|
|
08-21-2012, 06:48 AM
|
#1
|
Established Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: New Freedom
Posts: 24
M.O.C. #12389
|
Tank Gauge Lights?
Having problem getting the tank gauges to back to the empty indicator light on the display panel. After dumping one of the gray tanks and the black water tank still show 1/3 full. My Montana is only the second travel trailer I have owned and I had a similar problem with the Jayco that I had.
|
|
|
08-21-2012, 09:09 AM
|
#2
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Navarre
Posts: 1,527
M.O.C. #9765
|
I believe you are at the "good as it gets" point. My grey tank was right once this summer. I had water in the shower and sink and the grey tank showed FULL. If you show 1/3, call it good and move on.
Mike
|
|
|
08-21-2012, 09:34 AM
|
#3
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
|
If you're bored the buttons are fun to play with but they are basically crap (pun intended). You can get an outside the tank monitoring system that should be correct all the time, but they are pricy. Camping World and others sell them.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
|
|
|
08-21-2012, 09:35 AM
|
#4
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,167
M.O.C. #6433
|
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
|
|
|
08-21-2012, 10:08 AM
|
#5
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Wampum
Posts: 571
M.O.C. #9928
|
This is my third RV with the 'gauge lights'. They've all been a joke. It's a selling point for the dealers/manufacturers but I have never found them even close to reliable.
__________________
"What happens at camp stays at camp"
2018 3121RL
2016 Ford F350 SB SRW
|
|
|
08-21-2012, 10:33 AM
|
#6
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
|
useless
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
|
|
|
08-21-2012, 10:57 AM
|
#7
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Bella Vista
Posts: 472
M.O.C. #12223
|
The only one I pay attention to is the "battery" button.
|
|
|
08-21-2012, 03:10 PM
|
#8
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Olympia
Posts: 1,058
M.O.C. #9441
|
I do not know why they are still putting these in trailers! I have not looked at the lights in my unit since I have owned it. If I had choice I would install Tank Tender unit in my trailer. It would be nice if they would offer that option for you folks that ordered your trailer new.
__________________
2020 Ram 3500, 2022 Luxe 38GFB,2500w Solar with Victron equipment, Gen Y Pinbox
|
|
|
08-21-2012, 03:37 PM
|
#9
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,707
M.O.C. #7992
|
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Flymutt
The only one I pay attention to is the "battery" button.
|
Besides the battery I have found the fresh water to be pretty accurate. That's pretty important if you are in an electric only site. The others are as others stated, "WORTHLESS" Jim
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
|
|
|
08-21-2012, 03:48 PM
|
#10
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Copperas Cove
Posts: 1,426
M.O.C. #12096
|
They make good Christmas lights lol lol..... The sad thing is that there are tank lights and gauges that do work out there. On my 03 Alpenlite they were dead on and have never talked to anyone with an Alpenlite that they did not work perfectly. There is even an adjustment on the panel in case they are not totally accurate. But I can't remember who manufacturs those gauges, but then guess it don't matter cause Keystone probably won't care cause they probably cost more. But believe me it was sweet to be able to go to the wall and check on all your tank levels and be able to trust the lights.
|
|
|
08-21-2012, 05:05 PM
|
#11
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bakersfield
Posts: 5,316
M.O.C. #15
|
Apparently Alpenlite used the external sensors. They seldom if ever give wrong info.. Accu gauge is apparently what they used. It appears to get very good reviews. It does cost a bit but if you are using their system you would know what your tank levels really were! Dennis
|
|
|
08-21-2012, 05:08 PM
|
#12
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hartford
Posts: 144
M.O.C. #7383
|
I'll let you all know how my DIY capacitance based sensors work in the next couple of days. I have the electronics and sensors figured out and built, just need to hook it all up to see if wiring lenghts are going to be a problem. If successful, should be cheaper than the original and dead on accurate.
|
|
|
08-22-2012, 02:04 AM
|
#13
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Louisville
Posts: 159
M.O.C. #10437
|
A search for "Horst" in the MOC forums shows some members switching to "Horst Miracle Probes". Since they were installed in '09, are they still working accurately?
|
|
|
08-23-2012, 01:08 PM
|
#14
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Cedar Rapids
Posts: 4,876
M.O.C. #1944
|
This seems to come up again and again. The sensors only work when the rig is brand new. At some point after use the sensors get debris on them and no longer measure properly. You will develop a sense of when to dump after you've used your rig some. We dump every 7-8 days, sometimes stretching it out to 10-11 days.
Orv
|
|
|
08-23-2012, 02:00 PM
|
#15
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Haldimand County
Posts: 2,413
M.O.C. #122
|
Put SeeLevel gauges in our coach, and never had any more problems. A bit difficult to retrofit on a Monty. http://www.garnetinstruments.com/
|
|
|
08-25-2012, 03:11 PM
|
#16
|
Montana Master
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rock Island
Posts: 1,074
M.O.C. #10457
|
The gauges are for sales staff to show prospective buyers. Once that function is complete they no longer have any use.
|
|
|
09-04-2012, 05:05 PM
|
#17
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hartford
Posts: 144
M.O.C. #7383
|
Got everything hooked up and the program written, works within 1%, so far, so good. Will try it out for a month or so on our trip to Amazon in KS. So far less than $35 in whole system. Some (highly technical) improvements for ease of installation/setup could raise that up to $50.
Same principle as the Seelevel, just done with Open Source ideas, parts and software.
Will keep you posted and send links to copy my project when I'm sure it works a while.
Course, it might be more trouble than it's worth unless you are a dyed in the wool geek like me.
C++ programming anyone? CAD designing circuit boards? Seriously small soldering ability?
(Actually all the hard stuff is done)
|
|
|
09-12-2012, 03:53 PM
|
#18
|
Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Wherever
Posts: 64
M.O.C. #11152
|
Talking about tank gauge lights... Mind if I hijack this topic?
I also found that only the battery and fresh water indicators were somewhat useful. After being hooked-up for the past two months, and never pushing those buttons, now that we're on the road again, I now find that all the indicator lights only light up the "E" level. Anyone have a clue on this?
|
|
|
09-12-2012, 04:07 PM
|
#19
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
|
I can't help you, mine haven't read E since they were new.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
|
|
|
09-14-2012, 06:58 AM
|
#20
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Land O Lakes
Posts: 2,783
M.O.C. #10246
|
We usually run the black tank rinser until the gauge shows empty...for the grey tanks, we have had success with filling the tank back up with fresh water and dumping again.
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|