RV tank sensors not working at all

RiverRat62 · 09-16-2018, 08:17 PM

My RV tank sensors on the panel are not working at all. They only show empty all the time. I have cleaned all tanks, Water, Gray, and Black, did not change anything. I Have checked the lead wires, nothing. Anyone got any ideas?
This is on a 2017 Wildwood 171 RBXL.
THANKS!

ColoradoRick · 09-16-2018, 08:26 PM

Hmmm....you've done everything I would've done.

Have you pulled out the circuit breakers to ensure none need replacing?

Duckogram · 09-16-2018, 08:52 PM

ground may be loose

**Mr. Dan** · 09-16-2018, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckogram

ground may be loose

Ground problem is also my guess. These are 12vDC gadgets... shouldn’t be affected by circuit breakers.

**Herk7769** · 09-16-2018, 09:14 PM

Here is the checklist for troubleshooting these systems.

If you have this type of panel you can reset it with a paper clip in the reset hole.

There is a common ground for the holding tanks. If this wire is broken all tanks will show empty.

TNYHWZ · 09-16-2018, 09:16 PM

I have the same problem with my Grey tank on my 2019 Sunseeker 2400W MBS. Always reads empty. Went underneath and couldn't believe all the hanging wires. Fiddled with the wires and tacked them all up. Will see if it reads now. FR uses a lot of spray foam to hold things up.

**Herk7769** · 09-16-2018, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNYHWZ

I have the same problem with my Grey tank on my 2019 Sunseeker 2400W MBS. Always reads empty. Went underneath and couldn't believe all the hanging wires. Fiddled with the wires and tacked them all up. Will see if it reads now. FR uses a lot of spray foam to hold things up.

Empty is an open circuit. Check for a broken wire on the single probe side of the tank array. (White wire in photo).

RiverRat62 · 09-16-2018, 10:14 PM

Thanks! Just checked this out..... Didn't even know I had a dedicated breaker for this panel. All good here, I will have to keep checking wires and see what happens. Thanks again!

RiverRat62 · 09-17-2018, 02:15 PM

Well, I have used all the great info here to check out my system..... found no fuses blown, did find a white wire on the gray tank that had a bad connection. Fixed that one and now the panel shows the black tank is full, when it is empty, and the gray tank still shows empty, when it is half full. Wiring looks ok other than the one bad connection. Have tried cleaning the black tank, no change. Anything else I should check?

changing it up a bit · 09-17-2018, 03:24 PM

My suggestion is dont waste your time. The tank sensors on most all of the rigs out there do not work. You will get to know your system and you will dump at that point. Here are some things that might happen;
Toilet will burp, gray tank may backup to the sink these are not problems but indicators. If you boondock you will just have to get to know your rig. Someday the industry may come up with sensors that work.

Tiggerdad · 09-17-2018, 04:10 PM

Check the nuts on the sensors. Found 2 loose on my first unit.

**Herk7769** · 09-17-2018, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverRat62

Well, I have used all the great info here to check out my system..... found no fuses blown, did find a white wire on the gray tank that had a bad connection. Fixed that one and now the panel shows the black tank is full, when it is empty, and the gray tank still shows empty, when it is half full. Wiring looks ok other than the one bad connection. Have tried cleaning the black tank, no change. Anything else I should check?

If everything is secure, and you still wish to pursue a solution, you can measure the resistance as indicated in the troubleshooting guide for the gray tank.

The black tank can be as simple as gunk on the tank walls shorting the probes out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXdZgFLO4hY

Horst no longer sells the upgraded probes. Valterra does though.

Mine worked perfectly every day from the day I installed them till I sold the rig in August. I have 2 sets of black tank probes ready for install in the new camper as soon as the weather breaks.

https://www.amazon.com/Valterra-T213...70_&dpSrc=srch

I highly recommend putting the black tank probes in the gray tank as well.

The ones for use in the fresh water tank and gray tank tend to accumulate hair and soap on the spiral end and they will start giving false readings over time. The covered black tank probes though a few dollars more are ROCK STABLE.

RiverRat62 · 09-17-2018, 07:53 PM

Thanks for the great info! Will check these out.

RacerRalph · 10-25-2018, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by changing it up a bit

My suggestion is dont waste your time. The tank sensors on most all of the rigs out there do not work. You will get to know your system and you will dump at that point. Here are some things that might happen;
Toilet will burp, gray tank may backup to the sink these are not problems but indicators. If you boondock you will just have to get to know your rig. Someday the industry may come up with sensors that work.

We use the black tank burp - grey tank backup in sink system as well when we have a dump hookup. Otherwise we dump every other day or whenever possible. Carry a hose hook up the the 3" drain in case of grey tank emergencies.

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