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04-21-2010, 12:30 PM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 351
M.O.C. #10119
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Fresh Water Tank Sensors
We have a new 3150RL, and we went out yesterday for a day of golf and try out the Monty with a day of camping. After golf we planned on staying the night at a campground with no services. I thought I put in 1/3 tank of fresh water (approx 22 gallons), because as I filled the water the 1/3 sensor light came on. We had water yesterday after golf and we had water last night before bed. Woke up this morning, and we didn't have enough water to fill a sink, so I assume that we did not have 1/3 tank of fresh water. We did not use water excessively the day before.
Does anyone else have inaccurate freshwater sensor readings?
Regards,
David
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DPAM
2017 GMC Denali diesel, crewcab, 4x4, regular box.
2010 Montana 3150RL- Moving to Montana Package , Hickory Edition Package, wet bolts
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04-21-2010, 12:37 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Santa Fe Springs
Posts: 4,189
M.O.C. #639
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dont ever rely on any of those gages on any moterhome or rv's they are mostly junk
__________________
Pulling a 2004, 2980 RL an oldie but goodie.
Tow vehicle is a 2009 RED RAM 3500 DRW.
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04-21-2010, 02:04 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Weeki Wachee
Posts: 814
M.O.C. #7219
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The better question would be does anybody have accurate readings?
Hugh
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04-24-2010, 06:27 PM
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#4
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 214
M.O.C. #7994
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The only sensor that does work in ours is the fresh drinking water tank although I won't swear about accuracy (maybe I will).
I think that the actual level can be greatly affected if the trailer is not level. If the trailer end that the sensors were at were on the low side the sensor could have triggered far too soon. You may not have put in as much as you think.
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04-24-2010, 10:54 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location:
Posts: 560
M.O.C. #8818
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I have a trick that I use to get a fairly accurate estimate of how much water I am putting in the fresh holding tank.
This only works when using the filler neck at the back end of the trailer, not when using the "power fill" in the convenience center, though.
I turn on the faucet and time how long it takes to fill up a 5-gallon bucket. Let's say it takes 30 seconds to fill the bucket. If I want to add 15 gallons, I stick the hose in the filler and let it run for a 90 seconds. If I want 30 gallons, I let it fill for 3 minutes.
With a watch and a little math, you can be pretty sure how much you are adding to the tank, way more so than going by the tank sensors.
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04-25-2010, 01:12 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bakersfield
Posts: 5,316
M.O.C. #15
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The Fresh Water gauge and the Battery gauge are usually dependable. We have never had any trouble with either of those two. The Gray, Black, and Galley tank gauges, however, are another story. I don't think we've ever gotten an accurate reading from them.
A couple of years ago I bought a cheap little inline Water Meter. It tells me how much water I've put in the tank. Before I had that I used the method KTManiac is suggesting. That is also fairly accurate.
Good luck and let us know what you find out.
Dennis
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04-29-2010, 12:43 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
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I usually fill ours until the 2/3 light comes on but I am convinced it's actually closer to 1/2 tank. I do not know how they determine where to install the sensors but I'd bet on the eyeball approach. And thus every rig is different.
One non-scientific method to check their accuracy might be to fully empty the tank, then turn on the tank filler and time it until the water exits the tank at the overflow behind the cover on the side of the rig. While doing this, note the timings of when the 1/3, 2/3, and Full lights come on.
By the way, maybe you already know this but if you are going to completely or nearly completely fill the tank you should always remove the cover over the manual fill inlet behind that cover. The small overflow hole does not let the air escape as quickly as water comes into the tank. The resulting pressure buildup can rupture the tank. Just ask one of our members who had that happen to his rig at one of our Fall rallies a few years ago. I always remove that cap even when filling just to 2/3, just in case.
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