Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 05, 2025 ...

Shielding electronic sensors ( Seelevel strips)

August 25, 2025, 09:41:27 pm

I'm trying to install the sensor strips for a Seelevel gauge install.
I have two sets of strips and gauges to stack the strips and install a separate gauge in the water compartment.
I had a problem with the black water tank because of the factory screw in sensor studs that covered much of the tank face blocked a install that stacked the sensors. I talked to a rep at Seelevel and was told that the top and bottom sensor do not have to be lined up one on top of the other, this will probably give me the ability to get the sensors mounted.

My new problem is the fresh water tank. One side has a big slant to the wall so this is a no go, one side is next to the grey water tank with no clearance for the install without removing a tank. the front of the tank is covered by the 10 gal. water heater.
My coach has the rare Primus heating system that incorporates two 40,000 btu propane boilers that circulate hot water to the water heat exchangers running through the coach and to the engine for pre-heat, and to the hot water heater. This places many hoses and plumbing behind the water heater tank and makes installing the Seelevel strip impossible.
My last resort was the side that faces the large storage bay. I cut access through the large bay into the water bay so I could install the strips on that side. When I cut away a section of the bay wall to install the strips I found a approx. 1" diameter metal bar that ran across the floor and butts up against the fresh water tank.

Seelevel says do not install the sensor strip within 1" of metal. If I abide by this I could not install the sensor without raising it about 2" above the bottom of the tank.

I thought maybe a strip of lead between the tank sensor and the metal beam might shield the sensor from the metal beam.

What are your thoughts on the use of lead to try and shield the sensor?

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Re: Shielding electronic sensors ( Seelevel strips)

Reply #1 – August 25, 2025, 10:10:16 pm

A couple of thoughts -

First, try the recommended temporary tape-on of the sensors with something like masking tape on each end, and see if the bar poses an issue with the readings (bit of a pain, since this means draining the tank and watching the levels.

Second, it's more important to know when you're running low on the fresh tank, and really, you probably want to know before you get to that 2" level.  So is it really so bad not going all the way to the bottom with the sensor tape? 

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Re: Shielding electronic sensors ( Seelevel strips)

Reply #2 – August 26, 2025, 09:15:29 am

When I installed ours, I had similar concerns about several metal fittings around the water heater side of the tank.  See level rep mentioned using rubber pads (Home Depot) between the see level strips and the metal I was concerned about.  Well ,seemed to work ok...  no interference I guess.

 Fast forward a couple  years and the duct tape I used to secure the rubber pads,, didn't. The pads dropped to the floor so... no protection but strips are still working..

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Re: Shielding electronic sensors ( Seelevel strips)

Reply #3 – August 26, 2025, 10:02:38 am

Before we had the sea level installed (by MOT) our gauges were erratic so I timed the gallon flow rate and then marked the our tank at 1/4. 1/2. 3/4 which were on the slope and not equidistant and full was up above the top panel, you could do the same and attach the seal and tape in the wet bay.

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