotten to that project yet.
Andy & Sue (and Sofie dog) + Lucy dog
2002 U320 4020
# 5959
TOAD 2014 CRV